40 HOESE-BEEAKDsG. . 



from the haltering of the colt — you will have 

 been freely handhng him daily, lifting lirst his 

 fore-feet and striking them with your hand, at 

 first gently, to get him used to the hammer, and 

 afterwards, when this has been accomphshed 

 with facility, the same has been done to the 

 hind ones ; and after the colt has been taught 

 to drive in reins, it is time he was shod prepa- 

 ratory to mounting him. 



In mouthing a colt he should never be 

 placed in a stall and fastened to the pillar reins, 

 as is too often the practice now-a-days, for it 

 only teaches him to lean upon the bit and 

 slide his mouth from one side of it to the other, 

 thus teaching him a habit to counteract which 

 the ringed mouthpiece has been invented. A 

 day should be fixed for shoeing the colt, and 

 an arrangement made with the blacksmith to 

 shoe him at a certain hour ; for if this is neg- 

 lected, the animal may have to wait his turn 

 whilst three or four other horses are undergoing 

 the process. Before taking him to the black- 

 smith's shop at the hour appointed, the colt 



