FAMILIARITY AND KINDNESS 225 



of *' More haste, less speed." They are too impatient 

 to get the halter on their heads, and the bit in their 

 mouths ; but nothing is gained by this indiscreet 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 assistance of one or two men, the 

 tackling of a colt is by these rough-and-ready practitioners 

 performed in a very unceremonious manner. Having 

 got the halter on his head, to which a long lunging-rein 

 is attached, the stable-door is opened and the colt allowed 

 to run to the end of his tether, with two or three men 

 holding on to it, ready to pull him up or pull him down, 

 just as it suits their humour. The unfortunate animal 



