Handling the Colt. 59 



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force of the strokes whenever the horse will permit it. 

 Perform the same on both sides of the neck, mitil lie 

 lets you take it in your arms without flinching. 



"Proceed in the same progressive manner to the 

 sides, and then to the back of the horse. Every time 

 the horse shows any nervousness, return immediately 

 to the forehead as the true standard, patting him with 

 your hands, and from thence raj^idly to where you had 

 already arrived, always gainmg ground a considerable 

 distance farther on, every time this happens. The 

 head, ears, neck, and body being thus gentled, proceed 

 from the neck to the root of the tail. 



" This must be managed -with dexterity, as a horse 

 is never to be depended on that is skittish about the 

 tail. Let your hand fall lightly and rapidly on that 

 part next to the body a minute or two, and then you 

 will begin to give it a slight pull upwards every quar- 

 ter of a minute. At the same time you continue this 

 handling of him, augment the force of the strokes as 

 well as the raising of the tail, until you can raise it 

 and handle it with the greatest ease, which commonly 

 happens in a quarter of an hour in most horses, in oth- 

 ers almost immediately, and in some much longer. It 

 now remains to handle all his legs ; fi-om the tail come 

 back again to the head, handle it well, as likewise the 

 ears, breast, neck, etc., speaking now and then to the 

 horse. Begin by degrees to descend to the legs, al- 

 ways ascending and descending, gaining ground every 

 time you descend, until you get to his feet. 



" Talk to the horse ; let him hear the sound of your 

 voice, which at the beginning of the operation is not 

 quite so necessary, but which I have always done hi 



