^ ILVREY AND BOCKWELL's TRAINING METHODS. 101 



Slinp; a knot in the stirrup straps, put the saddle 

 flaps together, take the saddle under your right arm, 

 and walk slowly up to the horse. As soon as you 

 are near enough, lift the saddle up gradually, and 

 while caressing the animal, let him touch and look 

 at it. Then open the saddle flaps and stroke the 

 horse with the saddle gently, along the neck, to make 

 him accustomed to the noise made by the pushing 

 to and fro of the saddle. By and bj-, do the same 

 with the saddle farther back, until you may finally 

 put it over his shoulders and gently down on his 

 back. Shake the saddle flaps and keep busy about 

 the saddle, take it off again, put it right on again 

 and the horse will no longer offer any resistance. 



Before those manipulations, examine the padding 

 of the saddle so as to protect the horse's back from 

 becoming galled by the saddle, then fasten it 

 by means of the girths, quite loosely, just enough 

 to hold it in place. To avoid frightening the horse, 

 by fastening the girths, it is absolutely necessary to 

 remove everything disturbing, for instance : loose 

 tangling straps, etc. Put the straps, as gently as 

 possible, around the horse, not pulling them tight, 

 and lead the horse about. 



After he gets a little used to the saddle on his 

 back, tighten the girths slowly, as much as necessary, 

 without irritating the animal. Take a whip in your 



