THE HORSE. 41 



he was about eight months old, a small bit, made 

 of a smooth stick of licorice, was put into his 

 mouth, and to this bit light leather reins were 

 fastened by pieces of elastic rubber : this rubber 

 relieved his mouth from a constant dead pull, 

 and tended to preserve its delicate sensibility. 

 Thus harnessed he was led around the lawn, 

 followed by a crowd of youthful admirers and 

 playmates, who formed a sort of triumphal pro- 

 cession, with which the colt was as well pleased 

 as the spectators. Every attempt on his part 

 to indulge in horse-play, such as biting, kicking, 

 etc., was always quickly checked, and no one 

 was allowed to tease or strike him. 



Nothing heavier than a dumb jockey was put 

 on his back until he was four years old, when 

 his education began in sober earnest. After a 

 few lessons with the lunge line, given by a reg- 

 ular trainer, a saddle was put on his back, 

 and for the first time in his life he carried a 

 human being. 



When learning his different riding gaits on 

 thp road, he was always accompanied by a well- 

 trained saddle-horse, aided by whose example 

 as well as by the efforts of his rider he was soon 

 trained in three different styles of movement, 

 namely, a good walk, trot, and hand gallop. 

 Fear seemed unknown to this horse, for he had 



