24 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



a fortnight when a two-year-old. A relative of 

 mine, who always had " handy " horses, resorted 

 to this plan, and found it answer admirably. The 

 colt was carefully lunged for a fortnight, and then 

 driven for another week or ten days in long reins, 

 a most useful part of breaking which is far too 

 much neglected. For there is nothing better than 

 the long reins, when used by a workman, to make 

 a horse have a good mouth ; and without a good 

 mouth there is no such thing as good manners. 



The colt should be continually handled whilst 

 he is turned away, for if he is allowed to become 

 shy again the time that has been spent on him is 

 so much time wasted. I think that it is advisable 

 to commence the serious business of breaking when 

 a colt is three years old, and it is essential that he 

 should be in good condition when the breaking in 

 begins. Otherwise he will fall weak in a short 

 time, and will have either his spirit or his temper 

 broken, both of which are very undesirable. The 

 breaking in of the three-year-old is a crucial period 

 in the history of the horse, and once more I would 

 advocate perseverance with the use of the long 

 reins. Generally there is too great a hurry to get 

 on to a horse's back, for it is no easy work driving 

 a young and well-bred horse about in the long 

 reins. But to ensure a good mouth it is necessary, 

 and a young active man is required for the job. 

 And above all things it is necessary that the man 

 should never hang on the horse's mouth, and that 

 he should secure perfect control over him before 

 he is mounted. 



Though it may be too much to say that all 

 cases of bad manners and vice can be traced back 

 to the careless handling of a young horse during 



