304 Western Live-stock Management 



is well to put on a hitch known as a guy rope. (See Plate 

 XIV.) This is made by using a soft three-eighths-inch rope 

 about twenty feet long, with a running loop like a lariat. 

 The loop is placed around the horse's neck and then a half 

 hitch put around the jaw. This makes a very severe 

 hitch and should not be used for long pulls or for leading 

 the horse, but in short quick jerks to stop him when' he 

 tries to get away. With this equipment upon the colt, a 

 strong man should be able to handle him successfully, 

 but at first, the training should be inside the corral so 

 that there will be no chance for him to break loose. At 

 the start a helper should follow behind with a whip, and 

 urge the colt along as gently as possible without using 

 the whip until necessary. After the colt learns what is 

 wanted of him, he can be taught to lead up by the leader 

 without any one behind. This may be accomplished by 

 the leader using the whip in the left hand, and tapping 

 the colt gently, so as to show him what is desired. The 

 guy rope should not be used to pull upon but merely to 

 restrain the colt if he becomes over-fractious, as he cannot 

 be held at such times by a common halter. The colts 

 that are to be exhibited in the show or sale ring are taught 

 to lead up beside the attendant ; while some work horses 

 are broken in this manner, others prefer them to lead 

 behind. Whichever is the case, they should be taught 

 to lead up briskly without dragging back. 



BREAKING TO WORK 



The colt should be handled considerably before trying 

 to work him. He should become used to being harnessed 

 and saddled. When hitching him up, one must be sure 

 that the harness is strong enough so that he cannot possibly 



