BREAKING YOUNG HORSES 209 



1. Fasten the bridle to the stirrup. 



2. Fasten a long leather rope to the bridle. 



3. Allow the horse to go loose in the field to graze. 



4. Walk up quietly and get alongside the rope. 



5. If the horse walks away put your foot firmly on the 

 rope so that he gives himself a sharp " chuck " in the mouth. 

 Bepeat this till he will not move when you go up to him, 

 and when he stands still for you to approach him reward 

 him with a carrot. 



6. When he stands quite quiet with the rope fastened 

 to the bridle remove the latter, substitute a head-collar, and 

 fasten the rope to this, and thus gradually proceed till he 

 will stand still with nothing on but a head-collar. 



Having proceeded so far the colt should be taught to stay 

 where he is, after being dismounted, by the mere act of 

 throwing the reins over its head. All their horses are 

 taught this by the Boers in South Africa. It is an ac- 

 complishment soon learned, and may be of much assistance 

 in the case of a fall out hunting. The Boers attach a raw- 

 hide rope to the bit, doubling a portion of it to form reins, 

 and then throw it over the horse's head and allow it to trail 

 on the ground. The horse soon steps on it, thereby giving 

 a chuck to his mouth ; and if the rope is a long one the 

 teacher often quietly takes hold of it, and at the instant 

 the horse treads upon it he adds an additional emphasis 

 with the end he holds. The horse is then left to graze by 

 himself, and speedily learns to be very chary of moving 

 about when reins are trailing on the ground. Sometimes 

 a sack is added to the reins, which is still more difficult for 

 the horse to avoid treading upon ; and the horse also learns 

 the additional lesson not to tread upon his rider after a fall. 



Another plan, which can be adopted with any horse 

 though untrained to stand still, is to pass the reins, both 

 being on the same side, first under the throat-lash, then 

 under the near fore-leg, and afterwards to fasten them 

 securely to the stirrup, the length being adjusted so that 

 the neck and body are bent into a slight curve. The 

 animal can reach down to graze, yet cannot tread upon 

 the reins, which are protected by the throat-lash ; but it 



15 



