202 BREEDING, CASTRATION, &c. 



must be taug;ht him, and that not by severity, but by firmness and steadiness. The 

 voice will go a great way, but the whip or tiie spur is sometimes indispensable — not 

 so severely applied as to excite the animal to resistance, but to convince him that we 

 have the power to enforce submission. Few — it may almost be said, no horses, are 

 naturally vicious. It is cruel usage which has first provoked resistance. That resist- 

 ance has been followed by greater severity, and the stubbornness cf the animal has 

 increased. Open warfare has ensued, in which the man has seldom gained advantage, 

 and the horse has been frequently rendered unserviceable. Correction may, cr must be 

 used, to enforce implicit obedience after the education has proceeded to a certain 

 extent, but the early lessons should be inculcated witli kindness alone. Young- colts 

 are sometimes very perverse. Many days will occasionally pass before they will 

 permit the bridle to be put on, or the saddle to he 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 humour tjian usual, the bridle may be put on, 

 and the saddle may be worn; and, this compliance being followed by kindness and 

 soothing on the part of the breaker, and no inconvenience or pain beiisg 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 

 ';hase. The handling, and some ])ortion 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 j'ears, the regular process of breaking-in should com- 

 mence. If it is delayed until the animal is four years old, his strength and obstinacy 

 will be more difiicult to overcome. 'Jlie plan usually pursued by the breaker cannot 

 perhaps be nmch improved, excejjt 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 attention 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 rouna 

 a ring on soft ground, and at length mounted and taught his paces. Next to preserv- 

 ing 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 

 must constitute 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 rein 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 bj' an actual blow, to keep him mov- 

 ing. 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 snflTering him to break into a trot. Tlie boy w ith 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 restrain- 

 ing him. These lessons should be short. The pace should be kept perfect, and dis- 

 tinct in each; and docility and improvement rewarded wdth 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 becovnes tractable in these 

 his first lessons, towards the conclusion of which, crupper-straps, or something simi- 

 lar, 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 jiass over in a day or two ; for when the animal finds that no harm comes 

 to iiim, he will cease to regard them. 



Next comes the bitting. The bit should be large and smooth, and the reins buckled 

 to a ring on either side of the pad. There are many curious and ex|)rnsive machines 

 for this purpose, but the simple rein will be quite sufficient. It should at first be 

 slack, and then very gradually tightened. This will pre]iarc for the more perfect 

 manner in which the head will be afterwards got into its proper position, when the 

 colt is accustomed to the saddle. Occasionally the breaker should stand in front of 

 the colt, and take hold of each side rein near to the mouth, and ])rees upon it, and 

 tiius begin to teach him to stop and to back on the pressure of the rein, rewarding 

 every act of docility, and not being too eager to punish occasional carelessness or 

 waywardness. 



