94 HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. 



teach these things to a colt from the moment he is weaned, and 

 it would save him much brutality, as a three or four-year-old. 

 In doing so, it is impossible to have too much forbearance. The 

 whole thing is an affair of patience. Put off the evil day of force. 

 Forgive him seventy times seventy times a day, and be assured 

 that what does not come to-day, will to-morrow. The grand 

 thing is to get rid of dogged sulks and coltishness — of that way- 

 ward, swerving, hesitating gait, which says, " Here's my foot, 

 and there's my foot,'" or "There is a lion in the street, I can- 

 not go forth ! " This is the besetting sin of colts, and this it 

 is, which on the turf, gives so great an advantage to a young 

 horse, who has another to make play, or cut out the running 

 for him. For this indisposition to go freely forward, results, 

 as well from their seeing no necessity to give up their will to 

 yours, as from their incapacity to perceive and obey the indi- 

 cations of their rider, without swerving, shifting the leg, &c., 

 and additional labour to themselves. All this is spared to 

 the young horse by the follow-my-leader system. 



