Illustrated Horse Breaking

Appendix 274

ILLUSTRATIONS.

FIG. PAGE

1.--HORSE BENDING HIS NECK TO THE REIN WITHOUT SWINGING ROUND HIS HIND-QUARTERS AT THE SAME TIME, IN ANSWER TO THE PULL 58

2.--SHEWS HORSE HAVING ANSWERED THE PULL OF OFF REIN AS HE SHOULD, AND CONSEQUENTLY COMING STRAIGHT AT HIS FENCE 61

3.--THE PROPER LENGTH FOR A STANDING MARTINGALE 70

4.--FIRST LOOP IN FORMING A HALTER 79

5.--SECOND STEP IN FORMING A ROPE HALTER 79

6.--ROPE-HALTER ON POLE, READY FOR USE 82

7.--HALTING VICIOUS HORSE WITH ROPE-HALTER ON POLE 83

8.--PRATT’S METHOD OF HALTERING 87

9.--NOOSING A FORE-LEG 90

10.--PULLING UP A FORE-LEG WHEN NOOSED 91

11.--PICKING UP A FORE-LEG 95

12.--HOW TO HOLD UP A FORE-LEG 97

13.--RAREY’S LEG-STRAP 100

14.--TYING UP FORE-LEG WITH STIRRUP LEATHER 101

15.--THE BEST METHOD OF FASTENING UP A FORE-LEG 103

16.--A STIRRUP LEATHER AS USED FOR HOLDING UP A FORE-LEG 106

17.--THE HALTER-TWITCH 109

18.--DO. DO. 110

19.--PRATT’S ROPE-TWITCH, FIRST PORTION 114

20.--PRATT’S TWITCH COMPLETED 115

21.--PRATT’S TWITCH ON HORSE’S HEAD, AND TIGHTENED AT WORD “STEADY” 116

22.--HEAD-STALL TWITCH ON HORSE 117

23.--THE BRIDLE-TWITCH, FRONT AND NEAR-SIDE VIEW 119

24.--THE BRIDLE-TWITCH, OFF-SIDE VIEW 120

25.--THE STRAIGHT-JACKET 122

26.--HORSE WITH STRAIGHT-JACKET ON 123

27.--PICKING UP A HIND-LEG 127

28.--FIRST STEP IN PICKING UP A HIND-LEG WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A HELPER 130

29.--SECOND STEP IN PICKING UP A HIND-LEG WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A HELPER 133

30.--SHEWING HOW TO FASTEN A ROPE TO THE END OF HORSE’S TAIL WITH A “DOUBLE SHEET BEND” 136

31.--HIND HOOF HELD UP BY TWO ASSISTANTS WITH ROPE FROM TAIL 137

32.--LEG PULLED BACK WITH ONE ROPE, A METHOD TO BE AVOIDED, AS THROWING THE HORSE OFF HIS BALANCE 139

33.--MODE OF FASTENING A ROPE TO A SHORT TAIL 140

34.--SHORT-TAILED HORSE WITH ROPES ATTACHED TO TAIL 141

35.--IMPROVISED HOBBLE MADE WITH A STIRRUP IRON 144

36.--WOODEN GAG 145

37.--CRUPPER LEADING REIN 149

38.--THROWING A HORSE BY MEANS OF PULLING HIS HEAD ROUND WITH A ROPE 155

39.--HORSE WITH HIS HEAD PULLED ROUND WHEN THROWN 159

40.--BEST METHOD OF KEEPING A HORSE ON THE GROUND THAT HAS FALLEN IN HARNESS 163

41.--HORSE WITH DRIVING GEAR ON 168

42.--HORSE WITH DRIVING PAD ON, NEW MODEL 169

43.--BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF POSITION OF DRIVER 175

44.--DRIVING ON FOOT 184

45.--DO. DO. 185

46.--HORSE PREPARED TO BE MOUNTED FOR THE FIRST TIME 200

47.--SECONG STAGE IN BREAKING A HORSE FOR RIDING 201

48.--PULLING KICKER’S HEAD ROUND IN STALL 253

49.--TAIL TIED WITH TAPES TO PREVENT HORSE RUBBING IT 257

50.--COMMANCHE BRIDLE, OFF SIDE 262

51.--COMMANCHE BRIDLE, NEAR SIDE 263

52.--THE KNOT ON OFF SIDE OF COMMANCHE BRIDLE ENLARGED 264

PREFACE.

I offer this work to the favourable consideration of the public, as an attempt to describe a reasoned-out system of horse-breaking, which I have found, by practical experience, to be easy of execution, rapid in its effects, and requiring the possession of no exceptional strength, activity, pluck, or horsemanship by the operator, who, to become expert in it, will, as a rule, need only practice. It is in accordance with our English and Irish ideas on the subject; for it aims at teaching the horse “manners,” and giving him a snaffle-bridle mouth; so that he will “go up to the bridle,” and “bend” himself in thorough obedience to rein and leg.

