24 BREAKING AND TRAINING 



In discussing the subjection of horses it will be 

 well to repeat that the whip and spurs ought only to 

 be regarded as of a secondary importance. The more 

 resolute and courageous the horse to be broken is 

 the more likely is he to be brought to reason without 

 the use of these appliances. A sulky, hard-mouthed 

 slug, on the other hand, will often answer to nothing 

 quite so well as to the free use of the whip or, if you 

 are riding him, to the spurs. 



We have now discussed the aim of horse breaking 

 under two heads, the first of these being the docility 

 of the animal in the stable or when at liberty, and 

 the second that he shall have what we may call a 

 " sense of responsibility " when in harness. It will 

 be well to go on and mention some further objects 

 of the horse breaker. One of these, which we may 

 name the third division is the rectification of a " spoiled" 

 horse, i.e., one having indifferent, or bad manners, 

 either alone, or in combination, with some vicious 

 habit. Under a fourth class, we may deal with the 

 education of a horse for some specific purpose, such 

 as hunting, polo, etc. 



Here, it may be stated, that the earlier the education 

 of the animal is begun the more salutary will the 



