THE HOESE 283 



carriage by fastening two long poles (of hickory or any tougli; 

 springy wood) to the axle, a crossbar and a whiffletree in front, 

 and a board seat in the rear. The shafts should be twelve or 

 fourteen feet long, with provision at the ends for the attach- 

 ment of a strap across from point to point in order to prevent 

 the colt in rearing from throwing his front leg over the end of 

 the shaft. At first a kicking strap attached to each shaft and 

 jDassed over the colt's rump should be used, at least until the 

 colt is accustomed to the shafts. When the colt is first hitched, 

 an assistant should hold him until the driver is ready, and then 

 he should be allowed to go. As soon as he has become familiar 

 with the vehicle, he should be taught to stand still until he is 

 told to go. 



Hitching double. — With the harness properly adjusted the colt 

 is read}^ to be hitched to a vehicle. Get a well-trained, gentle, 

 but active horse if the colt is active, for it is a mistake to hitch 

 a quick, active colt with a slow, lazy horse. The vehicle to which 

 they are attached should be provided with a good brake. The 

 colt should be attached to the "off side" and they should be 

 driven at first in a closed field till the colt learns what is wanted 

 of him. When hitching the colt double for the first few times, 

 it is well to keep a pair of single lines on the colt's bridle which 

 can be handled by an assistant. 



Training the colt to walk fast. — There is no gait more valu- 

 able, more appreciated, and more practically useful in a horse 

 than a fast, square walk. It is not difficult to train the average 

 colt to walk fast, provided the proper methods are employed in 

 early training. From the very beginning the colt should be 

 walked as swiftly as he is able to walk, in order that he may 

 form the habit of fast walking. He should never be allowed to 

 mope along, or the habit will become strongly fixed. 



Training vicious horses.— In training or handling vicious 

 horses, it is important to impress them firmly with the idea that 

 the trainer has complete control over them and that they must 

 obey. There are several ways of conveying this idea. Perhaps 

 the most effective means is to contrive a self-punishing harness. 

 With such a harness the vicious horse deals out his OAvn punish- 

 ment at the instant he violates his trainer's wish. While many 

 appliances have been devised for the control of vicious horses, 

 perhaps that invented by Mr. Karey and used in his so-called 

 '^Rarey system" is as effective as any. This harness consists 

 of two short straps fitted wiih. D-shaped rings, a surcingle, and a 

 long rope, The straps are buckled around the front pasterns and 



