112 COLT TRAINING. 



ging and pulling upon the bit in driving, a very unpleasant as well 

 as mean habit. He is also,- from this cause, liable to learn the habits 

 of refusing to rein but one way, or pulling on one rein, throwing the 

 head down when pulled upon, refusing to stand, or to back. These 

 were habits that I had to contend with almost constantly in colts 

 partly broken that were brought me to experiment upon. 



A very good and simple Bitting Rig can be made as follows : 

 With an ordinary bridle with snaffle bit and gag-runners, fit a sim- 

 ple surcingle with loops at different points on both sides with 

 crouper attachments, as shown by Fig. 150. Next take a piece of 

 cord about the size used for War Bridle, and place the center over 

 the water hook, or to be held by a strap connecting it witlrthe sad- 

 dle part. Now pass the ends forward through the gag-runners down 



Piq. 140.— Wrong Way of Teaching Colt to Lead by Halter. 



through the rings of the bit on each side, thence back through the 

 loops on each side of the surcingle, and tie into the hip-ring of the 

 back-band, sufficiently short to give the restraint required. The 

 higher the cord is held on each side, the greater the tendency to pull 

 the head up and back, while the lower it is, the greater the tendency 

 to pull the nose in ; so the hight on each side should be regulated 

 to suit the case. While by this means there is restraint upon the 

 head up and back, the sliding of the cord through the rings and gag- 

 runners gives sufficient freedom for the head to be brought down to 

 relieve fatigue. 



Other breaking rigs, and some very good ones, are in use ; the 

 only objection to them is their expense and complication, there being 

 in some cases arrangements of cross-bars put upon the saddle-part to 

 give more fulcrum in pulling the head up and back. It is evident 

 that the end to be attained is to teach the mouth to be submitted freely 

 up and back to the flexible restraint bf the bit in driving.* Now, bit- 



