ON BREAKING RACING COLTS. 373 



should be knotted at a well-proportioned length, so as 



to give the boy a good hold of his colt's head. 



Although these precautions may be necessary with 



some few of them, yet these few are not to be pulled 



at rashly, for this would not only make them pull more 



determinedly, but would induce them to go high and 



clamber in their work, which is a loss of time. When 



they are off, let them quietly measure their own stride, 



and as close to the ground as they like. To hold 



those that pull more resolutely than others, the boys 



should be directed, in pulling at them, to give and 



take, and thereby keep their mouths alive. In this 



manner they should be ordered to hold them in their 



exercise. It becomes necessary thus to direct such 



boys as may not be in the habit of riding young 



ones, and as they may be walking either way at the 



bottom of the Warren Heath near the gorse, each colt 



being at a proper distance from the one before him, the 



colt breaker may give the lads direction to urge them 



on after his hack, by pressing their legs and heels against 



the sides of those that may require this excitement ; 



and he himself should, as he is getting towards the 



bottom of the gallop, rate his hack a little faster, so as 



to endeavour to get them all to come off in a canter as 



nearly as he can together. Never mind whether they 



take the right or the left leg first ; but previous to their 



commencing the gallop, the colt breaker should speak 



to the boys, and caution each to endeavour all he can 



to catch with the motion of his body the stride of his 



