BREAKING AND TRAINING. 459 



while, to complete the whole, reins may be fastened to the bit; a por- 

 tion of these last being formed of India-rubber, for not a few mouths are 

 permanently destroyed by the unyielding tug of the heavy-fisted breaker. 



All these liberties being permitted, if the instruction has been prop- 

 erly communicated, the pupil will have been rather pleasurably excited 

 than permanently alarmed by the varied progress of its tuition. Such 

 lessons, however, should be daily given, until the colt has attained its 

 second year. It should then be regularly groomed; but nothing 

 weightier than a dumb jockey being placed upon its back before the 

 third year has been completed. 



This age being attainded, a very dimirfutive lad may be put into the 

 colt's saddle ; but as boys are too apt to spoil the mouth by hanging 

 back and holding on by the reins, the India-rubber had better be con- 

 tinued, and the jockey insti'ucted not to interfere with the bridle, save 

 when his so doing is necessary to guide the animal. Then the teaching 

 of different paces may begin, the quadruped being always instructed in 

 company with a perfectly trained old horse. All feeble intellects are apt 

 at imitation, and a colt shall readily learn from example what coercion 

 will fail to impart. 



By the fourth year, the animal may be placed between the shafts of a 

 very light gig, should its form indicate the creature not to be adapted for 

 the saddle ; at first it must be walked about a meadow. When the 

 sound of the wheels is not listened for with evidence of fear, the pace 

 may be quickened. Subsequently a boy may get into the vehicle, while 

 the man remains at the colt's head. Succeeding this, the course should 

 be directed by the driver ; ultimately, after a man has for some weeks 

 assumed the office of director, the vehicle may be taken upon the road. 



Most harness horses are very imperfectly broken. The education is 

 too hurried, and seems to be considered as perfected whenever the ani- 

 mal will merely take to the^collar. The consequence is, there are more 

 bad harness horses to be met with in London than creatures of any 

 other description. Some have all spirit lashed or jaded out of them ; 

 these have become "slugs," or the poor wretches are almost dead to 

 command and insensible to the goad. Others are rendered incurable 

 kickers by the treatment to which they have been subjected. A third 

 class are ruined by the unscrupulous use of the reins ; and some of these 

 will take long journeys, all the time holding the bit between the teeth. 

 A fourth set are rendered cripples by the unfeeling employment of the 

 bearing-rein, which disables the organs of respiration, and renders the 

 lightest draught a terrible burden, by throwing the work upon the mus- 

 cles of the limbs, while it compels these agents to contract at a fearful 

 disadvantage. 



