THE HORSEMAN'S MANUAL. 27 



his end by kindness and perseverance, rather than by vio- 

 lence and cruelty. 



The colt has hitherto been ridden with the assistance of a 

 man leading him by the longeing rein : we will presume that 

 he now goes quietly ; that his rider has for sometime had him 

 for the most part, under his sole management, and that he 

 begins to walk pretty well; therefore, in his future lessons, the 

 longeing rein may be dispensed with. 



Lesson II. 



It may be expected that the colt will now know something 

 of what is demanded of him ; that he will walk to his front 

 when required ; that he will stand still to be mounted, in 

 which the rider should be very particular, never attempting 

 to do so till he is perfectly steady. 



Being mounted, the rider must not be rough or impatient ; 

 rough treatment will only make him timid, and cause him to 

 resist for his own preservation ; while, on the contrary, quiet- 

 ness, accompanied by firmness, will convince him that he has 

 nothing to fear, and he will soon come to terms, and answer 

 every reasonable demand. If the colt should show signs of 

 uneasiness, the rider should dismount quietly, carefully ex- 

 amine the saddle to see that it does not hurt him, that the 

 snaffle is properly fitted, and to discover whether his awk- 

 wardness is natural, or proceeds from some other cause ; this 

 done, let him mount again, and having seated himself, take 

 a rein in each hand, press the calves of both legs to him, 

 and move him forward. His pace at first will be more of a 

 roll than a walk ; but patience and perseverance, will soon 

 improve this. The rider's hands must be light and playful, 

 moving the bit very lightly in the colt's mouth, between 

 which and the rider's hand there must be a constant com- 

 munication, which he will obtain, by feeling each rein 

 alternately, and then an equal feeling of both, which will 



