83 



The crupper shoirid be fixed to the surcingle, taking 

 care not to draw it too tightly. After this, the 

 breaker should take the end of the halter, which 

 should always be left on the head of the colt beneath 

 the bridle and bring it through between his fore- 

 legs and tie it, not too tightly, to the surcingle. 

 After a little practice in this manner, the side reins 

 should be placed upon him very loosely, the near 

 rein being fixed to the off ring of the surcingle, 

 and vice versa. 



HOW TO " MOUTH THE COLT. 



It is a good plan to turn the colt into a large, 

 open court, where he cannot get fast in any way, 

 and allow him to roam about of his own accord. In 

 this way he will soon begin to champ and work the 

 bit, and the more he works it his mouth will be the 

 more evenly made. The bit should be slightly bent 



with three 

 small keys sus- 

 pended from 

 the centre. 

 The bend in 

 the bit pre- 

 vents the colt 

 making his 

 mouth unequal, 

 as it is impos- 

 sible for him to pull entirely on one side of it, while 

 the loose action of the keys induces him to work the 



Fig. 5.— Best Kind of Bbeaking Bit. 



