TRAINING, AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 4I 



a continued strain is put upon the mouth. Now, if 

 any benefit is to accrue from the use of the stretching 

 rein, why use the side reins as well? and why should 

 stretching reins teach colts to "bore?" It is because 

 certain muscles are being put into a different position 

 than that which they have previously occupied, naturally, 

 some are being contracted, others being extended. The 

 term generally applied, is a "suppling of the muscles" 

 in the lower jaw, and also in the neck. Now, I state 

 that the system which does this with as little injury 

 as possible to the skin in the colt's mouth, is the one 

 to adopt. 



I put all mechanical contrivances to one side, and 

 use only the most simple of methods, which I will 

 explain, as the first process of inotitJiing a colt. We 

 have got the bit into its mouth, which is a stout (not 

 thick) jointed bar snaffle, with or without any keys. 

 Now tie a rein of stout cord on the off side of the bit, 

 put it through the off side ring on the surcingle, and 

 bring it through one of the top rings and the near side 

 ring, and tie it to the near side of the bit, but not tigkty 

 just putting a slight pressure only upon the colt's 

 mouth, so as not to induce a fighting agahist the bit, 

 but rather an obedience to it, by dipping his nose and 

 walking forward. By using the running rein only, the 

 colt has a chance of relieving itself from the 

 monotonous and irksome strain upon certain muscles, 

 by turning his head from side to side. In turning his 



