HORSE SENSE. 79 



handling its legs, bring our hands in contact with every part of its body 

 with the utmost gentleness. About the ears, back of the fore legs and at 

 the flank, it is specially sensative; but if handled carefully for one or two 

 minutes it becomes accustomed to the touch and does not mind it. 



SHOW THE YOUNG FOAL THAT WE ARE AS GOOD A 

 FRIEND AS ITS MOTHER. 



While the colt will recognize our superior power — as among them the 

 stronger rule, the weaker — we must, before leaving the little fellow, show 

 it that notwithstanding we have caught it and held it, handled it all over 

 without giving it pain, yet we are as good friends to it as its dam, and 

 this we must demonstrate, by taking a little granulated sugar in the palm 

 of the hand and press it between the colt's lips, by passing the hand 

 across its mouth and take the hand away, when its tongue will come in 

 contact with the sugar, which is a little sweeter than the dam's milk. 

 Repeat this several times until the colt realizes where the sweet comes 

 from, and the remainder is easy. 



Everything that loving kindness and ingenuity can devise should be 

 done to impress upon the colt's mind thus early in life, that man is his 

 natural protector and friend, between whom intimate companionship has 

 been ordained by beneficent nature, which insures that he shall be pro- 

 tected and cherished while he serves. Ah, me! if all colts could have such 

 treatment, how few vicious horses we should see, and how much greater 

 in the aggregate, would be the happiness which life would bring to them 

 and man. The Arab regards the colt as one of his household, next in 

 rank and importance to his children. His food and often his bed is 

 shared with his horses, and the very young things are always treated with 

 the utmost kindness and afifection; and such things as blows and kicks. 

 are not known to them. 



