14 ELEMENTAEY AGRICULTURE 



he once breaks loose he has learned a very bad trick 

 (Fig. 8). 



His First Bridle. After the colt is halter-broken 

 so he can be tied or led, it is a good plan to tie his 

 halter to his mother's hame or collar. In this way 

 he gets used to trotting beside another horse. The 

 next lesson is to put on a bridle with a smooth bit. 

 An open bridle is better than a ^^ blind'' one, for the 

 horse ought to see everything about him so he will 

 the more quickly get used to the new experience. 



Driving the Colt. A saddle may now be put on, 

 or a single harness with crupper and back strap. 

 It is a good plan to drive the horse at first without 

 a cart. The driver passes the lines through the tug 

 or the loop made for the shafts, and in this way 

 keeps the animal from whirling suddenly and get- 

 ting tangled up in the lines. It is well to have a 

 helper lead the colt at first, until he understands 

 what is expected of him. 



Driving Double. The colt may now be hitched to 

 a cart with long shafts and a kick strap, or he may 

 be hitched up with another horse. When this is 

 done it is a good plan to keep a pair of single lines 

 on the colt's bridle and have these in the hands of a 

 helper. In hitching up double, it is well to use a 

 heavy wagon with a brake and to put the colt on the 

 '^off" side. He can now be taught to stop, to back, 

 and to start at the proper signal. 



Not Too Many Signals. A horse should be trained 

 early to stand still while he is being harnessed and 



