240 HORSE SENSE. 



absolute control without a possible chance of the colt getting away 

 from objects of fright before it is well acquainted with them. 



TEACH THE COLT USEFUL LESSONS ONLY. 



Because the young colt is so susceptible to training is no reason that 

 it should be taught a lot of things that are of no practical use; or, be- 

 cause it is bright and full of play, that it must be frightened to see it 

 run, teach it tricks or allow it to become mischievous, and bite, rear, 

 kick or anything else that may seen "cute" while it is very youncr: but 

 these very things later on may become a great annoyance and very 

 hard to overcome. 



The "Cosset" colt is generally looked upon as a worthless animal, 

 but this is true only on the basis that the "Cosset" has always been 

 allowed to have its own way and it pleases to be into more or less 

 mischief, lawless or "sulky." From this fact alone the colt should be 

 taught useful lessons, those only that will enable the colt to become a 

 better and more useful animal during mature life. It should be taught 

 to be handled from every point of approach without resistance. Teach 

 it the importance of that greatest word in horsemanship, whoa — mean- 

 ing stop and stand still until commanded to move. Teach it to back 

 at the word, start whenever commanded to move forward, etc., etc. It 

 should be strongly impressed that its tutor is its protector under all 

 circumstances, and whenever any object of fright is presented it must 

 be encouraged to march up to it or the object brought to the colt 

 and an opportunity given for an examination of the apparent frightful 

 thing, with every confidence that it will be protected from all harm. 

 Whenever the colt associates with the things of fright more or less pun- 

 ishment, then the two can never be completely separated. When the 

 object is seen the punishment is practically felt, and the animal is very 

 sure to act in anything but a satisfactory manner. 



A CHOICE VOCABULARY FOR THE COLT. 



While we all recognize that the horse is mute (cannot talk) it must 

 not be forgotten that his sight and hearing are remarkably good, gen- 

 erally. We must remember — and never forget for one moment — that 

 words used in association with actions will very soon become fixtures 

 with the horse and can be relied on without other means. For 

 instance, when the young horse is asked to move forward bv a "chir- 

 rup" or the word "start," and he is touched at the rear end of the 

 body at the same time, he promptly moves ahead, and if this is 

 repeated a number of times he needs only to be told to "start" and 

 he obeys. A vocabulary of ten words, all of which can be taught 

 the horse in ten days, will enable the cool-headed horseman to derive 

 as many distinct movements of the horse by the use of specific words 

 for the purpose only. The reader will naturally say this is a strong state- 

 ment; so it is and only applies to a level-headed colt and a well behaved 

 horseman with a proper education; not a horseman in the sense of bois- 

 terous gesticulation, spur, harsh bit and whip treatment in the usual man- 



