170 HORSE PORTRAITURE. 



quired the graces of the manege. You see no lack of 

 beauty of motion and carriage in the same animal when 

 playing in the field ; and only give him time enough to 

 learn the lessons that cannot be hurried by a few days' 

 suffering in the bitting bridle, and he will surpass those 

 with tempers spoiled by that persecution. The first les- 

 sons our colts received were given before they were any 

 more afraid of mankind than they were of their dams. 

 King is the only instance I ever knew of a colt when first 

 foaled, being terrified at the approach of a man, who took 

 the proper method of making his advances. These colts 

 have been groomed, fondled, accustomed to have their 

 feet taken up, and hence are like old horses in these 

 particulars. During the summer, when the halters were 

 put on, they were allonged by attaching a strap to a ring in 

 the front part of the nose-band, which I think much better 

 than performing the same operation with a bridle or cord 

 put round the lower jaw, as that is apt to make the 

 mouth unequal by a greater pressure coming on one side. 

 When we commence driving them in the manner recom- 

 mended, a check or bearing rein is applied, so loose- 

 ly, however, that it will not be felt unless the head is 

 thrown down lower than the level of the withers. This is 

 made shorter by degrees, accustoming them gradually to 

 the constraint, but it should never be allowed to interfere 

 with an easy carriage of the head. 



I have found in some headstrong colts a propensity to 

 try to rid themselves of the check by throwing their heads 

 violently down, in some cases succeeding in breaking the 

 check rein or crupper strap. A judicious touch of the 

 whip will generally reform this conduct, and an additional 

 prevention will be found by using what is generally termed 

 the " Kemble Jackson check." I prefer using separate bits 

 for the driving reins and check, if even applied in the cus- 

 tomary manner. The check bit is drawn too much into 



