24 DOMESTIC ANmALS. 



alone. Young colts arc sometimes very perverse. Many days will oc- 

 casionally 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 saddle may be worn ; and, this compliance being follow- 

 ed by kindness and soothing on the part of the breaker, and no incon- 

 venience or pain being suffered by the animal, all resistance will be at 

 an end. 



The same principles will apply to the breaking-in of the horse for 

 the road or the chase. The handling, and some portion of instruction, 

 should commence from the time of weaning. The future tractability 

 of the horse will much depend on this. At two years and a half, or 

 three years, the regular process of breaking-in should commence. If it 

 is delayed until the animal is four years 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 at- 

 tention 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 most consti- 

 tute a separate and sometimes long-continued lesson, and that taught by 

 a man who will never suffer his passion 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 moving. When the animal 

 follows readily and quietly, he may be taken to the ring, and walked 

 round, right and left, in a very small circle. 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 actually 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 do- 

 cility and improvement rewarded with frequent caresses, and handfuls 

 of corn. The length of the rein may now be gradually increased, and 

 the pace quickened, and the time extended, until the animal becomes 

 tractable in these his first lessons, toward the conclusion of which, 

 crupper-straps, or something 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. 



