THE HORSE. 33 



lunged around a circle, held bv the breaker, who 

 stands, whip in hand, in the centre. Backing follows 

 in a few days. When colts are first taken to the 

 stable, it is by no means safe to leave them tied up 

 by night, so many accidents have happened from their 

 getting halter-cast. The late Sir Charles Bunbury 

 lost in this way one of the finest three years olds he 

 ever bred ; as I recollect, full brother to Smolensko, and 

 for which he had refused nearly two thousand guineas. 

 The colt showing great stubbornness and aversion, 

 whether to be tackled or mounted, or kicking and 

 plunging and refusing to go forward, the only remedy 

 is patience judiciously mixed with severity; the latter 

 by no means to be overdone, from the probable appre- 

 hension of either too much cowing his spirit, or ren- 

 dering him incurably desperate and restiff. Nothing 

 could be more injudicious as well as dangerous, than 

 the ancient practice of " taming colts," as it was 

 called, by riding them full speed over deeply ploughed 

 lands. Their young and ductile sinews may thence 

 receive irreparable injury, their spirit be too much 

 depressed or rendered desperate. Should fatigue be 

 required to subdue them, the pace should be moderate 

 over level ground, and the exercise daily continued to 

 a sufficient, but not an immoderate extent. The nag 

 being subdued and docile, the two next objects are to 

 instruct him in his paces and to accustom him to the 

 road. The commencement is, in course, with the 

 walk and slow trot, and giving the nag a good mouth, 

 neither obdurate, nor too tender, but such as will 

 endure a pull when necessary ; in fine, making him a 

 good " snaffle bridle horse." The excessive tender- 



c2 



