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HOW TO SADDLE A COLT. 



Any one man who understands this theory can put 

 a saddle on the wildest colt that ever grew, without 

 any help, and without scaring him. The first thing 

 will be to tie each stirrup-strap into a loose knot to 

 make them short, and prevent the stirrups from 

 flying about and hitting him. Then double up the 

 skirts and take the saddle under your right arm, so 

 as not to frighten him with it as you approach. When 

 you get to him rub him gently a few times with 

 your hand, and then raise the saddle very slowly, 

 until he can see it, and smell and feel it with his 

 nose. Then let the skirt loose, and rub it very 

 gently against his neck the way the hair lies, letting 

 him hear the rattle of the skirts as he feels them 

 against him ; each time getting a little farther back- 

 ward, and finally slip it over his shoulders on his 

 back. Shake it a little with your hand, and in less 

 than five minutes you can rattle it about over his 

 back as much as you please, and pull it off and 

 throw it on again, without his paying much attention 

 to it. 



As soon as you have accustomed him to the saddle, 

 fasten the girth. Be careful how you do this. It 

 often frightens the colt when he feels the girth 

 binding him, and making the saddle fit tight on his 

 back. You should bring up the girth very gently, 

 and not draw it too tight at first, just enough to 



