1863. 



NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 



63 



•wear any covering that is air-tight over them, and 

 for this reason, India rubber should be worn aa 

 seldom as possible. No part of the body should 

 be allowed to have a covering that entirely ob- 

 structs the passage of carbonic acid gas from the 

 pores of the skin outward, and the moderate pas- 

 sage of air inward to the skin. Life can be de- 

 stroyed in a very short time, by entirely closing 

 up the pores of the skin. Good warm stockings, 

 and thick soled boots and shoes are conservators 

 of health, and consequently of human happiness. 



TREATMENT OF COLTS. 



The following is part of an article prepared by 

 Col. H. L. Sliields, at the request of the Rensselaer 

 County Agricultural Society. We find it in the 

 Oermantown Telegraph, and commend it to all 

 ■who love the horse. 



Farmers are apt to go to one of two extremes 

 ■with their colts — either to halter them and drag 

 them about through the heat of summer, on roads 

 of all kinds, alongside their dams at work, or else 

 to turn them out to run wild during the first six 

 months of their existence, out of sight and hear- 

 ing of human beings. Now, we take exception to 

 both these methods of proceeding — to the fii-st, 

 because the hmbs and feet of the young animal 

 are tender, and apt to be strained and bruised by 

 being compelled to keep up with the dam, even 

 when walking, for several consecutive miles. The 

 young colt requires frequent rest, and should be 

 at liberty to lie down whenever inclination 

 prompts. When the colt becomes tired it drags 

 on its halter, straining the cords of the neck, back 

 and legs. It is also disadvantageous to allow the 

 young animal to run too long without subjection, 

 for when the attempt is made he Mill resist with 

 great foi'ce, and often with injury. At the risk, 

 then, of some extra work, we advise that the colt 

 be accustomed to be handled often, until he has 

 no fear to approach persons, and when they al- 

 ■ways receive caresses, they are very ready to do so. 

 At two months old, put on the halter ; but allow 

 the colt to go very much as he likes, occasionally 

 drawing him towards you and caressing him. In 

 two hours you will have imperceptibly broken him 

 to lead. Then, when you tie him. do so with a 

 halter he cannot break — a short struggle will sat- 

 isfy him he is conquered. Never sutler any one 

 to strike or yell at a colt ; one such barbarous act 

 will cause a day's work to overcome its bad efi'ect. 

 Wiien first cleaning him, avoid the head — then 

 approach that part tenderly, and if he resists go to 

 some other point. In a few moments return, and 

 so continue till he submits with pleasure, rather, 

 to being handled and rubbed anywhere and on 

 any part. Your colt is then half broken. • Wean 

 the colt at five or six months old, first teaching 

 him while suckling the mare to eat oats. When 

 taken from the dam confine the colt closely, and 

 put them out of hearing of each other for one 

 week. During the first winter, feed daily two 

 quarts of oats and all the hay the colt will eat. 

 This with good warm shelter will kec]) him grow- 

 ing and improving. Don't turn out in spring till 

 the weather is settled and warm, and a full bite of 

 grass. The first year makes or ruins the colt. It 

 is the most important of his life. Keep him fat 



the first year, whatever you do aftei-wards, for 

 this year decides whether lie is to be a full grown 

 horse or a mi.->erable pony — no after care can atone 

 for neglect daring iho first twelve months. Good 

 pasture (mountain if pos.'iible) the next season, and 

 plenty of hay the next winter, with a quart of 

 grain if couveuieitt, will iHing you a finelv formed, 

 powerful two yenr old. If a horse, alter liim early, 

 before fn time, and turn to good grass. In tlie 

 fall begin to In-eak, by bitting gradually tighter 

 each day — within two weeks you have his head as 

 high and graceful as nature allows. The neck 

 should be arched and the face vertical, without 

 constraint. When the bitting is accomplished, 

 put on your harness and let the straps dangle 

 around his legs ; continue this until he pays no 

 attention to them, but do not fatigue the" colt 

 either in the bitting bridle or harness. The bend- 

 ing in of the neck is exceedingly painful, and 

 should be done by degrees, the work requiring two 

 weeks. While in the bitting bridle, exercise him 

 on a circle to the right and left, alternately, the 

 radius never less than 10 to 15 feet, otherwise he 

 will learn to step too short. JIake him walk and 

 walk /(/si while walking; no gait is more impor- 

 tant, and our Agricultural Society should offer 

 premiums for fast walkers. AVhile harnessed, ac- 

 custom the colt to wagons, sulkies, &c., by run- 

 ning them around and about him. Then harness 

 to the sulky and lead him several days until he no 

 longer notices the pushing or jostling of the 

 vehicle. Then let one get in while another leads, 

 and so gradualJij get him accustomed to all around 

 him ; on finding he is not hurt he will soon be- 

 come quiet. Occasionally harness double with a 

 steady, quiet horse, but put on no load. Teach 

 him to back by standing in front and pressing on 

 the bit — calling out "back," &c. Always caress 

 when he has done his duty. During the second 

 Minter, hitch in double, making the other horse 

 draw all the weight and drive for a short distance 

 (say one-quarter of a mile at a time) alternately, 

 fast and slow. Train your colts to three gaits in 

 harness, the fast walk always, the moderate or 

 road gate for distance, and the rapid trot. As if 

 we desired to make a man a good dancer, we 

 would begin young while the limbs were nimble 

 and the actions graceful — so if wc desire a fast 

 walker and a fast trotter too, we must take the 

 colt while young, and so when pressed, he will 

 take up the fast trot, instead of the gallop, so nat- 

 ural in after years. A horse can be trained that 

 he is to trot and not break up, as well as the boy 

 can that he is to glide but never jump in the waltz. 

 We do not pretend that all horses will learn to 

 trot equally fist more than all the boys dance 

 equallv well, but all can be trained to exert every 

 muscle in the trot as weU as in the run. Colls 

 should never be driven fast for long distances ; 

 they become leg-weary and cut themselves or "in- 

 terfere" as it is called. .\t three years old, the 

 horse can perform very moderate work. At four, 

 more still, but not until five should he he ex- 

 pected to do "a day's work," and better yet if de- 

 ferred until six ; most horses are ruined before 

 five, by early and injudicious driving or brutal 

 treatment of "some kind. The /ar/ner can best use 

 horses up to this age ; all his work can be done by 

 his brood mares and colts, and leave all his ma- 

 tured horses for market. One horse thus raised 

 and trained is worth two such, as we now often 



