The Growing Stock 301 



buckled around each of the four pasterns. Each strap is 

 connected to a center ring by a piece of chain eighteen 

 inches long, thus fastening all four feet ^ together close 

 enough to prevent the horse from running, striking, or 

 kicking, but not close enough to prevent him from stand- 

 ing comfortably. The men now approach the horse 

 squarely from the side, just opposite the withers, and pro- 

 ceed to handle him over all parts, talking quietly to him 

 meanwhile. This is continued for twelve or fifteen 

 minutes, and the horse allowed to smell harness, saddles, 

 whips, blankets, and the like. He may then be har- 

 nessed and bridled, and left alone for a few minutes, 

 the men leaving the corral. When they return, the horse 

 is treated as before, and after being handled for a short 

 time is unharnessed, petted, and the hobbles quietly 

 removed. The horse should be quiet by this time, and 

 may be approached and handled without the hobbles. 

 When the lesson is over, the horse is allowed to pass quietly 

 out of the corral and into a lot and turned back with 

 the horses that have not been handled. Another horse 

 is then driven into the catching corral, and the work is 

 continued. Experienced men will handle a horse in about 

 forty-five minutes, or from ten to twelve a day. Horses 

 that have been handled should be kept together, and when 

 turned out to pasture at night, they are turned with well- 

 broken horses. The second day the horses are handled 

 again as previously, -and after this, the draft colts are 

 usually quiet, and can be rubbed and harnessed without 

 again resorting to the hobbles. The colts with hotter 

 blood will usually need more treatment. After such 

 colts are thoroughly gentled, they are then in position to 

 be treated and broken in the same manner as farm-raised 

 horses, 



