106 COLT TBAINING. 



give a sharp, raking jerk to pull him back a little, and re- 

 peat until he will back as desired. Do not force him to 

 back too freely, but just enough to give to a slight pressure 

 of the bit. If there is much resistance to the driving bit, 

 the Breaking Bit may be substituted, but this must not be 

 used so severely as to bruise or make the mouth sore. If 

 he becomes warm and decidedly stubborn at any point, the 

 better way will be to put him away until cool, when, by 

 repeating the lesson, he will soon work in. At this point 



FIG. 101. Backing the colt against rail or pole. 



there is great danger of spoiling the mouth, because when 

 the blood becomes greatly heated, the sensibility of the 

 mouth is so blunted that he will bear having it bruised and 

 even cut to pieces without noticing it. But when over the 

 excitement, it will be so sensitive and sore that he is liable 

 not only to yield to the pressure of the bit too freely, but 

 acquire the habit of running back. Hence the advisability 

 of putting him away until cool, and then repeating the les- 

 son, when the mouth will be sufficiently sensitive to com- 

 pel submitting freely. If he is given to running away, and 

 resists the bit so hard that he cannot be held, first, over- 



