SECRETARY'S REPORT. 219 



injured because deprived of freedom. Do not use any 

 blows or loud words, but rather gentle patting and coaxing, 

 which may be employed to great advantage throughout the 

 education of the colt. It is also an excellent practice to reward 

 and gratify him, when old enough, by a handful of oats, an 

 apple, or potatoe, or piece of carrot. There is no better way 

 of soothing the ruffled feelings, imparting confidence or allaying 

 anger, than this. 



After the colt has learned to follow the halter in the stable, or 

 yard, lead him about in some quiet place, and if he will not go, 

 do not nndertake to drag him, nor whip him, but turn him 

 round and round, which he cannot resist, until he chooses to 

 move along in the direction you wish to take, and do not become 

 impatient, even though you are compelled to wait some time 

 before he will enter the stable door, pass through a gate or 

 step over bars. 



Not until he leads well, should you venture to hitch him, and 

 then, with much caution. It is best, perhaps, first to tie him in 

 the centre of a wide stall, with some thing to eat before him ; 

 and, if convenient, a partition or rope behind him to prevent 

 a straight pull backwards, if he should be inclined to try 

 one. After this he may be fastened in a quiet place out of doors, 

 and will very seldom endeavor to break loose. 



If, however, a colt or horse should acquire the habit of pull- 

 ing at the halter, and throwing himself down if unable to get 

 away, there are many remedies proposed, of which the following 

 are perhaps the best. 



First, throw a rope fifteen or twenty feet long over the limb of 

 a tree, ten or twelve feet from the ground, and attach a heavy 

 stone or other weight to one end. Now hitch the pulling horse 

 to the other end, and when he pulls he will raise the stone from 

 the ground, and be able to step backward until the disagreeable 

 weight hauling up his nose, persuades him again to approach 

 the tree. After pulling awhile at the yielding, but uncon- 

 querable stone, many horses become quite disheartened, and 

 abandon the vicious habit. 



Secondly, fasten the horse in a stall with a halter about four 

 feet long, and attach securely to his hind pasterns a rope, which 

 should be tied to the manger in front of the horse, so short that 

 when he steps back to pull, the rope upon his feet receives the 



