THE BAVENNA COLT. 219 



der p-anvas, and, with a crowd of people around, try to 

 subdue him there?" I finally concluded that if the chances 

 were great I must make them proportionately advanta- 

 geous ; that the very danger and risk implied corresponding 

 success. I accordingly announced that if a class of a cer- 

 tain number could be raised I would guarantee to make 

 the colt as gentle in twenty minutes as any horse, and 

 should I fail would refund the money. The number being 

 quickly made up, I raised the canvas on one side, and by 

 using great care got the colt under without much difficulty. 

 But if he was nervous and afraid outside, he was very 

 much more so inside. I however succeeded in getting 

 near enough to attach a strap to his halter and tie to the 

 tail. This done, the case was practically simple and safe ; 

 for, notwithstanding he made a heroic struggle, I had him 

 so completely in my power that he was helpless so far as 

 doing harm. In a short time I was able to take off the 

 ropes and force complete submission. This was done 

 wholly by the " Second Method." In ten minutes I 

 hitched and drove him around without breeching, now en- 

 tirely quiet and submissive. I directed the owner to at 

 once put him in the team and drive home, and he drove 

 off without the least trouble. 



I knew there would be no difficulty in making the colt 

 gentle, and stated so positively. The danger and real diffi- 

 culty lay in taking him among the people, in a public 

 place, for should he get excited he would be liable to tear 

 through the canvas with such wild fury that the most 

 serious consequences might result. Could the case have 

 been treated at home, all this would have been simple and 

 easy. The greatest point of interest about the case was 

 the ease and quickness with which he was made com- 

 pletely gentle, becoming as indifferent to excitement or 

 contact with the wagon as an ordinary cart horse ; and 



