66 KICKING IN HARNESS. 



with rare exceptions, in -ten to fifteen minutes ; while colts 

 that do not yield to this must be subjected to passive 

 treatment and the bit, which, if advisable, may be sup- 

 plemented with the foot-strap, over draw-check, power- 

 reins or kicking-straps. We will presume the horse is an 

 ordinary six or eight year old colt ; is a nervous, excitable 

 kicker ; is all right ; but is afraid of the noise of the 

 wagon, especially so if any thing touches him. First, 

 take him out in the yard ; and if you are a handy fellow, 

 and the horse will bear it, try the first method of subjec- 

 tion. Do not expect you can succeed by it, but it is a 

 strong help, and makes the next more impressive ; throw 

 and roll him a dozen times ; be careful in doing this to be 

 on a well-sodded piece of ground. An ordinary horse 

 would now yield to the bit readily : however, do not be 

 over-sanguine ; your aim is to be sure. Immediately fol- 

 low with the second course, and do not be at all timid. 

 Make the lesson thorough. In the meantime, as for the 

 colt described in a previous chapter, pole the quarters until 

 there is no fear or resistance to being touched anywhere 

 between or around the legs, or under the tail. Now put 

 on the harness, and in nine cases out of ten you can 

 carry out your control easily with the breaking-bit. Make 

 the horse feel the full extent of your power upon the 

 mouth, which will disconcert him greatly. Now pole him 

 as before. A good way is to tie the hair of the tail into 

 a knot, and run the pole through the hair above it, so that 

 the pole will strike the quarters where the whiffletree or 

 cross-piece does. Let the pole be pressed against the 

 quarters, as if by chance, repeating until there is no fear 

 of it. You should have an assistant to do this, while you 

 hold the reins. Now make the horse move at the same 

 time the pole is allowed to strike the quarters, until there 

 is no fear of it and it is borne safely. 



If you are a farmer, and you wish to work sure, if the 

 horse is at all doubtful, do not chance driving before a 

 wagon with poor, brittle shafts, or to a good carriage; 

 because there is a possible danger of the horse kicking 

 when attached to it, which would be likely to damage or 

 break it, causing serious loss. Better go sure at a little 

 extra trouble. Fix up a pole-rig, as before described, to 



