However wild and fractious a horse may be naturally, after practicing this process a few times, you will find him perfectly gentle and submissive, and even disposed to follow you anywhere, and unwilling to leave you on any occasion.

Unless the horse be wild, the first treatment will be all sufficient; but should he be too fractious to be approached in a manner necessary to perform the first named operation, this you will find effectual, and you may then train your horse to harness or anything else with the utmost ease.

In breaking horses for harness, after giving the powders, put the harness on gently, without startling him, and pat him gently, then fasten the chain to a log, which he will draw for an indefinite length of time.  When you find him sufficiently gentle, place him to a wagon or other vehicle.

NOTE.—­Be extremely careful in catching a horse, not to affright him.  After he is caught, and the powders given, rub him gently on the head, neck, back and legs, and on each side of the eyes, the way the hair lies, but be very careful not to whip, for a young horse is equally passionate with yourself, and this pernicious practice has ruined many fine and valuable horses.  When you are riding a colt (or even an old horse), do not whip him if he scares, but draw the bridle, so that his eye may rest upon the object which has affrighted him, and pat him upon the neck as you approach it; by this means you will pacify him, and render him less liable to start in future.

MEANS OF LEARNING A HORSE TO PACE.

Buckle a four pound weight around the ancles of his hind legs, (lead is preferable) ride your horse briskly with those weights upon his ancles, at the same time, twitching each rein of the bridle alternately, by this means you will immediately throw him into a pace.  After you have trained him in this way to some extent, change your leaded weights for something lighter; leather padding, or something equal to it, will answer the purpose; let him wear these light weights until he is perfectly trained.  This process will make a smooth and easy pacer of any horse.

HORSEMANSHIP.

The rider should, in the first place, let the horse know that he is not afraid of him.  Before mounting a horse, take the rein into the left hand, draw it tightly, put the left foot in the stirrup, and raise quickly.  When you are seated press your knees to the saddle, let your leg, from the knee, stand out; turn your toe in and heel out; sit upright in your saddle, throw your weight forward—­one third of it in the stirrups—­and hold your rein tight.  Should your horse scare, you are braced in your saddle and he cannot throw you.

INDICATION OF A HORSE’S DISPOSITION.

A long, thin neck indicates a good disposition, contrariwise, if it be short and thick.  A broad forehead, high between the ears, indicates a very vicious disposition.