|Do not longe too long on one rein.| If he should very much resent having the outer rein on his hocks, begin by driving him with this rein over his back. He should not be kept circling too long on one rein, but be often changed from one side to the other. If, however, one side of his mouth is harder than the other, he should be made to turn to that side for a longer period, until he turns equally well both ways.
When the horse has learnt to answer the rein at once, and turn equally well to both sides, he should be taught to rein back.
When this has been successfully accomplished, bring him out with his harness on and long traces like lead tandem traces.
|Have two men pulling against traces.| Tell off two men to hang on to these while he is being driven about. By this means the amount of pressure can be regulated, and as only a small amount need be applied to begin with, the horse will become gradually accustomed to pulling with his shoulders. It is impossible to begin too gradually; although some horses can be taken out of the stable and put into a break or a coach at |Jibbing taught by undue hurry.| once and will go fairly well, others will be rendered jibbers for ever by this too hurried process.
|Horse-breaking in India.| In India a young horse is generally given his first lessons harnessed to a block of wood. The block of wood is triangular in shape, and in front of it is fixed a long splinter bar. The horse’s traces are hitched to this, and the breaker, standing on the block of wood, drives his pupil about until he is quiet enough to be put in a cart. A short pole, with a cross bar at the top like a parrot’s perch, is fixed to the front of the block, to enable the driver to steady himself and prevent his being jolted off.
This is not at all a bad way of breaking a horse, as he cannot do much harm by kicking or plunging, and the block being very light does not teach him to jib.
|Steady horse alongside youngster.| The horse having been taught to pull is now quite fit to be driven in a break or cart. If possible, place him at first in a double break, with a steady old horse alongside of him, which will do all the starting by steady pulling and not by jumping into the collar. Many old break horses are quite up to watching the young one, and start accordingly.
Never forget to have a bearing-rein on, also kneecaps and bandages.
|Accustom to both sides of pole.| Drive the youngster on both sides of the pole for a time, when he should be quite fit to put into a single-harness break or cart.
Always have a rope halter on a young horse under the bridle the first few times that he is put to. If he is likely to be very violent, two halters may be put on, and you can then have a man leading him on each side.