ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 351 



notice. On arriving at about the middle of Marlbro' 

 Downs, on the third day, whether the men had become 

 careless and off their guard, or whether the colts, from 

 seeing so open a country, had made greater efforts than 

 usual to get loose, T cannot say ; but loose they all 

 got, and wild and unbroke as they were, they traversed 

 the open plain, gambolling about for some hours, very 

 much to the annoyance of the lad, who at length 

 became seriously alarmed for the safety of this part of 

 his charge. He was at a loss for some time to know 

 what steps he should take to regain them. At last? 

 however, he made up his mind that we should strip the 

 horses, and ride after the colts. We then proceeded a 

 little further to some men who were at work mending 

 the road, and in their care we left our horses' clothes, 

 muzzles, &c. We then put on our saddles, and after 

 giving directions to the men who had been leading the 

 colts to follow us, we went after them. After some 

 hours riding, they allowed us to get close up to them, 

 and one by one, we got them again, to the no small 

 gratification of the lad into whose care they had been 

 given. Now had these colts, before they left the home 

 stables, been but partially broke, and had been led in 

 cavesons, nothing of the sort could well have happened. 

 I remember, shortly after these colts arrived at their 

 destination, the groom, by way of giving them ex- 

 ercise, and bringing them handy, used to make the 

 boys lead them every day, between stable hours, round 

 a paddock. I was at this time very small, and the colt 

 I was leading soon began his gambols, and kicked me 



