THE HORSE. 765 



works all her life long, perfectly gentle, although a very spirited animal, but peculiarly sen 

 sitive to harsh treatment of any kind, and would have been rendered utterly worthless by it. 



Halter Breaking. The best method of teaching a colt, is to commence at birth, and 

 by gradual approaches accustom him to be handled. Thus, by kindness and gentleness, his 

 first lesson should be, that he has nothing to fear from man, but that his master is his friend 

 and protector. This lesson must invariably be first taught, in order to attain the highest 

 success in subsequent efforts, in bringing him under complete subjection, and in developing 

 the best qualities of the animal. This method of colt breaking was well understood and 

 practiced by the ancients, as will be seen from the writings of Xenophon, which were penned 

 about twenty-three hundred years ago, as follows: 



&quot;Care must be taken, that when the breaker receives the foal, he be gentle, tractable, 

 and fond of men. For he is generally rendered so at home by the groom, if the foal is 

 made to understand that hunger, thirst, and irritation are procured by solitude; and that 

 meat, drink, and freedom from irritation are procured by men. When these things take 

 place, foals not only love, but long for men. It is necessary also to touch those parts which, 

 when touched, give greatest pleasure to the horse; and these are the hairiest, and those parts 

 in which, when he feels any pain, he cannot relieve himself. 



The groom should be enjoined to lead him through a crowd, and cause him to approach 

 all kinds of sights and sounds. Whichever of these the foal may dread, it is necessary to 

 teach him, not by harshness, but gentleness, that they are not dangerous.&quot; 



The young colt should be handled every day, gently and quietly, patting or rubbing him 

 with the hand only in those parts of the body that it is agreeable to him to be touched, such 

 as the back, top of the hips, under the neck and head, places that he cannot easily rub him 

 self, or touch with the mouth or feet. Horses do not usually like to be touched on the 

 flanks, or the inside of the stifle, under the breast, or on the ears, and such places should be 

 carefully avoided. Attentions of this kind should be frequent, but never tiresome to him. 



These instructions should begin during the first week of his life, for the earlier this is 

 learned, the easier will it be to teach him, and when once taught, it will never be forgotten. 

 Many breeders teach the foal to be led by the halter during the first two or three weeks. If 

 the dam is to be used on the roau, the colt will, when strong enough, soon learn to accom 

 pany her by having his halter attached to the harness or shaft. 



When being weaned, he may be tied by her in the stall, as previously recommended, 

 which will also further accustom him to the halter. By commencing early, there is no acquired 

 habit to be overcome, and he should be taught only just what you desire him to know. Let 

 him know that you are his friend, and by patient and gentle efforts he will soon be able to 

 understand what is desired of him, and, if he has confidence in you, will willingly yield obe 

 dience. When he does well, he should be praised for it, and made to understand, by gentle 

 pats and kind words, that it is appreciated. Animals, even the most stupid, will very quickly 

 translate such acts and words into their true meaning, and the horse, being one of the most 

 intelligent of the brute creation, will soon catch the meaning of what is intended for him to 

 know. Never pull him back on the halter, as so many ignorant, so-called &quot; horse-breakers &quot; 

 do, under the stupid idea that a constant pulling will teach him to walk fast. It will only 

 teach him the reverse, and to hang back, and when this habit is once acquired, it will be 

 almost impossible to break it. 



The halter should be of some soft and strong material leather being best which will 

 not chafe or fret him, and it should be made to fit well and not hurt his nose when he pulls. 

 If he should once break the halter and get away, it would be a bad lesson that he might 

 never forget. 



Never use a rope for a halter on an unbroken colt, as it would chafe and make him 

 nervous and uncomfortable. With a rope halter, a colt will be very liable to pull, rear, and 



