THE HORSE. 31 



the most favourable. In the year 1821, the singular 

 fact occurred in Wales, of a mare producing four colt 

 foals at a birth, all black. 



SECTION VI.— Colt Breaking. 



Reducing the colt to obedience, teaching him his 

 duties, and rendering him steady in his paces, these 

 indispensable operations are signified by the old and 

 well known term breaking. This, with racers, is oc- 

 casionally performed at a year old; but generally, 

 colts are taken in hand, at rising, that is to say, com- 

 ing three years old. Their joints have at that period 

 become somewhat knit, and their powers consolidated, 

 enabling them to bear the weight of the rider and the 

 necessary exertions. The strange barbarity of Devon- 

 shire horse-breaking, twenty years ago, is justly re- 

 probated in the " General Treatise on Cattle," the 

 author having been an eyewitness, and made his re- 

 port to the late Sir Lawrence Palk, the proprietor of 

 the victim, who promised his influence for the correc- 

 tion of such a vice, which, it appeared, was of ancient 

 standing, and then general in those parts. It seemed 

 that horses were there customarily and frequently 

 suffered to run wild until five years old, when being, 

 in course, obstinate and intractable, it was the custom 

 to beat them with clubs on their shin bones, even 

 while in the stable and quiet, by way of a memento 

 of gentleness and docility, when they should get 

 abroad. Such was the treatment the author witnessed 

 towards a fine five year old mare, the poor animal 

 enduring her suffering with a patience and stoutness 

 of heart, really admirable ; and when the witness 



