202 THE HORSE 



trouble when the first shoes have to be put on. A small 

 surcingle may be buckled on occasionally, to accustom the 

 young animal to the pressure of girths, and a rubber tied 

 on, and left awhile, so that when training is commenced 

 in real earnest there will be nothing to cause alarm or to 

 which it has not already been accustomed. The head-collar 

 affords a means of teaching the foal to back, and this should 

 frequently be practised, besides leading it behind the mare 

 when going to and from the pasture, for which purpose the 

 help of an additional man is required for a few minutes 

 daily. But very few lessons should be required before the 

 foal will lead as quietly as a well-broken horse. It should 

 also be taught to stand quietly when tied to the manger, 

 and this is preferably carried out when it is engaged in 

 eating a few crushed oats. The lesson need not be pro- 

 longed beyond a few minutes, for it is soon learned and 

 recognised by the foal as being part of life in the stable. 

 Before the first six weeks have passed all the above 

 should have become fixed in the foal's mind as ordinary 

 habits. 



When the young animal is taken in hand for breaking, 

 it is usual to lunge it in a circle for some little time, either 

 in a cavesson, or with a rope fastened to a circular bit ; 

 and this latter method is the one most usually employed 

 with thoroughbred yearlings, since it gives more control 

 than the simple cavesson. The latter is said to be the 

 invention of Prince Pignatelli of Naples in the sixteenth 

 century, and, as still used in Spain, is capable of being 

 made a most severe instrument. In that country the 

 iron band which passes over the front of the face is used 

 in all its nakedness, and ofttimes has the lower part shaped 

 into teeth, like those of an ordinary rat-trap. It frequently 

 has reins attached, to fit it for use as a bridle in riding and 

 driving, besides its ordinary employment as a lunge with a 

 single rope. In more humane countries the encircling steel- 

 band is well padded and covered with wash-leather, and 

 used solely for the lunge or for leading horses. It is of 

 great value for the former purpose, enabling the teacher 

 to prove to his pupil that it is really mastered, however 



