72 The Hokse Farrier. 



You should always be alone, and have your colt in 

 some tight 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 learn him 

 more in two hours' time in a stable of this kind, than 

 you could in two weeks in the common way of break- 

 ing 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 a horse. You 

 must take him a step at a time, until you get up a mutual 

 confidence and trust between yourself and horse. First 

 learn to be lead and stand hitched ; next, acquaint him 

 with the saddle and the use of the bit, and then all 

 that remains is to get on without scaring him, and you 

 can ride him as well as any horse. 



HOW TO MOUIST THE COLT. 



First, gentle him well on both sides, about the sad- 

 dle, and all oyer, until he will stand still without hold- 

 ing, and is not afraid to see you anywhere about him. 



As soon as you have him thus gentled, get a small 

 block, about one foot or eighteen inches in height, and 

 set it down by the side of him, about where you want 

 to stand to mount him ; step up on this, raising your- 

 self very gently ; horses notice every change of position 

 very closely, and, if you were to step suddenly on the 

 block, it would be very apt to scare him ; but, by 

 raising yourself gradually on it, he will see you with- 

 out being frightened, in a position very near the same 

 as when you are on his back. * 



As soon as he will bear this without alarm, untie the 

 stirrup-strap next to you, and put your left foot into 

 the stirrup, and stand square over it, holding your knee 



