ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 353 



Having thus arranged them, the next thing to be 

 done in the stables, is to teach them to stand, tied up 

 in the stalls. The collars and reins used for the pur- 

 pose, should be very firm and good ; and care should 

 be taken, that the top part of the head of the collar is 

 fixed close to the back part of the colt's ears. Some 

 of these may be a little unruly at first, and hang back 

 a few times, but if they find they cannot get loose after 

 repeated attempts, they become reconciled. 



They should now have their feet cleaned out and 

 properly shod. In first accustoming colts to be dressed, 

 they should be looked after by the big boys, until the}'^ 

 come to stand quiet to be wisped and brushed over, 

 and the other necessary operations, such as combing 

 out their manes and tails, and picking out and washing 

 their feet. They should be brought gradually to the habit 

 of being properly dressed, with as little annoyance as 

 possible. They should always be accustomed to wear 

 rollers in the stables, with a girth round the chest, at- 

 tached on each side to the lower end of the pad of the 

 roller by a strap. This will prevent the roller from 

 getting into the flanks of those that get light in their 

 work. The girth being thus used, they will be less 

 shy of a breast cloth when it is first put on. Some of 

 ^hem may be restless on their being first brought into 

 the stables, and may be much inclined to paw and 

 tumble the bedding about. Those which indicate a 

 disposition of this sort, should have the fetters buckled 

 on round the pastern joints, and continue to wear them 

 until they are brought to stand perfectly quiet. 



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