242 TRYING YEARLINGS. 



self to a boy who looks after a colt that he has 

 some opinion of, says to him — " Sam, you must 

 mind what you are about, for that colt of your's 

 seems to me to be rather a resolute ready sort of 

 comer ; you must mind to be very quiet with him. 

 When you are all well away from the start, if he 

 likes to go to the head and make his own run, 

 you have nothing more to do than to preserve 

 your temper, and keep a good steady hold of his 

 head, and let him go on with the pace as early 

 and for as long a length as he likes, entirely of 

 his own accord. Sit well down, and be as still on 

 him as possible; and do not attempt in any way 

 to urge him on beyond what he chooses to do him- 

 self; you must not do that sort of thing." The 

 groom, now addressing himself to a boy that may 

 be on a thick glutton of a colt, says — " Bill, mind 

 to get well away with them, and begin early to 

 rouse that colt of your's, for he is rather an idle 

 one; get at his head, and twist him along, and, 

 if you think it is necessary, make use of your 

 spurs occasionally, to urge him to run fairly on 

 in the whole length of the trial, or he may de- 

 ceive us." The groom, in speaking to four of 

 the other boys, as Tom, Harry, Jem, and Fred, 

 that are on colts in the medium, (that is, such 

 colts as are kind in their tempers, and easily rode). 



