114 HORSE-BREAKING. 



notice whatever if a man jumps on their backs 

 and rides them ; but it is always best to break 

 them in a httle to riding at first, as a good 

 mouth is in that way best obtained. 



When breaking-in a well-bred horse to har- 

 ness, that is to say, one whose pace will be the 

 trot and not the slow drudgery of the farm or 

 cart-horse, he must previously have been well 

 mouthed and broken to the saddle, before a set 

 of harness is placed on him. Allow him to 

 smell and look at every article of harness well 

 before you endeavour to put it on him. Be 

 very quiet, and take plenty of time. After 

 having let him inspect the collar, place it gently 

 over his head. Some men prefer a collar open 

 at the withers, which can be slipped over the 

 neck and fastened with a buckle, but these 

 stretch very much, do not sit firmly, but ' wad- 

 dle,' and thus cause sore shoulders to an animal 

 which is not accustomed to harness work, and 

 whose shoulders consequently are not hardened. 

 For the first day or two it is as well to put on 

 a collar which is too big for him, and when he 



