302 THE HORSE 



spirit which has not had his mouth damaged, if not 

 ruined, by heavy hands. It is our one common fault, 

 which accounts for the special emphasis placed upon 

 it in this chapter. 



In teaching a colt to rein, his first lesson, after 

 a week or two of bitting, should be with long reins 

 on the barn floor or some other small enclosure. In 

 addition to the reins and a soft, easy, smooth, straight 

 bar-bit, place a non-shurring loop about his under jaw, 

 and pass the rope about his head and down through 

 the loop in his mouth. When he attempts to run or 

 get away, take him in hand by the rope, leaving the 

 reins principally for guiding purposes. This will 

 teach him the lesson you wish to impart, without 

 endangering the sensitiveness of his mouth where 

 the bit naturally comes. 



