42 BREAKING. 



snaffle attached to the head collar by buckles or spring 

 clasps, and allow him to run loose about the box for 

 two or three hours during the first three days, after 

 which his mouth, having become accustomed to the 

 pressure, reins may be attached, and at such a length 

 as will cause him to bend his neck and give his mouth, 

 so as to avoid pressure from the bit. Keep them thus 

 for an hour a day during the next three days, shorten- 

 ing the reins a little each succeeding day. 



A week will now have elapsed, after which attach 

 the reins as before, and make him trot gently in a 

 circle, attaching the reins just so as to keep his head 

 in the right place ; but carefully avoid distressing him. 

 No animal at this age should be kept at work for more 

 than one hour a-day. And severe work this is when 

 they have their backs ' set ' in a way to which they are 

 wholly unaccustomed. 



Continue this practice for another week, after which, 

 at the termination "of the sixth longe, let a light lad 

 mount him and ride him back to the stable. 



It will thus be seen that by this simple method, 

 twelve colts can easily be broken by one man and a 

 lad, at the same time, and that two weeks have elapsed 

 previous to his being mounted. On the next day let 

 the lad be in readiness to mount, after the colt has 

 been longed gently for half-an-hour ; then let him 

 mount and ride out the remaining half-hour of the 

 longe, walking and trotting alternately. All longeing 

 should now cease, and the - colt may be safely ridden 

 out for an hour by any lad who can be depended on ; 



