THE UOESE. 33 



upon liim. The process of saddling is niiniitely described by Mr. 

 Rarey. and we quote liiy remarks thereupon froui the Loudon papers. 

 Mr. Jiarey says : 



"The first thing- will be to tie each stirrup-strap into a loose knot, to 

 make them short and prevent the stirrups from flyiug about and liitting 

 him. Then double up the skirts and take the saddle under your right 

 arm, so as not to frighten him with it as you approach. AViien you got 

 to him, rub him gently a few times with your hand, and then raise the 

 saddle very slowly, until he can see it, and smell and feel it with his 

 nose. Then let the skirt loose, and rub it very gently against his neck 

 the way the hair lies, letting him hear the rattle of the skirts as he feels 

 them against him; each time getting a little further baclovard, and 

 finally slipping it over his shoulders on his back. Shake it a little with 

 your hand, and in less than five minutes you can rattle it about over his 

 back as much as you please, and pull it oft" and throw it on again, with- 

 out his paying much attention to it. 



"As soon as you have accustomed him to the saddle, fasten the girth. 

 Be careful how you do this. It often frightens the colt when he feels 

 the girth binding him, and making the saddle fit tight on his back. 

 You should bring up the girth very gently, and not draw it too tight at 

 first, just enough to hold the saddle on. Move him a little, and then 

 girth it as tight as you choose, and he will not mind it. You should 

 see that the pad of your saddle is nW right before you put it on, and 

 that there is nothing to make it hurt him, or feel unpleasant to his back. 

 It should not have any loose straps on the back part, to flap about and 

 scare him. 



" After you have saddled him in this way, take a switch in your 

 right hand to tap him with, and walk about in the stable a few times with 

 your right arm over your saddle, taking hold of the reins on each side 

 of his neck with your right and left hands, thus marching him about iu 

 the stable until you teach him the use of the bridle, and can turn him 

 in any direction, and stop him by a gentle pull of the rein. Always 

 caress him, and loose the reins a little every time you stop him." 



Mounting the Colt. — The weight of the arm in the saddle has accus- 

 tomed him to a slight burden. Now get a block, or mounting-stool, 

 about eighteen inches high, and place it at his side, liaise yourself 

 very quietly upon the block, and when you have done so, loosen the 

 stirrup-strap upon the rear side, place your foot in the stirrup, seize the 

 oft' side of the saddle with the right hand, and cautiously bear your 

 weight upon the stirrup and hand. After repeating this operation 

 several times the colt learns there is nothing hurtful, and you must now 

 lift yourself veri/ quietbj into the saddle. Once upon his back, speak 

 gently to him, and if he does not move, pull the near rein a little and 

 he will start. Repeat all the operations of getting on and oft', and rid- 

 ing round, for a couple of hours. 



The True Way to Bit a Colt. — The practice of placing a bitting harness 

 npon a colt the first thing done with him, and buckling the bitting rein 

 as tight as it can be drawn, as is frequently the case, meets the severe 

 and just condemnation of Mr. Rarey. This is one of the most cruel 

 punishments that can be inflicted upon a colt, and to one that is in the 

 2* 



