ILLUSTRATED GUIDE. 33 



ing, or showing signs of fear, you may then hitch him up 

 single. 



HITCHING THE COLT IN SINGLE HARNESS. 



Put on your harness, which should be strong in every 

 respect, and well fitted to your colt, carefully ; lead him 

 around for a short time, until he becomes familiar with the 

 harness, then check him, quite loosely at first. Take yout 

 webbing, or the strap that you have used to handle his 

 feet, attach one end to the ankle of the right forward foot, 

 carrying it back through between the belly-band of your 

 harness and the colt. Now take your reins from the pad, 

 and you have three reins, two to his head and one to 

 his foot. Now drive him about a short time ; when you 

 want him to stop, use the word whoa, and take his foot. 

 Now place the w^eb or strap between his hind legs, touch- 

 ing him gently on each leg; if he should attempt to jump 

 or kick, say whoa, pull on the foot strap, then gently ap- 

 proach him, pat and caress, to let him know that you are 

 with him, and that he has done right in stopping. Contin- 

 ue this until he will start and stop at the word ; come to the 

 right or left, as the reins indicate. He is now prepared for 

 the wagon. Do not be tempted, under any circumstances, 

 to use an old, rotten harness, nor to hitch your colt to an 

 old, rotten, rattling wagon, liable to give way on the first 

 move of the colt. Many valuable colts have been so fright- 

 ened through such carelessness as to become almost useless. 



Make everything safe and sure, as safety and certainty 

 should be your motto. 



Before you hitch your colt into the shafts, lead him 

 around the wagon or sleigh, and let him examine every 

 part of it ; then back him into the shafts ; stand on the left 

 side of your colt ; have the strap or webbing attached to 



