ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 367 



of snaffle may be used, and several should every day 

 be walked out together, in line, on the downs, at a dis- 

 tance of two or three lengths from each other. They 

 should be exercised in this way, and gradually brought 

 accustomed to everything they may have to be put to, 

 or that ma}^ be required of them either in training or 

 in running. 



When got ready in the morning, with their saddles 

 and bridles on, and turned round in the stalls, they 

 should be accustomed to be mounted there, and rode 

 out of the stables into the yard, and there walked about 

 until their saddles are settled to their backs, or rather 

 until they have done setting up their backs, as some 

 of them will most likely do after being girthed up 

 tight, which by this time they ought to bear without 

 much resistance. The next thing to which they should 

 be trained, is the noise and bustle of a crowd, and the 

 place, of all others, to bring colts to face a crowd in 

 running, is certainly near the rails of a course at a 

 racing meeting. These opportunities, except at New- 

 market, are not to be met with often enough at country 

 courses, so as to give colts the confidence which it is 

 necessary they should have in running home by the 

 rails. Therefore colt breakers, who may be breaking 

 racing colts in different parts of the country, should 

 frequent the neighbouring markets with such as may 

 not be intended to be sent to Newmarket. 



The colt breaker, in first going to those places, 

 should ride a hack in front of the colts ; but they are 

 not immediately to be taken into the body of the 



