SADDLING. 'J5 



kick no longer. See that it is not too tight, and that there is 

 nothing about it to make the very tender skin under the tail 

 sore, so that it may be kept on several days and nights if 

 necessary. It will have a greater effect and be less likely to 

 produce any soreness or tenderness, if the material under the tail, 

 as well as its size and position, are varied every day. The 

 crupper can be shortened and lengthened so as to touch different 

 parts of the colt's tail. On the second day a piece of woolly 

 fiheep skin may take the place of the duster, on the third a hay 

 band, on the fourth a loose cloth or a wide piece of leather or 

 sacking, and thus continue something new until the colt will 

 ■take no notice of any harmless thing, and will not pinch any of 

 them when placed under his tail. 



191. — You may now try a riding saddle without stirrups. 

 Put it first on the usual part of the back, keeping hold of it, and 

 shifting it backwards and forwards until the colt makes no 

 objection to it on any part. Then put it in the right place, 

 and adjusting a surcingle round it girth it on securely. Fasten 

 every description of clothing on the saddle until the colt appears 

 reconciled to every article of dress you can think of. Lead him 

 quietly at first, and then try the effect of a trot, or any faster pace, 

 whilst he is secured both by walls and a lounging line, as a colt 

 will often carry clothes or other articles at a slow pace which 

 i\'ill alarm him in a faster ]3ace. 



192. — When quite quiet at leading or lounging, put on 

 reins, and drive the colt about with them, first in the shed or 

 yard, and then outside. The first drive with reins, walking 

 behind a colt, requires quick sight, quick movement, and some 

 common sense. We have seen persons put the reins on a colt 

 for the first time, passing them through rings, fixed in the 

 harness, saddle, or surcingle, as they would do with an old 

 horse that was to be fixed between shafts. The result of this 

 usually is that the first time the colt makes a short turn round, 

 the would be driver finds himself without any reins at all, 

 and the colt awkwardly entangled, or running away in a fright. 

 Reins should not be tried at all until the colt is likely to go 

 ■quietly, and to guide to them, and then of course they should be 



