28 CARE AND TRAINING OF TROTTERS. 



fits snug, especially the bit, which is a leather cov- 

 ered one. One attendant leads the colt and an- 

 other takes up the lines and drives it. We do not 

 have to repeat this performance very often, . as 

 the colts can be driven alone, after a. few days, 

 depending naturally on the headway niade." 



Joe Heather writes : "After colts are thorough- 

 ly gentle I slip a harness on them, using a com- 

 mon slip-noose halter, with a long lead, and com- 

 mence to break them to drive, using the halter to 

 control them. This avoids bruising and hurting 

 their mouths which are very tender at this time. 

 I do not need any attendant to help me drive them 

 the first time or two as some others have suggest- 

 ed, as they don't work together all the time, mak- 

 ing more or less confusion with the colts, irritat- 

 ing them unnecessarily and so on. I have never 

 tried to drive a colt under this plan that within 

 thirty minutes I could not drive him almost any- 

 where I wanted to go. Of course this depends on 

 his having been properly handled by the man at the 

 barn. After he is well ground-broken and thor- 

 oughly bridle-wise, there are very, few that will 

 give any trouble when hitched to a light cart." 



One colt man writes : "I hitch my colts to the 

 lightest kind of a low-wheel rubber-tire cart. 

 With an attendant to lead them a short distance, 

 and the driver up, they are started off, and, as a 

 rule, they go on and pay no attention to the rig 

 atall." 



