166 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



bad or dangerous in generous feeding will be 

 avoided. 



"BREAKING" THE FOAL. 

 Wherever it is practicable the colt should be 

 broken to halter while yet a suckling, and the 

 earlier in life this process is commenced the 

 more easily will it be accomplished. He may 

 soon be led by the side of the dam without dif- 

 ficulty, and when once accustomed to being 

 guided by the halter it will be an easy matter 

 to lead him anywhere. He may also be tied 

 by the side of the dam as the preliminary step 

 in teaching him to stand quietly when hitched 

 alone. The. first step in "gentling" a colt 

 is to overcome his natural timidity by gradual 

 approaches, and when he finds that he has no 

 reason to fear, the work is half done. All the 

 subsequent lessons given him, through all the 

 various steps of breaking and training, should 

 be based upon this plan of gradual approaches 

 a species of sapping and mining that will 

 subdue the most vicious and tame the wildest 

 colt if .perse veringly followed. He should be 

 accustomed to the bridle by means of the "bit- 

 ting rig" before any attempt is made to ride 

 him; and the mounting should always be first 

 attempted in the stall or the lot where the colt 

 is perfectly familiar with all the surroundings. 

 When it is desired to break him to harness the 

 same principle of gentleness and care to avoid 



