When you want him to start, do not touch him on the side with your heel,
or do anything to frighten him and make him jump. But speak to him
kindly, and if he does not start, pull him a little to the left until he
starts, and then let him walk off slowly with the reins loose. Walk him
around in the stable a few times until he gets used to the bit, and you
can turn him about in every direction, and stop him as you please. It
would be well to get on and off a good many times, until he gets
perfectly used to it before you take him out of the stable.
After you have trained him in this way, which should not take you more
than one or two hours, you can ride him anywhere you choose without ever
having him jump or make an effort to throw you.
When you first take him out of the stable, be very gentle with him, as
he will feel a little more at liberty to jump or run, and be a little
easier frightened than he was while in the stable. But after handling
him so much in the stable, he will be pretty well broken, and you will
be able to manage him without trouble or danger.
When you first mount him take a little the shortest hold on the left
rein, so that if anything frightens him you can prevent him from jumping
by pulling his head around to you. This operation of pulling a horse’s
head round against his side will prevent any horse from jumping ahead,
rearing up, or running away. If he is stubborn and will not go, you can
make him move by pulling his head round to one side, when whipping would
have no effect. And turning him round a few times will make him dizzy,
and then by letting him have his head straight, and giving him a little
touch with the whip, he will go along without any trouble.
Never use martingales on a colt when you first ride him; every movement
of the hand should go right to the bit in the direction in which it is
applied to the reins, without a martingale to change the direction of
the force applied. You can guide the colt much better without it, and
teach him the use of the bit in much less time. Besides, martingales
would prevent you from pulling his head round if he should try to jump.
After your colt has been ridden until he is gentle and well accustomed
to the bit, you may find it an advantage if he carries his head too
high, or his nose too far out, to put martingales on him.
You should be careful not to ride your colt so far at first as to heat,
worry, or tire him. Get off as soon as you see he is a little fatigued;
gentle him and let him rest; this will make him kind to you and prevent
him from getting stubborn or mad.