204 THE HORSE 



thrown away, and as no weight has to be carried the youth 

 of the animal does not matter, and it may be thus led 

 about as soon as weaned. 



After a few days' practice with the cavesson the head- 

 piece and rope may be removed, and a pair of long reins sub- 

 stituted, by aid of which the breaker can drive the animal 

 in front of him instead of leading it, and it thus learns 

 to face the dangers by itself. For this purpose there should 

 be a ring sewn on each side of the surcingle, about the 

 height of ordinary stirrups, through which the long reins 

 are passed. This contrivance adds greatly to the power 

 of the breaker, enabling him to lunge the animal with 

 as much ease as if it was guided by the ordinary cavesson 

 rope ; and amongst other advantages it prevents the horse 

 from getting one rein over his back when kicking, and 

 so getting both reins on one side. Some horses soon learn 

 that trick, if there are no rings to keep the reins down. 

 It has also another advantage. A restive horse sometimes 

 gets the reins into confusion, but if one rein is slipped 

 over its back, and the horse is then allowed to run back- 

 wards until it faces you, a purchase is got against the 

 rings of the surcingle by pulling at both reins, and the 

 horse is compelled to keep on backing, to its great be- 

 wilderment. A great leverage is obtained on the bit in 

 this manner, and the breaker can keep the horse backing 

 as long as he thinks fit, following after it all the time. 

 If there are no rings, however, on the surcingle, in such a 

 situation the horse assumes the control of the breaker, 

 which increases the confusion ! This is a useful way also 

 of forcing a horse to back when it refuses to do so on the 

 reins being pulled from behind. If the pupil proves very 

 stubborn, and refuses to budge, the trainer should walk 

 in front of it, reversing the reins from the surcingle rings, 

 and then proceed to pull at them with considerable force. 

 If the horse still will not move, the reins should be kept 

 tight with one hand while a whip is flicked at the fore- 

 legs with the other, until the horse makes a step angrily 

 backwards, probably snorting and shaking its head as it 

 does so. The process must be repeated until the animal 



