How TO Ride A Colt. 75 



you will be able to manage him without trouble or 

 danger. 



When you first mount him, take a little the shortest 

 hold of the left rein, so that if anything frightens him, 

 you can prevent him from jumping by pulling his head 

 around to you. This operation of pulling a horse's 

 head around against his side, will prevent any horse 

 from jumping ahead, rearing up, or running away. If 

 he is stubborn and will not go, you can make him 

 move by pulling his head around to one side, when 

 whipping would have no effect. And turning around 

 a few times will make him dizzy, and then by letting 

 him have his head straight, and giving him a little 

 touch with the whip, he will go along mthout any 

 trouble. 



Never use martingales on a colt when you first ride 

 him ; every movement of the hand should go right to 

 the bit, in the direction in which it is applied to the 

 reins, without a martingale to change the direction of 

 the force applied. You can guide the colt much bet- 

 ter without them, and learn him the use of the bit in 

 much less time. Besides, martingales would prevent 

 you from pulling his head around if he should try to 

 jump. 



After the colt has been rode until he is gentle and 

 well accustomed to the bit, you may find it an advan- 

 tage if he carries his head too high, or his nose too far 

 out, to put martingales on him. 



You should be careful not to ride your colt so far at 

 first as to heat, worry or tire him. Get off as soon as 

 you see he is a little fatigued ; gentle him and let him 

 rest ; this will make him kind to you, and prevent him 

 from getting stubborn or mad. 



