BREAKING THE COLT TO SADDLE 57 



somewhat spoiled, we shall have to commence by giving 

 him a full confidence lesson and long-rein him, if he is 

 troublesome to mount — perhaps he has succeeded in 

 unseating his previous breakers. It will be a good 

 plan to give him something that will occupy his whole 

 attention and keep him still while you attempt to mount 

 him. The simple and useful article is a piece of rope, 

 tied in a particular way, as used by the North American 

 Indians (who are wonderful riders), and they call it their 

 " war bridle." Take a piece of rope three yards long, 

 and at the end of it tie a simple knot ; then at a distance 

 of about one foot tie another knot of the same shape, 

 only leave it open. You now pass the first knot through 

 the second one from the far side, which you pull tight so 

 as to fix the first, and this leaves a small noose. Place 

 the noose in the colt's mouth, under his tongue, not 

 over, with knots on the off side ; bring the end of the 

 rope over the neck and let it rest behind the ears ; bring 

 it down the near side of the head or face and draw the 

 end through the loop on the near side of mouth. You 

 can now pull your end of the rope till you acquire what- 

 ever tightness you wish. The slightest pressure will 

 make the average troublesome colt or horse stand still 

 and behave himself. The Indian war bridle is under 

 the ordinary bridle, and can be worked quite easily. 



