io6 B R E A K I N a 



General of the metropolis. Profeffing, 

 therefore, no interference with, or attack 

 upon, the principles of the fcience, I proceed 

 to fuch aUufive remarks and inferences as in- 

 tereft not only breeders and fportfmen, but all 

 thofe who have any immediate intercourfe 

 with the fpecies, whether from the motive of 

 attachment, pleafure, health, or bulinefs. 



The firft objed for general confideration, is 

 the age moft proper for bringing into work 

 horfes of different defcriptions, according to 

 their diftind: appropriations ; but this, like 

 moft other matters, has become fubfervient 

 to the prevalence of fafliion, and in much 

 lefs than half a century undergone a total 

 revolution. Some years iince (and not a 

 great many) colts and fillies were haltered 

 and handled a little at three ; turned out 

 again and completely broke at four ; ufed mo- 

 derately during their ffth year^ and thought 

 to be fufhciently m.atured for conflant work 

 at fix ; fuch fyftcm has been, however, gra- 

 dually changing as the value of horfes con- 

 tinued to increafe, a circumftance that in all 

 probability effeded the alteration, by tempt- 

 ing breeders to turn their ftock into fpecie, 



with 



