SULKY COLTS. 25 



detail the exact type of the character, and how he would 

 act under excitement, or not. There was no other horse 

 to illustrate principles with ; and it was a matter of curi- 

 osity to see if the colt would act as I predicted. There is 

 no great difficulty in making colts of this nature gentle ; 

 but, as they warm up, they become so sullen and reckless 

 that they will not do any thing, paying no regard to the 

 sharpest cut of a whip, or of other means of producing 

 pain. The ears will lop out and back, like a hog's ; the 

 legs are spread ; the eyes are sullen in expression ; the 

 whole impulse is one of surly desperation, lunging against 

 or upon any thing, refusing to be led, and throwing him- 

 self down. It is never safe or prudent to handle such a 

 horse before a class, as they think it is a fault of the 

 treatment that the colt should act so sullen. The majority 

 of people cannot see any difference in horses. They are 

 expecting, any way, to see a horse give right up to treat- 

 ment, and are disappointed if there is any apparent want 

 of success. No matter how bad a, large-brained, nervous- 

 tempered colt, he will submit readily to treatment, and 

 drive with entire freedom : but the cool sulkers at first 

 will not do any thing ; and it would seem as if they could 

 not be made to work gently, yet with a little care, when they 

 get cool, they always work in safely and surely. But the 

 class can never, though good horsemen, see this, and are 

 liable to find fault, and expose me to great embarrassment. 

 In this case, after an hour's effort, it was only with the 

 greatest difficulty the colt could be made to move or drive 

 in harness, and the owner was disappointed because I 

 would not guarantee that he could be hitched up to a car- 

 riage and driven home, and be gentle afterwards. Two 

 days after this the colt was hitched up and driven gently to 

 a point seventeen miles away, where I was at the time giv- 

 ing an exhibition ; was driven in the crowd without breech- 

 ing, entirely gentle, and proving gentle, was sold a week 

 after for a good price. If a colt or horse develops any of 

 these extremes of resistance, you are not by any means to 

 be discouraged, or think you must fail. Go to work more 

 cautiously and thoroughly : do not be in a hurry ; make 

 the most of every point gained. Take your time ; for time 

 you must have to get the blood cool, so that you can 



