i8s 



CHAPTER XIY. 



ANECDOTES OF HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING. 



A DESCRIPTION of the ordinary methods of horse- 

 breaking would be out of place here. Those who 

 know anything about it are aware that the best way 

 of proceeding is to let the colt grow accustomed to 

 be handled by man from his infancy, to treat him 

 kindly, and teach him gradually, not punishing him 

 if at first he does not understand what is required of 

 him, or shows a desire to get rid of the burden on 

 his back. 



Most horses can be subdued by kindness, but 

 there are some that seem regular born devils ; no 

 one can do anything with them except such men as 

 Earey, or his predecessor Dan Sullivan. These men 

 had some subtle way of subduing the most violent 

 brutes, which produced the most startling results, 

 the most inveterate savages becoming mild as lambs 

 after one or two interviews with the irresistible 

 horse-tamer. 



' Dan Sullivan, who flourished early in the present 

 centuiy, was the first great horse-tamer of whom 



