144 THE HORSE. 



jockey was always attached to the roller, but this is generally now 

 dispensed with, though with the elastic reins introduced by Mr. 

 Blackwell I think it may be made very useful. Lastly, to the 

 crupper long hanging straps are attached, so as to accustom the 

 young animal to the pressure of the coat or habit. Provided with 

 this apparatus, and with a long leading rein of webbing, the breaker 

 is prepared to subdue the wildest colt. 



The first thing to be done is to get a halter or headstall 

 on, which is only to be efiFected either in a stable or similar enclosed 

 place, or among a herd of other horses, when the colt is so closely 

 packed in that he cannot move. Every one must have seen the 

 Welsh and Irish drovers rush into the middle of a herd, and seiz- 

 ing an unbroken colt round the neck, hold him till a halter is 

 slipped over his head. The same plan greatly facilitates the hal- 

 tering of any colt; but a couple of steady horses are quite enough 

 to keep a colt steady in any building or small yard. The breaker 

 arranges so as to have one on each side, and then going up between 

 them, he has the colt held for him while he very slowly and quietly 

 insinuates his hand, with the head of the halter in it, over the 

 neck, just behind the ears. With a little dexterity, this is soon 

 done, and then the nose-band being slipped into its place, a good 

 hold can be secured. Every horseman must, however, agree with 

 Mr. Rarey, that the rope halter with a running noose is most im- 

 proper, and that a leathern headstall should always be chosen. It 

 is quite true, that a single turn of the cord of the halter into a 

 half-hitch prevents all mischief, and this is done by good breakers; 

 but the headstall or cavesson should be put on as soon as possible, 

 and the former may be worn constantly till the breaking is com- 

 plete. With the leading-rein attached to the nose-band, the breaker 

 can now restrain the colt from getting away ; and, by kind words 

 and gentle treatment, the young animal soon becomes accustomed 

 to his presence, and will allow him to approach and handle him all 

 over. When this is borne easily, he may be led out about the 

 fields, and green lanes if there are any; but while he continues to 

 resent the approach of moving objects by violent bounds, nothing 

 should be put in his mouth out-of-doors. If he is very wild and 

 Angovernable, he may be made to trot gently round and round in 

 a circle on some soft ground, the breaker at first following him up, 

 but soon being enabled to "longe" him while standing in the cen- 

 tre. After a day or two, the breaking-bit already described may 

 be slipped into his mouth, and attached in the way shown in the 

 engraving at page 142. It should, however, only be allowed to 

 hang there without reins at first, and it may either be kept on 

 while the colt is being led about, or for an hour or two daily while 

 in the stable. In this way the jaw and lips become accustomed to 

 the pressure of the bit, and lose the painful sensation which it at 



