FORTITEB IN KE. 195 



propensities, if he has any, he is put into a break 

 by the side of a practised break-horse, who knows 

 nearly as well what to do by the side of either a timid 

 or violent companion as the man who drives them 

 could tell him. I could in fact bring forward in- 

 stances of good temper, patience, sagacity, and, when 

 called for, determination on the part of some of these 

 horses, that would not be credited by those unac- 

 quainted with this part of the dealer's business. 

 Instances have been known of the break-horse being 

 provoked to that pitch by a plunging and a kicking 

 horse by his side, that he has caught him by the 

 neck between his teeth, and shook and held him till he 

 became perfectly quiet. 



The young horse is gradually and carefully brought 

 on till he is perfectly steady with a steady helpmate : 

 he is then matched and driven with another who has 

 gone through the same schooling. The pair are 

 then driven together till both are become quiet and 

 handy. The dealer now considers them and certainly 

 is justified in putting them into the hands of any 

 customer as a pair of horses fit to be put to his 

 carriage. Still it might and does sometimes happen 

 that one or both of them may become unruly or set to 

 kicking the first day they are used. This almost in- 

 variably arises, when it does occur, from injudicious 

 or at least from inconsiderate treatment. I am quite 

 satisfied that where one young horse does mischief 

 from vice, ten do it from alarm ; and there is no telling 

 what a frightened horse will attempt or do ; he is a 

 thousand times more difficult to control than the 

 most vicious one. A coachman may have driven his 

 carriage for years in perfect safety in all situations, and 

 may be an excellent coachman ; but if he suffers him- 



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