The Principles of Horse-Breaking. 557 



created a sensation by taming vicious horses, but his higher merit was in showing that horse- 

 breaking was not a mere rule-of-thumb business, but rested, lil^e every other art, on certain 

 fixed principles, whicli could not be neglected with impunity. 



The ordinary idea of horsebreaking, before so many distinguished horsemen became 

 Rarey's pupils, was to tire out a high-tempered colt that resisted the breaker's first approaches 

 by longeing, by withholding food and water, and by the free use of whip, spur, and painful 

 bits. This was not the system of a born horseman like Dick Christian (p. 426), but in too 

 many instances a colt was punished by ignorant drunken breakers for being frightened at 

 what he had never seen before, or for not obeying instructions that he did not in the least 

 understand. 



Rarey maintained — ist. That any young horse can be taught to do anything that a horse 

 can do if taught in a proper manner. 2nd, That no horse is conscious of his strength until he has 

 resisted and conquered a man; therefore that the colt should always be handled in such a manner 

 that he shall not find out his strength. 3rd, That as seeing, siiuiling, feeling, and hearing are 

 the senses by which the horse examines every strange object, we may, by allowing him to 

 exercise these senses, reconcile him to any object or sound that does not hurt him. 



To punish a horse with whip, spur, or by a vicious jag at the bridle because he is 

 frightened at the first feel of a saddle or harness, the sight of a flag, a riding-skirt, or a 

 marching regiment, or the sound of wheels, drums, or firearms, is an ordinary form of ignorant 

 stupidity. 



The key-note of the common sense of horsebreaking is to be found in the opening sentence 

 of Rarey's first lecture — " As a horse judges everything by seeing, smelling, and feeling, it should 

 be the business of those who undertake to train colts that they shall see, smell, and feel everything 

 that they are to wear or bear before it is laid upon them." 



The first stage of breaking teaches the colt to submit to a bridle being put on, to being led 

 about at the will of a man, and to meeting without fright the ordinary sights and sounds of country 

 roads and city streets. The second stage accustoms him to bear a saddle and allow himself to be 

 mounted. The third to understand the indications of the bit and reins. The fourth to acquire the 

 paces and manners of the trade — hack, lady's horse, hunter, or harness horse — for which he is 

 intended. 



THE FIRST LESSONS FOR A WILD UNBROKEN COLT. 



" If the colt has been running wild until taken in hand by the breaker, the first step," says 

 Rarey, " is to get him into a barn or open stable. Enter alone, with a long whip in your right 

 hand held pointing behind you. When you enter the stable, stand still, and let the horse 

 look at you a minute. As soon as he is settled in one place, approach him slowly, with the 

 right hand hanging by your side, and the whip trailing on the ground, the left bent, and the 

 elbow projecting. Move towards him behind his shoulder, stepping right or left, to head or 

 croup very quietly, feo as to keep him in one place. When you are within reach of his head, 

 pause a few seconds — he will probably turn his neck and smell your hand. As soon as he 

 touches it caress him, and gently stroke his nose and neck, with some soothing words or 

 sounds. 



" If he lays back his ears as you approach, and turns his heels to kick you, give him two 

 or three sharp cuts on the inside of his legs close to his body, deliberately, not for the pleasure 

 of hurting him, but to frighten the stubbornness out of him. Do it quickly, sharply, with a 

 good deal of fire, but always tvithoiit anger. Never go into a pitched battle with a horse ; 



