KEMINISCENCES OF CHILDHOOD. 63 



cajole and manoeuvre the colt into following 

 your wishes, that they are so imperceptibly 

 gained that he does not notice them as acts of 

 actual obedience, for they have come upon him 

 in so gradual a manner that there having been 

 no fight over the matter he imagines the actions 

 to have been of his own free will. Of course 

 there must be an open rupture sooner or later 

 which will undeceive him, but this should be 

 avoided with all possible care until he has been 

 mounted a week if possible. Eide the animal 

 about the field for an hour or an hour and a 

 half quietly, not going out of a walk or jig-jog, 

 and then take him back to his loose box, and 

 repeat the same in the afternoon, your ob- 

 ject at present being to get him used to your 

 weight on his back, and to gradual guidance ; 

 you are not trying to mouth him, or attempt- 

 ing to teach him his paces. ' Little by little,' 

 and ' Perseverando,' are my mottoes, and ought 

 to be those of every man who undertakes to 

 break-in a colt. It is very much like bringing 

 up a child ; you cannot give a child an adult's 



