82 DISEASES OF ANI.CALS. 



and they often busy themselves in eating harnesses. 

 These are all vexations. 



Colts are weaned when four to seven months old 

 They should be put into a small enclosure, for conve- 

 nience in seeing to them often, where there is pure 

 water, a plenty of sweet herbage, and trees, or some- 

 thing that will be 



" From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade." 



Give them a little salt. If weaned after the green herb- 

 age is gone, feed on rowen, well saved, clover, and a 

 few roots. A little meal and a few oats are good. 



Take colts to the barn in the fall, when cold nights 

 come on ; and give them clover hay, roots, and some 

 provender. They require special attention the first 

 winter. A little exercise is of great advantage. Under 

 a wise manager, they may be trained to a sleigh. When 

 well disciplined, drive moderately ; walk up hill, and 

 down hill, too, if quite steep. Consider that a colt is a 

 " wee bit of a thing," compared with a horse, in strength ; 

 and he should be put to no hardships. Gentle training 

 will save breaking, and he will make a more intelligent 

 and tractable horse. Put no weights on his back in his 

 tender age. 



Colts are seldom or never vicious by nature. If well 

 educated, by first learning them what they are required 

 to perform, and then encouraged and directed, by gentle 

 means and the kindest treatment, there would seldom be 

 any trouble, or need of compulsion or severity. [See 

 Training and Breaking, page 27, and the following 

 article.] 



TAMING, TRAINING, AND BREAKING. 



We have given some general rules on this subject. 

 We here give modes of taming wild and vicious horses, 

 and training horses, generally, to specific purposes. 



TAMINO VICIOUS HORSES. 



Mr. Denton Offutt, of Kentucky, distinguished him- 

 self in taming horses, in all their varieties of vices and 

 faults. He would make any horse follow him in the 



