314 FAMILIAHITY AND KINDNESS. 



* 



ill their mouths ; but nothing is gained by this in- 

 discreet haste. I would not even attempt to put 

 on a halter on a colt the first day of his being 

 taken into the stable ; let him remain loose the 

 whole of that day and the same night ; visit him 

 regularly ; take a bundle of sweet hay, vetches, or 

 lucerne under your left arm when you enter, stand 

 still until he comes up to you, and let him pull it 

 bit by bit, occasionally holding out your right 

 hand to stroke his nose and head. Put no hay or 

 fodder in the rack that day until he is left for the 

 night, and you will find, by returning to the stable 

 at intervals, with a lock of hay or vetches each 

 time, or an apple or piece of bread in your hand, 

 the colt will look for your appearance, and soon 

 follow you about the place like a dog ; and as a 

 strange dog which has been given to you, must 

 you commence in treating a new colt ; teach him 

 to know you and love you first in the stable, and 

 you can lead him out where you like ; and whether 

 it takes a few hours or a few days so to familiarise 

 him, make him your friend before you attempt to 

 make him your slave. 



To colt-breakers this will appear to be a great 

 waste of time. They would have haltered the colt, 

 and would have been leading him home within an 

 hour of his first entering the stable ; for with the 



