THE COLT 



405 



299. The Colt. The raising of a colt is an excellent 

 home project. There is perhaps no farm animal more 

 interesting to young people than a colt. It is certainly, 

 too, a worth-while project. If a member of the class 

 decides to raise a colt as a home exercise, it would be well 

 to keep a few things in mind. A colt should be made to 

 understand that the boy is his master. A colt learns 

 quickly and seems in after years never to be able to forget 

 the lessons learned in 

 its early days. For this 

 reason it should always 

 be treated kindly but 

 firmly and never be made 

 to fear. We should at- 

 tempt to teach a colt a 

 little only at a time and 

 have this lesson well 

 learned before the next 

 one is presented. The 

 colt should become ac- 

 customed to a halter 

 early in life. The halter must be a good one, for if the 

 colt breaks it once he will try to do it the second time. 



At two years of age he should be introduced to the bit 

 and harness. The bit should be smooth and the harness 

 loose. Lines may be fastened to the bridle and the colt 

 driven around a little each day and taught the meaning of 

 the words "whoa" and "get up." In all his relations to 

 the young animal the trainer should be gentle but firm. 



The colt should be trained to work double before single. 

 His partner should be a quiet, active and reliable animal. 

 It is always well to have separate lines on the colt the first 

 few times he is hitched double. 



If the colt is to be trained to work single, it is well to 



RAISING A COLT. 



