214 TRAINING THE TKOTTING HORSE. 



convince him that you are the managing partner in 

 the combination. There is nothing more senseless 

 and injurious than punishing a horse or a colt for 

 not doing what he does not understand you to want 

 him to do. 



After you have gotten him thoroughly accustomed 

 to the harness and obedient to the rein, hitch him to 

 any hght vehicle by the side of a reliable, gentle horse 

 and drive him double. For the first time, about a 

 quarter of a mile will be enough to go in a nice, easy, 

 steady fashion, then drive your team back and quietly 

 take the youngster out of the harness. Continue this 

 daily driving for some time, increasing it as it con- 

 tinues, hitching him alternately each da}" on either 

 side of his old-fashioned mate. This work is not for 

 speed, but to thoroughly educate him to harness. He 

 is ofettins' his regfular work on the miniature track 

 every day, besides the harness education, so you will 

 be careful that between the trotting and the driving 

 he is not overdone. 



After a little while of this education he will be a 

 sensible and decorous horse in harness — unless he be a 

 natural fool, for, unfortunately, there are born fools 

 among horses as well as among men — and will be quite 

 thoroughly broken in everything as far as his experi- 

 ence has gone. ^Now, we will shoe him with a neat, 

 light shoe or plate behind, for it will shortly be neces- 

 sary to have him wear toe-boots, or " scalpers" which 

 the shoe must hold. You will, of course, have been 

 watchful all the while that he has not been striking 

 himself at an}^ place, and is not, therefore, afraid to 

 extend himself. 



