114 THE HORSE: ITS KEEP AND MANAGEMENT. 



not been broken in. Some have very bad tempers 

 when they are first handled, and others with a little 

 coaxing can be made to do almost anything. When 

 harsh measures are used the tempers of many colts 

 are completely spoiled. On the other hand many horse 

 breakers allow them to have their own way entirely, and 

 when this is the case their tempers are never conquered. 



I have known horses which have been broken in for 

 two or three years, and to all appearance no one could 

 do anything with them, they would only go where and 

 when they liked, and stop when and where they liked. 

 As I was brought up to horse breaking in my younger 

 days I was able to judge the different dispositions of the 

 animals, and have taken horses in hand, even these last 

 few years, which the owners could do nothing with. These 

 I have tamed down so that they would go splendidly. In 

 other cases, I have seen horses that would not go, as well 

 as those which required harsh treatment. No matter how 

 bad tempered a horse is, it can usually be conquered if the 

 person who has the management of it has the pluck to 

 do it. I remember seeing a horse only lately which was 

 bought in London at a very high figure. It was a very 

 handsome animal and the gentleman's groom could do 

 nothing with it. It had not been cleaned down for weeks, 

 as both master and groom were too timid to do this. 

 The horse would kick and bite as well, so they were both 

 completely frightened of it. Another groom I knew went 

 to see this horse, and when he went up to the 

 animal the owner said he would be dashed to pieces. 



