48 HORSE-BREAKIXG. 



probably be able to mouth the animal well, 

 provided he has certain other qualities, such 

 as patience, knack, &c., for a man who can 

 retain his seat mthout the aid of the reins 

 has, as a general rule, hght hands ; while on 

 the contrary, the man who relies upon the reins 

 to secure him his seat in the saddle, has neither 

 hands nor seat, and the sooner he contents 

 himself with riding the horse nature gave him 

 — to wit, his own legs — the better, for he will 

 only spoil every horse he crosses, provided they 

 have not been already spoilt by some other 

 bad rider. 



To retiu:n to the subject. After having put 

 on the ring martingale, see that everything is 

 ridit about the colt. Look to the oirths, that 

 they may not be slack, see that the crupper is 

 neither too tight or too loose, and that no 

 haks have gathered under it, and satisfy yoiu'- 

 self that everything is as it ought to be, even 

 to the buckles of the bridle. Then gathering 

 up the reins in your left hand, and standing 

 with your left side to his shoulder, place yom- 



