don't " BREAK AXD CATCH." 235 



him a-going at with a lightly held rein. It is very 

 essential to have him do this to train him to obey the 

 voice, and jog easily without being held. After a 

 horse begins to go fast, of course a little firmer grip is 

 necessary to hold him safe and steady ; but at all times 

 let it be your aim to put as little extra weight on the 

 rein as possible. Here will come in play what we call 

 "good hands," about which there is an indefinable 

 something that cannot be imparted. A light, yet firm, 

 an elastic, yet steady, hold on the rein is what is 

 wanted ; but I can no more tell you how to do it than 

 the painter can tell how to hold the brush for a master- 

 stroke. It is a natural gift that does not seem capable 

 of being acquired. 



Don't waste, or worse than waste, time in teaching 

 the colt to " break and catch." That is an idea that 

 some men think the most important in training, but it 

 is a pernicious one. You are teaching him to trot, not 

 to " go as you please," and the great point is not to 

 teach him to " break and catch'' but to teach him not 

 to break at all. If he does break, do not jerk him vio- 

 lentl}^, " snatch " him, or see-saw on one side and then 

 the other. We have all seen horses that leave their 

 feet, throw up their heads and let go of the bit alto- 

 gether. This is the result of jerking his head. He 

 throws up his head to get away from the bit ; he fears 

 it, and hence cannot get into his balance and stride 

 again. My plan is to give him a square pull back, 

 and swing him very slightly to one side, giving him 

 a chance to catch in the cross stride. 



A few^ colts, even at this early age, are so dull and 

 sluggish that a whip is often necessary to infuse ambi- 



