148 THE UORSE. 



be first attempted when the colt is somewhat tired after a long and 

 steady longe. The breaker should, during the last week's daily 

 exercise, put on a saddle instead of a roller and surcingle, keeping 

 it in its place by loose girths and a crupper. Every day he should 

 bear occasionally upon the stirrups, smacking them against the 

 saddle, and thus accustoming the colt to noises, and also to pres- 

 sure on his back. When all is ready, he has only to put his foot 

 in the stirrup, standing with his back to the shoulder, and then, 

 after partially rising two or three times, and coming down again, 

 he finally plants himself firmly in the saddle. Most careful break- 

 ers have a roll of cloth buckled firmly in front of their saddles ; 

 and with this precaution, even if the colt bucks or kicks, it is 

 almost impossible for him to dislodge them. When thus mounted, 

 the breaker should be in no hurry, but let the colt get accustomed 

 to the intruder. Let him wait till the pupil has somewhat reco- 

 vered from the shock, and then only let him urge him forward at 

 as slow a pace as he likes. If all has been conducted well through- 

 out the preliminary stages, and the colt is good-tempered, he will 

 walk away quietly enough, and generally no trouble will be given 

 for a day or two; when, probably, there will be some slight fight, 

 which may be either in causing the pupil to go where he does not 

 want to go, or in making him face some object which frightens 

 him. At first, neither whip nor spur should be used, for the ob- 

 ject of neither is understood ; and if the colt will not readily 

 move forward, he should be led or driven by an assistant, and not 

 whipped or spurred by his rider. In process of time, however, he 

 is made gradually to understand these signs by the tact of the 

 breaker; and then if he ofi"ends, he must be punished accordingly, 

 but it must always be remembered that the fault must be met im- 

 mediately, or not at all. 



The amusing and experienced author of " The Horse and 

 his Rider" has drawn attention to the misconception of the differ- 

 ences in character between a wild horse and a tame one, which is 

 entertained in this country. He says : " It is generally conceived 

 that in the difficulty of sticking on to the back of a horse there 

 exist three degrees of comparison, namely : 



" 1. That it is rather difficult to ride a horse that has been 

 broken in. 



" 2. That it is exceedingly difficult to ride a tame one that has 

 not been broken in. 



"3. That it must be almost impossible to mount and ride a wild 

 horse just caught, that has never been broken in. 



" We will, however, humbly venture to assert that, in certain 

 instances, the three steps of this little ladder might be reversed. 



" 1. In a state of nature the horse is such a zealous advocate of 

 our popular principle of 'self-government,' he is so desirous to 



