364 ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 



some corn in a sieve, and as he is directed, give him a 

 little to eat. Feeding a colt in this, way, when he is 

 hungry or fatigued, will very much prevent his noticing 

 what is going on with regard to mounting and dis- 

 mounting ; that is, if he is quietly and properly han- 

 dled, and also, at the same time, made much of. When 

 mounted, the rider should remain upon such a colt, 

 until he leads about perfectly quiet. The rider should 

 occasionally pull him up and caress him, and let him 

 have a mouthful of corn now and then. Previously 

 to dismounting him, he should be made much of by 

 the rider, as also after he is dismounted, before he is 

 put into the stable. 



This sort of colt should be mounted and dismounted 

 with the greatest care, so as not to alarm him, and he 

 should also every day be led, until he is perfectly re- 

 conciled to his rider ; and on his first being allowed to 

 be rode without leading, he should be put in the midst 

 of a string of colts, with which he is being broke. 



If the colt-breaker has an idea that the colt will 

 plunge much on being first mounted, it would be well 

 to mount such a colt in a paved street, where, not 

 having good foot hold, he will be rather afraid to 

 plunge. Horses that are restive seldom set up with 

 their riders in a paved town ; they are generally cun- 

 ning enough not to begin, till they have pretty good 

 foot hold, either on the turnpike road, or on the turf. 



Giving time and taking pains with colts in this way 

 according to their different tempers, will give them 

 confidence, and they soon stand quiet of themselves 



