210 THE PERFECT HOUSE. 



the air. If he breaks, make him gain hjj the break. 

 Make him understand that his business is to go ahead^ 

 hit or miss, in one style as long as possible ; but to go 

 it, style or no style. If you have a green horse, that 

 comes back in the breeching when he breaks, or even 

 when his backbone begins to twist up before the break 

 has actually begun, then give him the whip: give it to 

 him sharp and quick. Get all that nonsense out of him 

 at once : keep him sailing. Do not yank him now, and 

 grab at him with the lines, as if your life depended on 

 pulling your wagon over his back ; but let him take four 

 or five jumps until his back-bone is straightened out, 

 and he has got levelled down to it, and is gathering his 

 legs up under him like a racer ; then move the bits in 

 his mouth, and " pick him up." Don't saw and sway 

 him, and double him up until his nose is down between 

 his fore-legs, and his haunches up over his shoulders. 

 Remember that his back must be kept straight at all 

 events, or he will not catch his trot square, or be able to 

 keep it when he has caught it. With a sharp, firm 

 turn of your wrist, and a lift on the bit, pick his nose 

 upward, and slightly to one side : this will throw him 

 from his balance just enough to make him "grab for his 

 gait," and not enough to twist him into unsteadiness or to 

 slack him up. You may not succeed the first or second 

 time ; but persevere until you have educated your wrist 

 and eye to act in conjunction, and you will then have 

 mastered one of the most difficult feats of finest horse- 

 manship. Sometimes a horse has to be broken up to 



