82 The Care of Animals 



Teaching a colt to back is usually best done by pla- 

 cing him in a double team with a horse that will back 

 well, the wagon being in a favorable position so that 

 little force is required to move it. An assistant takes 

 the lines and tells the colt to back, while the trainer 

 takes hold of the colt's bit on either side and assists in 

 forcing him backward. If he refuses to go, a slight cut 

 with the whip across his front legs, or tapping the legs 

 with the toe, will cause him to step back. Time and 

 patience are often required to teach a colt to back well. 

 He should always be forced to respond to traction on 

 the bit, even if a cut with the whip is necessary. He 

 should not be allowed to twist his head and neck around 

 to one side without moving the body. In teaching a 

 colt to draw, he should be hitched with another horse of 

 his own temperament and agility. The loads should at 

 first be light, increasing gradually as he becomes familiar 

 with the work. A young horse, not accustomed to pull- 

 ing, should never be hitched to a load if there is any 

 doubt of his ability to move it readily. 



WILD OR VICIOUS HORSES 



In breaking or handling vicious horses, the most 

 important thing is to impress them firmly with the idea 

 that the trainer has complete control over them and 

 that they must obey him. A horse that thinks he can 

 do as he wishes is difficult to deal with. One of the 

 methods of managing a vicious horse is, if, understand- 

 ing what is required of him, he refuses to obey, to 

 throw him down and hold him there until he gives up. 



