BREAST CLOTH — BREATHING 



pupil, and in any event some one should be at his side in 

 case he stops suddenly, as some will do. In most cases, 

 however, after two or three days between the shafts the 

 process of breaking will proceed smoothly. 



When the colt is to be broken to saddle, he may be led 

 about and lunged with one on his back at first, the stirrups 

 being added after he has become steady. Should he be 

 timid it is a good plan to accustom the colt to the feel of a 

 weight on his back by fixing a horse-cloth with something 

 heavy wrapped up in it on the saddle. After that he may 

 be carefully mounted by a light-weight man, who should not 

 be in too great a hurry to get into the saddle. It is best 

 not to upset the colt at this point, else he may always be a 

 difficult horse to mount, and, therefore, before trying to take 

 his seat, the rider should accustom the colt to feeling his 

 weight in the stirrup, and when this part of the lesson is 

 learned, it will be an easy matter in most cases to gain the 

 saddle. 



Many teachers adopt the use of a dumb jockey in the 

 earlier stages of breaking, the object being to accustom the 

 colt not merely to the feel of a weight on his back, but to 

 the pressure of the reins in his mouth. The apparatus is 

 no doubt useful in cases, but it is not indispensable for 

 the purposes of breaking. (See Bits^ Cavesson, Schoolings 

 Surcingle.) 



Breast Cloth. — That part of a horse's clothing which 

 covers the breast, extending from the two ends of the quarter 

 piece, to which it is buckled. (See Clothing.) 



Breast Plate. — A thin strap through which the martingale 

 runs ; it goes round the lower part of the neck of a riding 

 horse, and is fastened to each side of the saddle by short 

 straps. (See Martingale.) 



Breathing. — The normal rate of breathing is ten to 

 twelve breaths a minute, this being, of course, increased by 



42 



