43 BREEDING OF 



that 'the breaker has succeeded in getting on an ordin- 

 aiy halter, but that the colt refuses to be led, or has 

 broken away from the man as soon as he gained the 

 open air. He must be returned to the stable again. 

 At the end of the halter should be tied an extra rope 

 about 20 or 30 feet long. The breaker should take in 

 his hand a rope about 5 feet long with a loop in one 

 end, or what is better, a stirrup strap or breeching 

 strap of a single harness, or the leg strap seen in Fig. 

 16, and advancing carefully alongside the colt or vi- 

 cious horse, pat him gently on the neck and shoulders 

 for some minutes, gradually but steadily working his 

 way with his caresses toward the fetlock of the fore leg. 

 Now attempt to lift the foot and put it down again, 

 repeating this operation 3 or 4 times, each time keeping 

 the foot suspended longer than before. Having to 

 some extent gained his confidence, try to pass the rope 

 or strap around the fetlock, and when the foot is lifted 

 again, secure the strap by tightly buckling around the 

 arm. If a rope is used, it should be secured by a 

 half-hitch bow-knot, so that if the necessity occurs the 

 rope can be slackened immediately, which could not bo 

 done if a proper half -hitch knot were used. Now the 

 horse will begin to plunge and move around lively 

 even if he is on three legs and the breaker should 

 keep at a respectful distance, with a good hold of the 

 rope at the end of the halter shank, trying to steer or 

 drive him toward the door into the open yard or lot. 

 Of course it will be best to get him on to a field where 

 the ground is soft, although there is no danger of the 

 horse injuring himself when restrained in this manner, 

 but sooner or later he will probably lie down, and as it 

 will be best to give him a large amount of 3-legged 



