50 DRIVING IN HARNESS. 



take a piece of cord about eight or ten feet in length, of the 

 common sash or clothes line size, as strong and pliable as 

 you can find. Tie a large hard knot in one end, and about 

 twenty inches from this knot make another tie, passing the 

 knot end around the neck as near the shoulder as possible. 

 Pass the other end of the cord through both rings of the 

 bit, back of the jaw and back through the loop around the 

 neck, and draw up the slack. Now stand in front of the 

 head, holding the cord tightly with both hands; give a 

 quick, short pull down and back, which will cause the head 

 to be thrown up and back. Repeat, until the head is given 

 up and back freely at the slightest pull. Now, when the 

 reins are attached to the bit and pulled upon, the restraint 

 is precisely the same as before; and after repeating this 

 lesson a few times, the head will be freely submitted to the 

 control of the bit, and a beautiful carriage of the head 

 secured, even without a check. 



DRIVING IN HARNESS. 



I would say here in this connection, that there is an 

 almost unaccountable stupidity exhibited, in the usual 

 method of training colts. There is the greatest care taken 

 not to frighten by having the heels touched for fear of ex- 

 citing resistance ; whereas, this is the very point that should 

 be accomplished most thoroughly in the first place. The 

 hinder parts should be broken, as it is term, until there is no 

 fear of being touched by anything. This is the first point 

 I look to and accomplish most perfectly, safely and quickly 

 by my second course of subjection, and which is one of the 

 real secrets of my success in driving wild or kicking colts 

 so quickly to shafts without breeching. Look to this point 

 in the first place, then teach the colt to summit to the gui- 

 dance and control of tbe bit, and you accomplish by two 

 movements, quicker and better, what it takes so long, and 

 is done so unreliable by the usual course of treatment. 



When the colt is gentle and taught to submit the head to 

 the bit, the next step should be to teach submission to the 

 guidance and control of the bit with reins. I would state 

 here that if the colt is well bitted, submitting the head to 

 being checked high, there will not be much inclination to 

 kick or resist, hence, the custom of putting on a bitting 



