PERMANENCY IN BREAKING. 55 



methods for enforcing his commands. Hence, we may 

 rest assured that the horse-tamer who advertises his own 

 particular " system " as a certain cure for all forms of dis- 

 obedience or vice, is as arrant a quack as the man who tries 

 to foist on the public a pill for the removal of every kind of 

 disease. In the following pages I shall describe various 

 breaking methods, from which my readers can select those 

 which they deem most suitable for particular cases. 



SELECTION OF BREAKING METHODS. 



The most useful methods of breaking are those which we 

 can readily and frequently apply, so as to establish the de- 

 sired habit. Hence, the "indications" conveyed by the 

 reins, voice, and whip, and also by the leg, in saddle, should 

 be specially relied upon in forming the horse's " manners " 

 and paces. In other words, the horse's " mouth " (using 

 the expression in its most comprehensive meaning) should be 

 the foundation of all good breaking. A horse which has 

 been trained to obey the " aids " (see page 58) with 

 precision, can be relied upon to remain steady and obedient 

 under very trying circumstances. As it is impracticable 

 to be constantly repeating taming methods, such as 

 Rareyfying, or tying a horse head and tail and making him 

 go round (see page 155), and as they afford us no assistance 

 in the guidance of the horse or in the formation of his 

 paces ; we must disregard them as means for the mainten- 

 ance of a permanent state of discipline, however useful they 

 may be for enforcing authority in the first instance. The 

 " aids," on the contrary, are ever present, whether riding or 

 driving, to keep the horse mindful of his duty. 



PERMANENCY IN THE EFFECTS OF BREAKING. 



The role of the breaker is to establish in the horse certain 

 habits, which, being for the most part opposed to his in- 



