56 HUMANE HORSE-TRAINING 



wither with the other ; then spring up on them until 

 your body is nearly in an erect position on your hands, 

 and smartly throw your leg (the right one if mounting 

 from left side) over the animal's back. Practise this 

 complete mounting and dismounting from both sides 

 frequently to thoroughly familiarise the colt with the 

 proceedings. 



The colt is now quiet to mount, but can only be 

 classed as a " green one." The first thing to be done 

 is to get a good mouth on the colt — by no means a 

 trifling undertaking in many cases, especially if the colt 

 is intended for a polo pony. Personally, I think there 

 is nothing like the long reins to accomplish this. Great 

 care must be exercised to avoid getting the mouth sore, 

 and the lessons should be short ones. The reason there 

 are so many horses with bad mouths is, I think, because 

 of attempts to make their mouths by riding them, 

 instead of driving in long reins at the commencement 

 of their training. 



When the colt is mouthed he should be quietly ridden 

 by a rider who has good hands, a rider who holds on 

 with the reins should never be allowed to mount a colt, 

 especially if he is a valuable one. 



Should the colt be a rough fellow, or one that has been 

 badly handled at the initial stage of his career and 



