466 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



fall a little heavier, and the feeling of pain be 

 the monitor of the necessity of increased ex- 

 ertion. The lessons of reining in and stop- 

 ping, and backing on the pressure of the bit, 

 may continue to be practised at the same 

 time. 



He may now be taught to bear the saddle. 

 Some little caution will be necessary at the 

 first putting of it on. The breaker should 

 stand at the head of the colt, patting him, and 

 entrasino: his attention, while one assistant, on 

 the off-side, gently places the saddle on the 

 back of the animal ; and another, on the near 

 side, slowly tightens the girths. If he sub- 

 mits quietly to this, as he generally will, wken 

 the previous process of breaking in has been 

 properly conducted, the ceremony of mounting 

 may be attempted on the following or on the 

 third day. The breaker will need two assist- 

 ants to accomplish this operation. He will 

 remain at the head of the colt, patting and 

 making much of him. The rider will put his 

 foot into the stirrup, and bear a little weight 

 upon it, while the man on the off-side presses 

 equally on the other stirrup-leather ; and, 

 according to the docility of the animal, he 

 will gradually increase the weight, until he 

 balances himself on the stirrup. If the colt 

 lie uneasy or fearful, he should be spoken 

 kindly to and patted, or a mouthful of corn be 

 given to him : but if he offers serious resist- 

 ance, the lessons must terminate for that day ; 

 he may probably be in better humour on the 

 morrow. 



When the rider has balanced himself for a 

 minute or two, he may gently throw his leg 

 over, and quietly seat himself in the saddle. 

 The breaker will then lead the animal round 

 the ring, the rider sitting perfectly still. After 

 a few minutes he will take the reins, and 



handle them as gently as possible, and guide 

 the Horse by the pressure of them ; patting 

 him frequently, and especially when he thinks 

 of dismounting — and after having dismounted, 

 offering him a little corn or green meat. The 

 use of the rein in checking him, and of the 

 pressure of the leg and the touch of the heel 

 in quickening his pace, will soon be taught 

 him, and the education will now be nearly 

 completed. 



The Horse having thus far submitted him- 

 self to the breaker, these pattings and rewards 

 must be gradually diminished, and implicit 

 obedience mildly but firmly enforced. Sever- 

 ity will not often be necessary ; in the great 

 majority of cases it will be altogether un- 

 called for : but should the animal, in a moment 

 of waywardness, dispute the command of the 

 breaker, he must at once be taught that he is 

 the slave of man, and that we have the power, 

 by other means than those of kindness, to bend 

 him to our will. The education of the Horse 

 is that of the child. Pleasure is, as much as 

 possible, associated with the early lessons ; 

 but firmness, or, if need be, coercion, must 

 confirm the habit of obedience. Tyranny and 

 cruelty will, more speedily in the Horse than 

 even in the child, provoke the wish to dis- 

 obey ; and, on every practicable occasion, the 

 resistance to command. The restive and 

 vicious Horse is, in ninety-nine cases out of a 

 hundred, made so by ill-usage, and not by 

 nature. None but those who will take the 

 trouble to try the experiment are aware how 

 absolute a command the due admixture of 

 firmness and kindness will soon give us over 

 any Horse. The breaker should keep in his 

 mind continually the latin proverb, " quod 

 factum est, his factum est," what is well 

 done, is twice done. 



