82 ORDINARY RIDING. 



one always has with horses to a lesser or greater extent. To 

 believe many of them, the breaker is on a bed of roses, and if 

 he will use only their methods, he will be certain to make the 

 horse obey. What is the reason of this silence on their part? 

 Are they afraid to frighten their readers, or do they wish to 

 make them believe that there are no struggles? I cannot 

 say ; but in any case it seems to me preferable to speak the 

 whole truth, and to forewarn my readers of the accidents 

 that may happen during breaking, so that they may not be 

 surprised if the animal does not immediately submit to every 

 demand. 



I have seen a great number of good breakers at work, and 

 they all had battles to fight ; Baucher more than any of the 

 others, because he required more. 



The true talent of the breaker consists in making himself 

 master of the horse, especially in the event of a fight, by 

 suppling him, and by the employment of a rational method of 

 breaking ; because we must not forget that the horse always 

 struggles against his rider, more or less openly, until his 

 education is complete. 



But we do not arrive at this result without more or less 

 violent struggles. Those who have not had experience of 

 these battles, upon the result of which depends the submission 

 of the horse, begin by provoking the animal to resistance, but 

 they do not dare to continue the attack. In this case the 

 horse quickly understands that he is master. He will renew, 

 as often as he likes, the form of defence which has served 

 his purpose, and thanks to which he is certain to have the 

 last word. This is the way to spoil the breaking, 



My practice is altogether different. The moment the horse 



shows fight I shake him up vigorously, but rationally.* We 



should not tickle the horse with the spur, which would 



* To stop a horse " plajdng up," lean back and lower the hands. Raising 

 the hands, which will also raise the centre of gravity, will be certain to 

 cause a fall. 



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