TRAINING. 353 



street, and will pass any object that may be presented 

 without shying, the breaker should then walk by his side, 

 throw his right arm over his back, while he holds the reins 

 in his left. The breaker must invariably walk by the left 

 side of the animal, so that he may be thoroughly accus- 

 tomed to permit him to approach on that side, which is 

 the one universally adopted for mounting. The pace should 

 now be occasionally quickened, and at the same time the 

 colt should be gently tapped on the right side with the 

 whip, which ought always be held in the right hand. This 

 being repeated at each time the pace is quickened, will 

 familiarise the animal to it, and will associate in his mind 

 the increased action required by such a signal. Horses 

 in general have excellent memories, and seldom forget what 

 they are taught. If, however, the colt does not attend to 

 the gentle tap, a sharper one may be applied, and the 

 feeling of pain exerted, as a monitor to increased action. 

 These lessons must be repeated until the animal is reduced 

 to perfect obedience. 



The next thing to be attended to is to apply the saddle, 

 which should be put on his back with great caution. The 

 breaker should place himself at the head of the colt, and 

 by caresses and patting divert his attention. Let one 

 assistant on the off side put the saddle gently on his back, 

 while another on the near side gets hold of the girths, and 

 slowly tightens them. They ought to be but loosely drawn 

 at first, only to such an extent as to prevent the saddle 

 from turning round. If a crupper is used, it ought to be suf- 

 ficiently long to prevent it from galling the tail. He should 

 then be led about with the saddle on his back for at least a 

 couple of days, the trainer occasionally leaning his arm as 

 heavily as possible. The girths during this time must be 

 gradually tightened, until that firmness is acquired which is 



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