COLT-BREAKING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 432, 20 January 1912, Page 2

COLT-BREAKING.

A .discussion arose at a recent Farmers' meeting in Sth. Australia, upon this important subject. A Mr. Tuck stated "Animals that should be good horses were often spoiled in the breaking in. He thought it best to handle the animals as foals, bat even then they required a certain amount of breaking before they could be put to work. In the first place, for catching, a crush pen with a swing gate was a very good plan, but he rather favoured a round yard of posts and rails about 6ft. high, with a post in the centre. The method was to catch the colt with a lassoo or rope on a stick in the usual way, and keep it running round pulling it gradually up, so as not to hurt it or choke it down. Coax it until you can get up to it,but do not be in a hurry. The colt will soon give in ; just let him sec that you are going to be master. Tcacli it to drive with the side reins and to lead ; but the most useful thing of all is to tie up. If a colt will tie up you have him under all circumstances. When he is put in the team, tie him to the next horse, and even if he gets out of all harness you have him, and he will not try the same as one that is not used to tie up. If you depend on coupling to the next horse's mouth in the ordinary way he possibly will break the couple and get away Mr. Tuck favored putting the colt on the outside of a team, where, ii it pulled back, there was not the danger of bringing the whole teair back over the implement. He would simply pull the team gradually round in a circle. He thought an open bridle was best to use at first as if a c °lt away, as they sometimes did, there was not the same danger of his galloping over fences In breaking light horses he would mouth up in the usual way, but would not depend altogether on that. He would also use the side reins tc teach it to drive. It was unwise to drive too often, too far, or too fast. The horse might be broken in at two years, but its legs would stand 10 running until four years. When putting in double harness he always tied the horses together, and preferred a light trolley to a log for the first time. The draught was higher, and there was not the danger of the colt getting his legs over the traces. He believed to breaking in to single harness. He often put them in for the first time, but it ivas necessary to be careful in starting not to disappoint him the first few times, but rather to help the :olt away without his knowing it. Mr. Fisher said he would put the colts on to. a log first, and use Leather traces, as the youngsters svere not so likely to kick with traces, and if they did,, leather would not damage their legs to the same extent as chains. A lot of the useless horses about had been spoiled by bad breaking in. Mr. Traegcr thought it necessary to be able tc judge a horse's temper and handle him accordingly, and always put him on the log first. Mr. Goldney believed in handling from a foal and gradually bringing them to- it as they grew up. Mr. Baurn thought it best to handle the colts for a few days, and then give a spell before putting them into harness. He considered they were better broken that way, and would learn more quickly. Mr. Hoepner considered the best way to give a colt a mouth was to tie a rope from the bit to his tail and let him go in the yard, and after e time tie to the other side. Mr. Roberts favored putting on to a log and then into a team with leaders, and tie the colt to the spreader by the neck. Mr. Curtis always put a colt in the body of a waggon team for the first time. The colt then considered that he always had to go, and it would teach him to start. Mr Underwood had broken in a lot of colts both to ride n.nd drive. He did not believe in putting oil a log, and considered a light trolley best. He favored putting into single harness. The Secretary emphasised the .visdom of always teaching a colt to tie up. With a bad-tempered colt :hat was inclined to kick or strike he would get him into a loose box or stall and rub him down with a loose bag or a stick until he gave it up. With a ligbt horse, if it was inclined to be bad tempered, he would not favor breaking in until it was old enough to stand sufficient work to keep it quiet. The Chairman favored putting into a light trolley first, but did not couple in the ordinary way from the bit. He just tied him on by the neck for the first time. He had -a light filly thai he could not get to trot in light harness, although a beautiful trotter out of harness. He asked the members' opinion as to the best way to check it. Members generally favoured giving it plenty of work, considering that was about the only way.