ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 355 



hang about, aiul will sometimes plunge a little, and 

 in so doing, they will now and then give themselves 

 blows on their legs, and thereby bruise and inflame 

 them. They had better wear long boots while they 

 are lounging. When the colts are in from exercise, 

 the groom or colt breaker may observe what part of 

 the boots may or may not be marked from blows, and 

 can accordingly change them for short ones. There 

 may sometimes be even goers which may not appear 

 to require boots, but it is rather a dangerous experi- 

 ment to attempt working colts without first putting on 

 either short or long boots. 



The number of colts that should be got ready to go 

 out at the same time at different periods during the 

 day, must depend upon the number of men and lads 

 the colt breaker has to assist him. There should at 

 first be two to each colt ; and each man or lad who is to 

 hav^e the principal charge in the handling of a colt, 

 should be selected from among those who have had 

 the most experience in this way. 



On their first being taken out, a steady lad should 

 walk in the rear, in case any colt should hang back, to 

 urge him quietly on by flourishing his whip or ash 

 plant, but not to strike him. Colts with their cavesons 

 and boots on, and thus attended, may be led out to the 

 downs, or into a large paddock. At either place they 

 may be taught to be led quietly about. As soon as 

 they become tractable in this way, attempts may 

 be made to lounge them, by first walking them in 

 a small circle to the right or to the left; and when 



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