BREAKINa, GENTLING, AND TRAINING. 505 



tripa in the buggy or other light vehicle, but should never 

 be driven more than three or four miles at a time. If there 

 be any considerable hill, the wheel should be locked going 

 down it, and when ascending it the driver should walk 

 alongside, so that the colt may have nothing but the vehicle 

 to pull. 



This is the time to train him for the saddle also. A small 

 boy — say one of ten or twelve years old — may get on his back, 

 and, after sitting there a short time, should get off again. 

 The first time he is mounted there should be no attempt to 

 ride him around ; he is to be gradually taught this lesson, as 

 every other. He should be exercised in this way as often as 

 convenient; the oftener the better. But in no case should 

 any one be allowed to jum'p on his back. The boy that 

 mounts him should either be assisted to do so, or should stand 

 upon some elevation, and then get on as easily and lightly as 

 possible. Great injury has resulted from a violation of these 

 rules. The bones of the back have not yet the strength and 

 solidity belonging to the full-grown horse, and, if persons 

 are in the habit of jumping suddenly upon him, there is great 

 danger that he may be disfigured for life, from that unsightly 

 appearance called sway-back. (See Chapter III.) The colt 

 should be ridden often, not merely for the purpose of gent- 

 ling him, but to accustom him to the road and the different 

 objects to be met with along the way. 



BREAKING. 



If the judicious course recommended in the preceding sec- 

 tions of this chapter has been systematically carried out, the 

 farmer will find the great bugbear of " breaking," as it new 

 is to so many, well-nigh disposed of already, so that all which 

 now remains is to put the young animal at work, when the 

 proper time comes, and gradually habituate him to regular, 

 continuous labor. It is much to be regretted, however, that 

 all farmers who own colts do not appreciate the importance 

 of attending to the work of gentling and training during 

 the susceptible years of the colt age. Such is the case, un- 



