THE HOME. 
33 
upon him. The process of saddling is minutely described by Mr. 
Rarey, and we quote his remarks thereupon from the London papers. 
Mr. Rarey says : 
“The first thing will be to tie each stirrup-strap into a loose knot, to 
make them short and prevent the stirrups from flying about and hitting 
him. Then double up the skirts and take the saddle under your right 
arm, so as not to frighten him with it as you approach. When you get 
to him, rub him gently a few times with your hand, and then raise the 
saddle very slowly, until he can see it, and smell and feel it with his 
nose. Then let the skirt loose, and rub it very gently against his neck 
the way the hair lies, letting him hear the rattle of the skirts as he feels 
them against him ; each time getting a little further backward, and 
finally slipping it over his shoulders on his back. Shake it a little with 
your hand, and in less than five minutes you can rattle it about over his 
back as much as you please, and pull it off and throw it on again, with- 
out his paying much attention to it. 
“As soon as yon have accustomed him to the saddle, fasten the girth. 
Be careful how you do this. It often frightens the colt when he feels 
the girth binding him, and making the saddle fit tight on his back. 
You should bring up the girth very gently, and not draw it too tight at 
first, just enough to hold the saddle on.' Move him a little, and then 
girth it as tight as you choose, and he will not mind it. You should 
see that the pad of your saddle is all right before you put it on, and 
that there is nothing to make it hurt him, or feel unpleasant to his back. 
It should not have any loose straps on the back parT, u> flap about and 
scare him. 
“After yon have saddled him in this way, take a switch in yom 
right hand to tap him with, and walk about in the stable a few times with 
your right arm over your saddle, taking hold of the reins on each side 
of his neck with your right and left hands, thus marching him about in 
the stable until you teach him the use of the bridle, and can turn him 
in any direction, and stop him by a gentle pull of the rein. Always 
caress him, and loose the reins a little every time you stop him.” 
Mounting tllC Colt. — The weight of the arm in the saddle has accus- 
tomed him to a slight burden. Now get a block, or mounting-stool, 
about eighteen inches high, and place it at his side. Raise yourself 
very quietly upon the block, and when you have done so, loosen the 
stirrup-strap upon the rear side, place your foot in the stirrup, seize the 
oft g ide of the saddle with the right hand, and cautiously bear your 
weight upon the stirrup and hand. After repeating this operation 
several times the colt learns there is nothing hurtful, and you must now 
lift yourself very quietly into the saddle. Once upon his back, speak 
gently to him, and if he does not move, pull the near rein a little and 
he will start. Repeat all the operations of getting on and off, and rid- 
ing round, for a couple of hours. 
1 lie 1 1'UC Way to Bit a Colt. — The practice of placing a bitting harness 
upon a colt the first thing done with him, and buckling the bitting rein 
as tight as it can be drawn, as is frequently the case, meets the severe 
and just condemnation of Mr. Rarey. This is one of the most cruel 
punishments that can be inflicted upon a colt, and to one that is in the 
