RAREY'S METHOD. 



143 



purposes a leathern halter, made like an ordinary head-stall, but 

 rather lighter. This is at once put on the colt, and by buckling 

 a leading-strap to the nose-band, either before or behind, anything 

 may be done which is required, short of mounting. Two small 

 billets and buckles attach any bit which may be selected to the 

 rings which connect the cheek pieces to the nose-band, and thus 

 the halter is converted into a very useful breaking bridle. It 

 wants, however, the stiff padded nose-band of the cavesson, but 

 this is only required with very violent and determined colts. The 

 above engraving represents Mr. Rarey's halter-bridle, with his 

 ordinary breaking bit. 



THE BIT which is usually employed in England for colts is a 

 heavy smooth snaffle, with a tongue-piece and keys depending from 

 its central link. For racing colts a very excellent bit has lately 

 been extensively introduced, consisting in a mere smooth ring of 

 iron, with a loop on the upper part for attachment to the head- 

 stall, in the same way as in Mr. Rarey's bridle. In front of this 

 loop the ring is introduced into the mouth, and the back of the 

 circle takes the leading rein, which is thus allowed to slip on either 

 side, and keep a secure hold of the jaw, however much the colt 

 may pull at it. I have a dislike to the snaffle for colts, because I 

 have found it constantly pressing on one corner of the mouth more 

 than the other, the animal putting his head on one side, and lean- 

 ing upon that half of the mouthpiece, so as to relieve each side of 

 the jaw alternately, instead of allowing the two divisions of the 

 snaffle to bear equally on the angles of the mouth. I much prefer 

 a bit made with an unjointed mouthpiece, curved in a segment of a 

 circle, with the usual tongue-piece and keys attached to the middle by 

 a roller. This curved mouthpiece should have smooth rings turned 

 upon it, which will prevent the horse from rubbing his lips from 

 side to side, and tend to form a very pleasant and delicate mouth. 

 I have known it used with great success in breaking hundreds of 

 colts, and I have myself found its advantages in a great number 

 of horses, young as well as old. These, together with a martin- 

 gale, buckling on to the bit, are all that are required for making 

 the mouth. 



IN ADDITION to the apparatus for this part of the colt's educa- 

 tion, arrangements must also be made for accustoming him to bear 

 the weight of the rider, and for attaching the bit to some part of 

 the body. In commencing the breaking it is customary to put on 

 merely a roller with a leathern surcingle over it, kept in its place 

 by a crupper, which, for facility of putting on, should have a buckle 

 on one side. In front of the surcingle, on each side, two buckles are 

 stitched, serving to attach the reins either high up, or even crossed 

 over the withers, or low down, or sometimes both high and low. 

 Until within the last thirty or forty years, what is called a dumb 



