316 THE HORSE. 



passing objects ; and they will not, therefore, fight much when 

 tied up in the stable. The head-stall should tit very closely, 

 and the tliroat-lash^be sufliciently tight to prevent the colt from 

 pulling it off" in his efforts to get free ; for if the young animal 

 finds he can effect his object once, he is a long time before lie 

 ceases to try it again. The colt is often very fidgety ; if so, he 

 must be at once compelled to stand still, by the use of wooden 

 balls attached to the fetlocks by leather straps, which soon ac- 

 custom him to a steady position, from the blows which they in- 

 flict upon him M'hen he struggles or moves rapidly from side to 

 side. A breast-girth may also be put on as a fore-runner of the 

 breast-cloth ; and it will also serve to prevent the roller, which 

 is constantly worn, from getting back under the flank, and there- 

 hj irritating the wearer. All the ordinary stable practices may 

 now gradually be taught, such as washing out the feet, dressing, 

 hand-rubbing the legs, &c. ; and the colt should be made to 

 turn from side to side of his stall at the wish of his attendant 

 groom, who may easily conduct the whole process witliout the 

 aid of any regular breaker, unless the temper of the colt is such 

 as to demand extraordinary skill and address ; and even here 

 the groom accustomed to thorouglibred colts is often a better 

 hand tlian the colt-breaker, Avho is engaged in breaking all sorts 

 of animals, and will not bestow sufficient time upon the valua- 

 ble racing colts and fillies. Now, without full time, it is impossi- 

 ble to bring these young things into subjection, and the conse- 

 quence is that their tempers are ruined, and they are rendered 

 unfit for the purpose for which they are otherwise well qualifled. 

 Their feeding is so liigh that they are full of spirit, and Mill flglit 

 to the death if they are made to resist by ill-treatment or hasty 

 breaking; it is therefore more by coaxing and gradual leading 

 on step by step, from one point gained to another which is to be 

 overcome, that this animal is vanquished, and made at last to 

 yield his powers to the guidance of a young lad of perhaps 

 twelve years of age, or even less. 



BREAKING. 



Lunging may now be commenced, which will require the 

 aid of a second hand, in order to compel the colt to progress in 

 the circle by threatening him with the whip behind him. The 



