104 THE ART OF TAMING HORSES. 



the curb was attached a long single rehi, which was 

 placed in the boy's hand, or attached to his wrist. 

 When the horse was in motion, either walking, trotting, 

 or cantering, the lad would throw himself off, holding 

 only the long rein attached to the curb, the sudden pull 

 upon which, when the lad was on the ground, would 

 cause the horse's head to be turned round, and stop him 

 in his career. The boy would then gradually shorten 

 the rein, until the horse was brought up to him, then 

 patting and caressing him, he would again mount. 

 After a very few lessons of this kind, the horse would 

 always stop the instant the boy fell, and remain sta- 

 tionary beside him. The lads, as well as the horses, 

 were rewarded by my father for tlieir proper perform- 

 ance of this rather singular manoeuvre, but I never 

 saw or knew any accident occur. The horses thus 

 trained proved excellent hunters, and would never run 

 away from their riders when thrown, always standing by 

 them until re-mounted. From the lads constantly rub- 

 bing and pulling their legs about, we had no kickers. 

 When a boy of only fifteen, I was allowed to ride a fine 

 mare which has been thus broken in, in comj^any with 

 the hounds. Being nearly sixteen hands high, I had 

 some difhculty in clambering up and down ; but when 

 dislodged from my seat, she would stand quietly by 

 until re-mounted, and appeared as anxious for me to get 

 up again as I was myself. 



" It may be said that all this was time and trouble 

 thrown away, and that the present j^lan of riding a 

 young four-year-old, straight across country at once, will 

 answer the same purpose. j\Iy reply is, that a good 

 education, either upon man, horse, or dog, will never be 

 thrown away ; and, notwithstanding the number of 

 horses now brought into the hunting-field, there are 



