78 The Care of Animals 



break it if backed into them while they are on the floor 

 or ground. 



In hitching up horses, the lines should be fastened 

 into the bits and then disengaged and placed where they 

 can easily be reached before hitching the horse to the 

 vehicle; in unhitching, the lines should be the last part 

 of the harness to be "done up," and precautions should 

 be taken that the animal is free from the vehicle before 

 attempting to lead him away. 



BREAKING COLTS 



In breaking colts, the common mistake is made of 

 trying to teach them too much at once. Be sure that 

 the colt understands the first lesson and has it thor- 

 oughly learned before another one is attempted. One 

 of the first lessons is to "halter -break" the young colt. 

 This should be done while he is a suckling. A 

 strong, well -fitting halter should be placed on him, and 

 he should be tied short near to his mother and in such 

 a position that he cannot pull back too far or throw 

 and choke himself. Fig. 24. Colts should always be 

 tied strongly so there is no danger of breaking loose, for 

 if he breaks loose once he is very likely to try it again. 

 Little colts should be gently but firmly treated, so that 

 they will have confidence in the trainer. Avoid making 

 great pets of colts, as such animals are usually difficult 

 to break, being lawless and headstrong. After the colt is 

 well halter -broken, so that he can be tied and led, it is 

 a good plan to allow the colt to accompany the mother 

 by tying his halter to her hame or collar; thus he 



