TRAINING OF HORSES. 63 
SHOEING THE COLT. 
To prepare a colt for shoeing the first time, tie the 
“long foot-strap” (see Index) around the neck, pass it 
‘along the near side, between the hind-legs, and bringing 
it around: the near hind-leg close up to the body, pass it 
under the strap around the neck; then draw upon the 
strap, holding him meanwhile by the bridle ; the colt 
will probably be nervous at the pull, and you will loosen 
it and caress him over the face and neck, gradually 
tightening at each successive pull, using no words but 
gentle ones, and not saying “ Whoa!” When he has be- 
come accustomed to it, lower the strap to a point just 
above the hock, and gradually pull upon ‘the strap until 
you lift the leg, at the same time pulling upon the bridle 
with a side or back pull to prevent his stepping forward. 
When you have thus succeeded in easily lifting the leg 
pretty well up, you will find that you can take it up 
with your hand and hold it. The same process must of 
course be gone through with on the other leg, and after 
about ten lessons your colt is ready to go to the blacksmith. 
The rule has usually been to take the colt to the black- 
smith first, but he is more than apt to get bad habits by 
being forced into position to be shod, and probably gets 
pounded to his injury if the blacksmith’s stock of pa- 
tience is not very large. Shoeing should always be 
done as the feet grow tender, and, if quite young, shoe 
very often. 
HINTS ON THE COLT. 
In teaching the colt words, always accompany the 
