96 THE ART OF TAMING HOUSES. 



" HOW TO MOUNT THE COLT. 



"First gentle him well on both sides, about the 

 saddle, and all over until he will stand still without 

 holding, and is not afraid to see you anywhere about 

 him. 



"As soon as you have him thus gentled, get a small 

 block, about one foot or eighteen inches in height, and 

 set it down by the side of him, about where you want 

 to stand to mount him ; step up on this, raising your- 

 self very gently : horses notice eveiy change of position 

 very closely, and, if you were to step up suddenly on 

 the block, it would be very apt to scare him ; but, by 

 raising yourself gradually on it, he will see you, without 

 being frightened, in a position very nearly the same as 

 when you are on his back. 



" As soon as he will bear this without alarm, untie the 

 stirrup-strap next to you, and put your left foot into 

 the stirrup, and stand square over it, holding your knee 

 against the horse, and your toe out, so as not to touch 

 him under the shoulder with the toe of your boot. 

 Place your right hand on the front of the saddle, and on 

 the opposite side of you, taking hold of a portion of the 

 mane and the reins, as they hang loosely over his neck, 

 with your left hand ; then gradually bear your weight on 

 the stirrup, and on your right hand, until the horse feels 

 your whole weight on the saddle: repeat this several 

 times, each time raising yourself a little higher from the 

 block, until he will allow you to raise your leg over his 

 croup and place yourself in the saddle. 



" There are three great advantages in having a block 

 to mount from. First, a sudden change of position is 

 very apt to frighten a young horse who has never been 



