COURSE OF BREAKING. 253 



for making the animal quiet to ride and obedient to the 

 aids, under ordinary conditions, need not usually be pro- 

 longed, no matter how wild and '* green " he may be, 

 beyond the following course : — 



One day, in which two lessons may be given, to make 

 the horse sufficiently quiet to be handled, and to be circled 

 with the long reins. 



Six days' work (twelve lessons) on foot with the long 

 reins and whip (for teaching the turn on the forehand, 

 etc.), and teaching the horse to carry a rider quietly. 



Fourteen days (twenty-eight lessons), for riding the horse 

 at home and outside under various conditions. One-third 

 of the morning lesson (say, half-an-hour) might be devoted 

 to teaching the horse the rein-back, circling, figure of 8, 

 changing the leading leg at the canter, etc., on the breaking 

 ground, before taking him out. 



At the end of the three weeks which I have allowed for 

 breaking-in the ordinary horse (hunter, hack, racer, or 

 chaser) to saddle, he ought to be thoroughly steady and 

 have a good snaffle mouth. 



My readers will observe that I have added to the usual 

 course of English and Irish breaking, reining-back, circling, 

 figure of 8, and changing the leg at the canter or gallop. 

 I would further advise, for all saddle horses, instruction in 

 the passage (see page 295). By refraining from including 

 it in this chapter, I desire to show that I am not altogether 

 unwilling to make concessions to prejudice. 



I reserve the question of jumping for the next chapter. 



