IN HARNESS. 155 



will be little difficulty in breaking him to harness work. 

 It will be only necessary to put him in by the side of an 

 old and steady horse, and light wagon without a load, and 

 to handle him gently, until he is made to understand what 

 is required of him. 



If he is a v/ild colt, whose whole life has been spent at 

 pasture, or in the straw-yard, it becomes a more serious 

 matter. He should be kept in the stable for a few days, 

 visited and handled frequently, and gradually made ac- 

 quainted with the harness, wearing it for a few hours at a 

 time in his stall. He should next be taken into a large 

 stable, or shed, or into a small yard, and made to advance, 

 or turn to the right or to the left, as he is spoken to or 

 guided by the reins. The trainer should use only the most 

 gentle means, and should in no case allow himself to show 

 the least impatience. Whatever he desires to have done 

 should always be within the power of the horse to compre- 

 hend, and then be strictly enforced, but always with perse- 

 vering calmness. If it be necessary to whip the colt, it 

 should be done thoroughly, and under such circumstances 

 as will preclude the possibility of his resisting with any 

 effect: for every compliance with our wishes he should be 

 rewarded with caresses. 



If it is not convenient to put him by the side of a well- 

 broken horse, as before directed, he may be brought out 

 and have the wagon shown to liim, being allowed to 

 examine it with his nose until he has become familiar with 

 every part of it, and until he can be led or backed toward it 

 from any direction without fear. He should then be put 

 into the shafts and securely attached, so that no straps can 

 strike d gainst him ; he should then be made to advance, and 

 the wagon pushed gently from behind, that he may not at 

 first feel its weight. When he has in this way become ac- 

 customed to its presence, the pushing from behind may be 



