THE NEW SYSTEM OF BREAKING IN HORSES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 433, 27 December 1856, Page 3

THE NEW SYSTEM OF BREAKING IN HORSES.

Borne time ago, towards the end of last year, the English public was astonished with an announcement made that a French lady, Mme. Marie Isabelle, was on her way to this country, for the purpose of teaching the English, how to break in horses, and, save the mark ! how to ride, too. After the usual difficulties of getting access to Government officials had been overcome, the authorities, subdued by the testimonials of the lady's ability from the principal Continental Powers, appeared ready to take advantage of her presence; accordingly, she was now acknowledged by the high military powers, and orders were sent that she was to be received with all due deference, and that the department of horse-breaking at the cavalry depot at Maidstone was to be placed under her charge. Madame Marie Isabelle, accordingly, was officially received, and astonished all, from gallant colonels to bold dragoons, hy her now system, which not only broke hi horses, but, at the same time, taught the men to ride. There was no mystery in the achievement: all was open and palpable. Stubborn old animals were soon brought to obedience ; and the celt class were at once taught the art o£ being readijy

subservient, according to the improved system of management adopted by the fair equine professor. Madame Isabelle, after a labor of four months, received every acknowledgment for the great success of her plan; and, under this most rational treatment a new era now dawns over the entire management of the horses destined for the service of the British cavalry; and also, we presume, all other animals, too. In a work just brought out by this lady equestrian, entitled " Surfaix Cavalier, a 'new "system of breaking in and training horses," the process is explained very minutely. The achievement is due to very simple means. Madame Isabelle employs no artifice, but simply an invention of her own—'the " Surfaix Cavalier," a kind of dumb jockey—■ which completely answers the intention; together with this are brought into operation, to effect the purpose, a new cavesson and bits, and a very formidable-looking long riding whip, to the end of the handle of which is attached a sharply-rowelled spur. Madame Isabelle describes her own experience very clearly and quaintly, which led to the invention of the " Surfaix Cavalier," as the special means for breaking in horses : —c>'|During my residence at Vienna, I purchased an animal named Coquette, possessing great intelligence, but bad tempered, stubborn as a donkey, and accustomed to have her own way in everything. Once, when harnessed, she had thrown her master and his carriage into a ditch altogether; and, when mounted, if the humor seized her, she would start off at a mad gallop—for she had a bad habit of taking a branch or the bit between her teeth, which were by no means easily re-opened, and run away with her rider, according to her own good will and pleasure. She ' stood over' before, 'out 5 behind; in consequence of the abuse of the ' bridoon,' her houghs were in very bad condition, although well shaped. I undertook, nevertheless, to bring round and break her in, which certainly was not an. easy task, when her temper and physical defects were taken into consideration. I succeeded however, in a most extraordinary degree, and finally made up my Coquette as fine and elegant an animal as could be seen." It was upon this animal— which Mmc Isabelle considers rightly named from the character above given, and other little incidental pleasantries, such as making the " clack of her teeth heard" and " exhibiting her foot in the air," that the action of the ' Surfaix Cavalier' was first tried; and the success obtained so proved the excellence of the system that the fail-' hippodamiss' at once adopted it. ■I subsequently/ she observes, 'applied this action to horses of all ages and. of every description, and discovered its infallibility, inasmuch as it succeeded without one single exception; but as this action was produced by the hand, it became very fatiguing, and also could not be produced with absolute certainty because great tact was necessary. I then invented the ' Iron Cavalier,' This is a flat iron rod, nearly sixteen inches in length, which is fixed upon the centre of the surfaix or surcingle, upright, with a slight inclination forwards. These are the instruments _ used by Mmc Isabelle—the Iron Cavalier, being an improvement, and a verygreat one indeed, upon the old " dumb jockey," the effect of which was to act like a stiff and rigid band upon the ribs, while the action of the Iron Cavalier is only felt on the steel bands in the girth when the horse draws too tightly on the reins; the movement of these steel bands having the same effect as the rider's legs should have. There are twenty-seven lessons laid down as necessary for- a horse to go through before he can be considered as thoroughly broken in. The directions are very minute; so much so, indeed, as in seme cases to appear not to be required. Of the horses in this couutry Madame Isabelle observes that the English use them, but do not break them in, and thus it is that so many are rendered vicious. Madame Isabelle has received testimonials from almost all the Continental authorities, and her success at the cavalry depot at Maidstorse stands unrivalled and unquestioned. _ We have ourselves witnessed the extraordinary feat of breaking in a horse in six lessons, thy property of Lord Granville. And the feat was accompli shed in the presence of the Duke of Wellington, Lord Zetland, General Murray, and; others who would bear testimony to the fact. And what was more extraordinary still, Madame Isabello caused'the. horse to be broken m"''b'y^£; groom of Lord Givinville, whom she instructed" at the same time in. equitation.— -The JTeIM-r