THE COLT. 61 



over him, the saddle laid on him; the chains rattled over him, if 

 used. Continue this nntil all synn)toms oi fear have departed, 

 then allow him to get up. When on his feet, place the saddle on 

 his back and each })iece of harness. If he scares or jumps, take 

 them off and cast him as hefore. Bring- the buggy and allow the 

 wheels to pass around him where he can see them; lay the shaft 

 on him. Continue this method until he is perfectly familiar with 

 the saddle, harness, and buggy. AVhatever you undertake to 

 teach him, persevere in the instructions until you succeed. The 

 horse must be thoroughly conquered at the outset; unless this is 

 done, it will be a somewhat prolonged coui'-se before he is brought 

 under proper subjection. Allow no harsh word or measures of 

 any kind. Let all your handling of him be gentle and soothing, 

 remembering that the law of kindness is always more potent than 

 that of force. The directions given for lireaking the young colt 

 to shafts, hitching, saddling^, etc., will apply none the less here. 



There is another very good method of taming the wild and 

 vicious horse by the use of the knee stra}). When you desire t(; 

 subdue a horse that is very wild, or has a vicious disposition, take 

 up one forefoot and bend his knee till his hoof is bottom upwards 

 and nearly touches his body; then slip a loop over his knee and 

 shove it up until it comes above the pastern joint, being careful 

 to draw the loop together between the hoof and pastern joint 

 \vith a second strap of some kind to prevent the loop from slip- 

 ping down and coming off. This will leave the horse standing 

 on three legs; you can now handle him as you wish, for he can- 

 not do much in this position. There is something in this opera- 

 tion of taking up one foot that conquers a horse quicker and 

 better, considering the trouble, than anything else, and there is 

 no other process equal to it for breaking a kicking liorsc, for l)y 

 conquering one member yon cf)nqucr, to a great extent, the 

 whole horse. Wlien you first fasten uj) a horse's foot lie will 

 sometimes get very mad, and striking with his knee and ti'ving 

 every possible way to get it down, but as he cannot do tliat he 

 will soon give up and abandon all antagonistic demonstration, 



