TACKLING THE COLT. 37 



you have placed the tackling on the young 

 animal, you may let him stand in the loose box 

 for half-an-hour to familiarise himself with the 

 objects on his body, when he can be taken to 

 the longing ground, and run round for a time 

 in different directions, after which lead him 

 about for an hour or two. In the afternoon 

 you can longe him a little, and then lead him 

 out of the field and take him along a road or 

 lane to accustom him to see and pass strange 

 objects. The road selected for his first lesson 

 should be the quietest that can be found near 

 the longing ground. When he is startled at a 

 heap of stones, a log of wood, or any other 

 object, he must be spoken to quietly and patted, 

 but above all allow him plenty of time to ex- 

 amine minutely the object which has frightened 

 him, when, after a time, he will approach it, 

 smell it, and touch it with his nose, thus allay- 

 ing all his fears ; he may then be led backwards 

 and forwards past the place a few times, and 

 proceed on his journey. For the day following 

 you will have to longe him, and then lead him 



