320 Effective Farming 



to it, let him smell it, rattle it, and lead him around it. Then, 

 lead the team horse to his place at the tongue, bring the colt 

 up, attach the lines, the neck yoke, and the traces, and hitch 

 the two animals together. Next, have an assistant take the 

 colt's lead rope. Drive a few steps and stop, using the break 

 to hold the wagon away from the team. Have the assistant 

 pet the colt to quiet him and when he is quiet start again, this 

 time going a little farther than the first time. As soon as he 

 gets over being frightened, drive in a circle a few times. Stop 

 occasionally and quiet him and when he goes well have the 

 assistant get into the wagon. Take only a short drive and 

 when the colt shows signs of fear, stop and let him examine 

 whatever may have frightened him. Keep up the lessons, 

 taking a longer ride each day until the colt is broken. 



Driving in single harness. Put the colt in single harness, 

 using an open bridle, lead him to the cart and allow him to 

 examine it. A two- wheel breaking cart with long shafts is 

 best for this purpose. Have an assistant draw the cart around 

 the colt a few times and after he shows no signs of fear, raise 

 the shafts and draw the cart up to place. After he has been 

 hitched, get into the seat and have the assistant lead the animal 

 for a while. Later drive without the aid of an assistant. Start 

 the colt quietly, drive a few steps, stop and pet him. Keep 

 this up for several lessons until the animal can be driven quietly. 



Breaking the colt to ride. When a colt is to be broken to 

 ride, it is well first to break him to drive both single and double, 

 then break him to ride. Put on the saddle and lead him around. 

 Tie him up for a while and, keeping the saddle on, turn him 

 into a paddock. Next, accustom him to being mounted by 

 getting on and off several times. After he is accustomed to 

 the mounting, get on his back and have an assistant lead him. 

 As soon as possible, ride him without the aid of an assistant. 

 If the colt gets unruly, pull his head to one side, and do not 

 let him get it down. Keep up, the lessons until he will go for- 

 ward, back, stop, and so on, at the will of the rider. 



