BREAKINGJN YOUNG HORSES. 87 



CHAPTEK XVIII. 



BREAKING IN YOUNG HORSES. 



The Preliminary Training — The process of bieak- 

 ing-in young draught horses to the collar is not a difficult mat- 

 ter, the chief requirements on the part of the breaker being 

 patience and gentleness. When the time arrives to put a 

 vounof drau^rht horse to work, it must first of all be accus- 

 tomed to wearing a bridle and carrying the harness. This is 

 done by putting these things on the animal while it is standing 

 in the stall, and leaving them on for a couple of hours for 

 three or four days. The trace chains sliould be flapped against 

 the horse's Hanks and thighs for a few times, until it learns not 

 to take any notice of this when it is done. The bit used for 

 a young farm Ijorse must be pretty thick; if the mouth-piece 

 be very thin, it will hurt the colt's or filly's mouth. 



Breaking: to the Collar — Havino- become accustomed 

 t) the bit and harness, the young horse may then be made to 

 help to draw the plough. It should be worked along with a 

 steady old horse. When three horses are used as a team and 

 are harnessed in single file, the young horse should occupy the 

 middle position. A man or boy must walk at the young 

 animal's head until it learns to go straight and to obey the 

 reins properly. Gentle and considerate treatment of the colt 

 or filly while they are being broken in is of the utmost impor- 

 tance, and all rough treatment and punishment must be care- 

 fully avoided. During the first week, an hour's work is ample 

 for young horses ; in the second week, they may be worked for 

 two hours, and after that the hours of wcik may be gradually 

 Still further extended. But in no case must vouiil'" horses be 



