where did the term breaking come from

[Amanda Seater]

Inspired by another thread.

why is the term breaking used? where did it originate? what was being broken?

I prefer backing and starting or visa versa

[Dragonmaster]

Breaking their spirit I suppose. People had the same attitude to children.
I think it is an English phrase, I bet if you looked t the word for starting or training horses in other languages it would not equate to 'breaking'.
The British have had such a dominating attitude throughout the ages; hence the Empire. Perhaps it came from being invaded so often prior to 1066, or maybe the genetic makeup of the British id derived from so many conquering peoples to give us that attitude.

Oops, off on a whole different tangent there!

[antares]

Actually I don't think it had anything to do with breaking the horses spirit (or at least I really hope not). A break (modern day brake) was a lightweight carriage used to train young horses how to pull in teams, I believe this is also where brake horsepower in cars originates.

I personally don't mind the term breaking in, it's the actions that speak louder than the words

[mandal]

I'm another who suspects the original meaning wasn't to break the spirit or even dominate.

[Amanda Seater]

what words are used in other languages? Anyone?

[donnalex]

I really good and talented old horseman I used to know used to say when breaking them 'you had to break the temper', he used to get them in for breaking and corn them up meaning they were on top physical form and then he used to work them properly every day mouthing, lungeing,long reining and backing them in about six weeks. He always used to say if you could manage them when they were well fed, fit and full of beans then you would always manage them.
He was one of the best old horsemen I spent time with

[specialized]

In some horse cultures the horses are literally broken in spirit, ie tied with a leg up until they give in or ridden until they drop. The Criollo we had was broken in Argentina and had the leg scars to prove it, some western techniques are not dissimilar. That is why I do not like the term breaking as it harks back to physical domination, perhaps even in this country in the not too distant past in some communities.
Good talented horsemen are always present, but sometimes the exception rather than the rule.

[mollichop64]

I think the term 'breaking in' does refer to making them yield their spirit/temper/mood/character. Monty talks about his father breaking in horses by tying a leg up, a method he found too cruel to be a part of. If you think about a new pair of shoes stiff, unyielding, uncomfortable until you've 'broken them in' ie: worn them (worked them) a few times to make them softer and more comfortable. I too prefer to refer to starting or backing horses, even though breaking in is a perfectly acceptable horsemanship term, it's a word with 'attitude' in this sense. If you break something, you often render it useless but this is not the case with horses - but they do, or at least the aim is they become more compliant to do our bidding against their natural instincts.
On the other hand you have also trained them, like we train dogs, children, elephants and sea lions...........
Interesting and very though provoking topic.......... I will still be referring to backing and starting me thinks ;0)

[mags]

The German word is "einreiten" or "anreiten", the first meaning "riding in", the second doesn't translate well in the literal sense, but I'd say "start riding" comes closest.

[madhatter]

The Christmas DVD speaks volumes.

I too prefer starting in hand and starting under saddle

[donnalex]

Collies are also broken to work and they dont get their spirit or anything else broken. Far from it they are encouraged to chase sheep, which they love to, do in a controlled way
Breaking in only has to mean something bad if you want it to.