CHAPTER XI. 



BREAKING COLTS. 



"AS THE twig is bent the tree will grow" is a 

 £\^ maxim that has come down to us through 

 the ages, and has direct application to the 

 breaking and educating of a colt. The viciousness 

 and worthlessness of many otherwise valuable horses 

 can be traced directly to the want of knowledge, 

 care and patience on the part of the trainer, in giving 

 the young animal his first few lessons in harness. 

 While in my early career I had quite a large experi- 

 ence in breaking colts, since being at Village Farm 

 I have had nothing whatever to do with that 

 important branch of the business, as that is done 

 entirely by Mr. H. B. Freeman, a man of large 

 experience, and the most successful colt breaker I 

 ever saw. Out of the great number he has broken at 

 Village Farm he has never injured one, and when he 

 turns them over to be handled they are thoroughly 

 broken and ready for use. I thoroughly approve his 

 methods, and if those desiring colts well broken will 

 follow his instructions, their desires will be gratified. 

 In the first place, I think it best to take plenty of 

 time to bit a colt and have him thoroughly broken 

 before trying to give him speed. I usually ground 

 break him a week or ten days, that is, let him get 

 thoroughly use to the harness, and drive him a good 

 deal with it on and teach him to start and stop at the 

 word. Also to turn to the right or left, with ease ; 



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