320 THE HORSE. 



customed to its use, and it often prevents the saddle from press- 

 ing with undue force upon the withers, whicli are very sensi- 

 tive and easily made sore. The colt should be walked out and 

 lunged for a day or two with the saddle on before he is mounted, 

 so as to accustom the parts to its presence ; and it is even de- 

 sirable to increase the weight of the saddle, by placing upon it 

 some moderately heavy substance of two or three stones' weight, 

 such as trusses of shot, or the like, gradually making them 

 heavier, but never putting more than the above dead weight 

 upon the saddle. When the colt has thus been thoroughly sea- 

 soned, he may be taken out and well lunged till he is tired, still 

 having his saddle on ; and during this exercise the breaker will 

 occasionally bear considerable weight upon each stirrup, and flap 

 them against the saddle, with the object of making a noise, to 

 which the colt should be accustomed. It is a very good plan to 

 have a leather surcingle made to go over the saddle, and to at- 

 tach the buckles for the side-reins to this, instead of having 

 them sewn on to the saddle itself. When all is ready, and the colt 

 is tired by his lunging, &c., he may be taken into the rubbing- 

 house, as being close to the exercise ground, and there the 

 breaker himself, or one of the lads, may be put upon the saddle, 

 using him, as in all cases in young horses, watli great gentleness, 

 and giving him constant encouragement by the hand and voice. 

 Mounting is much better accomplished in the stable than out, and 

 causes much less alarm, because the col t has been always accustom- 

 ed to be more handled there, and is less inclined, therefore, to re- 

 sist. Tlie lad, or breaker, should get up and down again seve- 

 ral times, and if the colt is good-tempered he w'ill generally allow 

 all this to be done without the slightest resistance. In mounting 

 there should be very little spring made, but the lad may hang 

 about the horse, as if fondling him, and bear his Aveight upon the 

 saddle; then place one foot in, and hang on steadily, when, if 

 this is borne, the weight may be taken off for a minute or two, and 

 then the lad may veiy gently and insensibly almost raise him- 

 self up to the command of the saddle, after which he may stead- 

 ily turn his leg over, and is then seated. When the lad has sat 

 quietly upon his back for a few minutes, the side-reins having 

 already been buckled to the leather surcingle, two additional 

 reins may be attached for his use, though the chief dependence 



