KINDNESS. 39 



colt becomes very warm, the better way is to stop, and let 

 him get cool. While THOROUGHLY WARM, it is next to 

 impossible to make him do any thing ; yet such will always 

 work in easily when cool, and especially after a sharp les- 

 son. Your best course is, then, if the colt warms up, and 

 becomes thoroughly stubborn, to stop, and let him become 

 entirely cool, when you are to go on as before in the same 

 manner. To your surprise he may now give up in a few 

 minutes, and is so perfectly broke that he will follow you 

 anywhere, without being touched. As soon as he gets the 

 idea of coming to you, encourage him by kindness. 



KINDNESS. 



Stop at once, caress the horse, give a little oats, apple, 

 or any thing else of which he is fond, until there is perfect 

 obedience. 



There is great sleight in using the war-bridle, and it is 

 mainly in the quickness of the pull ; but in that little pull 

 all the power in your body must be concentrated, like the 

 crack of a whip. Never hang on after the pull ; let the 

 cord go instantly back slack ; neither should the cord be 

 allowed by chance to keep drawn tight upon the jaw, as it 

 destroys the sensibility of the mouth, and, in a great meas- 

 ure, makes your work harder. If you are not careful, you 

 will blister and skin your hands. You do not feel or know 

 any thing about this, while excited and warm, as you are 

 liable to become. To guard against the trouble, have 

 gloves on your hands. Sometimes a colt will come side- 

 ways well enough, but will not come ahead. In this case 

 change the form of war-bridle ; put the small loop around 

 the jaw ; pass the cord over the head where the halter 

 rests, and down through the loop the end forms around 

 the jaw. Stand about six or eight feet ahead of the horse, 

 a little sideways, and, as before, give a quick, sharp pull, 

 repeating slowly. However stubborn the colt, he will in a 

 few minutes come promptly, and, once yielding, will follow 

 anywhere. The power and value of the war-bridle, when 

 properly used, are beyond estimate for breaking a horse to 

 lead. It is invaluable, because it will break any colt or 

 horse, no matter how bad, to lead as desired, freely ; and 

 it does it so quickly and easily that it is, beyond all com- 



