THE HORSE, HOW TO BREAK AND TRAIN. 113 



tied, given a little water and fed, and then be left to himself, being 

 certain he can neither break the halter or injure himself. As before 

 stated, the foal once haltered, taught to stand quietly, and to lead kindly 

 it may then be given its liberty until of the proper age for training. The 

 animal three years old and over once in hand should be thoroughly 

 broken and made way wise without delay. 



IV. Training. , 



The regular training of a colt or filly should begin at the age of two 

 years past. There are many urgent reasons for this ; first, the animal has 

 neither the full strength, nor the disposition to resist, that it will have at 

 a more mature age ; second, it is more tractable, and will acquire its les- 

 sons more easily ; third, it will not have contracted habits of self-will 

 difficult to be broken off ; and fourth, lessons in flexions of the body may 

 be taught that will naturally increase its usefulness in whatever direction 

 it may be wanted. 



In the whole manner of breaking and training the trainer must not only 

 understand himself, but the young horse as well and also as of special 

 importance, the particular use for which the animal is intended. If the 

 colt is of cold blood, that is of no particular breeding, it will not pay to 

 spend much time on its education. It is simply to be taught to lead qui- 

 etly, to stand still to be harnessed and unharnessed, to be accustomed to 

 the ordinary sights and objects he will encounter, to work quietly at the 

 plow, or other farm implements, and to the w^agon on the road, and to 

 stand quietly when tied on the public streets. If to be trained as a road 

 horse, or as a saddle horse, or both, or as a hunting horse, a trotting 

 horse, or a racer, all these will require special, and sometimes, long con- 

 tinued lessons according as the animal is intelligent and tractable or 

 otherwise. It should always be remembered, however, that there is 

 nothing gained by cruelty and abuse. A contrary animal may be punished, 

 but it should always be done calmly and with judgment. 



V. Training to Work. 



The first lesson for any use is implicit and perfect obedience to the will 

 of the master. This thoroughly accomplished the rest of the task is com- 

 paratively easy, it is only a question of time. It is supposed the animal 

 is entirely free from acquired vice, that it has been halter broken, and 

 taught to stand quietly at the end of tbe halter, to follow quietly, to lead 

 by the side of the master, and to stand quietly in the stable. 



The next step is to procure a bitting bridle, a strong bridle with a heavy 

 •mooth snaffle bit with a tongue piece and keys depending from the center 



