Breaking Yearlings. 123 



handling of foals. There must be a well-thought-out plan 

 of campaign, each phase of which should be so much pre- 

 paratory work for the next. The work will then proceed 

 quietly and with the minimum of friction between man and 

 beast, and there will be little risk of the stud gaining an 

 unenviable reputation for the number of halter-breaking, 

 bridle-shy yearlings it turns out. 



THE RESTRAINING CAVES SON. 



The first day's operations with the yearlings should be 

 confined to getting them used to being led in cavessons. 

 Previous to this they will have been accustomed to be led in 

 halters only, in which the nose-bands are pliant and loose 

 fitting, and the leading reins attached to them at the back 

 of the lower jaw. The nose-band of the cavesson, being of 

 leather-covered hinged steel, is practically rigid when 

 buckled up sufficiently tight to keep it in its proper position. 

 Moreover, the leading-rein is attached to a ring in the front 

 of the nose-band of the cavesson, instead of underneath the 

 jaw, as with the halter. A mischievous, lusty yearling that, 

 during the halter stage of his career, has had things a good 

 deal his own way, is apt to be puzzled and alarmed the first 

 time the rigid steel nose-band of the cavesson checks his 

 exuberant sprits. It is only common-sense, therefore, to 

 accustom the yearling to the novelty of the cavesson before 

 proceeding to lunge him in it. It is hardly necessary to 

 point out the desirability of having men of weight and 

 strength and previous experience of yearling breaking at 

 this stage. 



Usually one lesson will be sufficient to convince a 

 yearling that the cavesson is master of the situation, and the 

 following day he may be initiated into the mysteries of 

 lungeing. Three men will be necessary for the preliminary 



