180 THE HORSE. 
breaking. At length, when the breaker is satisfied that the colt has 
gained the power over his limbs at all paces, which he will have gradually 
given him in his daily longes, by increasing the tightness of the reins and 
accelerating the pace, (taking care to change the direction of the circles,) 
he thinks it time to give his pupil the finishing lessons, which can only 
be done in the saddle. Before mounting, however, he is enabled to teach 
the colt the meaning of each pressure of the rein, which at first is utterly 
unintelligible. By taking both in each hand, and pressing backwards, 
he causes him to back; and by drawing them forward, to proceed in 
that direction. The right hand moved to the right, makes the colt move 
his head, and afterwards his body, towards that side, and wice versd 
with the left hand. In this way, all is prepared for the mounting, which 
should be first attempted when the colt is somewhat tired after a long and 
steady longe. The breaker should, during the last week’s daily exercise, 
put on a saddle instead of a roller and surcingle, keeping it in its place by 
loose girths and a crupper. Every day he should bear occasionally upon 
the stirrups, smacking them against the saddle, and thus accustoming the 
colt to noises, and also to pressure on his back. When all is ready, he 
has only to put his foot in the stirrup, standing with his back to the 
shoulder, and then, after partially rising two or three times, and coming 
down again, he finally plants himself firmly in the saddle. Most careful 
breakers have a roll of cloth buckled firmly in front of their saddles; and 
with this precaution, even if the colt bucks or kicks, it is almost impos- 
sible for him to dislodge them. When thus mounted, the breaker should 
be in no hurry, but let the colt get accustomed to the intruder. Let him 
wait till the pupil has somewhat recovered from the shock, and then only 
let him urge him forward at as slow a pace as he likes. If all has been 
conducted well throughout the preliminary stages, and the colt is good- 
tempered, he will walk away quietly enough, and generally no trouble 
will be given for a day or two ; when, probably, there will be some slight 
fight, which may be either in causing the pupil to go where he does not 
want to go, or in making him face some object which frightens him. At 
first, neither whip nor spur should be used, for the object of neither is 
understood ; and if the colt will not readily move forward, he should be 
led or driven by an assistant, and not whipped or spurred by his rider. 
In process of time, however, he is made gradually to understand these 
signs by the tact of the breaker; and then if he offends, he must be 
punished accordingly, but it must always be remembered that the fault 
must be met immediately, or not at all. 
THE AMUSING AND EXPERIENCED author of “The Horse and his Rider” 
has drawn attention to the misconception of the differences in character 
between a wild horse and a tame one, which is entertained in this 
country. He says: “It is generally conceived that in the difficulty of 
sticking on to the back of a horse there exist three degrees of comparison, 
namely :— 
“1, That it is rather difficult to ride a horse that has been broken in. 
“2. That it is exceedingly difficult to ride a tame one that has not 
been broken in. 
“3. That it must be almost impossible to mount and ride a wild horse 
just caught, that has never been broken in. 
“ We will, however, humbly venture to assert that, in certain instances, 
the three steps of this little ladder might be reversed. 
“1. In a state of nature the horse is such a zealous advocate of our 
popular principle of ‘self-government,’ he is so desirous to maintain his 
