144 TAMING HORSES. 



be pretty well broken, and you will be able to 

 manage him without trouble or danger. 



When you first mount him take a little the 

 shortest hold on the left rein, so that if anything 

 frightens him you can prevent him from jumping 

 by pulling his head around to you. This opera- 

 tion of pulling a horse's head round against his 

 side will prevent any horse from jumping ahead, 

 rearing up,' or running away. If he is stubborn 

 and will not go, you can make him move by pull- 

 ing his head round to one side, when whipping 

 would have no effect. And turning him round a 

 few times will make him dizzy, and then by letting 

 him have his head straight, and giving him a lit- 

 tle touch with the whip, he will go along without 

 any trouble. 



IS ever use martingales on a colt when you first 

 ride him ; every movement of the hand should go 

 right to the bit in the direction in which it is ap- 

 plied to the reins, without a martingale to change 

 the direction of the force applied. You can guide 

 the colt much better without it, and teach him the 

 use of the bit in much less time. Besides, martin- 

 gales would prevent you from pulling his head 

 round if he should try to jump. 



After your colt has been ridden until he is gen- 

 tle and well accustomed to the bit, you may find 

 it an advantage if he carries his head too high, or 

 his nose too far out, to put martingales on him. 



