370 ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 



wrong (although he is not to punish or abuse him 

 brutally) yet he must never give up the contest. He 

 must thoroughl}^ defeat the colt ; but this should be 

 effected with as few blows as possible, and a great 

 deal may be done by patiently persevering with him 

 and tiring him out. When the rider has carried his 

 point, he may then make much of his colt. 



The colts which are troublesome in this particular, 

 are mostly the craving ones; and when such colts aie 

 put in training, they should, until their tempers are 

 well known, always have good riding boys upon 

 them. Such craving colts as have good and patient 

 riders on them may, before their breaking is completed, 

 be rode in spurs ; but they are to be accustomed to 

 them very gradually. They should be punished as 

 little as possible with the spurs, and even then not 

 rashly. Spurs should be used in such a manner as to 

 make the colt understand that when they are applied 

 to his sides, it is for the purpose of urging him on, or 

 making him exert himself in getting forward at a 

 faster pace. Light impetuous colts scarcely ever want 

 them; yet they should all be trained to them before 

 they are brought to post to try or to run ; otherwise 

 some colts, when stabbed sharply with spurs in severe 

 running, may resent the application of them by 

 kicking. Others, from such a circumstance, may 

 shut up and go out. From either of these occurrences, 

 a trial may be undecided or a race lost ; and as I have 

 just observed, this would then be the result of the 



