ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 361 



them up too tight at first. The stirrups may be allowed 

 to hang down, and when the girths are drawn up suffi- 

 ciently tight, the surcingle may be put on. 



For a (e\y days, the colts go on at their usual exer- 

 cise of lounging and walking about the downs for three 

 or four hours a day, or for such further time as may be 

 thought necessary to steady those that may be rather 

 more flighty and unruly than the rest. But the time 

 of their being at exercise should in some measure be 

 regulated by the state of their condition ; for it is to be 

 observed, that the flesh comes off young ones rather 

 rapidly. It is therefore necessary, under these circum- 

 stances to attend particularly to their constitutions. 



About this time of his breaking, the colt should be 

 accustomed to be led by the colt-breaker, he himself 

 riding on his hack. This is very necessary before a colt 

 is backed, as it accustoms him to see the man above 

 him. Having been used to be thus led, he should be 

 handled and fondled by the people about,' in every 

 possible way, previous to his being backed; and the 

 day on which he is to be mounted, he may be kept 

 a little longer working in the lounge, or may be led 

 about an hour or two longer than usual. A small 

 paddock, in which he may at times have been ac- 

 customed to be exercised, will be as convenient a 

 place as any other for this sort of thing; or he may be 

 taken to the ground on which he has usually been 

 lounged. It should be a calm, still day; there should 

 be nothing to alarm him until he has become quite fa- 

 miliar with his rider. 



