146 THE HORSE. 



scribed, the breaker next proceeds to attach a rein to it in the 

 ordinary way, and to buckle this loosely to the surcingle or dumb- 

 jockey, whichever he may employ. Mr. Blackwell's india-rubber 

 reins are thought very highly of by some for this purpose ; but, as 

 far as I have tried them, I prefer plain leather, because I object to 

 constant pressure, however slight, upon the mouth. A drop of 

 water falling constantly and regularly upon a stone will wear it 

 away sooner than the same quantity dashed at once upon it; and, in 

 the same manner, permanent gentle pressure upon the mouth is more 

 irksome than a more severe occasional pull. The great art consists 

 in shortening the reins so gradually, that the pressure can always be 

 avoided by bending the neck, and this the horse soon learns to do; 

 and thus, at one and the same time, he gains control over his mus- 

 cles, and inures his jaws and lips to the bit. It is generally neces- 

 sary, while the "bitting" is going on, whether in the stable or at 

 exercise, to fix the head down by a martingale, buckled to each side 

 of the bit; for without this the horse, in his struggles to get rid of his 

 restraints, will often toss his head so high as to do himself a serious 

 injury. If the mouthing is conducted in the stable, the horse is either 

 put into a loose-box (which is the best plan), or he is turned round 

 in his stall, and kept in that position by buckling the ordinary pillar 

 reins to each side of the bit. At first, the reins should hardly 

 confine the head at all beyond the position in which it is naturally 

 carried when the horse is excited ; but each day a hole or two may 

 be taken up, until such pressure is made, that the horse has a ten- 

 dency to relieve his neck and shoulders by advancing his fore legs 

 and rounding his neck. The best plan is to put on the breaking 

 tackle for an hour in the stable, then loose the reins for a quarter 

 of an hour ; after which the colt may be led out for his regular 

 daily exercise, and may be " longed" with the reins buckled more 

 or less tightly, according to the experience of the breaker and the 

 condition of the mouth. In most cases, the process is hurried far 

 too much ; the breaker contracts to do all that is required for a 

 given sum, varying from one guinea to three, and it is his object 

 to spend as little time over each of his pupils as will serve to make 

 them barely rideable. This is objectionable in principle, though 

 it is very difficult to know how to improve upon it without running 

 the risk of extortion ; but when a colt is to be broken for the use of 

 the owner, or any of his family, he will do well to see that plenty 

 of time is devoted to the formation of the mouth, and this I have 

 already said should extend to a fortnight. If the breeder has a 

 lot of colts which are to be placed in the breaker's hands, the latter 

 can, with the assistance of a few lads, go on with a dozen at the 

 same time, and in that way too great an outlay of money is avoided; 

 but if there is only one in his hands, he can hardly do justice to 

 his employer at the ordinary rate. Hitherto I have only alluded 



