26 The Management and Treatment of the ttor$e, 



teach it to walk. I once heard a gentleman say, " Any 

 fool can make a horse go fast/' and it is quite true ; 

 therefore it is equally true that it requires skill and 

 patience to teach a horse its slow paces, which adds 

 much to the value of a horse. Many horses can trot 

 and gallop fast, but cannot walk, and are miserable 

 brutes to ride. Therefore teach your horse to walk, 

 and when it can walk well it will be time enough to 

 make it trot. Teach it all its paces distinct, as no- 

 thing is so bad as to have a horse that will neither walk 

 trot, canter, nor gallop, but wants to mix all its paces 

 into one. When you ride the colt, which should be 

 done half-an-hour at a time twice each day, do not let 

 anyone touch the bridle while you mount. If it is 

 necessary for an attendant to hold the colt while you 

 mount, let him place his hand gently on its nose, and 

 stroke its head. Always make the colt stand still after 

 you are on its back for a few seconds, and in the same 

 manner make it stand still before you dismount. Alter 

 you have used it to this treatment for a week or two, 

 it will stand perfectly still for you to either mount 

 or dismount. As the horse, through life, is required to 

 do all kinds of things, it is necessary that it should 

 be taught in its youth to do what it may in after-life 

 be called upon to perlorm. We have now taught the 

 colt to carry man, and walk, trot, or canter at his will . 

 we will now use it to the sword and fire-arms. Having 

 buckled your scabbard on without the sword, go to 

 its head, caress it, and let it examine the scabbard 

 before you mount ; then, after it is satisfied, mount 

 and walk slowly, to let it feel the scabbard ; after it is 



