BREAKING IN 



held vertically will alone be sufficient without the 

 pull on the longe. 



At the beginning of this work, the reins should 

 not be at all tight. It is, however, impossible to lay 

 down any rules as to their precise tension. An 

 experienced trainer judges, by the animal's temper, 

 conformation, energy, length of neck, and sensi- 

 bility of mouth, what the effect of the bits will be. 

 In fact, an experienced trainer could fill ten volumes 

 with accounts of the diversities among horses and 

 the various difficulties that he has encountered and 

 overcome. Something less than this, however, con- 

 fined to principles and method, will better please 

 the publisher and hearten the reader. 



Three months is sufficient, by this method, for 

 breaking a horse to the lateral equitation. But if 

 the horse is mounted from the beginning, it will 

 take at least a year, often longer. 



When the young animal has made sufficient 

 progress with longe and breaking-strap, the sur- 

 cingle is removed, and the horse, standing still, is 

 mounted and dismounted by the assistant, the 

 trainer meanwhile holding the longe near the head. 

 After this, the assistant being mounted, the trainer 

 sends the horse around the circle as before, walking, 

 stopping, trotting, cantering, while the assistant, 

 under the direction of the trainer, applies the proper 

 effects of legs and bridle. All this should be done 

 both to the right and to the left, as explained in the 

 discussion of figures of manege. 



63 



