OF FARRIERY. 



463 



CHAPTER XIV. 



BREAKING.— CAS FRATION. 



BREAKING. 



TiiERE is nothing more important to the 

 owner of the Horse than his being well broken. 

 To ensure this, great care should be taken to 

 put the animal into the hands of a man well 

 Qualified for this undertaking ; for nothing is 

 easier than to spoil a Horse's mouth, if left to 

 the management of an injudicious person. It 

 has been observed that more Horses are 

 spoiled in the breaking, than can ever be re- 

 covered afterwards, even if mounted by the 

 most judicious riders. 



After the second winter, the work of break- 

 ing-in may commence in good earnest. He 

 may first be bitted, and a bit carefully selected 

 that will not hurt his mouth, and much smaller 

 than those in common use ; with this he may 

 be suffered to amuse himself, and to play, and 

 to champ for an hour, on a few successive 

 days. 



Having become a little tractable, portions 

 of the harness may be put upon him, and, 

 last of all, the blind winkers; and a few days 

 afterward he may go into the team. It would 

 be better if there could be one before, and one 

 behind him, beside the shaft Horse. Let there 

 be first the mere empty waggon. Let nothing 



be done to him, except that he may have an 

 occasional pat or kind word. The other 

 Horses will keep him moving, and in his 

 place ; and no great time will pass, sometimes 

 not even the first day, before he will begin to 

 pull with the rest ; then the load may be 

 gradually increased. 



The agricultural Horse is wanted to ride as 

 well as to draw. Let his first lesson be given 

 when he is in the team. Let his feeder, if 

 possible, be first put upon him : he will be 

 too much hampered by his harness, and by 

 the other Horses, to make much resistance ; 

 and, in the majority of cases, will quietly and 

 at once submit. We need not repeat, that no 

 whip or spur should be used in giving the 

 first lessons in riding. 



When he begins a little to understand 

 his business, backing, the most difficult part 

 of his work, may be taught him ; first to back 

 well without anything behind him, then with 

 a light cart, and afterwards with some serious 

 load ; and taking the greatest care not seriously 

 to hurt the mouth. If the first lesson causes 

 much soreness of the gums, the colt will not 

 readily submit to a second. If he has been 

 rendered tractable before by kind usage, time 

 and patience will do all that can be wished 



