ILLUSTEATED GUIDE. 27 



that any colt can be mounted and rode, in a few moments, 

 witliout incurring the risk of being pitched upon your head, 

 and teaching your colt a habit that will be dangerous as 

 well as very unpleasant. We say this with great confidence, 

 for daring nine years, experience with the wildest colts 

 that could be prodiiced, it has never failed in a single case. 

 Before you attempt to monnt a colt it is very important 

 that you teach him the word tvhoa, which we claim to be 

 the most important word in liorsemanship ; and if you wish 

 your horse to learn and obey the word, he must first learn 

 the meaning of it, and then you must only make use of it 

 when you wish him to stop. Never use the word wlioa to call 

 your horse's attention, in the stable, as many persons do, 

 such as, " ivhoa, get over ; whoa, lach ; whoa, come here,^^ etc. 

 until the horse gets completely confused with the'word, and 

 cannot comprehend your meaning. Hence the necessity of 

 being uniform in word and act. In fact, if you wish your 

 horse to understand and obey you, you must always be hon- 

 est with him — never tell him what you do not mean — nev- 

 er deceive him under any circumstances, but gain his con- 

 fidence, and never betray it. We would just as soon think 

 of betraying the confidence of our brother man as the 

 horse we were training. In teaching your horse the word 

 whoa, take a strap six or eight feet in length, lay it across 

 his back to the right side, fasten to the ankle of the right 

 foot, holding the strap in your right hand, the left on the 

 halter or bridle; now lead the colt a few steps and say, 

 whoa, at the same time pull on the strap, which will throw 

 him on three legs, and suddenly bring him to a stop, and 

 in a very short time teach him that the word tvhoa means 

 to stop. After educating your colt thoroughly in this man- 

 ner, then attempt to mount him by placing your knee on 



