30 CARE AND TRAINING OP TROTTERS. 



raised to this by a horseman, who writes : "Don't 

 take an assistant along. It is no time for visiting. 

 If you are afraid of the colt, let your wife drive 

 it the first few times." Some colt breakers prefer 

 to hitch the colt alongside an older and well broken 

 horse for its first few lessons, but this method is 

 somewhat antiquated and little used.' Some advise 

 carrying a whip from the first, so that the golt 

 will become used to one, but do not be in too great 

 a hurry to use it. An objector to this advice says : 

 "Don't carry a whip the first few tiniies. The colt 

 doesn't need whipping." Be careftil about pulling 

 on the lines so as not to make the colt a "puller." 

 One prominent trainer, in the early lessons, always 

 uses a rope halter under the bridle, with the ijope 

 extending back to the seat of the cart and always 

 pulls the colt to a stop with this, and even guides 

 to certain extent with it. Another trainer says : 

 "Don't be afraid of the bridle making pullers. It's 

 the driver who does that." 



Do not break a colt before a crowd of specta- 

 tors. Do not lose your temper. Do not pull the 

 colt over backwards. 



Dr. J. C. McCoy says : "The way to begin 

 breaking a colt is to always have the same man 

 harness it and the colt won't be scared. Let the 

 one who hitches the colt drive it around with the 

 harness on for about a week and be sure not to 

 hurt its mouth. After the week is up, hitch the 

 colt to a cart and walk it for another week. Never 



