DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 43 



comparative ease cut off the limbs at the hocks, or at any 

 rate divide the tendons behind and above the hock, 

 when the limbs will easily bend up double, with the feet 

 close to the styfle. The delivery will usually be ef- 

 fected with comparative ease. 



I have not mentioned the various instruments used 

 by veterinarians to facilitate delivery, as in most cases it 

 would be dangerous for an ordinary operator to attempt 

 their use. In all cases where the limbs are turned back 

 and cannot be easily brought around, there should be 

 no hesitation in using a great deal of force to push 

 back the body of the fetus, to allow the limbs to be 

 turned the more easily. The principles to be observed 

 in effecting delivery are purely mechanical, and allow 

 a considerable degree of latitude in the selection of ap- 

 pliances to aid the natural powers of the mother. 



BREAKING AND TRAINING OF COLTS. 



IT is a very simple matter to break and train colts 

 when the handling is begun at a sufficiently early age 

 and the earlier the education of the future horse begins, 

 the easier will be the task. However, on account of the 

 breaking taking up more time than the ordinary bree- 

 der is willing to give to it at an early age, it often oc- 

 curs that colts are not broken until they are two or 

 three years old. The breeder has now a very difficult 

 problem to deal with, for if he makes a serious mistake, 

 it is likely that his colt will turn out a run-away, a 

 kicker, or evince his vicious propensity in other ways. 

 We will therefore consider first, the proper steps to take 

 to properly bring up a colt so that he will be a quiet, 

 tractable animal, and therefore very desirable to own. 



