306 Western Live-stock Management 



BREAKING SINGLE DRIVERS 



High-class single drivers are broken to a strong cart 

 and never worked double at all. This requires plenty of 

 time and special management and equipment, since it is 

 difficult to manage a colt hitched to a single cart. In 

 this method of breaking colts, special carts are used. 

 These carts are very strong and have extra long shafts 

 so that the colts will not do any damage by kicking. An 

 extra length must be attached to the traces, so that 

 they will reach to the singletree. Extra heavy harness is 

 also used ; since there are very few single harnesses made 

 strong enough for this purpose, they are usually made to 

 order. A kicking strap is also necessary. This is a 

 heavy strap running across the hips and buckled to the 

 shafts on each side, and will prevent the colt from kicking 

 out of the shafts. A crude cart may be made by using an 

 old buggy axle and wheels, with long poles for shafts, and 

 the harness may be worked over from a heavy double har- 

 ness. Few breeders, except those dealing extensively in fine 

 drivers, have need for these special breaking carts. Before 

 hitching the colt to the cart, he should be thoroughly 

 bitted by putting on a bitting harness which consists of a 

 bridle, surcingle, and reins. The reins should be made 

 loose at first, but gradually tightened so that the colt 

 knows what the bit is and becomes accustomed to it so 

 that he will not bite it. The colt should then be accus- 

 tomed to the single harness and driven to some extent 

 with it before being put to the wagon. He should be 

 taught the terms "whoa," "get-up," and be made to 

 know that the driver is master of the operation. After 

 the colt's confidence is obtained is the time to put him to 

 the strong cart and start the regular, work. Even then 



