Schooling Hunters 59 



One hour is quite long enough for the first lessons. After 

 a week of this preliminary bitting, the " dumm jockey " 

 and slack reins may be added. After this may come the 

 guiding lessons with long driving-reins run through the 

 side-rings of the dumm jockey. 



During the first driving lessons the colt should be 

 handled on the barn floor or some other small enclosure. 

 Besides the wooden or smooth iron bit, place in his mouth 

 the loop of a cord, the cord being carried over the head or 

 neck, behind the ears, down through the loops, and on 

 the back through a ring in the dumm jockey. When he is 

 taken outside he will be sure to attempt to run. Now, 

 instead of attempting to restrain him vigorously by the 

 reins, bring him to hand by the use of the cord, which 

 does not aflfect the part of the mouth you wish to keep 

 sensitive to the bit. 



If a colt can be thoroughly broken to drive and ride 

 without impairment of the sensitiveness of his mouth, we 

 have accomplished one of the most important feats con- 

 nected with horse education. Of course this takes time, 

 and is contrary to the so-called " breaking " system, which 

 invariably ruins the mouth and many times breaks the spirit 

 and heart of a colt before it has accomplished anything 

 toward the animal's education. This question of mouth- 

 ing a colt is much better understood in England, and espe- 

 cially in Ireland, than in America. We shall notice this 

 subject again in the chapter on " Hands." 



After the colt has learned to rein right and left and to 

 back, a sack of bran fastened on behind the dumm jockey for 

 an hour a day is a good thing to accustom him to weight. 



