232 BREAKING AND TRAINING OF COLTS. 



when it will find out its power, which may lead to serious re- 

 sults. 



Colts contract habits very easily when improperly man- 

 aged, and when a bad habit in a horse, as well as in a man, is 

 once established, it becomes somewhat of a serious matter to 

 eradicate it. I do not trust a colt too much when commencing 

 to drive singly, and recommend the kicking strap at first until 

 full confidence is gained over the colt. When you know that he 

 will not kick under any ordinary circumstances you may with 

 safety leave it off. My advice is not to place too much confi- 

 dence in a young colt on the road, but be very watchful and 

 careful until you are quite sure you have a safe animal. 



Next to kicking perhaps shying is the greatest evil to which 

 horseflesh is heir. The inconvenience, annoyance, and ofttimes 

 danger occasioned by a shying horse is anything but pleasant 

 to its rider or driver. Shying in horses is undoubtedly the off- 

 spring of fear. Fear is the emotion excited by suspicion, 

 apprehension, appearance, or approach of danger. This may 

 be termed natural timidity, giving rise to that kind of shyness 

 with which colts and young animals are endowed. Another 

 kind of shyness may be said to be acquired. To illustrate : A 

 colt is naturally shy at any object of imposing appearance, 

 novel or strange to him. On the other hand, he beholds an 

 object that is familiar to him, which he associates with some 

 former suffering. Shyness may also be attributed to a third 

 cause — imperfect vision. A horse whose eyesight is imperfect 

 is apt to shy at objects in consequence of not seeing them per- 

 fectly. The disposition to shy arising from either of the above 

 causes is often increased by the acts of the driver. Our advice 

 to the driver of such horses would be to keep your temper and 

 save your whip. Gentleness and persuasion are by far the 

 best means of breaking off this habit in your colt. Let the 

 animal stand and look at the object he fears ; speak to him en- 

 couragingly, and gradually he will approach it. After he has 

 passed it turn him around, passing the object several times 



