DOUBLE DRIVING BACKING RIDING. 53 



too much, and thus make haste slowly. The quickest and 

 surest course is that I give. It will always enable working 

 a colt safely at most in a few hours. 



DOUBLE DRIVING. 



It is generally the custom to drive the colt at first in 

 double harness by the side of a gentle horse aecustomed to 

 harness; the colt should be put on the off side. The whip 

 should be held over the old horse, to keep him up to the 

 movements of the colt in starting, but the gait should be 

 kept moderate. 



After driving well on the off side, he should be reversed 

 to the near side, there being less danger of becoming 

 frightened from getting into or out of the wagon, or of 

 seeing things while being passed to or from the wagon, by 

 being more from view on the off side, therefore to lessen 

 the probabilities of being frightened, it is preferable at first. 



Let the driving be moderate, and the load light, and, by 

 all means, if the colt is of a sensitive or nervous tempera- 

 ment, the greatest mildness must be observed. Loud 

 ''yelling" or cracking of the whip should not be permitted. 

 A little imprudence of this kind is often the cause of very 

 serious mischief with timid, young horses. 



BACKING. 



x\fter learning to drive well, teach the idea of backing by 

 pulling on the reins steadily, and saying "back." If there 

 is resistance give a quick, sharp, raking pull, which will move 

 the colt by the pain and force of the bit backward, repeat- 

 ing until there is prompt obedience. If there is much 

 resistance put on breaking bit, which will soon secure 

 obedience, but under any curcumstances do not make the 

 colt back too freely, especially if the mouth is sensitive. 



RIDING. 



If the colt is not of a very bad character there will be no 

 resistance to being rode after the first lesson of subjection. 

 If there is, attach a short strap or a piece of rope to the off 

 fore foot, throwing the othet end over the back. Take a 



