I 



178 MODERN FARRIEll. 



naturally becomes impatient from the dread of being 

 suffocated. 



It is customary to lead a colt at first with a ca- 

 vesson, which is buckled round the nose; but 

 this is a very harsh and severe instrument, if not 

 used with peculiar gentleness. Instances have some- 

 times occurred of the bones of the nose becoming 

 diseased, from being pinched and bruised by the sud- 

 den and violent jerks given by the hand of an impa- 

 tient, drunken, or unskilful breaker. 



The first and most useful lesson in breaking a 

 colt is to lounge him in a circle. A cavesson is 

 fixed to his head, to which is attached a long small 

 cord. This cord being held by the breaker, the colt 

 trots round him in as large a circle as the cord will 

 admit. This, however, must be done very gently, 

 and but little at a time : for more horses are spoiled, 

 by over much work than by any other treatment^ 

 and that by very contrary effects ; for sometimes it 

 drives them into vice, madness, and despair, and 

 often stupifies and totally dispirits them. 



The earl of Pembroke very justly observes, that 

 the first obedience required in a horse is going for- 

 wards ; till he perform this duty freely, never even 

 think of making him rein back, which would inevi- 

 tably make him restive : as soon as he goes forwards 

 readily, stop and caress him. You must remember 

 in this, and likev/ise in every other exercise, to use 

 him to go equally well to the right and left : and 

 when he obeys, caress him and dismiss him imme- 

 diately. If a horse that is very young takes fright 

 and stands still, lead on another horse before him, 

 w^liich probably will induce him instantly to follow. 

 Put a snaffie in his mouth : and when he goes 

 freely, saddle him, girting him at first very loose. 

 Let the cord which you hold be long and loose, but 

 not so much so as to endanger the horse's entan- 

 gling his legs in it. It must be observed that small 

 circles, in the beginning, would constrain the horse 



