THE WEANLING COLT. 29 



Before hitching the colt to cart, some horsemen 

 run two light poles through the shaft holders, and 

 let the colt become used to feeling thenj along his 

 sides. If .this is done, they claim it is not neces- 

 sary to hitch the colt to a heavy breaking cart. 

 This advice is objected to by one colt man, who 

 says : "Don't run poles through the shaft holders. 

 Don't play dog with the colt." Another expert 

 .w.rites': "Cut out the poles, as we are, at this day 

 and date, breaking intelligent horseSj and the 

 broncho methods don't go. Any colt that is prop- 

 erly ground-broken, and has been driven for three 

 weeks, at the age of a weanling, will be ready to 

 hitch to the lightest bike cart that is made." Many 

 good colt breakers object to the use of a very 

 heavy cart,, preferring a lighter one from which 

 the driver can descend quickly and easily. On the 

 other hand, one man says : "Don't think about a 

 cart you can get out of quickly, but one you can 

 stay in easily. If you are a coward and too good 

 to die, give up breaking colts. They know when 

 you are afraid and will show you a fast time." 

 Charles Marvin, in his book, wrote against the use 

 of carts, and advised a skeleton wagon, but later in 

 life he told Al Thomas he had changed his mind 

 and given up the use of the skeleton wagon. 

 Hitching to Cart. 

 The colt is now ready to be hitched up and 

 driven. Take an assistant along, as his help will 

 be required in cases of accident. An objection is 



