100 PULLING ON THE HALTER. 



should never be hitched with a rough rope halter ; for when 

 pulled upon, it hurts, and this hurting frightens, and makes a 

 horse pull the harder. If at first a rope was drawn across 

 the stall, so as to come against the hind parts when the colt 

 would try to go back, leaving the halter so long, when tied, 

 that but little if any strain could come upon it before the 

 rope across the stall would be felt, in a short time the horse 

 would become accustomed to being hitched, and stand gen- 

 tly without trouble. By the following plan you can hitch a 

 colt with entire safety, and cannot cause harm, though hitched 

 by the head. 



Provide yourself with a half-inch cord, of good hemp 

 material if you can get it, about twenty-six feet in length. 

 Double it, and put the centre under the tail, like a crupper ; 

 bring forward over the back, twisting both around each other 

 two or three times ; draw forward around the neck in front 

 of the shoulders into a knot ; now pass both cords forward 

 through the ring in the manger or post ; rein back, and tie 

 into the halter, back of the jaw. If the horse now pulls, it is 

 true he is tied by the head ; but he disables and disconcerts 

 himself by pulling directly against the hind parts, which not 

 only disables him so that he cannot pull, but makes him on 

 the instant go ahead. Be sure there is no possibility of any 

 thing giving way or breaking ; for if, when the horse pulls, 

 which he may do at first with a sort of lunge, should he suc- 

 ceed in breaking loose, you are giving yourself away. This 

 you must, at all hazards, guard against. If a colt, all you 

 need to do is to hitch this way for a few times ; if a bad hal- 

 ter-puller, you must do more. Provide yourself with a good 

 bow-whip, and the instant the horse sets back to pull, put 

 the whip into his nose for all you are worth until he comes 

 ahead. You need not be afraid of hurting ; so long as there 

 is the least inclination to pull, punish keenly. No matter 

 how well a horse behaves, the best course is to hitch so for a 

 few days. Hitch first where the horse pulls the hardest. Of 

 course you cannot do any thing, with a whip while hitched in 

 a stall, and must get as good substitute as you can. The 

 main point is to force the horse out of the habit on the in- 

 stant. Every precaution must be taken against breaking loose. 

 Leave nothing to chance that will possibly cause this. Running 

 the rope through a small ring, or a square-edged staple, or a 



