126 



LIGHT HORSES I BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



There is no harm in initiating young horses into harness 

 work ; they may at first draw bushes or a log over a field. 

 The writer once saw a two-year-old fitted with a breast strap, 

 and helping to work a small mowing machine ; he was not of 

 much use, it is true, but, as the owner said, he was getting 

 used both to drawing and the noise of the machine. On the 

 same premises were a two-year-old and a three-year-old work- 

 ing a chaff-cutter. The breeder of these young horses, though 

 by no means a great horseman, had the knack of effectually 

 handling young horses, while he lost no opportunity of 

 making them familiar with the sight and sound of trains, 

 traction engines, clothes hung to dry on a hedge, and with the 

 hundred other things which terrify horses. The man who 

 breeds in a small way generally has plenty of time on his 

 hands, and the gradual process, which may be almost likened 

 to the Kindergarten system of educating children, is far prefer- 

 able to the adoption of "systems" in which a colt has his 

 head and tail tied together, or is thrown down by complicated 

 tackle. Nevertheless, these things have their uses ; and no 

 harm will come if the breeder learns one of the systems, 

 because in case one of the youngsters should turn out refrac- 

 tory, the mechanical appliances which enter largely into the 

 systems come in handily in obtaining a mastery which is not 

 easy to effect with a mere halter oi ^aveson 



AjterAiken 



AWAY ! AWAY . * 



