44 TO SADDLE A COLT. 



hold the saddle on. Move him a little, and then 

 girth it as tight as you choose, and he will not 

 mind it. 



You should see that the pad of your saddle is all 

 right before you put it on, and that there is nothing 

 to make it hurt him, or feel unpleasant to his back. 

 It should not have any loose straps on the back part 

 of it, to flap about and scare him. After you have 

 saddled him in this way, take a switch in your right 

 hand to tap him up with, and walk about in the 

 stable a few times with your right arm over your 

 saddle, taking hold of the reins on each side of his 

 neck with your right and left hands, thus march- 

 ing him about in the stable until you teach him the 

 use of the bridle, and can turn him about in any 

 direction, and stop him by a gentle pull of the rein. 

 Always caress him, and loose the reins a little every 

 time you stop him. 



You should always be alone, and have your colt in 

 some light stable or shed, the first time you ride 

 him; the loft should be high, so that you can sit on 

 his back without endangering your head. You can 

 teach him more in two hours time in a stable of this 

 kind, than you could in two weeks in the common 

 way of breaking colts, out in an open place. If you 

 follow my course of treatment, you need not run any 

 risk, or have any trouble in riding the worst kind of 

 horse. You take him a step at a time, until you 

 get up a mutual confidence and trust between your- 



