172 TEACHING TO PULL. 



whilst you take the loose ends of the trace reins back behind the 

 colt. Hold them wide at first, so as hardly to touch the colt's 

 sides, whilst he leads the colt about, and gradually press them on 

 the sides, and lean a very little weight in the collar. The lean 

 may be very gradually increased as long as the colt walks freely 

 and unhesitatingly on with his head down, but the pull must be 

 lessened if the colt carries his head up and his ears back, and 

 the straps must be slackened oif altogether if the colt shows the 

 least inclination to stop with his pressure on his collar. If he 

 does stop, get him started again, without the slightest weight on 

 the straps, and when he is freely going again, let the pull on the 

 straps be very gradually and cautiously apjDlied, so as not to stop 

 him again. Increase the pull gradually, until he walks freely 

 away with all that you can hold back. Keep him going at a slow 

 walk fifteen or twenty minutes. Then stop him and try him at a 

 start, with a very little weight in the collar, holding yourself ready 

 to slacken off" instantly if there is the slightest hesitation 

 about starting it. Continue this more or less cautiously as you 

 may see to be necessary, until the colt will start unhesitatingly 

 with forward ears and a low head, all that you can hold back, 

 Never urge the colt into the collar in the least, but give him slack 

 straps wherever there is the least sign of a stop, or any hesitation 

 about starting. 



381. — When the pulling and starting have been made quite 

 satisfactory place one of the straps so that the colt will step over 

 it with one of his hind legs, thus putting it between his hind legs. 

 Then whilst your assistant leads the colt on, holding his head 

 securely, you may very gently tighten the strap, first on the inside 

 of one leg, then on the other, sometimes low down at his heels, 

 then high up his thighs, but never rubbing hard enough to hurt 

 him. It is better if this can be done gently and soothingly, and 

 the colt reconciled to the line amongst his legs without a kick, 

 as most colts can be, but whether he kicks or not the strap must 

 be rubbed against all parts of his hind legs, inside and out, until 

 he becomes quite indifferent to it. 



382. — Having progressed so far with an open bridle, you 

 may next take it off and put on blinkers, and repeat in tlie 



