204 THE HORSE 



of any value. The large mass of colts run unhaltered till they are to be 

 broken, which is generally commenced when they are three-year-olds.^ 

 Ponies and small hacks are then often taken into use, the latter being 

 quietly ridden by the breeder for his own purposes till they are four or 

 five years old, when they ai-e sold. Mr. Rarey recommends for all pur- 

 poses a leathern halter, made like an ordinary head-stall, but rather 

 lighter. Tliis is at once put on the colt, and by buckling a leading-strap to 

 the nose band, either before or behind, anything may be done which is 

 required, short of mounting. Two small billets and buckles attach any 

 bit which may be selected to the rings wliich connect the cheek-pieces to 

 the nose-band, and thus the halter is converted into a very useful breaking 

 bridle. It wants, however, the stiff padded nose-band of the cavesson, 

 but this is only required with very violent and determined colts. The 

 annexed engraving represents Mr. Rarey's halter-bridle, with his ordinary 

 breaking-bit. 



The bit which is usually employed in England for colts is a heavy 

 smooth snaffle, with a tongue-piece and keys depending from its central 

 link. For racing colts a very excellent bit is used extensively, consisting in 

 a mere smooth ring of iron, with a loop on the upper part for attachment to 

 the head-stall, in the same way as in Mr. Rarey's bridle. In front of this 

 loop the ring is introduced into the mouth, and the back of the circle takes 

 the leading-rein, which is thus allowed to slip on either side, and keep a 

 secure hold of the jaw however much the colt may pull at it. I have a dis- 

 like to the snaffle for colts, because I have found it constantly pressing on 

 one corner of the mouth more than the other, the animal putting liis head 

 on one side, and leaning upon that half of the mouthpiece, so as to relieve 

 each side of the jaw alternately, instead of allowing the two divisions of the 

 snaffle to bear equally on the angles of the mouth. I much prefer a bit 

 made with an unjointed mouthpiece, curved in a segment of a circle, with 

 the usual tongue-piece and keys attached to the middle by a roller. This 

 curved mouthpiece should have smooth rings turned upon it, which will 

 prevent the horse from rubbing his lips from side to side, and tend to form 

 a very pleasant and delicate mouth. I have known it used with great 

 success in breaking hundreds of colts, and I have myself found its advan- 

 tages in a great number of horses, young as well as old. These, together 

 with a martingale, buckling on to the bit, are all that are required for 

 making the mouth. 



In addition to the apparatus for tliis part of the colt's education, arrange- 

 ments must also be made for accustoming him to bear the weight of the 

 rider, and for attaching the bit to some part of the body. In commencing 

 the breaking it is customary to put on merely a roller with a leathern 

 surcingle over it, kept in its place by a crupper, which, for facility of putting 

 on, should have a buckle on one side. In front of the surcingle, on each 



^ In many breedin.£r districts colts are broken at two years old and given another year's 

 run in wliieli to develop. It is found that a two-year-old is more easily broken, as being 

 more inipvessionablo and more readily fatigued. 



The halter is put on sucking colts during the first month by many good farmers, as their 

 strength is not great and they sooa succumb to superior force and never forget the lessou. 

 For various reasons, such as illness or sale, it becomes necessary to secure a colt at almost any 

 age, and a preliminary tussle with the halter is not a good preparation for the treatment of 

 a young animal that is sick or in acute pain, or to be led or driven a journey. 



