240 HITCHING A COLT 



pull on the halter ; then by hitching him in the centre of 

 the stall, it would be impossible for him to puU on the 

 halter, the partition behind preventing him from going 

 back, and the halter in the centre checking him every 

 time he turns to the right and left." Well, I guess the 

 Britishers, without pretending to be very 'cute, know how 

 to hitch a colt after a better fashion than this suggested 

 by Mr. Rarey. But we are enhghtened as to " the kind 

 of bit, and how to accustom a horse to it," on which 

 it is unnecessary to make any observation, as this kind 

 of bit has been in constant use for many generations, 

 and there is nothing new in " letting the colt run loose 

 without any reins to it in a large stable or loose box until 

 he becomes used to it." Neither is there any improve- 

 ment on our plan in the directions about " how to saddle 

 a colt," to prevent the stirrups flying about and hitting 

 him, and the girths alarming him by being drawn too 

 tight at first. Now we are told " how to mount the colt " 

 with a block to mount from, which we are informed has 

 three advantages, although I am obtuse or perverse enough 

 not to see one, but just the reverse, for should this said 

 block be sent rolling against the colt's legs, which is not 

 at all unlikely to happen on first mounting him, it would 

 set him snorting, jumping, and kicking directly, at once 

 overturning all " assurance of confidence and absence of 

 fear which cause him to stand without holding " ; and 

 my impression is, if the block in question were sent rolling 

 against or between the colt's legs, Mr. Rarey himself 

 would find some trouble to hold him, unless he had under- 

 gone a thorough good nosing with the block previously, 

 or been used to the game of skittles. 



Britishers are accused of being very great fools, but 

 we must be bigger fools still not to know how to mount 



