298 BREAKING FOR SPECIAL WORK. 



sian steppes I never had any difficulty in haltering a semi- 

 wild horse, which had been driven into a krall or small en- 

 closure, by the aid of a halter on a long pole, as already 

 described. But the slightest touch on the ears drives a 

 zebra almost mad. Consequently, this horse-haltering 

 plan is not successful with zebras, unless they are lassoed 

 in the first instance, and thus brought more or less under 

 control. 



Having haltered the zebra, the next step in her breaking 

 was to take her outside into a small enclosure, which was 

 considerably hampered by the presence of trees in the 

 centre. To obtain more control, it was necessary to put 

 the loop of a rope round the fore pastern, so that the 

 striped lady might not give me a playful or vicious pat 

 when I went up to her. With horses there is no trouble 

 in adjusting this loop, by, as I have already described, 

 placing it on the ground and making them step into it, at 

 which moment a pull on the rope promptly lassoes the 

 pastern of the too confiding fore-leg. Every zebra I have 

 handled has viewed this loop with great distrust, and 

 evidently understood the purpose for which it was placed 

 on the ground. Consequently, a breaker has to be very 

 artful in order to circumvent these reasoning Equidae. 

 In their struggle for existence they have to be much more 

 intelligent than the domestic horse, a fact which we can 

 readily see by their larger brain capacity, which is well 

 shewn by their broad and " bumpy " forehead. 



When a fore-leg has been noosed, it is safest to raise it 

 off the ground, which can be easily done by passing the 

 rope over the animal's back, under its breast, and then 

 pulling it. Having thus secured the zebra I tied her " head 

 and tail " in the manner already described, and after a short 

 exhibition of play, she readily submitted to driving by 

 means of the long reins. The " leading rein crupper " 



