Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-28
Breaking in a Horse.
BY Anna SEWELL.

DI ANNA 0EnELLs
tAnna Sewell, ls20-1s7e. was a British au-
thor. everlestingly made famous by her
story. BLACK Beauty which Is the auto
count 81 Black BeSutyis breaking III is sup
posed to be spoken or told by the horse.)
Every one may not know what break
ing In is, therefore / will describe 1t.
1t means TO teach horse to wear a sad
ole and bride and to carry on his back
q man, woman, or child: to 60 just the
way they wish, and to go quietly. Be-
sides this, he has to learn to wear a
collar, crupper. and preaching. and
70 stand still while they are put on;
then to have cart or a chaiSe Gear
riage) fixed behind him, so that he
cannot walk or trot without dragging
it after him, and he must go fast or
SLOW, just as the driver wishes. He
must never start at what he sees, nor
speak to other horses, nor bite, nor
kick, nor have any will of his own; but
always do his masters will, even though
he may be very tired or hungry; but
the worst of all is, when the harness
is once on he may neither jump for
JOY nor lie down for WEAKNESS So you
see this breaking-in is a great thing.
I had. of course. long been used to a
halter and a headstall and to be led
about in the fields and lanes quietly,
but now was to have bit and bride;
my master gave me some oats, as usual
and after good deal of coaXing he got
the bit into my mouth and the bride
fixed, but it was a nasty thing! Those
who have never had a bit in their
mouths cannot think how bad it feels;
q great piece of cold hard steel as thick
as mans finger to be pushed into
ones mouth, between ones teeth and
over ones tongue, with the ends COM
ing out at the corner of your mouth
and held fast there by straps over your
head, under your throat, round your
nose and under your chin, so that no
way in the world can you get rid of the
nasty hard thing 1t is very bad! Yes,
very bad! At least, thought so; but
I knew my mother always wore one
when she went out and all horses did
when they were grown up; and so. what
with the nice oats and what with my
masters pats, kind words and gentle
ways, 1 got to wear my bit and bride.
Next came the saddle, but that was
not half so bad. My master put it on
my back very gently. while old Daniel
held my head. He then made the girthS
fast under my body. patting and talk
ing to me all the time; then I had a
few oats, then a little leading about,
and this he did every day till began to
look for the oat and the saddle. At
length, one morning my master got on
my back and rode me round the meadow
VII bklC SUI doo. IL IeSt
queer; but I must say I felt rather
proud to carry my master, and as he
continued to ride me little every day
soon became accustomed to it.
The next unpleasant business was
putting on the iron shoes. That, too,
was very hard at first. My master went
with me to the smiths forge to see that
was not hurt or got any fright. The
blacksmith took my feet in his hand,
after fhn other oPf6 1taf
of the hoof. 1t did not pain me. so /
stood still on three legs till he had done
them all. Then he took piece of iron
the shape of my foot and clapped it on
and drove some nails through the shoe
quite into my hoof, so that the shoe
was firmly on. My feet felt very stiff
and heavy, but in time I got used to it.
And now, having got so far, my mas
ter went on to break me to harness.
There were more new things to wear.
First, a stiff heavy collar just on my
neck and a bride with great side
pieces against my eyes. called blinkers,
and blinkers. indeed. they were, for I
could not see on either side, but only
straight In front Of me; next there was
a small saddle with nasty stiff strap
that went right under my tail: that was
the crupper. I hated the crupper-to
have my long tail doubled up and poked
through that strap was almost as bad
as the bit. I never felt more like kick
ing. but, OF course, I could not kick
such good master, and so in time I
got used to everything and could do
my work as well as my mother.
must not forget to mention one
part Of nv training. which I have al
ways considered a very great advan-
tage. My master sent me for a fort
night to a neighboring farmers, who
had a meadow which was skirted on one
side by the railway. Here were some
sheep and COWS and I was turned in
amongst them.
I shall never forget the first train
that went by. I was feeding quietly
near the fence that separated the
meadow from the railway, when
and before I knew whence it came
with rush and q clatter and puffing