148 A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



and good workmanship to this wild colt that was never off 

 the farm, never saw the cars perhaps, and that never knew 

 the feeling of halter or harness or experienced reprimand or 

 control of any kind." 



One can do little toward educating a colt until it can be 

 haltered and taught to lead well. The halter should be 

 strong and plenty of time should be given to teach the colt 

 its first lesson in restraint. Teach it to lead gradually by 

 requiring it to follow you for food. After a colt has been 

 taught to lead, gradually accustom it to things that might 

 frighten horses, as umbrellas, automobiles, blankets, paper, 

 noises, etc. Be kind and speak in a reassuring voice during 

 these trials of the young horse. The hardest lesson of all 

 is to get the young horse to drive in harness. Do not hitch 

 him at first, but teach him to back or turn to the right or 

 left, etc., as you hold the lines. Give the colt the word that 

 goes with every action he makes. Do not extend the lessons 

 in breaking over one hour at a time. After the colt has 

 submitted to be driven, hitch him to a cart. A draft colt 

 can best be "broken" by hitching him with a quiet, gentle 

 mare. 



Then a new line of good horsemanship is needed, a few 

 points of which we can merely mention here. Hold a tight 

 rein and keep cool. Let the colt understand that "whoa" 

 means to stop; "back" means to back; "steady" means to 

 go slowly; and "get up" means to go on. Do not use unnec- 

 essary and contradictory words such as "whoa back" and 

 "whoa haw," and never use profanity. Do not overwork or 

 overdrive the horse. He is flesh and blood and not a machine. 



