29 



rope in place of webbing, wind the crupper part with 

 apiece of soft cloth ; otherwise you would injure his 

 tail. This phm will break the worst of halter pullers. 



Ilandliug: the Colt's Feet. 



I consider it the duty of every one that raises a 

 colt, to prepare it for the smith before he takes it to 

 the shop to get it shod, for manj^ yaluable colts haye 

 been made almost worthless through this neglect. 

 There are few horses that may not be gradually ren- 

 dered manageable for this purpose. By mildness and 

 firmness they will soon learn that no harm is meant, 

 and the}^ will not forget their usual habit of obedi- 

 ence ; but if the remembrance of corporal punishment 

 is connected with shoeing, they will be more or less 

 fidgety, and sometimes ver}^ dangerous. I wish that 

 it was a law in eyery smith-shop that no man should 

 be permitted to strike a horse, much less to twitch or 

 gag him without the owner's consent, and that a 

 young horse should neyer be struck or twitched. The 

 plan that I adopt to handle the feet is yery simple, 

 and not less effectual. By adopting this plan, your 

 colt can, in a few moments, be taught to stand per- 

 fectly still to be shod. As soon as you get your colt 

 thoroughly broken to the halter, get a strap, or a 

 piece of webbing, eighteen feet in length ; now tie 

 one end of the strap or webbing around the colt's 

 neck, just where the collar comes ; work it well back 

 to the shoulder ; you are now standing at the left side 

 of the colt ; do not be in a hurry — work handy, and 



