TRAINING. S55 



animal on the neck and encourages him to proceed. Y/hen 

 he intends to dismount, it must be done slowly and with 

 much caution, and the colt should be given some corn 

 or green meat to encourage him to obedience. Mounting 

 and dismounting should now be frequently practised for a 

 day or two, but he ought not to be much exercised during 

 this operation. When he has become quite reconciled to 

 this, the rider must now apply pressure with his legs, and 

 also a gentle touch of the heels when he desires to quicken 

 his pace, which will finish the process of training. 



All this accomplished, rewards must be gradually with- 

 drawn, and obedience instilled by gentle and kind treat- 

 ment, which in most instances is all that is required. But 

 should the colt at any time become obstinate and resist the 

 commands of his rider, the whip and the spur must be 

 applied to enforce obedience. These means, however, should 

 be very sparingly used, for whenever he finds that he must 

 yield to the power of his rider, he will seldom attempt to 

 disobey him ; but on a recurrence of restiffncss, soothing 

 should first be attempted to restrain him, which in most 

 cases will have the efi*ect ; firmness and gentleness are more 

 likely to prove efi'ectual than cruelty and harshness. Few 

 horses are naturally vicious. 



The above is applicable to a horse that is to be used for 

 riding, we come now to those means best adapted for fitting 

 him to endure harness and the draught. At first, portions 

 of the harness should only be placed upon him, and then 

 blind-winkers, and in a few days the whole trappings. He 

 should then be j)ut into the shafts of an empty cart or 

 waggon ; and the better to teach him to draw, another 

 horse may be placed before, and there is little danger but 

 he will soon be taught to follow, gentle patting alone being 

 used to encouraoje him. He should then be tried alone, and 



