44 THE HORSE : ITS TAMING, 



or off-shoulder. This you keep on repeating, and as 

 the colt learns to turn, use less and less strength. In 

 all cases the bit used with the colt's driving lesson 

 should be a stout jointed bar snaffle. The bars assist 

 the colt to turn, and save the mouth. Now, you have 

 to teach the colt to " Whoa," i.e., to stop, by pulling 

 smartly on both reins. Now, very likely the colt will 

 be somewhat headstrong, and pull against you, with 

 his head down. Don't let him keep a continued pull ; 

 just step in a yard, so that the reins are momentarily 

 slack, and let him come on to his bit smartly so that 

 he feels it, you at the same time pulling sharply, and 

 saying " Whoa," he will soon learn to stop, even at the 

 word of command. I have frequently trained a colt 

 so well to obey this word that when a stranger got on 

 him to ride, and I said " Whoa," the colt stopped instan- 

 taneously, the rider didn't ; he went a few yards further 

 on. Now the next step to take is to 



Teach Him to Back. 



Let your assistant come and take the reins, and you 

 get to the colt's head, and put your hand upon the 

 colt's nose. You should be careful and not teach 

 the colt to ivalk backwards. You merely want him to 

 back by pressure of the bit ; and in the case of draught 

 horses also to the word of command. Let your 

 assistant stand immediately behind the colt, and not at 