As a personal explanation, I may mention that after having spent many years racing and training in India, during which time I practised the ordinary methods of breaking, I returned to England, where I learned the use of the standing martingale and long driving reins, as applied specially to jumpers, from Mr. John Hubert Moore, who was the cleverest “maker” of steeplechasers Ireland ever knew. He, I may remark, obtained these methods, in his youth, from an old Irish breaker, named Fallon, who was born more than a century ago. I had also valuable instruction in “horse taming” from Professor Sample. Having read an account of MM. Raabe and Lunel’s “hippo-lasso,” as a means of control for veterinary operations, I conceived, with happy results, the idea of utilising this ingenious contrivance in breaking. I also learned, about the same time, how to halter a loose horse without running any danger of being kicked, or bitten.

Having thus acquired a fair amount of information, on what has always been to me a favourite subject, I naturally wished to put it into practice.

As I knew, judging from my former ignorance, how much men in India stood in need of instruction in horse-breaking, I determined to return to that country with the object of teaching this art; so as to acquire the experience I needed, and to “pay my expenses” at the same time. I am glad to say that I was successful in both respects. During a two years’ tour, I held classes at all the principal stations of the Empire--from Tricinopoly to Peshawur, and from Quetta to Mandalay--and, having met a very large number of vicious animals and fine horsemen, I obtained experience, and greatly added to my stock of knowledge, which I shall now try to utilise for the benefit of my readers. As I proceeded through India, I felt the necessity of rejecting some methods I had formerly prized, altering others, and adopting new ones; so that the course of instruction which I was able to give to my more recent classes, was far more extensive, and of better proved utility, than what I had to offer at the beginning of my travels. The great want which I had, at first, felt was a method by which a person could secure and handle, with perfect safety, any horse, no matter how vicious he might be. However, after many kicks, a few bites, and several lucky escapes, I was able to perfect the required method, which is so simple, that the only wonder is that I did not think of it before. I may explain that the Australian horses met with in India, where they form a considerable proportion of the animals used for riding and driving, are far more dangerous and difficult to handle and control, than British stock. Had I remained in England all my life, I should not have acquired a quarter of the experience of vicious horses I was afforded, during the time I lately spent in India. It goes almost without saying, that the harder the pupil is to teach, the greater chance has the instructor of becoming expert in his business. I need hardly say, that I shall, always, be very grateful to any of my readers who may favour me with special information on this, or kindred subjects.

I may mention, that, after returning from India, I held classes in England, Gibraltar, Malta, Egypt, Ceylon, Singapore, and China.

I have much pleasure in giving, in the body of this work, the sources from which I have taken various hints.

The chief claim I, here, make to originality, is, that in bringing together the results of experience in different countries, I have endeavoured to reduce the art of breaking horses to a more or less complete system, many of the principles of which, I venture to think, I have been the first to expound, and that I have made several improvements in existing methods. The new things which I have introduced need no special mention here.

My best thanks are due to Mr. J. H. Oswald Brown, for the faithful and painstaking manner in which he has illustrated the letter-press of this book. The drawings speak for themselves.

Although I am aware that the proceeding on my part may be deemed unusual; still, in order to strengthen my words, I have ventured to submit to my readers, in an appendix, the recorded opinions of various members of my classes on the practical working of the theories and methods described in this book.

I shall, at all times, be ready to give practical instruction to persons wishing to learn this art of making the horse a safe, and pleasant conveyance.

JUNIOR ARMY AND NAVY CLUB,

ST. JAMES’S STREET, LONDON. S.W.

January 1, 1889.

ILLUSTRATED HORSE-BREAKING.

CHAPTER I.. Theory of Horse-Breaking.

THEORY OF HORSE-BREAKING.

Object of horse-breaking--Causes of faults which can be remedied by breaking--Vice in the horse--Distinction between nervousness and deliberate vice--Mental qualities of the horse--Association of ideas in breaking--Value and scope of breaking--On the possibility of overcoming any form of vice--Necessity for obtaining control over the horse--On the nature of the coercion to be applied to unruly horses--Punishment--Fatigue as a means of subjugation--Effect of the voice--Personal influence in breaking--Advisability of possessing various methods of breaking--A good mouth, the chief requirement--Permanency in the effects of breaking--Expedition in breaking--The ordinary method of breaking--Breaking by kindness alone--The rough and ready style of breaking--Summary of the principles of the art of rendering horses docile.

The object of horse-breaking is to teach the animal to obey the orders of his master in the best possible manner. Hence, this art includes instruction in the advantageous application of his powers, as well as methods for rendering him docile.

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Causes of faults which can be remedied by breaking are:--1. Nervousness; or the unnecessary fear of the presence or handling of man, or of the effect of any of the horse’s other surroundings, which, however startling they might be to him in a wild state, he can find by experience will not hurt him.

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