17 



CHAPTER VI. 

 BRIDLING AND BITTING. 



The old and familiar, and — it may also be added — 

 dangerous method of placing the bridle on the colt 

 and putting the bit in his mouth is accomplished 

 (or, rather, it is not accomplished) by turning the 

 back to the colt's chest, taking the bit in both hands 

 at the side of the bridle, and pushing it roughly 

 into his mouth. It generally happens, however, that 

 the colt rears, spars out with his fore feet, and not 

 infrequently plants them between the shoulders of 

 his tormentor, which is the reverse of pleasant, to 

 say nothing of the danger attending it. At this 

 juncture, the whip is brought into requisition — or, 

 if a net stake is lying handy, it serves the same 

 purpose — and an all-round piece of flogging ensues, 

 which exhausts the man — but, that is a small matter — 

 and leaves the half-mad colt trembling in every limb 

 with terror. 



The same process is tried again and again with 

 practically the same result, the only appreciable differ- 

 ence being that on each successive trial the colt 

 becomes more terrified. Finally, the idea of bitting 



