MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. 101 



Or if desired a regular bitting harness may be 

 used. This consists of a bridle and check-rein, 

 a surcingle and crupper and two side lines, run- 

 ning from the bit to buckles on each side of the 

 circingle. The bit in a bitting harness usually 

 is a thick snaffle with a line of little metal pen- 

 dants called ^^ keys'' hanging to the joint in the 

 middle of it. The object of these keys is by 

 annoying the tongue to make the colt champ the 

 bit and so toughen his cheeks. After the colt 

 has been allowed to go awhile with his head 

 checked up, attach the side lines and buckle them 

 moderately tight. Turn him out thus rigged in- 

 to the yard and let him go a few hours a day for 

 a week. Then substitute real reins for the side- 

 lines and drive him around until he knows how 

 to guide this way and that, to stop at the word 

 ''whoa" and to step up when directed. Break 

 the colt to stand absolutely still when being har- 

 nessed. That is a first essential. A horse that 

 is perpetually stepping around while being har- 

 nessed is but half broken at best. Also, when 

 the time comes make him understand that he 

 must stand stock still while being hooked up to 

 any kind of a rig and stand there until he gets 

 the word to move on. Do not forget this. It 

 means money. Horses of the roadster stamp, or 

 any other stamp for that matter, are often in- 

 dulged in lunging forward the moment they are 

 checked up. This is all wrong. A gentleman's 

 horse is broken so that he stands until his owner 



