232 HORSE SENSE. 



—and it will never forget this unless a mistake is made and it gets away 

 —then begin making it acquainted with hand touches over every part 

 of its body, being very careful about its ears, back of the fore legs and 

 at the flank, where it will be found very sensitive. After this is done 

 then take up the feet and legs on the side next to you and handle them 

 very carefully; then get on the other side and handle all over again 

 from that standpoint. A horse may be very familiar with his handler 

 from the "near," or left side (the side he is usually approached from), 

 and yet he may be frightened from approach on the "ofif," or right side. 

 The colt should be familiar with people coming to it from every quarter 

 without fright or suspicion that it is to be harmed in the least by any- 

 thing. 



SECURE COLT'S ENTIRE CONFIDENCE. 



The great secret in handling men or animals intelligently is in getting- 

 and maintaining their confidence. When the young colt has been caught 



Pig. 5 pictures Betsy, at eight days of age, with her surcingle, crupper and 



check-rein, being driven with lines (no bit in mouth), and as contented 



as an old, experienced pupil or graduate. 



and handled all over for the first time, and the demonstration of the law 

 that the stronger rule the weaker is manifest by the inability of the colt 

 to get away (which should never be permitted), makes such a lasting 

 impression that it will never forget it until some mistake is made. But 

 if by a mistake it succeeds in making its escape, it will certainly not 

 forget this either, but try it again unless its confidence is so thoroughly 

 gained that it feels as much at home with its tutor as with its mother, 

 which is possible to such a degree that it will be as well satisfied with 

 one as the other. 



The medium of the stomach, it is said, is the most direct road to a 

 man's affections, and it is none the less true with the young colt. A? 



