Horses 319 



a position behind him with the lines in hand, and have an 

 assistant lead him. As soon as he becomes accustomed to 

 the driver, do without the assistant. Drive the colt for half 

 an hour in a paddock or lane where there are no other horses. 

 This lesson is to teach him to go forward, nothing else. Use 

 the whip, click to him, or say " get up " to let him know what 

 is wanted. It is necessary to drive in a circle both to the 

 right and the left as this makes the colt familiar with objects 

 on both sides of him. Often an animal will be accustomed to 

 objects on one side, but will be frightened when they are seen 

 for the first time on the other. 



In the next lesson the colt should be driven for a while, then 

 taught to stop at the command " whoa." To stop a colt say 

 " whoa " loud enough to be heard plainly and follow with a 

 pull on the reins. In making this pull, hold one of the reins 

 tight and pull with the other, then relax. If the colt does not 

 stop, repeat the command and the pull. As soon as he has 

 learned to stop in this way, teach him to stop by giving the 

 command only, not the pull. 



During the first part of the next lesson, the " get up " and 

 " whoa " commands should be reviewed, after which he should 

 be taught to back. To do this, drive him a few steps forward, 

 stop him, give the command " back " followed by a pull on 

 the lines. If he backs pet him and repeat the command. Do 

 not keep up a steady pull on the lines, as this may cause him 

 to take the bit and forge ahead. Make the lesson short, give 

 another the next day, and continue the lessons until he has 

 been well trained to drive in bitting harness. 



The work harness is next substituted for the bitting harness. 

 Fasten the traces and breeching together loosely at first and 

 tighten them gradually as the training progresses. 



Driving in double harness. For the first lesson in double 

 harness, hitch the colt with a gentle horse and drive them for 

 half an hour without a wagon. At the next lesson the first 

 step is to make him familiar with the wagon. Lead him up 



