Rural School Leaflet 



1193 



Loin hitch to teach a foal to lead 



tage must be taken of his natural tendency to step forward when pressure 

 is brought to bear on the buttocks. A small rope, the size of a sash cord 

 and about ten feet 

 long, with a noose or a 

 ring at one end, should 

 l)e i)laced gently over 

 his back just in front 

 of the hips, with the 

 noose or the ring on 

 the underside of the 

 body. When the other 

 end of the rope is run 

 through the noose, the 

 rope can be closely 

 drawn around the 

 flanlcs, passed along 

 under the body be- 

 tween the forelegs, and 

 then up through the 

 ring in the halter. 

 This is called the loin hitch. The trainer should pull gently on the halter 

 strap with one hand, and, as the colt begins to shake his head, give the 

 light rope a sharp pull with the other hand; the colt will immediately 

 stejj fonvard. If he is given time to become used to the lesson, he will 

 soon follow wherever he is led. 



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

 be taught to drive with reins Ijy securing the lines to the rings of the 

 halter. A bit should not be used on the young colt. 



Training to the uses of the bit. — It is perhaps best to train the horse 

 to the uses of the bit when he is about two years of age. The manner 

 in which this is done will go far toward determining his usefulness. Inas- 

 much as the master's desire is conveyed to the mind of the horse through 

 the medium of hands, reins, bit, and mouth, no progress can be made, 

 and none should be attempted, until this means of communication has 

 been established. 



No other one thing contributes so much to the pleasure, the comfort, 

 and the safety of the driver of a horse as a responsive mouth that promptly 

 obeys the slightest instruction from the master. In general horses have 

 good mouths naturally. A bad mouth is usually the result of improper 

 handling, and often is the cause of many other imperfections, such as 

 tongue lolHng, crossing the jaws, hobbling, and irregular and unsteady 

 gaits, many of which, when well established, are difficult to overcome. 



