THE BREEDING OF HORSES 209 



The profit and pleasure to be derived from the use of a horse 

 of any class are so dependent upon his being readily subservient 

 to his master's will that the earlier this spirit is created the 

 better horse he will be. A common custom in the Middle West 

 is to take the unbroken two- or three-year-old, put him between 

 two or three other horses to the gang plow, and thus " break " 

 him. He pulls when the others pull, makes the turns when they 

 do, and finally becomes of about as much service at that work as 

 the other horses in the team, but he is not broken. ' Take him by 

 himself and he will not stand, back, lead, rein, or allow a foot 

 to be picked up without as much or more resistance than was 

 offered before the breaking process began. 



Subordiimtion. — Little foals should be taught subordination 

 at the very start, and not allowed to become wilful or head- 

 strong. An early effort in this direction will not only simplify 

 that culmination of their education, too often most properly 

 termed " breaking," but it will insure that end being more com- 

 pletely accomplished. On the other hand, the idea of fear must 

 be kept as remote as possible, as the timid horse is usually the 

 one which has some terrifying experience to remember. Even 

 before the time for haltering arrives, the youngsters may be 

 taught to stand over, have tlieir feet raised, and in a general way 

 to respond to the master mind. 



Halter Breal-iiig. — When halters are to be placed on the 

 colts in order that they may become accustomed to tliem, one of 

 the light web variety is preferable to the heavier strap halter 

 commonly used, and care should be taken not to pull heavily on 

 the nose band at any time. Many deformed face lines have been 

 caused by this means. It is not necessary to drag a colt by the 

 halter in order to suggest to him that his bu'siness is to follow. 

 As a matter of fact, the reverse effect is usual, and the harder 

 a colt is pulled, the harder he pidls back. If, on the contrary, he 

 is coaxed along some accustomed route, as to the water trough 

 and back, he will soon catch on and follow promptly whenever 

 the halter is taken in hand. 



The first time the colt is tied up by the head, see to it that the 

 halter will hold him in case he pulls. If it does and he fails in 

 14 



