iio6 Ri'RAi. School Lkafi.et 



fit perfectly; if a part breaks, the colt may be ruined for all time. The 

 collar should receive special attention, since it is through this part of 

 the harness that the horse exerts his power, and the colt's shoulders are 

 likely to be tender and easily abraded. The collar must be kept scru- 

 pulously clean. If the colt loses flesh, the collar, which fitted perfectly in 

 the beginning, may become too large. A breast collar is admissible when 

 the load is fight. It must not be adjusted so high as to choke the animal, 

 nor should it be so low as to interfere with the action of his limbs. The 

 saddle and the crupper also need careful attention. They should fit 

 and should be kept clean, lest they abrade the back or the tail and make 

 the horse vicious. 



Hitching single. — When the colt is desired for single use, it is often 

 advisable to train him to go single from the first. This may be done 

 after he has become familiar with the bit, the harness, and the use of the 

 lines. When training the colt to go single, a training cart, substantialh' 

 constructed with long shafts and with a seat so arranged that the driver can 

 mount and dismount quickly, should be employed. The shafts should 

 be twelve or fourteen feet long, with proxdsion at the ends for the attach- 

 ment of a strap from point to point in order to prevent the colt in rearing 

 from throwing his front leg over the end of the shaft. At first a kicking 

 strap attached to each shaft and passed over the rump should be used, 

 at least until the colt is accustomed to the shafts. When the colt is 

 first hitched, an assistant should hold him until the driver is ready, and 

 then he should be allowed to go. As soon as he has become familiar 

 with the vehicle, he should be taught to stand still until he is told to go. 



Training the colt to walk fast. — ■ There is no gait more valuable, more 

 appreciated, and more practically useftd in a horse than a fast, square 

 walk. It is not difficult to train the average colt to walk fast, provided 

 the proper methods are employed in early training. From the very 

 beginning he should be walked as swiftly as he is able to walk, in order 

 that he may form the habit of fast walking. He should never be allowed 

 to mope along, or the habit will become strongly fixed. 



Training vicious horses 

 In training or handling vicious horses, it is iinportant to impress them 

 firmly with the idea that the trainer has complete control over them 

 and that they must obey. There are several ways of conveying this idea. 

 Perhaps the most effective means is to contrive a self-punishing harness. 

 With such a harness the vicious horse deals out liis own punishment 

 at the instant he violates his trainer's wish. While many appliances 

 have been devised for the control of vicious horses, perhaps that invented 

 by Mr. Rarey and used in his so-called " Rarey system" is as effective 



