APPENDIX, 



229 



through it is next to impossible to back him out. He seems deter- 

 mined to go on througii if his hips are broken down in the attempt. 



An ilhistration of leading the dog for the first time is the same 

 as that of the colt; he pulls back just the same, and if the leader is 

 in a hurry he will go, dragging the dog; but don't every small boy 

 and most old men know the efifect and direction the dog will take 

 with a tin can tied to his tail and turned loose? Now should not 

 these well known facts in relation to the natural laws make an impres- 

 sion on all horsemen strong enough that from this time forward 

 they will work in conformity with them instead of everlastingly oppos- 

 ing them for the trouble that can be so easily avoided. 



Fig. 2 shows Betsy, at four days old, enjoying her first experience m halter 

 edtication. Shows she takes kindly to it. 



AGE TO BEGIN TRAINING THE COLT. 



Bacause it has been the time-honored custom to let the colts run 

 ad libitum until there comes a convenient time, or until they are two 

 or three years old, and then "turn in and break them," does it prove 

 that it is best? The colt must be taken hold of and handled before 

 it can understand what its duties in life work are. Then at what age 

 shall we begin? "Yankee like," the question may be answered by 

 asking if any one likes a hard job in preference to an easy one, 

 a wild colt instead of a gentle one, a nervous, dangerous one to a 

 fearless fellow? These conditions are the results of the differences 

 in handling and the age at which to begin. Sooner or later the neces- 

 sary time, patience and care must be taken for a practical education, 

 and it is certainly the easiest, surest and best method to begin when we 

 can handle the young colts on equal terms without punishment or 

 fright; show them, rather than force them, to do that which they 

 do not understand by beginning at the age ot infancy, say one hour 



