HOW TO HALTER AND LEAD A COLT. 59 



up in your hand, until you finally get close enough to 

 put your hands on him. If he is inclined to hold his 

 head from you, put the end of the halter-strap around 

 his neck, drop your whip, and draw very gently ; he will 

 let his neck give, and you can pull his head to you. 

 Then take hold of that part of the halter which buckles 

 over the top of his head, and pass the long side, or that 

 part which goes into the buckle, under his neck, grasp- 

 ing it on the opposite side with your right hand, letting 

 the first strap loose — the latter will be sufficient to hold 

 his head to you. Lower the halter a little, just enough 

 to get his nose into that part which goes around it; 

 then raise it somewhat, and fasten the top buckle, and 

 you will have it all right. The first time you halter a 

 colt you should stand on the left side, pretty well back 

 to his shoulder, only taking hold of that part of the 

 halter that goes around his neck ; then with your two 

 hands about his neck you can hold his head to you, and 

 raise the halter on-it without making him dodge by put- 

 ting your hands about his nose. You should have a 

 long rope or strap ready, and as soon as you have the 

 halter on, attach this to it, so that you can let him walk 

 the length of the stable without letting go of the strap, 

 or without making him pull on the halter, for if you 

 only let him feel the weight of your hand on the halter, 

 and give him rope when he runs from you, he will never 

 rear, pull, or throw himself, yet you will be holding him 

 all the time, and doing more towards gentling him than 

 if you had the power to snub him right up, and hold 

 him to one spot ; because he does not know anything 

 about his strength, and if you don't do anything to 

 make him pull, he will never know that he can. In a 

 few minutes you can begin to control him with the 



