OVKRCOMINO AIiAl{M8. 107 



you can by gentle ui"ginj>- without any fighting. Par better noc to 

 do it at all than to have any lighting about it. 



215. — If you have an opportunity of taking the colt at once 

 where there are a number of alarming objects, it is best to ride 

 the old horse yourself, and lead the colt with a long strong leather 

 strap attached to a strong leather halter on his head, and passing 

 under a hunting breastplate on the old horse, which will give you 

 power enough to hold the colt, however much he may be alarmed, 

 without spoiling his mouth by any lugging at the bit. Should a 

 hunting breastplate not be at hand, a light leather collar on the 

 old horse, fastened back to the saddle above, and the girths below, 

 will answer this or any similar purpose even better than the breast- 

 plate, and make it quite easy to hold a colt by a leather strap 

 passing under it. In this way the colt may be gradually introduced 

 to the sights and sounds of a bustling street ; a few hours of which 

 will reconcile him to mure objects of alarm than a years conntry 

 riding. 



216. — A steam engine, a railway train, or a tram car drawn 

 by steam, are all objects so naturally alarming to a horse, that a 

 single introduction to them will not make him safe, nor can the 

 first introduction be safely made in the crowded streets of a town. 

 Here the colt breaker must bo guided by his opportunities, and 

 by the more or less nervous character of his pupil. There is 

 nothing better than turning a colt for a few weeks into a well 

 fenced small field, where trains frequently pass, and where tliere 

 are other horses that will take no notice of them. We have 

 sometimes had an opportunity of putting a lot of colts together 

 into a high strong yard, close to a railway line, which we did, 

 day after day, when we knew that trains would be passing. 

 Failing any such opportunities the colt may be frequently brought 

 to some clear spot where a train is about to pass, and before it 

 approaches strap up one of his legs (353), so as to make sure of 

 holding him, and keep him pretty close to it as it passes. When 

 you know that you can control him on his four legs, take him to 

 a railway station at a time when most noise and motion is going 

 on, and lead him about in close contact with it. After he takes 

 little notice of a train lead him into a town riding on the old 

 horse, and taking them behind a cram car follow it up keeping 



