98 PATIENCE PAYS. 



19G. — There are few things more difRcult to teach a lively 

 horse than that he is not wanted to rush on the moment you 

 begin getting on his back, and if he is allowed to do so at first, 

 he is hardly ever cnred of it, so that it is worth spending a good 

 deal of time with a valuable horse to teach him to stand quietly 

 to be mounted without holding. One single hasty act at the 

 first stages may make it impossible to attain the quiet, unsus- 

 picious standing that adds so much to the pleasantness and value 

 of a riding horse. We would here impress upon the horse tamer 

 the importance of doing nothing at this stage if he at any time 

 feels that he has lost his own calmness and temper. 



The youQg horse will know it by his face, by his touch, and 

 especially by his voice, and he cannot be deceived. Go away at 

 once and come back to your work when you are fit for it. 



197. — When the colt has been taught to let you mount him 

 without any nervousness or impatience, take him out into the 

 yard or shed where you have been leading him, and mount 

 him there, letting him stand still with you or walk as he 

 pleases. If he stands still five minutes after you have mounted 

 him so much the better, but very few, if any, colts will do that. 

 If at any time you want to start him, don't touch him with your 

 heel, or do anything to send him off with a rush, but pull him 

 gently to one side with a horizontal rein. If he is restive and 

 does not guide to the rein, you have mounted him too soon ; get 

 off as soon as you can, without any fighting, and give him 

 more discipline where he must submit. If he walks about 

 quietly with you, take a few turns round the yard or shed, and 

 then get off his back and lead him, or drive him with reins 

 a mile away from home, and there get on him and ride him 

 home at a walking pace. Be sure that you do not at first 

 attempt to ride him away from his home, his stable, his company, 

 or any strong attraction, as it may lead to a fight in which you 

 may not be master. If such a fight is carefully avoided at first 

 it will not take place after he has learned to thoroughly under- 

 stand all your signals, and acquires, as he soon will, the impres- 

 sion that he must obey them. 



198. — When you first mount a colt, do not be so absurdly 



