The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

26 The Management and Treatment of the ttor$e,
teach it to walk. I once heard a gentleman say, " Any
fool can make a horse go fast/' and it is quite true ;
therefore it is equally true that it requires skill and
patience to teach a horse its slow paces, which adds
much to the value of a horse. Many horses can trot
and gallop fast, but cannot walk, and are miserable
brutes to ride. Therefore teach your horse to walk,
and when it can walk well it will be time enough to
make it trot. Teach it all its paces distinct, as no-
thing is so bad as to have a horse that will neither walk
trot, canter, nor gallop, but wants to mix all its paces
into one. When you ride the colt, which should be
done half-an-hour at a time twice each day, do not let
anyone touch the bridle while you mount. If it is
necessary for an attendant to hold the colt while you
mount, let him place his hand gently on its nose, and
stroke its head. Always make the colt stand still after
you are on its back for a few seconds, and in the same
manner make it stand still before you dismount. Alter
you have used it to this treatment for a week or two,
it will stand perfectly still for you to either mount
or dismount. As the horse, through life, is required to
do all kinds of things, it is necessary that it should
be taught in its youth to do what it may in after-life
be called upon to perlorm. We have now taught the
colt to carry man, and walk, trot, or canter at his will
we will now use it to the sword and fire-arms. Having
buckled your scabbard on without the sword, go to
its head, caress it, and let it examine the scabbard
before you mount ; then, after it is satisfied, mount
and walk slowly, to let it feel the scabbard ; after it is