242 BREAKING. 



old, his strength and obstinacy will be more difficult to overcome 

 The plan usually pursued by the breaker cannot perhaps be much 

 improved, except that there should be much more kindness and 

 patience, and far less harshness and cruelty, than these persons 

 are accustomed to exhibit, and a great deal more attention to the 

 form and natural action of the horse. A headstall is put on the 

 colt, and a cavesson (or apparatus to confine and pinch the nose) 

 affixed to it, with long reins. He is first accustomed to the rein, 

 then led round a ring on soft ground, and at length mounted and 

 taught his paces. Next to preserving the temper and docility of 

 the horse, there is nothing of so much importance as to teach him 

 every pace, and every part of his duty, distinctly and thoroughly. 

 Each must constitute a separate and sometimes long-continued 

 lesson, and that taught by a man who will never suffer his pas- 

 sion to get the better of his discretion. 



After the cavesson has been attached to the headstall, and the 

 long reins put on, the colt should be quietly led about by the 

 breaker — a steady boy following behind, by occasional threatening 

 with the whip, but never by an actual blow, to keep him mroving. 

 When the animal follows readily and quietly, he may be taken 

 to the ring, and walked round, right and left, in a very small cir- 

 cle. Care should be taken to teach him this pace thoroughly, 

 never suffering him to break into a trot. The boy with his whip 

 may here again be necessary, but not a single blow should actu- 

 ally fall. 



Becoming tolerably perfect in the walk, he should be quickened 

 to a trot, and kept steadily at it ; the whip of the boy, if needful, 

 urging him on, and the cavesson restraining him. These lessons 

 should be short. The pace should be kept perfect, and distinct in 

 each ; and docility and improvement rewarded with frequent ca- 

 resses, and handfuls of corn. The length of the rein may now be 

 gradually increased, and the pace quickened, and the time ex- 

 tended, until the animal becomes tractable in" these his first les- 

 sons, towards the conclusion of which, crupper-straps, or some- 

 thing similar, may be attached to the clothing. These, playing 

 about the sides and flanks, accustom him to the flapping of the 

 coat of the rider. The annoyance which they occasion will pass 

 over in a day or two ; for when the animal finds that no harm 

 comes to him, he will cease to regard them. 



Next comes the bitting. The bits should be large and smooth, 

 and the reins buckled to a ring on either side of the pad. There 

 are many curious and expensive machines for this purpose, but the 

 simple rein will be quite sufficient. It should at first be slack, 

 and then very gradually tightened. This will prepare for the 

 more perfect manner m which the head will be afterwards got 

 into its proper position, when tlie colt is accustomed to the saddle 



