358 ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 



care and attention in saddling whenever he is going to 

 run, or he will most likely throw his jockey. The 

 groom is obliged to begin saddling such a horse much 

 earlier than any other ; and when the saddle is put on, 

 the girth should be strained up but just tight enough 

 to keep it in situation. The horse may then be 

 walked about for a short time. It is at intervals 

 in this way that the girths should be tightened, 

 and when the saddle is made secure, and the surcingle 

 put on, the boy who looks after the horse should be 

 put up to walk him about, until the horses he may be 

 going to start with, are all saddled ; and to prevent an 

 accident, or false start, the boy may give him a canter 

 before the jockey is put up to go to the post with him. 

 But it is much against a horse that is flighty, or that 

 is easily alarmed, to be so long saddling, and to be thus 

 annoyed before he comes to post. The greatest care is 

 therefore necessary to be observed on first girthing 

 colts. It should be done very gradually, so that they 

 may not acquire a habit of plunging. 



When colts have had this tackle on two or three 

 days, and have been lounged, and walked on the 

 downs three or four hours each day, the next step is 

 gradually to bear them up, which should be done by 

 attaching the side reins to the bits and rollers, but they 

 should not be strained too tight at first. They should 

 be shortened each day a hole at a time. From this 

 treatment their mouths will become sensible to the 

 pressure of the bit, and they will then get their heads 

 in of themselves. 



