ADJUSTING LINE. 155 



than too tight with your first or any other pupils. So long as it 

 is tight enough to enforce a very decided bend of the head to the 

 left side it will do. 



34S. — Now take away the old horse and leave the colt to 

 follow his own head and tail about the yard as he pleases. He 

 will thus get his first experience with a halter where he cannot 

 contend against you or anyone else. He has only his own tail 

 to pull on, and that under circumstances that will greatly 

 bewilder him. 



349. — If he walks nearly straight on or round the yard, 

 without making rather short circles, the rope is too long, and you 

 had better bring back the old horse and get the colt in a corner, 

 where you can draw the rope a little tighter. If on the other 

 hand he turns round fast, in very short circles, the rope is too 

 short, and the colt will be giddy and will probably lie down,. 

 He generally comes down gently enough but may very likely 

 hug the fence and get into an awkward place, and come down on 

 the left side, where you cannot get at the rope. This is why we 

 advise the rope to be tied to the head in a bow that can instantly 

 be slacked, either before or after he gets down. He is almost 

 sure to stop turning before he lies down, and then you can go to 

 his head and slack off the rope. 



350. — There is a very great difference in the tightness that 

 different horses will require to be tied for this purpose. A well 

 bred fine mouthed horse will turn round freely with a line that 

 bends his head very little. xVn unhandled colt will usually require 

 to be tied more tightly than a horse that has been taught to lead, 

 and a cart colt more tightly than a thoroughbred, but no certain 

 rules can be given on the subject. We have seen the clear 

 length of rope vary from two and a half to five and a half feet. 



351. — This is a very quick way of subduing a horse for any 

 purpose. A horse bad to handle, bad to mount, bad to shoe, or 

 determined to get his own way, can be subdued by this practice 

 in a few minutes, but it is not a very satisfactory way of going 

 to work for educational purposes, as it partakes something of the 

 same nature as drugging or starving, or wearing down a horse, or 

 in any other way disabling him. A horse so treated is subdued 



