168 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



time, the man should retire for a short space, and return again 

 to put on the halter. This article should have a *' shank " 

 about eight feet in length, with a knot tied in it to prevent its 

 running tight and pinching the head if the animal pull on it. 

 The man must approach softly and slowly, keeping his hands 

 down and speaking encouragingly, until, on reaching the colt, 

 efforts maybe made to touch and stroke him, without alarming, 

 until the hand has been worked up the neck towards the head. 

 One hand can pass the " shank " over the neck and tie it round 

 that part ; this will give a hold of him, and the halter can then 

 be worked on to the head. After being patted and talked to 

 for a little, a light, but strong, leather head-collar may be 

 placed on the head over the halter, and then he should be 

 watered and fed, and left alone. The head gear is left on, 

 and on the following day he is handled again, a rope is tied to 

 the head-collar, and he may be led round a few times, then tied 

 up — if he is uneasy or struggles, stroking and speaking to him 

 will reassure him, and he will soon become tranquil. After 

 half-an-hour of this, the halter may be removed from under 

 the head-collar, as well as the rope from the latter, and the 

 animal left to himself. Next day this is repeated, after which 

 he may be turned out into a paddock or straw-yard and allowed 

 to amuse himself. It is recommended, as a good practice, to 

 allow colts two or three years old to run in a large straw-yard 

 or field, with the shanks of their "halters" hanging loose, 

 before they are subjected to further restraint, taking care that 

 the headstalls — which, as said before, should be of leather — 

 are properly adjusted, and that the hempen shanks are securely 

 twisted into a coil during the night. This, however, is some- 

 what risky, as in running about, the animals will be continually 

 placing their fore-feet on the end of the shank, and so tugging 

 their heads, injuring their limbs, or throwing themselves down. 

 It is better either to have the shank, if it is to be worn, coiled 

 up short to the headstall, or tied round the neck and attached 



