Io8 Breaking. 



Leading Tackle. 



Leading with the cavesson on is the first thing to be 

 practised, and it should be continued for two or three 

 weeks without any further attempt at breaking, if there is 

 plenty of time, and full justice is to be done to the colt. 

 A roller is put upon the colt, and a crupper, with long 

 hip-straps, by the presence of which he becomes accus- 

 tomed to a loose sheet, or any other arrangement of 

 clothing in his subsequent work. With this tackle on, 

 and long boots on his fore-legs to guard against his strik- 

 ing them, the colt is led about the country, either by the 

 breaker on foot or mounted on a steady hack ; and for 

 a week he may generally be confined to a soft turf, which 

 will not require his being shod. Even on such ground as 

 this he will be gradually accustomed to carts, waggons, 

 droves of sheep, oxen, &c., and will daily acquire more 

 confidence in himself and in his leader. No bit should 

 be put in his mouth as yet, for its too early use, while he 

 is still shy and inclined to struggle, only makes him more 

 timid, and by far less manageable than with the cavesson 

 alone. 



Shoeing. 



Shoeing must be commenced as soon as the colt is in a 

 state to be taken on the road, because it will often happen 

 that he will be inclined to jump and plunge on the meet- 

 ing of unaccustomed objects ; and if his feet are unshod 

 he will break the crust, and do an amount of injury 

 which it will take many weeks to restore. It is better, 

 therefore, to put some short shoes on his fore-feet ; but 

 his hind feet may still perhaps be left in their natural 

 state for some time longer. I do not myself see the 

 advantage of this delay, but it is very commonly prac- 

 tised with young racing stock ; and with wild or badly- 

 handled colts it is often necessary, from the greater 

 resistance which they make to the blacksmith behind 

 than before. The shoes or tips should be nailed on very 

 carefully, and they should be very neat and light in their 

 make ; the feet also should afterwards be regularly ex- 

 amined, and the shoes removed every three weeks. It is 



