BREAKING YOUNG HORSES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 593, 17 December 1920, Page 3

BREAKING YOUNG HORSES.

It occasionally happens that pres--1 sure of other work prevents any time being given up to horse-breaking just i when it should he, and in that case 'the job has to be postponed for a few months or probably a year. There is no doubt that trouble in putting young horses into the team is considerably lessened if they are handled and taught to lead and stand, and so forth, as foals. "When this is not ' done the breaking-in of cart colts is 1 often done in a very rough and ready manner, and many a good one gets ! spoiled in the breaking. When taught tj lead as fouls they are not fright- ■ encd 'when a man attempts to go up t<_ them, and they will usually stand quiet to be haltered and bridled, whereas the unhandled colt has first of all to be caught by slipping a halter over his head, with considerable ! risk to the breaker of getting kicked. • He must then be taught to lead by being pulled about by three or foui men, and it is a rough, hard job for everybody concerned with a raw, welldeveloped three-year-old, and when got to lead there is lunging to be done, and the mounting tackle to be put on. Great care should be taken in this matter, insomuch as a bad, onej-sided or callous mouth is very easily produced by indifferent adjustment of the mounting bit.- A good plan is to put on the mouthing tackle with a surcingle, crupper, and side reins complete, and let the colt amuse himself in a big open yard for a few hours daily until the mouth becomes nicely sensitive, and then let there be no more of it. As soon_ as the colt will lead well and allow himself to be handled he may be put to work. The best place to start a young horse is in the middle of a plough team, and it should be seen to f-hat there is no kicker in frt>ir(t tof him or biter at the back. Good, steady, reliable horses should be put to the job of showing a youngster the way he should go, and if levery care -is exercised during the first few days, until the young horse gets confidence in his surroundings, there will be no difficulty afterwards. He should be taken to the field with his halter, bridle and collar on, but not the hames. The latter, with the rest \of the harness, should be\ taken up to the field, and when the colt is placed in position between the front and hind horse should have the hames adjusted and the harness slipped on and the chains hooked up as quickly and expeditiously as possible, a man having firm hold of his head by the halter while a start is made. After a few rounds he will steady down and soon begin to realise what is expected of him. Care should be taken that the collar fits well and is well padded, and that the bridle, particularly the bit, is comfortable. Whether a. young cart horse is going to be handy and tractable in after life or whether he is going to be stQpid and awkward depends to a great extent on the handling he gets when being first put into the collar. It is advisable to put emits to all sorts of work when handled, ploughing, scuffling, harrowing, and particularly the shafts of a roll, which is an excellent preliminary training for the shafts of a cart. There is of course much to be said about breaking colts at two years old if circumstances and conditions permit. A little easy work and exercise develop their muscles, open their lungs and toughens their sinews, and are no doubt beneficial to them in every way. •