CHAPTER III. 



Hitch THE Colt First Time Double — When to Hitch Single— Kick- 

 ing Strap — His Work Single — Put on Light Shoes or Tips — 

 How TO Put on Tips— Tips Necessary Behind to Attach Toe 

 Boots. 



After you have worked your colt for some time with the 

 saddle horse and desire to hitch him to a cart, it would be well 

 to give him his first lessons hitched double with another 

 horse, especially if he is of high mettle and spirited — (this 

 applies to colts of any age). Hitch him first one day on the 

 near and the next day on the off side ; that keeps their mouth 

 straight and accustoms them to the pole on either side ; they 

 do not then get the habit of driving all on one rein. If you 

 drive them only on one side, when they are hitched single 

 they are apt to have the one-line habit, and it is hard to break 

 them of it. 



When you have driven him enough double and he be- 

 comes waywised and handy and you want to commence driv- 

 ing him single, it would be well as you come in from driving 

 him double to change the double for a single harness and 

 hitch him right up to your break cart, as he has probably by 

 this time got the wire edge and play out of him, and he will 

 go right off without any trouble. 



In hitching single use for the first few times a kick strap, 

 as it is usually called, for safety only ; but I want to say right 

 here, that the kicking strap in many cases does more harm 

 than good, causing an injury to the horse by not being prop- 

 erly adjusted. If it is put on too close to the roots of the 

 tail, when the horse raises his tail it may catch the skin be- 

 tween the strap and croupcr and cause him to scringe as it 

 hurts, and he will attempt to kick, which he would never 

 have thought of if it had not been for the offensive strap. 

 If it is put too far in front it is no preventative, if he attempts 



