Appropriate punishment and reward are the two great principles of successful breaking.

If my horse refuses to advance, it is evident that, from the position I am in, it will be difficult for him to run back, but not impossible, and it is necessary to look out for any movement which a green horse may make.

To make him go forward, I extend my right arm, while always holding the snaffle reins with the right hand at the chin-groove, over which the curb-chain passes ; and I push, instead of drawing forward, whilst holding the end of the snaffle reins with my left hand behind my back. I lightly touch the horse with the tip of the cutting whip a little behind the girths.

If the horse is quiet and not too nervous and excitable, he will go forward without rushing. He will often, however, answer to the cuts of the whip by plunging, rearing, shying violently to one side, or running back, which are the four " defences " which a horse can offer in this case. Let us now examine the best means of thwarting them.

If the horse plunges, we have only to raise his head, so as to put the weight on his hind quarters, taking care to keep close to his shoulder, so as to avoid being struck by his fore feet. A horse cannot plunge with his head high.

Rearing is more dangerous, because the horse may hit the breaker a blow on the top of the head with one of his fore feet, to avoid the bad consequences of which accident it is well to wear a chimney pot hat, which has often saved me from a blow on the head. When the horse rears, the right hand should quickly let go the snaffle reins, only the end of which should remain in the left hand, and then, if the breaker turns to the right about, he cannot be hit, as his distance from the horse will be equal to the length of the snaffle reins and that of his left arm. Having allowed him to regain his feet, go up very quietly to him, while carefully concealing the whip.