12 HORSE-BREAIQNG. 



point on the body the hand should first touch ; 

 the best place undoubtedly is the shoulder, but 

 you must use your own judgment after having 

 watched the animal as to what part of his body 

 is most accessible. Some colts will allow you 

 to touch their heads directly, whilst others — 

 and I think they are the most numerous — pre-- 

 sent their tails to you. Anyhow, in whichever 

 part they seem most inclined to allow your first 

 caresses, you must make it your rule to, by 

 degrees, manipulate towards the head ; which, 

 after you have once been permitted to handle 

 freely, you may consider the battle as won : for 

 are not the senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, 

 and sensation (I have no doubt that the sense 

 of taste has also something to do with the mat- 

 ter) fully developed in the head? Thus, I 

 make a point of advising my readers always to 

 make an efi'ort to handle the head, as by a more 

 intimate and scrutinising inspection of your 

 hand and body the colt is better enabled to 

 arrive at a fair understanding with you. 



Now that the colt has allowed you to 



