156 HOW TO BREAK A HORSE. 



gradually lessened. It is a verj^- good plan to set tlie wagon 

 on ground which is slightly descending, so that it will 

 nearly run from its own weight ; but the hill should not be 

 steep enough to cause the wagon to run on to him. 



In this way any colt, not absolutely vicious — and very 

 few, if any, are so until they have been badly treated — 

 may be brought, by imperceptible degi'ees, to be a good 

 harness horse, without in any wa}^ ruffling his temper, or 

 giving him any disagreeable recollections which shall inter- 

 fere with his future usefulness. This is properly training a 

 horse, and it differs widely from the old method of breaking^ 

 which was usually a struggle between the man and horse, 

 to see whose will or neck should first be broken ; and which 

 was sure, in nine cases out of ten, to produce a bad and 

 lasting effect on the horse's disposition. The time to be 

 occupied in the exercise of training will be long or short, 

 in proportion to the skill of the trainer and the nature of 

 the animal, but it can never be so long that it will not be 

 a hundred times repaid in the docility and usefulness of 

 the horse. 



Every part of the harness and wagon should be so 

 strong and well made that there can be no possi-bility of 

 breaking. When it is possible to do so, it is always best 

 to put the young colt in double harness, by the side of a 

 strong, steady, well-trained horse, until he is perfectly 

 quiet, and. will bear the whip and the rein wel]. Greater 

 docility, better subjection to the hand, and generally 

 better style and action will be attainable, if the colt 

 be thoroughly trained to the saddle before being put 

 in harness; usually, however, in this country, it is very 

 difficult to iind a proper person to train a colt in this way. 

 •Tlie same course of bitting should be resorted to as will 

 be described for the preliminary training of the saddle 

 horse. 



