How to Raise and Train Colts for Pleasure and Profit

HANDLING AND TRAINING OF COLTS DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR

THE training of a colt begins the day he is born and something should be added to this training every day of its life. This training begins with the wiping of it immediately after it is foaled. It should be continued the next day by a little handling and restraint as it tries to hide behind its mother in the stall. Approach to it should be slow and quiet. Handling of it should be very gentle. A few moments at a time are enough. Beginning with the second day, it should start to become accustomed to having its feet handled. At this early age just run the hand firmly down the length of the leg and tap the hoof with the fingers. Unless for some special purpose, don’t try yet to pick the foot up. The idea is to teach the colt to accept foot and leg handling as a matter of course.

When not more than a week old, start teaching the colt the meaning of the halter. Every foal should have his own little halter and it should come to be associated in his mind with something he likes. For example, instead of letting the colt scamper along as it goes out to pasture or into the paddock, put the halter on it in the stall and lead it through the stable and into paddock or pasture for a reasonable distance. There remove it; pat the little creature and let him go. At night put the halter on him at the pasture gate and lead him along with his dam into the stable. Let her go into the stall first; hold the colt back until she is out of the way; and then lead him in slowly and in good form. Remove his halter; pat him. Remove the mare’s halter; pat her; and then leave the stall. In this way the little fellow will learn to accept restraint without fear or resentment and he will associate the halter as something connected with what he likes to do.

When two weeks old, if not before, start the grooming which will continue through life and which is so much a factor in keeping horses in pleasing condition. Halter the colt; lead him out onto the stable floor, and with the snap ropes which you have fastened each side of the grooming floor exactly as for the grown horses, put the colt in position and start with gentle brushing. The youngster will probably rebel at being fastened from both sides in this manner, but what of it? He will probably run ahead, pull back and then rear a few times. Let him, but be sure the halter is strong enough, and tight enough so that he cannot slip it, and that the ropes are secure enough to hold him. It is good practice to locate this grooming immediately outside his stall where he can see his dam and be seen by her. Brushing is all the grooming that is necessary and after the first day or two he will accept the tie ropes as a part of his routine; and, because he tried to break them and couldn’t, in all probability he will accept every rope and strap ever applied to him afterwards, as something more powerful than himself.

At two weeks teach him to accept the lifting of his feet and to permit their being handled. Don’t lift them too high because that will frighten him with the suggestion that you are going to throw him off balance and that is a fear-inspiring suggestion for horses of any age. Also, don’t hold any foot up too long at first; but after several days take time to inspect the little feet and to clean them out thoroughly. Thrush can result from foulness in a foal’s hoof just as it can in a mature horse’s hoof. Look well to the leveling of the foot. Keep a rasp as handy as a body brush. Without rasping much of the shell away, keep the feet level. Many breeders neglect this very important item in the care of the feet. Level feet help legs to grow straight; they help pasterns to mature in the right position at the right angle; and they do much to prevent toeing in or toeing out, as well as dishing and paddling when in