1 62 EVERY MAN IIIS OWN TRAINER. 



broken to harness. The first course of instruction is in the 

 bitting harness, which I need not here describe. After he is 

 thoroughly used to harness and obedient to bit and rein — 

 which will take several days of patient and careful work — he 

 is introduced into the shafts of a skeleton wagon. My sys- 

 tem, however, is to teach him to go in harness by hitching 

 him double with a gentle, reliable horse, first on one side and 

 then on the other. After this he will likely go off at the first 

 asking in single harness. Drive your colt first to the skeleton 

 wagon. Now shoe him behind with a light, plain shoe, and 

 as soon as you get him going straight and clever, hitch him 

 to a sulkey and his regular track work begins. 



Before you work him see that he is thoroughly protected 

 with well-fitting boots. In looking over your outfit for boots, 

 if you find such apparatus as a break cart, a supply of toe- 

 weights and a fit-out for " leading colts with a runner," put 

 the toe-weights on the runner, hitch the runner to the cart, 

 and ship the outfit to some of the many trainers who will 

 have use for these tools. 



Colts, as a rule, and especially yearlings, need no jogging. 

 They should always be fed fully and well, and must be kept 

 stout. Up till two years old the colt will not eat more than 

 his growth calls for. He is young and nervous, aiul by the 

 time you get on the track you will find him ready to step off 

 at a good pace. Start him up at a good gait for 100 to 150 

 yards, then turn slowly and brush him back. Repeat this 

 several times, but not enough to tire the colt, carrying him 

 up to his clip at some part of each brush, and gix'ing him a 

 breathing spell at every turn. After this take him in, re- 

 move his boots and care for him proper!)-, seeing that he is 

 not exposed to drafts. After he is cooled out lea\e liim to 

 him'self, as if undisturbed he will probably lie down and rest. 

 Remember that colts need little blanketing, no sweat-hoocis 

 and no scraping. They do not neetl to be reduced, but to be 

 kept stout. 



Continue this work right along, giving him a run out and 



