•94 PROGEESSIV^E LESSONS. 



189. — The next day's lesson may be to teach the colt to 

 bear something tightly girthed round it, and to be reconciled to 

 articles fastened on its back, A surcingle is the most convenient 

 thing for the first lesson. It need not be ornamental, but may 

 be simply a plain leather strap, three or four inches wide, with a 

 ring on each side of the colt, and one at the bottom. It should 

 fasten round the colt with double buckles and buckle straps. 



Put on gently and tighten moderately by degrees. Then 

 walk the colt round and see if it has any disposition to try and 

 throw it off, and if it has let it try its best. If it has not, tie 

 on a pocket handkerchief, or some small waving ariicle, and try 

 the effect of that. As soon as it is quite reconciled to one 

 article try another, until it carries them with indiflFerence Take 

 care that nothing is put on so that the colt can throw it off, or 

 that can possibly hurt him. Dou't forget the precaution to let 

 him touch everything with his muzzle before you put it on his 

 back. 



190. — One lesson that may take a good deal of time with 

 a young horse, and especially with a young mare, is allowing 

 articles of any kind to be placed between its tail and its body. 

 First put on a common crupper, and fasten it moderately tight 

 to the surcingle. The fore leg may be strapped up (353) if 

 necessary for this purpose, and be let down again as soon as all 

 is secure. Let the colt move round you, and you will soon see 

 if it is going to be ticklish about its tail. If it kicks let it kick 

 as long as it will, and when it will not kick any longer slacken 

 the crupper, so that it will drop three inches down its tail, and 

 try the colt round at that. When it will no longer kick at a 

 tight or slack crupper, tie a piece of stout string as long as your 

 lounging line to the crupper, midway between the tail and the 

 surcingle, and taking the loose end of the string in your hand 

 tighten and slacken the crupper with it as the colt passes round 

 you. When reconciled to this strap up a fore leg, and take off 

 the crupper. Fold and secure a large duster or some such fabric 

 round it so as to make the part that goes under the tail three or 

 four inches in diameter. Then put the crupper on again and 

 try the colt round with it. If it kicks keep it going until it will 



