TRAINING. 
353 
street, and will pass any object that may be presented 
without shying, the breaker should then walk by his side, 
throw his right arm over his back, while he holds the reins 
in his left. The breaker must invariably walk by the left 
side of the animal, so that he may be thoroughly accus¬ 
tomed to permit him to approach on that side, which is 
the one universally adopted for mounting. The pace should 
now be occasionally quickened, and at the same time the 
colt should be gently tapped on the right side with the 
whip, which ought always be held in the right hand. This 
being repeated at each time the pace is quickened, will 
familiarise the animal to it, and will associate in his mind 
the increased action required by such a signal. Horses 
in general have excellent memories, and seldom forget what 
they are taught. If, however, the colt does not attend to 
the gentle tap, a sharper one may be applied, and the 
feeling of pain exerted, as a monitor to increased action. 
These lessons must be repeated until the animal is reduced 
to perfect obedience. 
The next thing to be attended to is to apply the saddle, 
which should be put on his back with great caution. The 
breaker should place himself at the head of the colt, and 
by caresses and patting divert his attention. Let one 
assistant on the off side put the saddle gently on his back, 
while another on the near side gets hold of the girths, and 
slowly tightens them. They ought to be but loosely drawn 
at first, only to such an extent as to prevent the saddle 
from turning round. If a crupper is used, it ought to be suf¬ 
ficiently long to prevent it from galling the tail. He should 
then be led about with the saddle on his back for at least a 
couple of days, the trainer occasionally leaning his arm as 
heavily as possible. The girths during this time must be 
gradually tightened, until that firmness is acquired which is 
