BREAKING. 11 J 



(dered utterly unfit for service. Correction may, indeed, be 

 necessary for the purpose of enforcing implicit obedience, after 

 the training has proceeded to a certain extent; but the early 

 lessons should be imparted with kindness alone. Young colts 

 are sometimes very perverse ; and many days will occasionally 

 pass, before they will suffer the bridle to be put on, or the saddle 

 to be worn. It must not, however, be forgotten, that a single act 

 of harshness will indefinitely increase this length of time ; but 

 that patience and kindness will always prevail. On some occa- 

 sion, when the colt is in a better humor than usual, the bridle 

 may be put on, or the saddle be worn ; and, if this compliance, 

 on his part is accompanied by kindness and soothing on the 

 part of the breaker, and no inconvenience or pain be suffered 

 by the animal, all resistance will be ended. 



The same principles will apply to thebreaking-in of the horse 

 for the road. The handling and souie portion of instruction 

 should commence from the time of weaning ; for upon this the 

 future tractibility of the horse in a great measure depends. At 

 two years and a half, or three years, the regular process of 

 breaking-in should commence. If it is put off until the animal 

 is four years old, his strength and obstinacy will be more diffi- 

 cult to overcome. The plan usually adopted 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 those 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 ap- 

 paratus to confine and pinch the nose,) aflBxed to it with long 

 reins. He is first accustomed to the rein, then led around a 

 ring on soft ground, and at length mounted and taught his 

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