THE HOKSE 281 



clieckrein, surcingle and crujpper, and two side lines running 

 from the bit to buckles on either side of the surcingle. The 

 adjustment of the bridle is important. The length of the head- 

 stall must be so adjusted as to bring the bit in mild contact with 

 the bars of the mouth. If the headstall is too short, the bars 

 and the corners of the mouth soon become sore and the animal 

 may become vicious ; on the other hand, if it is too long, the bit 

 drops down in the mouth and the animal becomes careless. AVith 

 the bitting harness properly adjusted, the colt may be turned 

 into the familiar open paddock in order to become accustomed 

 to having the bit in his mouth. The clieckrein and the side reins 

 should be left slack at first. Gradually from day to day the 

 reins should be shortened, although care must be taken that 

 they are never made so short as to place the head in an uncom- 

 fortable position, or to tighten the bit and make the corners of 

 the mouth sore. During a few hours each day for perhaps a 

 week or less, the colt should be subjected to the use of this 

 apparatus. The side reins may now be substituted 'for real lines, 

 and the colt may be driven until he knows how to guide this way 

 and that, to stop at the word 'Svhoa," and to step forward at 

 the command ''get up." He should be trained to stand abso- 

 lutely still when he is being harnessed or saddled, or at any time 

 when it is desired that he should do so. A horse that is con- 

 tinually stepping about while being harnessed is but half trained. 

 The trainer should be gentle at^all times, but he should a-ccom- 

 plish everything that is undertaken. 



Harnessing the colt. — After the colt has become familiar with 

 the bitting apparatus and has learned to obey simple commands, 

 he may be harnessed. 



Before being harnessed or hitched, the colt should be made 

 familiar with the pressure caused by the harness and the shafts. 

 In order to do this, a light pole, eight to ten feet long, should be 

 held for the colt to smell and to touch with his nose. The pole 

 should be rubbed gently over the nose, the side of the face, and 

 up to the mane and crest. After scratching the crest the pole 

 should be brought back to the withers, down over the shoulders, 

 and along the outside and inside of the forelegs. The pole should 

 then pass along the back to the hind quarters, and down along 

 the outside and the inside of the hind legs. The process should 

 be repeated first on one side and then on the other, and every 

 part of the body should be toucljed, until the colt becomes per- 

 fectly submissive. 



The harness should be of good quality and in good repair, and 



