TRAINING 319 



injure the wind of a horse, as to gallop him immedi- 

 ately after drinking ; but a little, taken at intervals, 

 will not harm him. If horses are allowed to drink 

 freely when overheated, and remain quiet, violent 

 spasms, inflammation, and sudden death is likely to 

 ensue. 



SECTION III. TRAINING. 



Training should be commenced as soon as the colt 

 is taken from the mare, and, as before hinted at, he 

 should be placed under the care of a man of a mild 

 and gentle disposition. Kind treatment and caresses 

 are the only sure methods to obtain obedience, attach- 

 ment, and confidence in man. This maxim should be 

 applied to horses even of the most stubborn temper, 

 for assuredly if gentle measures will not render them 

 obedient, harsh treatment never will. In short, most 

 of the vices in horses may be traced to their being 

 early entrusted to the care of persons of brutal disposi- 

 tions, who destroy their temper by cruelty and inju- 

 dicious severity. Others again are taught all manner 

 of tricks for the gratification of idle folly. Tracta- 

 bility, steadiness, and good temper, are the qualities 

 for which a horse is chiefly valuable to man ; so that 

 the utmost attention should be paid by breeders to 

 points on which depend so much of the safety and 

 comfort of those who may become their owners. In- 

 deed, gentle treatment has been more effectual in 

 taming wild animals than any other. 



Much difference of opinion prevails as to the time 

 which horses ought to be worked. My unalterable 

 belief is, that at three years is the earliest period at 

 which a horse should be used either for the turf, 

 hunting, the road, or harness ; consequently breaking- 

 in should not be completed until after the second 



