HOW TO TRAIN A COLT. 215 



know what it is for. A slap with the whip, which al- 

 most makes the colt jump out of the harness, is often 

 immediately followed by a powerful snatch on the reins 

 to pull him back again. Both of these are as bad as 

 bad can be. Sore mouths, bad tempers, and broken 

 gaits, are the almost inevitable results of such handling. 

 On the other hand, if the colt has been well broken, 

 and has a good lively mouth, and the driver handles the 

 reins skilfully and thoughtfully, the colt will soon learn 

 to understand every move of the hand, and to answer 

 it. From this it follows that you ought to make no 

 move with the bit without a definite object. When 

 you feel an impulse to do something with the reins 

 without knowing what you are to do it /or, don't do it 

 at all. Such moves only fool the horse. Everybody 

 admits that a very hard-pulling horse is a nuisance ; 

 and everybody knows that some horses will pull if they 

 are to trot, and will not extend themselves without a 

 strong pull : but, even in regard to these, it is not well 

 to keep up a steady, rigid pull all the time. I say, 

 Rather pull for a space, and then ease off, not suddenly, 

 but gradually ; and by this means they will not pull 

 quite so hard, and will trot faster. It is not natural for 

 horses to pull hard. Some there are, of uncommon 

 ardor and determination, that will pull in company ; but 

 more are made hard pullers by faulty handling when 

 young, which has deadened their mouths. 



" In order that a fast horse should be under circum- 

 stances to do his best, he should be as much at his ease 



