BREAKING the Herd
—is the ceremony of singling out a deer (either stag or hind) from the herd for the chase, which is thus performed with His Majesty's establishment in Windsor Forest. A survey being made of the herd, and the particular deer fixed on for separation, the huntsmen, assisted by one of the yeomen prickers, ride at a hunting rate, gallop directly into the herd, continuing so to do (as the herd divide) at the particular part to which the deer intended to be singled out continues to adhere. This ceremony is sometimes a very tedious business to the men, as well as to the horses, as it is no uncommon thing, when they have detached, or reduced a divided part of the herd to a leash or two brace, (amongst which is the particular deer wanted,) for that number to make a circle of ten, fifteen, or even twenty miles, before the riders, with all their energy, can disunite them more than to a single brace, and not at all to a single deer. When this is effected, the hounds, who are in waiting at some distance, under the six remaining YEOMEN PRICKERS, are capped forward, and laid upon the scent; when the brace finding themselves pursued, soon divide, under the impression of individual safety; and the selected deer being thus completely singled out, the chase goes on, and continues till the deer is taken; unless, after a pursuit of proper length, for the sport of the day, he should regain the herd, where he is then permitted to remain, and the hounds are drawn off: but if it is either an old hind, or a calf destined to death, for the purpose of blooding the hounds, a repetition of the original ceremony of separation takes place, when which is effected, the chase is immediately renewed till the object of blood is attained.
BREAKING the Deer
—is the act of cutting open the deer after the chase, that the purchased perquisites of blood and garbage may go to the hounds. It is also the term for cutting up and dressing the fallow deer called BUCKS and DOES.
BREAST-PLATE
,—an article in horse furniture of great utility with light carcased horses, who very frequently, in both hunting and racing, run through their girths. It is made of either spring web or soft leather, as most agreeable to taste or fancy, and is fastened by buckles to small loops screwed to the tree of the saddle, just under the upper saddle-flap behind the withers of the horse; from whence the two parts divide transversely, and one passes down each shoulder to the point of the breast, where they are united to a strong strap, having holes, a buckle and loop, through which loop one of the girths is passed when the saddle is put on, and being thus fixed, it is considered almost an impossibility that any alteration can take place in its situation, but by the manual assistance of master or groom.
BREEDING
—is the production of COLTS in a stud principally or solely kept for that purpose. The methods of bringing up colts vary according to the purpose for which they are intended, whether for the turf, field, draft, or road. The breeders of opulent magnitude in the northern counties, most celebrated for the breed of horses in Britain, are too well skilled in the practical part to require the least aid from theoretic instruction. They are well convinced, by the unerring principle of well-founded experience, that sound sires, well shaped dams, good summer care, and winter keep, are the means (and the only means) to insure well-grown, strong and valuable stock for any of the before mentioned purposes to which they are afterwards to become appropriate.
BRIDLE
,—the well-known article by which we are enabled to ride, guide and regulate the speed and action of the most noble, spirited, powerful and valuable animal in the creation. They are of different kinds, as most applicable to the mouth and temper of the horse; consisting of snaffles, Pelhams, Hard-and-sharps, Weymouths, &c. There are also others of different constructions; but as they appertain principally to the MILITARY MANEGE and the RIDING-HOUSE, a minute description would afford neither use or entertainment to the sporting world, for whom this Work is more immediately intended.