218 HANDLING AND BREAKING. 



skilled in the science of the Preceptor are 

 aware, the more gradually knowledge is 

 acquired the more constantly it abides, and 

 the better it is. The modern practice of 

 home-breaking was no doubt introduced, 

 or rather we may say suggested, by the 

 famous American breaker, Rarey, Avho, if I 

 remember rightly, visited this country some- 

 where in the late fifties, and revolutionised 

 our system of breaking. His tying-up and 

 laying-down tactics (useful as they may have 

 been in the reclamation of savage or in- 

 tractable horses) I have never had occasion 

 to resort to, but his " mutual confidence " 

 theory was perfectly sound, and is Avhat every 

 breaker should seek to establish between 

 himself and his equine pupil. 



A most excellent and kind-hearted Quaker 

 lady, who used to scold me a great deal 

 (vicariously, I suppose, for I was always 

 immensely fond of animals, and generally 

 supposed to be good to them) for the cruelties 



