BEEAKING, GENTLINa, AND TEAINING. 503 



either in company with other horses or alone. A good 

 beginning will now have been made, a foundation laid upon 

 correct principles, and what remains to be done, though it 

 is a great deal and very important, will come almost in the 

 natural order of things. 



The colt should be tied occasionally by the side of some 

 old and steady horse in the shafts, at first walking along the 

 road in this way for half a mile or so. When this has been 

 done a few times, so that he has become used to the shaking 

 of the harness and the motion of the wheels, the pair may be 

 put to a slow trot on some level piece of road. Under such 

 discipline, he will soon learn that he is not to be hurt, while 

 his former experience will not leave him in any doubt as to 

 the necessity of submitting to what is required of him, and 

 thus he will soon learn to regard these new movements as 

 quite in the line of his duty. 



Before he is quite ready to change places with the old 

 horse, and step into the shafts, he must be taught the use 

 and guidance of the lines. The old horse should not now be 

 hitched to the shafts at all, but the harness, including the 

 lines, be transferred to his young companion ; and then, with 

 some one to lead, let them be driven around a few times in 

 company. The old horse may next be unfastened, and the colt 

 driven with the lines by himself, some one walking by his 

 head. This exercise should be continued until he becomes 

 thoroughly accustomed to it, and especially to being guided 

 by the lines. When sufficiently trained in this way, he may 

 be put into the shafts, which should be gently lowered upon 

 his sides several times in succession, until he understands 

 what they are, and how little he has to fear from their touch. 



A light buggy or gig may be pulled along after him, at 

 this stage of the proceedings, but for no great distance, with 

 the colt between the shafts, yet not fastened to them. After 

 a little while, the traces may be made fast, and then, with 

 the old horse by his side, he may take his first lessons iu 

 drawing the buggy, which are to be commenced slowly and 

 carefully. First move the old horse along, when the colt 



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