100 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS CHAP, 
inserted in the colt’s mouth; the-bit should not be 
attached tightly by the side reins to the surcingle, 
and it is better if the rein is a running rein from 
one ring of the bit to the other, just tight enough to 
bring the horse’s nose in a little. An hour is long 
enough for the first mouthing; the length of time 
the bit is in, and the tightness of the side reins, may 
be gradually increased later. | 
The next part of his education will be to put on 
the reins and drive the colt, either in a ring or on 
the straight (the former plan has its advantages), 
and thus he will be taught to go, to stop, to 
turn, and to back; and when this is learnt he may 
be “backed,” and then, if required for harness, 
“yoked.” The horse wheel and the harrow. are 
good elementary schools for harness horses. Patience, 
perseverance, and gentleness will nearly always over- 
come all difficulties in horse-breaking, and leave the 
horse “kind,” good-mannered, and with a good 
mouth. The best mouth is soon spoilt by a bad 
rider. Never let a man who uses the reins “ to hold 
on by” or who keeps up a tight long pull on the 
horse’s mouth, get a second time on to your young 
colt. 
Let us look now as to the probable cost to the 
owner of rearing and breaking a horse on the lines 
I have attempted to sketch. If an agricultural 
horse, he should not have cost his owner on the 
average more than 4s. a week at most till he is 
three years old. In his third year he should have 
contributed something substantial towards his keep 
in work on the farm, but to be safe we will put that 
against shoeing and other incidental expenses. He 
