ON THE EDUCATION OP THE HORSE. 
559 
Here we must again recommend the precepts of Virgil to our 
readers, that the process of u breaking-in” should begin 
almost immediately after weaning. The foal should be daily 
handled, “ then more and more to rejoice in the soothing ap¬ 
plauses of his master, and to love the sound of patting his neck.” 
He should early be accustomed to the halter, and occasionally 
dressed. This practice of handling the young colts, from the 
time they are suckling, is calculated to bring them gentle, 
familiar, and good tempered; a great desideratum to those 
breeders who may have to send their “ two-year-olds” to the 
neighbouring fairs for the purpose of sale. At two years old, 
there should be sufficient tackle put on him as to lead him 
out occasionally to be lounged. After the third winter, the 
animal should be placed in the hands of the breaker. The 
colt breaker should not only possess the qualification of being 
a bold rider, but judgment , temperance , and perseverance , are 
indispensable for one who attempts to break in the young 
horse. A coward and a madman make alike bad riders, and 
line firmly, until the liorse falls from actual strangulation by the halter, 
which is tightened round his throat by his own violent efforts to escape ; 
while, at the same time, he receives repeated stunning blows on the head 
with a bludgeon, which is used unsparingly during the first stage of horse- 
breaking. While the animal is insensible they tie his legs, put a headstall 
on him, with a moveable strap, by which his eyes can be covered when ne¬ 
cessary, and immediately saddle him ; taking particular care that the girths, 
which are made of twisted hide, are drawn sufficiently tight. They first use 
a hair rope by way of halter, as the horse cannot, for some time, endure a 
bitin the mouth, without rearing or falling on the rider. The legs are then 
untied, and the noose that is round the throat being slackened, the animal 
in a short time recovers from the temporary strangulation, and rises, but 
remains quiet,—trembling, however, violently, until his eyes are un¬ 
covered. W hen the rider has mounted, and has well secured himself in 
his seat, he raises the moveable strap, and the contest commences between 
the strength and activity of a terrified wild animal struggling for freedom, 
and the inimitable horsemanship of the Llaneros. The horse appears at 
first so confused and astonished as to be incapable of motion, but is soon 
roused by the shouts and blows of the rider’s companions. When once he 
has recovered from his momentary stupor, the exertions that he makes to 
get rid of his burthen arc wonderful, and most trying to the rider. The 
horse appears to stiffen himself purposely, so as to avoid all pliability in 
his joints, and makes the rider, by that means, feel the full violenccofevcry 
severe jolt; which is produced by springing forward in a succession of 
bounds, striking the ground with all four feet at the same time. As long 
as the horse continues to plunge in this way, the rider makes frequent use 
of his cudgel. This violent usage soon breaks the animal’s spirits ; and in 
a day or two he begins to move in a slow unwilling trot, which is con¬ 
sidered as a certain symptom of his commencing to be tamed.”— Campaigns 
in Venezuela and New Grenada. 
