82 The Diseases of Animals 
Teaching a volt to back is usually best) done by pla- 
cing him in a double team with a horse that will back 
well, the wagon being in a favorable position so that 
little force is required to move it. An assistant takes 
the lines and tells the colt to back, while the trainer 
takes hold of the colt’s bit on either side and assists in 
forcing him backward. If he refuses to go, a slight cut 
with the whip across his front legs, or tapping the iegs 
with the toe, will cause him to step back. Time and 
patience are often required to teach a colt to back well. 
He should always be forced to respond to traction on 
the bit, even if a cut with the whip is necessary. He 
should not be allowed to twist his head and neck around 
to one side without moving the body. In teaching a 
colt to draw, he should be hitched with another horse of 
his own temperament and agility. The loads should at 
first be light, increasing gradually as he becomes familiar 
with the work. A voung horse, not accustomed to pull- 
ing, should never be hitched to a load if there is any 
doubt of his ability to move it readily. 
WILD OR VICIOUS HORSES 
In breaking or handling vicious horses, the most 
important thing is to impress them firmly with the idea 
that the trainer has complete control over them and 
that they must obey him. A horse that thinks he can 
do as he wishes is diffienlt to deal with. One of the 
methods of managing a vicious horse is, if, understand- 
ing what is required of him, he refuses to obey, to 
throw him down and hold him there until he gives up. 
