332 An Account of the 
too little care is employed in the choice of the ftallions; and 
this, in all probability, 1s one of the principal caufes why 
thefe horfes, though left at full liberty, are neither fo beau- 
tiful nor fo good as thofe of Andalufia, from which they are 
defcended. The induftry of man improves the breed of thofe 
animals which he appropriates to his own ule, and, by 
bringing their fhape and organs to perfeétion, indemnifies 
them for that liberty of which he deprives them. Each 
ftallion takes poffeffion of a fmall troop of mares, which he 
keeps collected by preffing them with his cheft, and by biting 
them if they do not obey with fufficient docility: the mares, 
on the other hand, remain attached to their fultans. If two 
ftallions fight, the mares do not abandon the conquered for 
the conqueror, unlefs ‘the former has fhewn among them ars 
deficiency of vigour. 
The fillies remain with their mothers. When it is time 
to break the colts they are cut, for no perfon mounts a horfe 
until that operation has been performed. After caftration, 
a halter is put upon the animal intended to be broke; he is 
tied to a ftake; a faddle is placed upon his back, and well 
girded, but without crupper or breaft-leather, and a thong 
is tied round his under-lip, to which is faftened, on each 
fide, a rein, in order to govern him, The horfeman then 
mounts with large fpurs, and rides out into the fields. At 
firft the young horfe capers and jumps until he is quite fa- 
tigued ;' afier which he is brought back to the ftake. This 
exercife is repeated feveral times in the courfe of the fame 
day, and is renewed after the interval of feveral days until 
the courfer capers no more. He is then employed as a broke 
horfe, but with a halter only; a bridle is not put upon him 
till a year after, at which time he quits the name of rodo- — 
mont to affume that of horfe. 
As foon as the horfes are cut, they are feparated from iis 
mares, and put among tle animals of the Baik fpecies ufed 
for fervice, which receive no other fhelter or food than what 
they find im the fields. They are accuftomed to live in one 
canton, which they never quit. Each unites himfelf toa 
companion, and with fuch intimacy that inftances have 
. been known of fome of ars after ranning away, having 
‘ returned 
