TAMING HORSES. 137 



use of the halter (which you should always do be- 

 fore you hitch him to anything), you can hitch him 

 in any kind of a stall, and give him something to 

 eat to keep hira up to his place for a few minutes 

 at first, and there is not one colt in fifty that will 

 pull on his halter. 



THE KIND OF BIT, AND HOW TO' ACCUS- 

 1 OM A HORSE TO IT. 



You should use a large, smooth, snaffle-bit, so as 



not to hurt his mouth,, with a bar to each side, to 



prevent the bit from pulling through either way. 



This you should attach to the head-stall of your 



bridle, and put it on your colt without any reins 



to it, and let him run loose in a large stable or 



shed some time, until he becomes a little used to 



the bit, and will bear it without trying to get it 



out of his mouth. It would be well, if convenient, 



to repeat this several tipies, before you do anything 



more with the colt ; as soon as he will bear the bit, 



attach a single rein to it, without any martingale. 



You should also have a halter on your colt, or a 



bridle made 'after the fashion of a halter, with a 



strap to it, so that you can hold or lead him about 



without pulling on the bit much. He is now ready 



for the saddle. 

 12* 



