CHAPTER XXIIl 



''Scrutator's " own System of Handling and Breaking Colts. — Country 

 Colt-breakers. — First Lessons with the Halter, the Bit, and the 

 Reins. — Cruel use of the Bearing-reins in ignorant Hands. — First 

 Hours with the Saddle. — The use of the Voice in the Management of 

 Horses . 



To resume my own practice with regard to the handling 

 and breaking of colts, with this disclaimer on my part of 

 professing to teach anything new to those acquainted 

 with horsemanship. 



As I have before written, we must in this country divide 

 colts, as we do boys, into two classes, those which, from 

 a home education, know something, and those which 

 know nothing at all, from having been allowed to roam at 

 large in pastures green without having felt the hand of 

 man. The know-nothings, therefore, ought to claim 

 attention first. 



These we will suppose to have had their liberty until 

 three years old, running wild about the fields with other 

 horses and cattle, although in these days permitted to 

 have the use of a shed in the farm-yard during the winter 

 months ; and to such there will be little hesitation in 

 following their dam, another old horse, or perchance a 

 donkey, which has been their companion, into a stable or 

 loose box, from which all articles likely to alarm or injure 

 them should be previously removed. And now having 

 stabled him, the floor being well littered with straw, we must 

 commence with our first lesson of " Handling the Colt." 



In the first place, then, do not remove his companion, 

 whether horse or donkey, to whom he has been accustomed, 



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