FIRST LESSONS 227 



kind treatment, as horses and dogs do not often, like young 

 ladies, fall desperately in love with a man at first sight. 



After the colt knows you sufficiently to allow his head, 

 ears, body, and legs to be handled without flinching or 

 exhibiting the least signs of fear, you may then rub him 

 over from head to heels with a small wisp of hay, and 

 afterwards with a linen cloth. Let him now see the halter, 

 smell it, and rub his nose against it, holding it in your left 

 hand, and whilst quietly slipping up the noseband, bring 

 your right hand over his head with the strap down to the 

 buckle. A short strap or cord may be attached to the 

 leather halter, about two feet in length, for the first day 

 or two, but the halter should be taken off again before 

 night, as serious accidents sometimes occur from the colt 

 attempting to scratch it off with his hind foot. When 

 accustomed to the halter, lead the colt about the stable 

 until he becomes acquainted with its use, and before 

 putting it on rub his head and ears gently with your hand. 

 As soon as the colt will give his head readily and without 

 resistance to your pull on the halter, he may be led out 

 with a long rein, and if inclined to be skittish or fractious, 

 a few rounds at lunging will soon bring him to order, but 

 be careful not to overheat or distress him. Then, by 

 gradually shortening the rein, you bring him up to you 

 again, and after patting and caressing him, lead him 

 about until cool before you return to the stable. 



Next comes the " bitting the colt," for which a plain 

 good-sized, smooth snaffle is the best that can be used at 

 first. This may be put into his mouth without reins, 

 under the halter, for the first day or two. Now with 

 regard to bitting, as it is termed, nothing 'can be more 

 absurd, independent of its cruelty, than running a horse's 

 head tight up, in an unnatural position, which, from the 



