COLT-BREAKING. [CHAP. 



it without difficulty ; but the same horse will not do 

 the same mounted, in the middle of a grass-field, 

 with nothing but his rider's aids to bias him, or to 

 indicate what is required of him. Why ? either because 

 he can't understand your aids, or you can't enforce 

 obedience to them : these will be the reasons, not his 

 want of suppleness. 



The great thing in horsemanship is to get your horse 

 to be of your party not only to obey, but to obey 

 willingly. For this reason a young horse cannot be 

 begun with too early, and his lessons cannot be too 

 gradually progressive. The great use of longeing is, not 

 that it supples your horse it is a farce to suppose that 

 but that, next to leading, it is the easiest act of obedience 

 which you can exact from him. In this way it is an 

 admirable lesson. 



Placing the colt between the pillars of the stall is 

 admirable as a lesson of submission and obedience ; by 

 degrees he may be even cleaned there. The brush acts 

 as the urging indication ; the reins inform him that he is 



