23) QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL gouRNAL. — [1 Jan., 1900. 
town, tore out a horse’s tongue? Imagine a young colt being broken in by 
such a savage. There is nothing easier than teaching a young horse to stand 
anything in the way of work if the trainer goes about it in a proper manner; 
and re more high-spirited and well-bred the youngster is, the easier it is to 
teach it. | 
The colt should be accustomed to be handled as soon as it is born, and i! 
should always be spoken to and handled gently. By shouting and using a whip, 7 
the animal becomes terrified. It does not yet understand the orders given to 1b,” 
but it does understand that as soon as the rough trainer appears it is bound to 
suffer pain; and hence comes resistance on its part, more cruelty on the part of 
the trainer, and perhaps the implanting of some ineradicable vice. Especially 
should the trainer be careful about the colt’s head, so that the latter may not 
contract the habit of throwing up its head whenever approached with a bridle - 
or headstall. 
Stroke and rub the animal, using the currycomb and brush very gently 
around the legs, raising the feet and tapping gently at first, then increasing as 
the animal grows. If this is properly done, and the person that is training” 
does the feeding (all others excluded), by the time three months have passe 
we may begin to halter-break. This is easily accomplished—after stroking the | 
animal, very slowly pass one hand with halter over his neck, coaxing him at the” 
same time, gradually reaching his nose, slowly drawing on and then buckling. 
Sometimes the animal will resist when we go to pass over its neck; if so, coax 
him, and let him smell the halter, until when passed over and back he no more’ — 
resents it. He should now wear the halter for two or three hours each day. — 
Always speak gently, at the same time with command, and keep your eye 
rivetted on the eye of the animal. Always teach the animal to go by word — 
more than by rein. A. colt will learn to go ahead naturally, but to teach him 
to back seems to be most difficult. 
As to the most important part—how to get good horses—we must either’ 
break them or have them broken properly. Commence when very young. 
Like a child, they learn quickly (if intelligent), and never forget that which is” 
thoroughly taught at this time. If we wait until they grow older, they may 
learn vicious habits instead of good ones. 
Make a friend of your horse. Feed him always yourself, and occasionally” 
give him little delicacies he is fond of, such as carrots and sugar. He will thus 
watch for your coming with pleasure instead of fear. 
In breaking the colt to harness, take an ordinary bridle, minus the winkers ;_ 
and if it becomes necessary to use them, the animal does not mind the change. 
The bit used first is the ordinary 34-inch curb or jointed bit. Walk up to the 
animal; let him see and smell every part of the harness; shake it so as to” 
rattle; drop it suddenly to the floor, until he does not flinch. Then proceed to” 
adjust as with the halter, but do not have the bit too tight at first. Let it 
remain on a short time; then follow as with the halter, always repeating the old” 
lesson with every new one. i 
A colt should never know how much strength he has until he knows how to — 
use it. If he once runs away he is never a safe horse afterwards, and, while he 
may to all appearance forget it, there will come a time when he will run again; 
and the chances are that he will do much damage. The harness for breskingi 
and driving colts should be extra strong and heavy. The reins and bit especially 
must be stout enough for all possible emergencies. A. straight-bar bit is goo i 
enough for a steady horse, but it cannot be depended on with fractious animals: _ 
There are numerous kinds of bits that are easy when a horse is steady, but 8°” 
made as to hold the horse when he tries to run. 1 
Menrres se ee 
| 
1 
] 
dl 
y 
| 
| 
— 
are + arp - 
