Chapter II 



BREAKING THE COLT TO SADDLE 



THE preliminary and confidence lesson has been 

 given, and having long-reined the colt thoroughly, we 

 will presume that he is required for saddle-work only. 

 The next thing is to accustom the colt to see a man 

 mounting and dismounting him. Commence by standing 

 at his side and giving a little spring as if to mount him ; 

 let him feel your whole body against him. Continue to 

 half spring as if to jump on his back until he stands 

 quietly. This should be practised on both sides of the 

 colt. Then put an old saddle on and work him in long 

 reins for about fifteen minutes; after this, repeat the 

 partial mounting and dismounting on the off side and 

 keep on with the exercise, taking each side alternately 

 as long as you may consider necessary. The object is 

 to teach the colt to stand quietly while being mounted. 

 The correct way to mount from the ground is to 

 grasp the mane firmly with one hand the left hand, if 

 mounting from the near side and vice versa, and the 



55 



