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 
