THE HOESE AND ITS DISEASES. 41 



will be the quickest means of accomplisMiig the object. 

 He must be first taught to obey the action of the rein, 

 and after he has become obedient to it, he must next be 

 led roimd a ring on soft ground ; when he has acquired 

 his paces, and become obedient to this action, he should 

 then be trotted round the circle, but at an easy rate, and 

 only for a short time at once. When stopped, he should 

 be caressed — ^he should be accustomed to go both to the 

 right and left ; if any circumstance occur which may 

 frighten a young horse, and he refuses to proceed in 

 consequence, another horse ought to be led before him, 

 and he is almost sure to follow him. In performing these 

 revolutions, he should be frequently stopped by the 

 trainer, and pulled up gently, to show him that no injury 

 is intended ; he ought to be caressed at the same time. 

 Should he become restive or frolicsome, let the person 

 who holds the whip crack it, to show him he is 

 there, but on no account should he touch the horse 

 with it. If he happens to hold his head too low, shake 

 the caveson to remind him to raise it. When the 

 colt becomes tractable, and obedient in all his lessons, a 

 crupper should be attached to his clothing, to accustom 

 him to it, that he may not be afterwards tickled, and 

 become restive by the rider's coat-tails. The regular 

 riding bit should now be applied to his mouth ; it ought 

 to be large and smooth, to which should be attached the 

 reins, buckled to the ring on each side. The trainer 

 should occasionally stand in front of the animal, and take 

 hold of each side near the mouth ; gently press upon it, 

 and thus begin to teach him to back, by the pressure of 

 the rein, always rewarding obedience with caresses. 



The colt should be taken to the street or road, and 

 led about to accustom him to meet carts and other objects 

 without starting or shying, but if he does start or shy, 

 he should not be allowed to pass on, but ought to be 

 quickly led up to the object of his fear, and shewn that 

 it will not harm him ; but on no account should he be 

 beaten on such occasions, and should he still be shy, let 



