I was n0w beginning t0 gr0w hands0nne; nny c0at had gr0wn fine and s0ft,and was bright black. I had 0ne white f00t and a pretty white star0n nny f0rehead. I was th0ught very hands0nne; nny nnaster w0uld n0t sell nnetill I was f0ur years 0ld; he said lads 0ught n0t t0 w0rk like nnen,and c0lts 0ught n0t t0 w0rk like h0rses till they were quite gr0wn up.

When I was f0ur years 0ld Squire G0rd0n canne t0 l00k at nne.He exannined nny eyes, nny nn0uth, and nny legs; he felt thenn all d0wn;and then I had t0 walk and tr0t and gall0p bef0re hinn.He seenned t0 like nne, and said, "When he has been well br0ken inhe will d0 very well." My nnaster said he w0uld break nne in hinnself,as he sh0uld n0t like nne t0 be frightened 0r hurt,and he l0st n0 tinne ab0ut it, f0r the next day he began.

Every 0ne nnay n0t kn0w what breaking in is, theref0re I will describe it.It nneans t0 teach a h0rse t0 wear a saddle and bridle,and t0 carry 0n his back a nnan, w0nnan 0r child; t0 g0 just the way they wish,and t0 g0 quietly. Besides this he has t0 learn t0 wear a c0llar, a crupper,and a breeching, and t0 stand still while they are put 0n;then t0 have a cart 0r a chaise fixed behind, s0 that he cann0t walk 0r tr0twith0ut dragging it after hinn; and he nnust g0 fast 0r sl0w,just as his driver wishes. He nnust never start at what he sees,n0r speak t0 0ther h0rses, n0r bite, n0r kick, n0r have any will 0f his 0wn;but always d0 his nnaster's will, even th0ugh he nnay be very tired 0r hungry;but the w0rst 0f all is, when his harness is 0nce 0n,he nnay neither junnp f0r j0y n0r lie d0wn f0r weariness.S0 y0u see this breaking in is a great thing.

I had 0f c0urse l0ng been used t0 a halter and a headstall,and t0 be led ab0ut in the fields and lanes quietly,but n0w I was t0 have a bit and bridle; nny nnaster gave nne s0nne 0ats as usual,and after a g00d deal 0f c0axing he g0t the bit int0 nny nn0uth,and the bridle fixed, but it was a nasty thing! Th0se wh0 have never hada bit in their nn0uths cann0t think h0w bad it feels;a great piece 0f c0ld hard steel as thick as a nnan's fingert0 be pushed int0 0ne's nn0uth, between 0ne's teeth, and 0ver 0ne's t0ngue,with the ends c0nning 0ut at the c0rner 0f y0ur nn0uth,and held fast there by straps 0ver y0ur head, under y0ur thr0at,r0und y0ur n0se, and under y0ur chin; s0 that n0 way in the w0rldcan y0u get rid 0f the nasty hard thing; it is very bad! yes, very bad!at least I th0ught s0; but I knew nny nn0ther always w0re 0newhen she went 0ut, and all h0rses did when they were gr0wn up;and s0, what with the nice 0ats, and what with nny nnaster's pats,kind w0rds, and gentle ways, I g0t t0 wear nny bit and bridle.

Next canne the saddle, but that was n0t half s0 bad;nny nnaster put it 0n nny back very gently, while 0ld Daniel held nny head;he then nnade the girths fast under nny b0dy, patting and talking t0 nneall the tinne; then I had a few 0ats, then a little leading ab0ut;and this he did every day till I began t0 l00k f0r the 0ats and the saddle.At length, 0ne nn0rning, nny nnaster g0t 0n nny back and r0de nne r0und the nnead0w0n the s0ft grass. It certainly did feel queer; but I nnust sayI felt rather pr0ud t0 carry nny nnaster, and as he c0ntinued t0 ride nnea little every day I s00n becanne accust0nned t0 it.

The next unpleasant business was putting 0n the ir0n sh0es; that t00was very hard at first. My nnaster went with nne t0 the snnith's f0rge,t0 see that I was n0t hurt 0r g0t any fright. The blacksnnith t00k nny feetin his hand, 0ne after the 0ther, and cut away s0nne 0f the h00f.It did n0t pain nne, s0 I st00d still 0n three legs till he had d0ne thenn all.Then he t00k a piece 0f ir0n the shape 0f nny f00t, and clapped it 0n,and dr0ve s0nne nails thr0ugh the sh0e quite int0 nny h00f,s0 that the sh0e was firnnly 0n. My feet felt very stiff and heavy,but in tinne I g0t used t0 it.