86 THE COLTS EDUCATION. 



than a half-inch manilla rope, which should be long enough 

 to permit secure tying. And he should never be fastened to 

 anything he may break off or move. If he becomes afraid 

 of that to which he is tied or learns he can break loose he 

 will always make trouble about standing, and the horse 

 which has once run away can be depended upon but little 

 afterwards. 



Shying at objects is made worse by harshness. Keep a 

 sharp lookout and a tight rein. Whenever the colt shies, 

 stop him and let him look at the object of his fear. If the 

 colt manifests great fear of the cars, do not drive him attached 

 to the carriage as near as possible, and then compel him by 

 harshness to stand. 



Do not hitch up a colt and give him a chance to kick. 

 Don"t trust him until he has gotten accustomed to everything. 

 Give him the benefit of the doubt, and let him wear a sure 

 anti-kicking strap that will nip in the bud any tendency in 

 this damaging direction. As commonly applied, the kick- 

 ing strap is a useless appendage, as many horsemen have 

 found out to their sorrow. To be sure of its controlling 

 power in every case, have it strapped to the crupper and kept 

 at the root of the tail. If it slip up or down it is likely to 

 be a menace to the driver's safety. This vice is exceedingly 

 difficult for a horse to forget, and few are ever broken of it. 

 A good horseman says that in training a colt disposed to 

 kick up put a wooden or iron martingale on him — that is, a 

 forked stick like a pitchfork ; tie the forks firmly to the bit 

 rings ; put a mortise in the other end for the girth to go 

 through. He cannot kick up worth a cent with that on. 



Fast Walking. A horse that can walk fast is always a 

 source of pleasure, while a slow walker is an abomination. 

 While much comes by inheritance, education is much to be 

 credited for a good road gait. No animal so quickly forms 



