TO APPROACH A VICIOUS HORSE. 73 



the preceding chapters. In dealing with a colt, except 

 upon an emergency, he should be first accustomed to be 

 handled and taught to lead ; this, first-rate horse-tamers 

 will accomplish with the wildest colt in three hours, but 

 it is better to give at least one day up to these first im- 

 portant steps in education. It will also be as well to 

 have a colt cleaned and his hoof trimmed by the black- 

 smith. If this cannot be done the operation will be 

 found very dirty and disagreeable. 



In approaching a spiteful stallion you had better make 

 your first advances with a half-door between you and 

 him, as Mr. Rareydid in his first interview with Cruiser : 

 gradually make his acquaintance, and teach him that 

 you do not care for his open mouth ; but a regular biter 

 must be gagged in the manner which will presently be 

 described. 



Of course there is no difficulty in handling the leg of 

 a quiet horse or colt, and by constantly working from 

 the neck down to the fetlock you may do what you please. 

 But many horses and even colts have a most dangerous 

 trick of striking out with their fore-legs. There is no 

 better protection against this than a cart-wheel. The 

 wheel may either be used loose, or the animal may be 

 led up to a cart loaded with hay, when the horse-tamer 

 can work under the cart through one of the wheels, 

 while the colt is nibbling the load. 



Having, then, so far soothed a colt that he will permit 

 you to take up his legs without resistance, take the strap 

 Xo. 1* pass the tongue through the loop under the 

 buckle so as to form a noose, slip it over the near fore- 

 leg and draw it close up to the pastern-joint, then take 



* All these straps may be obtained from Mr. Stokey, saddler, North 

 Street, Little Moorfields, who supplied Mr. Rarey, and has patterns of 

 the improvements by Lord B and Colonel R . 



