TREATMENT OF THE COLT. 27 



Never use martingales on a colt when you first 

 ride him ; every movement of the hand should go 

 right to the bit in the direction in which it is applied 

 to the reins, without a martingale to change the di- 

 rection of the force applied. You can guide the colt 

 much better without it, and teach him the use of the 

 bit in much less time. Besides, martingales would 

 prevent you from pulling his head round if he 

 should try to jump. 



After your colt has been ridden until he is gentle 

 and well accustomed to the bit, you may find it an 

 advantage, if he carries his head too high or his nose 

 too far out, to put martingales on him. 



You should be careful not to ride your colt so far 

 at first as to heat, worry, or tire him. Get off as 

 soon as you see he is a little fatigued ; gentle him 

 and let him rest ; this will make him kind to you, 

 and prevent him from getting stubborn or mad. 



TO BREAK A HORSE TO HARNESS. 



Take him in a tight stable, as you did to ride 

 him ; take the harness and go through the same pro- 

 cess that you did with the saddle, until you get him 

 familiar with them, so you can put them on his 

 back and rattle them about without his caring for 

 them. As soon as he will bear them, put on the 

 lines, caress him as you draw them over him, and 

 drive him about in the stable till he will bear them 

 over his hips. The lines are a great aggravation to 

 some colts, and often frighten them as much as if 

 you were to raise a whip over them. As soon as he 



