218 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the aid of a few straps such ferocious brutes as Stafford, Cruiser 

 and Peacock. 



Before proceeding to describe the method of treatment best 

 adapted to render a colt, or a wild or vicious horse gentle and 

 tractable, it is but just to acknowledge the credit due to 

 the most famous and absolutely invincible horse-breaker, to 

 whom the world is indebted for the only thoroughly rational 

 and universally applicable system of horse-education. 



With these preliminary remarks, we will now endeavor to 

 describe the best method of educating young horses, and of 

 subduing and managing those which have acquired dangerous 

 or disagreeable habits. 



If possible, the colt, from the very first, should be rendered 

 perfectly gentle and fearless by frequent handling of all parts 

 of his body and the kindest treatment. "When a few weeks old, 

 he should be halter-broken. This is an important part of the 

 breaking in of the horse, at whatever age undertaken, and 

 should be accomplished thoroughly, and yet without violence. 

 The halter should be of leather, and well fitted to the head, so 

 as not to cause any unnecessary pain. The most objectionable 

 of all halters is the common one of rope, with a running noose . 

 about the nose. This is unfit for any horse, and especially for 

 a young one, and many horses have become addicted to tlie 

 exceedingly annoying trick of pulling on the lialter Ijy its use. 

 The common practice of hitching a colt to a post and letting 

 him pull until he learns that he cannot get loose, is unsafe and 

 unkind, as he becomes frightened and angry, and sometimes 

 hijures himself. Neitlier should lie be suffered to drag a man 

 at the end of the halter, and throw himself down and exhaust 

 himself in struggles for liberty. In these ways he learns how 

 to pull, and how stout he is in comparison with a man, two 

 things he should never know. 



In the first place, put tlie halter upon the colt any time after 

 he is six weeks old, and let him become accustomed to it. Then 

 in a stable or small yard, alone and very quietly, take hold of 

 the halter near his head, and turn him short around, first one 

 way and then the other, but do not allow him to pull cither 

 forward or backward with much force. If he should strive to 

 get away, yield somewhat until he learns that he is expected to 

 obey a slight })ull upon the head, and that he is not to be 



