LET’ S TRAIN A COLT Chapter 5
Things arc looking up! Our little black filly has taken to the advanced rigors of training very well and appears to be on her way to becoming a pretty good colt. A lot of changes were made in her training program this past month. Our trainer decided she was settled enough to have some real pressure put on her. So far she has met the test.
The big step was putting her in a tail set for the first lime. She had been handled so much that she was not at all afraid of the set but it took a couple of days for her to get used to having all that gear on. She. was to have had her tail rut last month but our trained“ did not like, the signs55. I was amazed at his thinking, but being an old country boy he said“ with this colt I don’ t want to take any chances and the signs just aren’ t right to cut her tail”. We will tell you more about this later! She was put in the set before her tail was cut so she could get used to the set.
The training program for the past month has consisted of a thirty to forty-five minute workout even- working day. Our trainer works all his horses five days a week and some of them get an extra days work on Saturday. His barn is closed on Sunday and all the horses get to rest that day too. He has worked her outside whenever weather permitted and she has done very well out in the fields.
A change was made in equipment that he has been working her with. About two weeks ago he switched from a snaffel bit to a regular bit( sec photo). This bit swivels at the shank and he wrapped the bit with laytcx rubber to protect her mouth. The curb chain has been kept loose and. he has not put any pressure on her to keep her head set. Whenever she develops a tendency to“ get her nose out”, he puts a“ de-down” on her. This is not too tight but lets her know that her nose should not go out but a little bit. As she progresses he will slowly apply
36 whatever pressure is necessary to help her set her head correctly. So far, she is setting up very well without too much persuasion.
The basic training equipment this past month has consisted of chains on her front feet. We have noticed that our trainer has varied his procedure in using chains. He would flat foot her with two pair on, taking it easy with her and concentrating on getting her to relax and fall into a smooth one-two-threefour rhythm, with a good head-shaking motion. After ten or fifteen minutes of( this, he w ' ould remove one pair of chains and carry her on into a running walk. Most of the time she did very well, but when he tried to push her on too fast, she would slip into a“ slick pace”. As she would slow down to make make the turns at the end of the barn however she would drop back into a good running walk.
Another innovation was introduced this month that proved very effective. Most of the time when our colt was worked with chains, she had“ spats” on to protect her feet and thus far, her feet are in pretty good shape. Just for a change, however our trainer tried what the professionals have called a“ tear-drop” chain. It is an adjustable collar boot with four chains hanging down around the outside. Three links are used. This produces the same action and motion as heavier chains and doesn’ t injure the colts foot,( see picture).
We have heard it said that“ if they aren’ t shaking their head, they aren’ t walking”... we have one here that is shaking her head very well. We hope you are having the same luck with your young stock.
A nole regarding“ cutting tails”. This is a job for a qualified Veterinarian or an experienced horseman. Be sure to get expert advice on this before attempting to cut horses tail. If our fdly has her tail cut this month, she v / ijj probably not get much work for about a week or ten days. She will be exercized daily however, with her tail in wraps.
There is one bit of negative news regarding this particular colt this month. About a week ago, she started to swell in her left front leg. This swelling went all the way up to her elbow but didn’ t appear to be painful to her. Our trainer quit working her for about a week and kept her ankle wrapped. Twice a day, a groom would wash her leg well with Absorbine Linament and put her on the cooler for about twenty minutes. Our last report was that the swelling had gone down and she was ready to go back to work in earnest. These things happen, so don’ t get discouraged if it happens to yours. EDITOR’ S NOTE— The“ tear drop” boot described in this chapter can be purchjased from the Walking Horse Supply Company, Shelbyville, Tenn.
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