OKDINARY ENGLISH METHOD, 175 
in sume two or three of these paces, that he has become pleasant and 
safe. Now the plans which I have just described do not effect either 
of these objects, indeed their tendency is rather to interfere with the 
making of a good mouth, for the bit will sometimes cut the angles of the 
lips, and in this way tend to make it afterwards dull. I do not mean to 
assert that this is necessarily carried far enough by Mr. Rarey to make his 
plan objectionable on that account, but merely that if anything is done 
towards breaking a colt, it is injurious rather than beneficial, with the 
single exception of the establishment of a mental control, which, as I shall 
presently show, is not wanted in more than one or two per thousand of 
our horses. 
THE ORDINARY ENGLISH METHOD OF BREAKING FOR 
THE SADDLE. 
In THIs country the breaker of the hack is not only supposed to produce 
in his pupil what is called a good “ mouth,” but also to teach him the use 
of his legs, so as to give a pleasant feel to his rider in the walk, trot, and 
gallop, and in the canter, where specially required. The racehorse is 
only ‘“‘ mouthed” and “ backed,” his subsequent education being confided 
to the trainer; and the hunter, in addition to these developments, is 
taught to get over the various fences which he is likely to meet with, in a 
clever manner. Lach class must, therefore, go through the same prelimi- 
nary process, which consists in producing a good mouth, and in making 
the colt bear his rider patiently in the saddle. To effect these objects 
when the colt is running at large he must be caught and haltered, and I 
shall now proceed to show how the matter is effected ab initio. In doing 
this it will be necessary to examine into the best apparatus for carrying 
it out. 
THE HALTER, which in this country is generally first used, is the ordi- 
nary one, made of hemp-webbing, for the head, with a running eye in the 
back of the nose-piece, in which runs a stout rope attached to the head. 
Thoroughbred colts are always made to carry a light leather head-stall 
from the end of their first year, and so, indeed, are all well-bred yearlings 
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 are sold. Mr. Rarey recommends for all pur- 
poses a leathern halter, made like an ordinary head-stall, but rather 
lighter. This 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 which 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 cayesson, 
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. 
Tue pit 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 has lately been extensively 
introduced, 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 
