120 BREAKLVG IX. 



added also. But should it have been removed, it must noAv bo offered (o 

 the attention of the horse, who as soon as he has smelt at and touched it 

 with his nose, Avill immediately permit it to be quietly put upon his bach. 

 The saddle must be placed a full hand's breadth from the shoulder blade, 

 and the girths fastened without tightness or causing disturbance. The 

 trainer then attempts to mount by putting the ball of the left foot in the 

 stirrup, pressing the knee well against the saddle to prevent the point of 

 the toe from ii-ritating the side of the colt ; taking hold of the off-side of 

 the pommel with the right hand, or the cantle of the saddle as most con- 

 venient, a lock of the mane in the left liand, and springing very gently 

 and effectually into the seat. 



If the horse will not remain completely at rest during the above opera- 

 tion, strap up the near fore-leg, and proceed to mount him as he stands 

 upon three legs, or begin the whole process of throwing doAvn, handling, 

 and taming throughout afresh. Every colt should be thrown and tamed 

 two, three, four or five times in succession, and vdthout intermission, 

 according to the natui^e of its disposition, before the trainer commences 

 upon any system of movements subsequent to the act of mounting, because 

 by such processes the horse will become thoroughly familiarised, and 

 obedient to the sound of the human voice, and tractable to every part of 

 teaching that may follow. Moreover, by repeating the operations con- 

 secutively, the mind of the animal will become impressed with the sense 

 of that which will be requu-ed from him, and by anticipation and a con- 

 viction of the uselessness of resistance, readily yield to the directions of 

 the trainer. Thus every fall will be attended by fewer and lesser struggles, 

 and eventually, or in the course of two or three days' close schooling, the 

 most refractory colt will kneel and lie down at the word of command. 



But the operation of tlu'owing down, though exceedingly simple in 

 itself, requires a certain amount of dexterity, fearlessness, and physical 

 energy only possessed by a very limited number of individuals. The ex- 

 ertion necessary to tire the animal will, in warm weather, and in a very 

 confined atmosphere, also exhaust the energies of a strong man. Therefore, 

 in order to render the process more simple and attainable by the most 

 timid practitioner, a self-acting or spring buckle has been invented, which 

 has the power of retaining the off fore-leg in its bent up position mthout 

 further assistance or interference on the part of the employer. The 

 buckle is attached to the end of the strap, which in this case is an inch 

 and a quarter wide, seven feet six inches long, and perforated with holes 

 throiighout. Another spring buckle of smaller size is fixed on the inside 

 of the strap, at three inches' distance from the larger one. The strap is 

 fastened round the pastern of the off fore-log by draAving the strap round 

 it and through the smaller buckle. The point of the strap is then taken 

 within the surcingle, and drawn through the larger buckle, and the instant 

 the foot is raised from the ground, it is rapidly drawn up to the surcingle, 

 and fixed in position by the power of the spring. The surplus end of the 

 strap is then hitched within the surcingle, and the operator looks quietly 

 on during the struggles of the horse, or leisurely g-uides his head to the 

 near or off-side, as the fancy may direct. Thus, the whole of the physical 

 power requisite to carry thi-ough the operation to a successful issue, will bo 

 just so much as will enable the practitioner to pull up the off' fore-leg, and 

 to raise the head and neck from the horizontal position when on the ground. 

 If a large metal D be placed upon the surcingle, and the end of the strap 

 be passed within the roller of it, then a stable boy may be enabled to raise 

 the fore-leg with facUity, since with one hand an adult can raise to the 

 surcingle Avithout great effort a 56 lb. weight, and the power of the spring 

 buckle will retain it at any given height. The strap is releas(d by draw- 



