204 HORSES AKD RIDING. 



the riglit position hj means of the pressure of soft 

 leather straps on his nose, instead of by a sharp bit 

 in his mouth, and his mouth will be left perfectly 

 free to receive impressions from the rider's hands. 



Thus much for mounting the horse. 



He can be taught to go on the road quietly by 

 leading him, first with a man on foot, and then 

 alongside of another horse, and when he is quite 

 quiet to lead along a road and ride in an 

 enclosed yard, he will not take much teaching to 

 ride along a road. I have never tried the experi- 

 ment or heard of its being tried, but I think it 

 extremely probable that if an unbroken colt were 

 taken up at the time that hunters are taken up, in 

 August, and exercised regularly by being led along- 

 side of another horse, first with only a surcingle 

 on, then with a saddle, and then with someone on 

 his back, but still being led as well, having been 

 mounted and dismounted occasionally in the mean- 

 time in the loose box, I think if this plan were 

 adopted, that by the time the hunters were in con- 

 dition the young horse would be found to be fit to 

 ride. 



I need not say that these remarks apply chiefly 

 to horses that have no particular tendency to vice or 

 sulkiness, and that are not exceptionally timid or 

 nervous. In such cases as these the teaching must 

 be suited to the disposition of the horse, and no 

 general rule can be given ; but even here, the plan I 



