CHAPTEE IX 



BEEAKING YOUNG HOESES 



ON the mouth of the horse largely depends his value, and 

 the early lessons he receives are of the utmost 

 importance, for he will recollect them all his life. Breaking 

 a young horse should therefore be a continuous series of 

 progressive lessons, and nothing should ever be done which 

 he will afterwards have to unlearn. The management of 

 the animal should from the very beginning be entrusted 

 to an experienced, capable man, who has control over his 

 own temper ; for a person who has to learn what to do, or 

 who is subject to fits of ill-temper, may in a moment put 

 ideas of rebellion into the mind of a high-couraged animal 

 which are never totally forgotten, to combat and to conquer 

 which may cause infinite trouble. 



If a foal is judiciously handled from the day of birth 

 there will be little trouble in training it afterwards to do 

 anything that is wanted, and it should be accustomed from 

 the very first day to subject its own will to the wishes of its 

 master. A supple foal's head-collar should be put on at 

 once, so that the little animal can be held by the head 

 whilst the hand is passed over its body, head, neck, and 

 limbs, when it is still too weak and feeble to resist. By 

 this simple means it learns to be groomed and touched in 

 any part without resistance ; for though it may kick for a 

 time or two, its blows are of no account, and it quickly learns 

 that it is not going to be harmed, and therefore passively 

 submits to the treatment. This should be done on almost 

 every occasion of going into the stable, and all the feet 

 should be picked up in turn and patted with the hand, 

 in imitation of being shod, when the smith will have no 



