PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



CHAPTER Xlli. 



As I have often been asked what ever possessed 

 me to engage in such a dangerous avocation as train- 

 ing colts and subduing vicious horses, I do not tliink 

 it improper to give a few explanations why I am in 

 this business, and also give a littb of my experience 

 in handling horses. I was bom and brought up near 

 Pleasant Hill, Ohio, on a farm, where I evinced some- 

 Avhat of a talent for training colts, but never had the 

 -opportunity of developing this talent until at one time 

 I was training one of my father's colts. As I think 

 the circumstance connected with this celt is the 

 identical one that started me in the horse train- 

 ing business, I will give you details of this case. 

 The colt was about three years old, and I had driven 

 him three or four times, when one Sunday afternoon 

 I drove him to a neighbor's liou^f^. I had to 

 cross a ditch and open a gate to get there, and when 

 coming out I was obliged to leave the colt alone, about 

 three rods from the gate, until I went back to shut it. 

 I noticed the colt was a little excited and very doubt- 

 ful about standing, but I thought I would start back. 



