158 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



it out too. In his first match against man, man would 

 have been beaten. He, not you, would be the master 

 at the halter-exercise at least ; and, while he might have 

 followed you after a time, still you would have lost the 

 opportunity of impressing him with his powerlessness 

 when arrayed against man, which a wise educator w^ll 

 always seek to give to every colt he takes in hand. 

 How unwise, viewed in this light, is that neglect to 

 break colts to the halter even until they are three or 

 four or even five years of age! "Children," says a 

 thoughtful writer, " are made obedient before they are 

 old enough to talk ; " and colts, it might be added, are 

 made obedient to man, if properly educated, long before 

 they are old enough to use in harness. Now and then, 

 the colt, if he be of high spirit and lusty, will struggle 

 long, and make a real "fight over it;" and, to avoid 

 accidents in case that he should reel and fall, select 

 for the school-ground a spot of soft greensward, free 

 from stones, in order that his falls may be harmless to 

 him. Be sure also, in case of falling, that you keep his 

 head from striking the ground heavily ; which you can 

 always do, because your hand is on the halter, by which 

 it can be supported. This, in brief, is the manner in 

 which I give my colts their first lesson in that course 

 of education, which, when completed, has brought them 

 to that degree of intelligence and docility at which they 

 can be ridden without bridle or halter; driven without 

 reins, hold-backs, or breeching-band ; and find their joy 

 in serving me, as I find mine in watching and caring 

 for them. 



