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                  BY THE SAME AUTHOR.


RIDING: ON THE FLAT AND ACROSS COUNTRY.

A Guide to Practical Horsemanship. Third Edition. Illustrated by
STURGESS. Square 8vo. 10_s._ 6_d._

_The Standard._--“A master of his subject.”


VETERINARY NOTES FOR HORSE OWNERS.

A Popular Manual of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine. Fourth Edition.
Illustrated. Crown 8vo. 10_s._ 6_d._

_The Field._--“Of the many popular veterinary books which have come
under our notice, this is certainly one of the most scientific and
reliable.”


TRAINING AND HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA.

Fourth Edition. Crown 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._

_The Veterinary Journal._--“No better guide could be placed in the hands
of either amateur horseman or veterinary surgeon.”


SOUNDNESS AND AGE OF HORSES. Over 100 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 8_s._
6_d._

_The Field._--“Is evidently the result of much careful research, and the
horseman, as well as the veterinarian, will find in it much that is
interesting and instructive.”


INDIAN RACING REMINISCENCES. Illustrated by I. KNOX FERGUSSON. Crown.
8vo. 8_s._ 6_d._

_The Field._--“The last page comes all too soon.”


THE STUDENT’S MANUAL OF TACTICS. Crown 8vo. 6_s._

_The Times._--“Captain Hayes’s book deals exclusively with tactics, and
is a well-considered treatise on that branch of the art of war, giving
not merely rules, but, also, principles and reason.”




                              ILLUSTRATED
                            HORSE BREAKING.

                            [Illustration]




                              ILLUSTRATED
                            HORSE BREAKING.

                                  BY

                        CAPT. M. HORACE HAYES,

                         LATE OF ‘THE BUFFS.’

          AUTHOR OF “RIDING: ON THE FLAT AND ACROSS COUNTRY;”
                 “VETERINARY NOTES FOR HORSE OWNERS;”
                   “RACING REMINISCENCES IN INDIA;”
            “TRAINING AND HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA,” ETC.

                      Fifty-two Illustrations by
                          J. H. OSWALD BROWN.

                                LONDON:
                 W. THACKER & CO., 87, NEWGATE STREET.
                    CALCUTTA: THACKER, SPINK & CO.
                     BOMBAY: THACKER & CO. LIMITED

                                 1889.




                                LONDON:
             PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
                  STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.




CONTENTS.


CHAPTER                                                             PAGE

I.--THEORY OF HORSE-BREAKING                                           1

II.--PRINCIPLES OF MOUTHING                                           41

III.--HORSE-CONTROL                                                   77

IV.--RENDERING HORSES DOCILE                                         147

V.--GIVING HORSES GOOD MOUTHS                                        166

VI.--TEACHING HORSES TO JUMP                                         188

VII.--MOUNTING HORSES FOR THE FIRST TIME                             197

VIII.--BREAKING HORSES FOR LADIES’ RIDING                            209

IX.--BREAKING HORSES TO HARNESS                                      212

X.--FAULTS OF MOUTH                                                  216

XI.--NERVOUSNESS AND IMPATIENCE OF CONTROL                           222

XII.--JIBBING IN SADDLE                                              227

XIII.--JUMPING FAULTS                                                230

XIV.--VICES IN HARNESS                                               233

XV.--AGGRESSIVENESS                                                  242

XVI.--RIDING AND DRIVING THE NEWLY-BROKEN HORSE                      247

XVII.--STABLE VICES                                                  251

XVIII.--TEACHING THE HORSE TRICKS                                    259

XIX.--TESTING A HORSE’S MANNERS, MOUTH, AND TEMPER                   271

XX.--ON IMPROVISED GEAR                                              272

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.

     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.

       *       *       *       *       *

_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.

2. Impatience of control, which frequently co-exists with nervousness,
in the same animal.

3. Ignorance of the meaning of the indications used by man to convey his
wishes to the horse.

4. Deliberate disobedience. There is no doubt that sulkiness of temper
is, often, inherited.

5. Active hostility, which, as far as my experience goes, is, always,
the result of bad treatment, whether brought on by cruelty, or by
allowing a naturally fractious animal to get the upper hand.

It is evident that vices caused by disease, or infirmity, do not come
within the province of the breaker.

6. The fact of having been taught some trick--for instance, kicking when
touched behind the saddle--the practice of which constitutes a vice.

       *       *       *       *       *

_Vice in the Horse_, from a breaking point of view, may be held to
signify the practice, on the part of the animal towards man, of
disobedience--wilful or otherwise--of any legitimate command; or want of
docility.

       *       *       *       *       *

_The distinction between nervousness and deliberate vice_ may be easily
made, if we observe how a horse acts after we have proved to him that he
need have no fear of us. For instance, if we fix up a horse, say, in a
“strait-jacket,” (see page 118) so that he cannot kick, and continue to
“gentle” him over with our hand, until he is thoroughly assured of the
good faith of our intentions; we might justly term him a vicious brute
if he kicked at us, without our touching him, the moment the restraint
was removed. I may mention, in this connection, that fear of the near
approach of man will often induce a purely nervous animal to kick out,
if a person, and especially a stranger, ventures to come within reach.
Although we may frequently find a horse kick from nervousness, he will
rarely bite from that cause alone. As a verbal distinction between
faults due to deliberate vice, and those caused by fear of man, or of
the animal’s strange surroundings, would not, generally, be understood
at first glance, I need not attempt to make it in these pages.

The more experience I acquire in the breaking of horses, the more
convinced I become, that the so-called “nervousness” of animals that
have been handled some time, is largely made up of impatience of
control, and, in many cases, of active hostility. Without, for a moment,
imputing intentional deceit to a “nervous” “old stager,” I make bold to
assert that many crafty, dangerous brutes pose before their owners as
ill-used victims of a too highly strung nervous system. Take, for
instance, an aged horse, like many I have met, that snorts with apparent
terror at anyone that approaches him, and is ready, on the slightest
chance of reaching his mark, to strike out in front, or lash out from
behind, if saddling or mounting him be attempted. His nervous emotion,
the first time he was taken in hand, or the first time he began his
unpleasant tricks, may have been thoroughly genuine; but its exhibition
was evidently attended with the result of his more or less successfully
resisting control. This act of insubordination having revealed to the
horse the extent of his own power, which, to every animal, is a
pleasurable sensation, was naturally repeated again and again, until the
vicious habit was confirmed; although its necessity might have been,
scores and scores of times, disproved by the saddling or mounting
having