one always has with horses to a lesser or greater extent. To believe many of them, the breaker is on a bed of roses, and if he will use only their methods, he will be certain to make the horse obey. What is the reason of this silence on their part ? Are they afraid to frighten their readers, or do they wish to make them believe that there are no struggles ? I cannot say ; but in any case it seems to me preferable to speak the whole truth, and to forewarn my readers of the accidents that may happen during breaking, so that they may not be surprised if the animal does not immediately submit to every demand.

I have seen a great number of good breakers at work, and they all had battles to fight ; Baucher more than any of the others, because he required more.

The true talent of the breaker consists in making himself master of the horse, especially in the event of a fight, by suppling him, and by the employment of a rational method of breaking ; because we must not forget that the horse always struggles against his rider, more or less openly, until his education is complete.

But we do not arrive at this result without more or less violent struggles. Those who have not had experience of these battles, upon the result of which depends the submission of the horse, begin by provoking the animal to resistance, but they do not dare to continue the attack. In this case the horse quickly understands that he is master. He will renew, as often as he likes, the form of defence which has served his purpose, and thanks to which he is certain to have the last word. This is the way to spoil the breaking.

My practice is altogether different. The moment the horse shows fight I shake him up vigorously, but rationally.^[1] We should not tickle the horse with the spur, which would