BREAKING FOR SADDLE 71 



the snaffle bridle, a standing martingale, and long 

 reins, and, if necessary, a halter- twitch. 



Now fix on a saddle, to which a " dummy " rider 

 has already been firmly attached. You can obtain 

 nothing more suitable for the latter purpose than a 

 bag containing about eighty pounds of corn, which 

 ought to be tied firmly at the end, and across its 

 middle in such a way that an equal weight will fall on 

 either side of the saddle. 



Mounted with a dummy of this description the 

 pupil should be put through his evolutions, going 

 at the walk, circling, reining back, as described in the 

 chapter on "Breaking to Harness." Many horses show 

 no objection to this part of the business, but when it 

 comes to mounting proper, they frequently display 

 the most decided resistance — -a resistance overcome 

 in some cases easily enough, in others causing the 

 greatest possible trouble. 



Although it is a plan not altogether free from 

 objection, I should advise the breaker, under these 

 circumstances, to make use of the ordinary nose- 

 twitch. This should be held by an assistant during 

 mounting and dismounting, and these performances 

 ought to be frequently repeated until the animal sub- 



