Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-02-27
AaritnItaraI ana Aomestit.


of any sort he WINS in n cab, not Hansom's
not one Of the Slow-and-easies, or uneasy
rs the case may be. "Mcrryr | think !
hear the old lady say, who very wisely
made her exit from the cab and sought shell
ter in a shop, thinking, conclude, that tho
horse had some luminosity personally to her
self, and would follow her if she remained
visible. In spite Of the old lady, repeated
the word merry, for at one time | had n
good deal to do with such gentlemen. Some
from sheer vice; some from commencing in
wantonness but ending in earnest; others
from neither the one nor the other, but from
alarm or having been alarmed, which nine
times out of ten is tho origin of horses kick
ing in harness; hence the difficulty, may
say almost impossbility, of ever curing a
horse Of the habit so as to be able to depend
on him. The horse allule to,when came
up had got on to the pavement and was
rattling the old machine about rarely, rs if
in revenge for the many weary miles he had
probably at times travelled before it. The
driver, who looked out of his place was try
ing to get the horse disengaged from the
cab; while man, who seemed to know
something of what he was about, had caught
the horse BY the ear, trying to convert his
hands into twitch. This otter succeeds;
but in this case it did not-the horse, in a
technical phrase, kept "nilling away good
un." Ny former habit of dealing with such
reprobates, and little presence of mind,
served me, or at least it served the owner of
the cab. made my way through a crowd
of all sorts of persons but the right sort, got
up to the horse, and, giving him two or
three sharp strokes under the back part of
the knees with my stick, causing him to
lift his fore-legs, which caught, and held
tight till got one of the reins and tied the
leg first doubled up; of course this stopped
his kicking: he struggled, and finding him
self hampered, squealed like a pig, but he
could not kick without throwing himself
down. Having done so far, left Cabby,
who seemed too much frightened to thank
me. He had not had as many Irish kickers
in harness to deal with as | have. They
can kick.
Horses are not naturally vicious animals,
and when they rebel against our wishes,
nine times in ten it proceeds from having
been previously frightened, being at the time
alarmed, not understanding what we want
them to do, or their rage being reused by
ll-usage. | allude to the English; Irish
horses are by no means so amenablc, par
ticularly as regards harness; they appear to
have particular dislike to it at first and
generally attempt some devcltry or other
when first put in. But as regards English
horses, be gentle with them and use proper
caution on first trying them in harness, and
not ono in ten will attempt mischief. Many
horse is rendered unsafe (that is, not to be
trusted,) in harness by those unaccustomed
to such business attempting to put them in
harness themselves. They may, perhaps,
save the charge of breaking to harness by
getting a cart and putting their horses in it !;
sometimes they succeeded, but even if they
do, they have probably without knowing it,
given the horse cause of alarm, or distaste
to harness, which he never forgcts, and will
some time or other give them proof of it.
If they do not succeed, they have by the at
tempt brought the horse to state of fright,
anger, or resistance that possibly the most
experienced and efficient breaksman cannot
eradicate.
The uninitiated are now aware of the
very slight mistake that will cause horse
to kick on being first put into harness. The
mere putting the crupper on, if done sud
denly in putting on the harness, will some
times cause him to kick. Probably, with
the harness on his back, his kicking on first
tceiing the crupper sends it off him, or part.
ly SO. The horse gets seriously alarmed at
this; scene ensues; and then there is Ito
use the designation of farce, 'the devil
to pay"
Backing horse into the shafts (Which
never should be done) is very likely to set
him kicking. He comes in sudden contact
with the shaft in some part, and either he
rushes forward in alarm, or sends his heels
at it. This might be termed lesson the
first in virtually teaching the animal to
kick.
If in double harness, the very turning
corner incautiously will cause many horse
to kick, from feeling the pole or trace sud-
denly come in contact with his thigh.
Even throwing the driving rein to the
buckle over the young horses back instead
of that of the break horse, which stupid
or careless fellow might do, will probably
alarm the horse new to harness. Ho rush
es forward. is checked by the traces, then
backs himself suddenly, is then checked by
the polc-piece and collar, feels himself ham,
pered in every wav, gets alarmed or angry.
Here, probably, is the devil to pay again.
It will be found tha; brute force or brutal
violence rarely succeeds or produces the de-
sired effect with horses, or indeed, with any
animal Brute force subdned Van Amburg's
lions,,but il did not tame them. They were
TO much subdued to attack him while his
eye was on them, but if he had turned his
back they would have pulled him down
and torn him to pieces. Brute force may
compel horsAfo do particular act at the
time--it may sven make him fear to COM
NIT one at variance with onr safety; but let
opportunity occur, we should soon find that
fear alone will never eradicate bad pro-
pensity.
i remember in something to have written,
toahhve warned persons from purchasing R
horse that has kicked, on the assurance that
he had been cured of the habit give the
same advice now; but let inc beunderstood.
I'bS no means say that because young
horse may have kicked on being first put in
harness he IS forever te be rejected Using
n. l.. 4. u A. 4