ARE AXING. 241 



Let his feeder, if possible, bt first put upon him. He will be too 

 much hampered by his harm*ss, and by the other horses, to make 

 much resistance ; and, in the majority of cases, will quietly and 

 at once submit. We need not to repeat, that no whip or spur 

 f^hould 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, and then with a light 

 cart, and afterwards with some serious load — always taking the 

 greatest care not seriously to hurt his mouth. If the first lesson 

 causes much soreness of the gums, the colt will not readily submit 

 to a second. If he has been previously rendered tractable by kind 

 usage, time and patience will do everything that can be wished. 

 Some carters are in the habit of blinding the colt when teacliing 

 him to back. This may be necessary with a restive and obstinate 

 one, but- should be used only as a last resort. 



The colt having been thus partially broken-in, the necessity of 

 implicit obedience must be taught him, and that not by severity, 

 but by firmness and steadiness. The voice will go a great way, 

 but the whip or the spur is sometimes indispensable — not so se 

 verely applied as to excite the animal to resistance, but to con- 

 vince him that we have the power to enlbrce submission. Few, 

 it may almost be said, no horses, are naturally vicious. It i& 

 cruel usage which has first provoked resistance. That resistance 

 has been followed by greater severity, and the stubbornness of the 

 animal has increased. Open warfare has ensued, in which the 

 man has seldom gained advantage, and the horse has been fre- 

 quently rendered unserviceable. Correction may, or must be 

 used, to enforce implicit obedience after the education has pro- 

 ceeded to a certain extent, but the early lessons should be incul- 

 cated with kindness alone. Young colts are sometimes very per- 

 verse. Many days will occasionally pass before they will permit 

 the bridle to be put on, or the saddle to be worn ; and one act of 

 harshness will double or treble this time : patience and kindness, 

 however, will always prevail. On some morning, when he is in 

 a better humor than usual, the bridle may be put on, or the sad- 

 dle may be worn ; and, this compliance being followed by kind- 

 ness and soothing on the part of the breaker, and no inconve- 

 nience or pain being sufiered by the animal, all resistance will be 

 at an end. 



The same principles will apply to the breakiug-in of the horse 

 for the road or the chase. The handhng, and some portion of in- 

 struction, should commence from the time of weaning. The fu- 

 ture tractability of the horse will much depend on this. At two 

 years and a half, or three years, the regular process of breaking-in 

 shoufd commence. If it is delayed until the animal is four years 

 K U) 



