Treatment of Young Horses. 27 



wliich continues inoffensive and harmless, per- 

 mitting them to play and caress it without injury. 

 They never beat their horses, but treat them 

 gently ; they speak to them and seem to hold 

 discourse with them. They use them as friends. 

 They never try to increase speed with whip or 

 spur, unless in a case of great necessity ; however, 

 when this happens, they set off with amazing 

 swiftness, and leap over obstacles with the agility 

 of a buck, and if their rider happens to fall, they 

 are so manageable that they stand still in the 

 midst of their most rapid career. So gentle and 

 docile are they that it is a common sight to see 

 the Bedouin children playing under the belly of 

 their horse or climbing up its legs. The foal 

 being used from its birth to gentle treatment and 

 caressing, looks upon man as his best friend, and 

 as it grows it developes a steadfast love for him. 

 How different the treatment it receives in this 

 boasted Christian land ! 



Having taught the colt to bear the jockey, next 

 place the saddle on its back. Be careful not to 

 frighten it and go up to it very gently with the 

 saddle under your right arm, having the girtbs 

 folded over the saddle, and your hand holding the 

 off-side flap. Get close to your colt and raise the 

 arm slowly and then bring the saddle over its 

 back and lay it softly on it. After the saddle is 

 on its back, keep playing with it, and let the 

 girths fall over, then buckle the girth, but not 

 tight. After you have got the saddle on, take 

 two lounging reins, one on each side, and drive 

 it about, stopping it occasionally to pat and talk 



