The Growing Stock 303 
try it out, so that he will find that he is securely tied, 
that pulling inflicts pain, and afterwards he is not so 
likely to try it even when tied only with the regular 
halter. Another method of tying horses is to put a loop 
in the rope, tying a bowline knot, and put it in place 
the same as a crupper on the harness, running the rope 
forward and passing it through the halter as before. 
The trouble with this tie is that the horse is likely to 
rupture the muscles and tendons at the seat of the tail, 
and it is somewhat risky on that account. Another 
method that is sometimes used is to tie the colt by one of 
the front feet. This method is open to several objections, 
and it is not as widely used as the other. A method that 
is not widely advertised, but is rather efficient, is to tie 
the colt with a regular halter, but fasten to a ring above 
his head instead of the manger, so that when he pulls 
back, the pulling lifts him off his feet and leaves him 
helpless. There is very little danger of hurting a horse 
by this method. Practically all colts will pull back more 
or less when they are first being broken, but if they are 
always tied so that they cannot get loose, there is no 
danger of their becoming pullers. These precautions 
need not be kept up very long if the colt never gets away. 
The habit of standing tied soon becomes fixed, and a string 
will hold them, but if they break loose once or twice, it 
may be several months before it is safe to tie in the ordi- 
nary manner. It is often a good plan to keep a colt loose 
in a box stall until he becomes used to being confined. 
BREAKING TO LEAD 
After the horse is somewhat gentle, it is necessary to 
teach him to lead. For this purpose the halter rope 
should have some length, and in addition to the halter it 
