ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 369 



wide ill passing whatever they may have taken fright 

 at. This sort of treatment, with a good horseman up, 

 gives them confidence, and they soon come to pass 

 boldly on, without noticing anything they meet. 



In breaking saddle horses for common use, such as 

 chargers, hacks, or troop horses, it may be very proper 

 to bring them boldly to face all objects ; but in break- 

 ing racing colts, there is no such necessity, for when 

 they are broke, and are on the road travelling as race- 

 horses, they are almost invariably led, and horses when 

 led, seldom become alarmed at objects they encounter 

 on the road. 



Colts, when brought sufficiently accustomed to the 

 bustle and tumult of crowded places, so as not to be 

 alarmed at any thing in or about them, may gradually 

 omit frequenting those places. The long straps belong- 

 ing to their saddles may be left off, and they should 

 now be accustomed to wear their clothes at exercise as 

 well as in the stable ; not exactly with a view to keep 

 them warm or to bring them light, but merely to pre- 

 vent them from being alarmed in any way from their 

 use. 



It sometimes happens that a colt may have a little 

 hereditary vice, or some few tricks, which may be 

 traced to the same source, and it may be necessary 

 when one of this description becomes unruly, to cor- 

 rect him. It is advisable that such a colt should have 

 a good and patient, yet, at the same time, a determined 

 horseman upon him ; for when once he has been 

 obliged to correct a colt of this sort for any thing 



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