28 Management and Treatment of the Horse. 



to it. It should be driven about for a few days, 

 and then you may get on its back. This you 

 should always do in the stable, getting up and 

 down very quietly, speaking kindly, and patting 

 and caressing it, as it is wonderful how a horse 

 can read man's countenance, and tell instantly 

 the mood a man is in ; therefore it is necessary 

 that the man training a young horse should not 

 lose his temper. 



After you have mounted and dismounted several 

 times and walked it round the box, to accustom 

 the colt to the use of the reins, you can take it 

 out and teach it to walk. I once heard a gentle- 

 man say, '-'• Any fool can make a horse go fast,^' 

 and it is quite true ; therefore it is equally true 

 that it requires skill and patience to teach a horse 

 its slow paces, which adds much to the value of 

 a horse. Many horses can trot and gallop fast, 

 but cannot walk, and are miserable brutes to ride. 

 Therefore teach your horse to walk, and when it 

 can walk well it will be time enough to make it 

 trot. Teach it all its paces distinct, as nothing 

 is so bad as to have a horse that will neither 

 walk, trot, canter, nor gallop, but wants to mix 

 all its paces into one. When you ride the colt, 

 which should be done half an hour at a time 

 twice each day, do not let any one touch the 

 bridle while you mount. If it is necessary for 

 an attendant to hold the colt while you mount, 

 let him place his hand gently on its nose, and 

 stroke its head. Always make the colt stand 

 still after you are on its back for a few seconds, 

 and in the same manner make it stand still before 



