REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 327 



is thus easily prepared for future operations and it is thus that 

 the single foal the ploughed-land farmer breeds, and which 

 daily follows the mother in her work, as it were, breaks itself. 



Backing is the next operation, and is a matter of great 

 moment, as the future value of the animal depends upon it. It 

 should be commenced when the colt is from two and a half to 

 three years old, and if it has been previously kindly treated, 

 it will not be found a difficult task, and will require to accom- 

 plish it, nothing but patience and gentle usage. After becom- 

 ing habituated to the saddle, and somewhat obedient, he is to 

 be taken to some ploughed land, where he is to be walked or 

 trotted until slightly fatigued. If refractory, and he refuses to 

 lift his feet sufficiently high on the ploughed land, let a field 

 and a road be used alternately. To ensure obedience, this pre- 

 liminary practice should be performed in a cavesson.* 



Two persons, it will be understood, are engaged in this ope- 

 ration, one of whom takes the colt by the head and leads or 

 trots him as necessary. When, from the nature of the exer- 

 cise, he is perfectly tractable, let a person, familiar to the ani- 

 mal, lay himself gently and by degrees across his back, and if 

 the colt is not alarmed, he should be led at a foot-pace with his 

 burthen, another horse and rider going before him. One leg 

 should be gently slid over his back, the person at his head 

 attracting his attention and encouraging him. The rider raises 

 himself gradually up, and the next step is to mount him in the 

 usual way, which must by no means be done suddenly or at a 

 jerk, but very slowly by several gradual risings. 



This being accomplished and borne patiently, the rider fixes 

 himself firmly in the saddle. He should then be led after the 

 other horse, and from a walk proceed to a slow trot. If he 

 hesitates or faulters, mild measures must be used perseveringly, 

 and they have never failed. If not, before he is exhausted, 

 suspend the operation, and when resumed on the following 

 day, the rider should mount and dismount several times, al- 

 ways caressing the animal and using the most soothing language. 

 In preparing him for this process, it is the practice of some 

 eminent horsemen, to lay a small weight on the saddle, in- 

 creasing from time to time, until it is equal to the weight of a 

 man of ordinary size. 



By this process, horses may be broken without a blow, and 

 though sufficiently tamed, they preserve their native spirit un- 

 impaired. In teaching a horse to draw, he should be placed 

 alongside the most docile and gentle on the farm; and the 



* Cavewi, Fr. A nose band which is placed on the nose of a young horse 

 to facilitate the breaking of him. 



