Treatment of Young Horses. 17 



ful trainer will commence with the colt at its 

 mother's side. By carefully handling it, he will 

 teach it to hold up its legs by lifting gently at 

 the fetlock, and always using the words ^' hold 

 up." The colt soon recognizes the sound, and as 

 it finds it is not hurt, it becomes more willing, 

 and at last will hold up its foot with telling. 

 The trainer should on no account strike a colt, as 

 every lesson it has to learn can be taught by kind 

 and gentle treatment. After the colt is taken 

 from its mother, it should be gently handled; 

 first, get a soft web head-collar, such as are sup- 

 plied by Messrs. Blackwell, the celebrated saddlers 

 of Oxford Street, and use the colt to be led about, 

 but do not use it to be led always on the near 

 side, a fault too common, but teach it to be led on 

 both near and off side. Should it show any signs 

 of play, one cross word will be all the remon- 

 strance that will be required to check it. Such 

 is its timid nature, that if it jumps or kicks, you 

 speak sternly to it, it will tremble at your voice. 

 The old proverb says, '^Man is what a woman 

 makes him," and it is equally true that the horse 

 is what the man makes it, either kind, gentle, 

 loving, affectionate, or revengeful and savage. 

 All horses have good memories, and recollect 

 those who have been kind or unkind to them. 



Having thoroughly learned your colt to be led, 

 the next lesson you have to teach is to allow the 

 bit to be put into its mouth. This is rather a 

 difiicult task to accomplish ; first use the colt to 

 allow you to put your fingers into its mouth, 

 then hold its head, gently but firmly, with the 



