124 COLT TRAINING. 



the worst cases I ever handled in my life were colts partly or wholly 

 unbroken. Among this class we found our greatest average of sub- 

 jects to be experimented upon before classes. They were usually 

 colts that had been either greatly frightened or excited to kick- 

 - ing and running away, or were naturally so vicious and dangerous 

 as to be very difficult to go near or handle at all with safety. If 

 kickers, they would kick in the most reckless and desperate manner, 

 making it impossible for even two or three men to hitch them in 

 shafts and be able to hold them without their kicking or running 

 away. 



In the management of these cases it is necessary to prepare 

 thoroughly. A very important point is to have a roomy place, 

 with soft or sodded ground, or ground covered with something that 

 would make it soft and prevent slipping. The first thing to do is to 

 get the halter on safely and with the least excitement. Next get 

 the horse under sufficient control to be able to subject him to requi- 

 site treatment. The Second Method is by far the simplest and 

 safest in accomplishing this. After turning around quickly almost 

 to the point of falling, untie quickly, and tie the other way, follow- 

 ing up until submissive to being handled. If »the colt be of a mus- 

 tang character, this will be found by all odds the best treatment. 

 In some cases this may not be sufficient to accomplish your point. 

 If a colt three or four or more years old, and if of a disposition to be 

 safely used, subject to the First Method, throwing rapidly and just 

 as long as the horse will get up. Then perhaps it would be advisa- 

 ble to subject again sharply to the Second Method. This is the 

 course we frequently pursued with great success, but then we had 

 the advantage of knowing the treatment best suited and applying it 

 most successfully. ^ 



Next put on the War Bridle, double-draw hitch form, and make 

 all the impression with that you can. If this be done properly, thv 

 colt must be very bad indeed that will not yield to it in a short 

 time. In very serious cases we resorted at once to the Third 

 Method, making all the impression we could with it, and again go- 

 ing back to the Second Method. In some critical cases we had to 

 depend almost wholly upon the Third Method. But usually the 

 Second or First will be found sufficient, and certainly, in cbnnection 

 with the double-draw hitch form, there should be no real difficulty 

 experienced in making your point. 



It is of course indispensable that the conditions and principlesin 

 applying these methods of subjection should have been read and 

 studied carefully. Another important point to bear in mind : When 



