American horses and horse breeding : a complete history of the horse from the remotest period in his history to date. The horseman's encyclopedia and standard authority on horses, by Dimon John

Author:Dimon, John
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Horses
Publisher: Hartford, Conn. : J. Dimon
Published: 1895-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

be mav meet on tlie road and to give hira confidence in himself.

In hitching np a colt double I ahvays put him on the off or rig-ht-hand side at first, as then in meeting high loads and other scarey things on the road he is further from them, and what gives him more confidence and less fear, there is another horse between him and them. Another strong argument for thus placing him on this side is that in getting in or out on the near side you are less liable to frighten him, especially so if, by chance, you should happen to slip or stumble.

Many a fine, highly-bred colt, for want of confidence in himself becomes frightened on the road from meeting strange and, to him, frightful things, and will try to run away from them ; but if balked in this, his next means of defense or protection is to kick, which is one of the worst habits that a colt can possibly get into. Many a kicking horse first commenced the habit from fright, and not from viciousness, as many suppose. If a colt is taught what is required of him, as soon as he is made to understand, he usually becomes a willing subject ; but to attempt to force him to do that which lie does not comprehend is to excite him to resistance; hence the many balky, kicking, and unruly horses.

Yet it gives me great ]")leasure to know that by judicious breeding and handling, as has been practiced for the last two or three decades, we have far less of this class of horses than we had thirty years ago.

In breaking and training colts strength is not as essential as patience, perseverance, and kindness. Kindness and gentle handling are the means by which a colt's confidence is gained, and this should be practiced from the beginning. While you should always treat the colt kindly, you should never play or fool with him, as many horses have been taught to be vicious in later life from having been fooled with as foals; consequently, any attempt on the part of the animal towards undue familiarity should be checked at once, or the time may come

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