48 BITTING. 



forward, cross and twist them three or four times over the 

 back, knot them in front of the breast, and pass them 



Hitching. 



through the ring of the halter and tie to the manger or post. 

 Hitch in this way until the colt refuses to pull back, even 

 if frightened a little ; after learning to submit in this manner, 

 which he will soon learn to do, he will stand hitched by 

 the common form of halter. 



BITTING 



Is the next step in educating the colt, and implies teaching 

 the colt to submit to the restraint and control of the bit, 

 giving as much style to the carriage of the head and neck 

 as the form and temper of the animal will bear. Put on a 

 common bridle with a smooth snaffle bit, without reins, and 

 allow him to go as he pleases, in a yard or field, for half an 

 hour or more, which may be repeated once or twice, to 

 make the mouth accustomed to and hardened to the bit. 

 Next put on a surcingle with check and side reins, buckling 

 the reins at first so long as to bring but little restraint upon 

 the mouth. After being on thirty or forty minutes, take it 

 off. At each repetition buckle the reins a little shorter, 

 until the head is submitted up and back freely to the check. 

 It seems needless to introduce details of a bitting harness. 

 Any simple construction of the ordinary kind will answer 

 very well, and the style is so generallv understood that a 



