7i6 



Reading-Course for Farmers. 



After the colt understands the uses of the halter and will lead, he may 

 be taught to drive with lines. To do this successfully a surcingle properly 

 adjusted is required. The surcingle must be provided with loops or rings 

 on each side, placed well below the center of the body, the lines passed 

 through these and fastened to the rings on either side of the halter ; never 

 use a bit in the mouth of a very young colt. Now the- lines will pass the 

 liind quarters low down and thus prevent the colt from turning with his 

 head towards the trainer. It is very important to keep the reins low in 

 turning to make the guiding process easy. After a little, as the colt be- 

 comes accustomed to being driven, he can be touched up with the lines, 



Fig. 35 — Artangement of holier mid lines for teaching 

 the young colt to drive 



guided to the right or left, but should be stopped often to assure him that 

 he is doing well. 



There are two objections to training colts while young: (i) Want of 

 time on the part of the owner; and (2) being trained, the youngsters arc 

 likely to be driven or put to hard labor before they are properly devel- 

 oped. For these reasons colts are usually allowed to enjoy their inde- 

 pendence until such time as they are fit to work, and their general useful- 

 ness in many cases is much impaired by this fact. A horse should be 

 reasonably mature before he is called upon to do service, but any time 

 spent on his education prior to the date at which he goes to work will be 

 repaid many fold in the more satisfactory manner in which he will per- 

 form his service. 



Training to the uses of the hit 

 It is best perhaps to train the horse to the uses of the bit when he is 

 about two years of age. The uses of the bit are very important and the 



