308 THE PllOCESS OF HORSE-BREAKING. 



from a donkey, I have never had occasion to put 

 it in practice, and never should do so were I to live 

 for fifty years to come, except in extreme cases, 

 and those are very rare indeed. To me the pro- 

 cess of horse-breaking must be gradual ; I must 

 teach him many things before teaching him to 

 carry me. He must be taught to walk, trot, and 

 gallop by degrees ; — to carry his head in proper 

 form; — his mouth must be attuned to the bit, 

 and his limbs directed to their proper action ; in 

 short, his whole frame must be prepared step by 

 step to endure the burden, with the least possible 

 strain, before I should think of getting on his 

 back. I would have him ready for work before 

 putting him to work. Some may say this is all 

 gammon. Is it? Why then train a man to fight 

 before putting him in the ring ? Why teach him 

 the proper use of his arms and legs before he is 

 called upon to use them ? Why teach him to 

 stand in an easy position, or to hit straight from 

 the shoulder? Why gradually inure his bodily 

 frame to undergo fatigue and punishment ? Why 

 by diet and training harden his muscles ? Put a 

 big, burly young countryman, fed on bacon and 

 beer, into the roped arena to face a scientific, well- 

 trained pugilist of half his size, and he would be 

 knocked out of it in ten minutes. 



