170 FIRST DRJVE. 



388. — Avoid anything that the colt has not seen before, or 

 anything' likely to drive him too eagerly into the collar. If he 

 will work hard at it he must uot work long, or he will blister his 

 shoulders. In that case do not drive him more than two or three 

 miles, before you take him out. If he takes matters very quietly 

 and does not pull hard, and the carriage is very light, you may 

 drive him five or six miles. Take him out carefully so that he 

 gets no alarm, as if anything frightens or hurts him in his first 

 experiences it is very difficult to make him forget it. When you 

 take off his harness wash the skin that has been under the collar? 

 and when washed put a little salt and water on it. When the 

 hail' has had time to dry, look carefully at it, and see if there are 

 any spots on the wearing parts not as dry as the rest. If such 

 spots are there the skin has been rubbed too hard, and the colt 

 must not be put to draw again for a day or two. You should 

 look to the collar and see if there are any corresponding lumps 

 on it that want attention. 



389. — If proper care has been taken to have the collar small 

 and smooth, and soft enough to begin with, the colt will most 

 likely be fit to work a little every day, and should have the 

 distance gradually increased as his skin hardens to the work. 

 His shoulders will stand more work if you put on a soft, woollen, 

 rush collar every alternate dav. After three or four davs on the 

 left side, on frequented roads, the colt may be put on the right 

 side, taking care to meet any alarming objects with him at a 

 i-espectful distance at first. Keeping him too long on one side is 

 liable to give him a one-sided mouth, ff his skin fails at collar 

 work, and he is inclined to be free and restive, he shotild be 

 driven occasionally alongside of the old horse without any traces, 

 with only the halter on his head as at firs' (384). Never let him 

 stay a day altogether idle in the stable, and give hiin very little 

 corn until he can do steady work. The exercise can always be 

 contrived so as to teach him something. 



;')liO. — After a few days work, without blinkers, you may take 

 blinkers out with you. and let your assistant put them on the 

 colt's head, over the bridle, after the colt has gone a few miles. 

 The blinkers may be taken ofi" again lefore you take the colt out 



