117 



Instead of having leather kicking- straps, however, 

 thick ropes adjusted in the same manner, crossed over 

 his croup, will be more efficient, as they are generally 

 stronger and will consequently stand the strain better 

 (Fig. 12). They should be drawn pretty tightly over 

 him, leaving him just sufficient room to move freely 

 beneath them. 



All the draught hooks before and behind should 

 be securely tied with a piece of cord to prevent the 

 chains shaking out of them if the colt should plunge 

 and struggle. Numerous accidents frequently happen 

 by the omission of this important item. Many men 

 do not take the trouble to attend to these small 

 matters, and when anything goes wrong the inno- 

 cent colt invariably gets the blame. He is voted a 

 **bad one" by the careless breaker, when, in nine 

 cases out of ten, the cause of the accident can be accu- 

 rately traced to pure neglect on the part of the latter. 



DOCKED VERSUS UNDOCKED COLTS. 



Work colts should preferably be docked when 

 young. Light tails keep them cooler, and they are 

 not so apt to whisk them over the reins. When 

 a colt becomes confirmed in the bad habit of catch- 

 ing the reins under his tail, it is not only inconvenient 

 to the driver, but it is ofttimes very dangerous as 

 well, for if he choose to bolt the driver is practically 

 powerless to arrest him, as he can simply go where 

 he likes. It is also a means of teaching a colt to 

 kick. With horses addicted to catching the reins 



