98 



haunches ; and he should bend the horse 

 to the rio^ht and left at the halt and 

 teach him to cross his feet. These 

 lessons should occupy from twenty to 

 twenty-five minutes twice a day, in addi- 

 tion to which he ought to be walked out 

 every day with the crosstrees, among 

 horses and carriages in the streets, and by 

 the end of the second week he will probably 

 begin to show an improvement in condition. 

 Should he not yet do so, he must be kept 

 at the same gentle exercise for a few days 

 longer. 



The young horse must be in condition 

 before any attempt is made to mount him. 

 Many horses have been ruined by being 

 mounted too soon, and by other kinds of 

 bad management. Experience and a con- 

 stant exercise of judgment are needful 

 during the process of training. The dumb 

 jockey is not intended, as some suppose, for 

 a punishment, but to assist in preparing 

 the young horse for a rider. The snaffle 

 should be fitted with indiarubber, which 

 preserves the delicacy of the mouth, and 

 the two reins on each side should be leather, 

 because with indiarubber reins the horse is 

 apt to lean on the bit, and lower his fore- 



