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CHAPTER XXVI. 



HOW TO TRAIN A COLT TO HOUNDS. 



In training a colt to hounds the rider must exer- 

 cise great discretic n in commencing with him. The 

 coh should be quietly ridden to the meet, and if the 

 rider only let him see the hounds it will be quite 

 enough for him the first day. He must avoid going 

 in amongst the hounds, or even very near them, for 

 the colt, being entirely unacquainted with the unusual 

 excitement of the meet, may let out with his hind foot 

 and wound or kill a favourite hound, which would 

 bring down the wrath of the huntsman upon his head ; 

 at the same time it would give the colt a nasty lesson 

 that he would be very likely to remember in future. 



THE USE OF DOGS IN TRAINING. 



It is a capital plan when breaking a colt for the 

 rider always to have a dog or two accompanying him. 

 The colt becomes familiarised with their companion- 

 ship both upon the road and in the stable. Their 

 presence upon the road has an excellent effect in 

 reducing the tendencies of the colt to shy at the 

 sudden appearance of objects, because the dogs are 



