Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-08-14
tFrom the London Pamphlet.
Rarey's Great Horse Tanning Seer

First. That he tthe horse) is so constitu-
ted by nature that he will not offer resistance
to any demand made of him which he fully
comprehends, if made in q way consistent
with the laws of nature.
Second. That he has no consciousness OF
of bis strength beyond his experience, and
can be handled according to our Will, without
force.
Third That we can in compliance with
the laws Of his nature, by which he examines
all things new to him. take any object, how
ever fright, around, over on him, that does
not inflict pain, without causing him to fear
The horse, though possessed of some facui-
ties superior to mans being deficient in rea-
soning powers, has no knowledge OF right or
wrong, of free.wll and independent govern
ment, and knows not Of any imposition prac
ticed upon him, however unreasonable these
imposition may be. Consequently he cannot
come to any decision as to what he should or
not do, because he has not the reasoning Ia
cuties Of man 10 argue the justice of the
thing demanded of him. If he had taken in
to consideration his superior strength, he
would be useless to man as a servant.
Every man that has paid any attention TO
the horse has noticed his natural inclination
to smell everything which to him looks new
and frightful. This is his strange mode Of
examining everything. And when he is
frightened at anything, though be looks at it
sharply, he seems to have no confidence in
this optical examination alone but must
touch it with his nose before he is entirely
satisfied and as soon as this is done, all is
right.
We might very naturally suppose, from the
fact of the horses applying his nose TO every.
thing new to him, that be always does so for
the purpose of smelling these objects. But
| believe that it is Us much or more for the
purpose Of feeling, and that he makes use Of
his nose or muzzle las il is sometimes called)
as we would Of our hands; because it is the
only organ by which he can touch or feel any
thing with much susceptibility.
We knew, from the experience, that il n
horse sees and smells a robe q short distance
from him, be is used to it) until lie touches
or feels it with his nose; which is positive
proof that feeling is the controlling sense in
this case.
1t is prevailing opinion among horsemen
generally that the sense of smell is the gov
ernlng sense OF the horse and Foucher, as
well as others, has, with that view, got up re-
ceipts Of strong smelling oils, &c., to tame
the horse, sometimes using the chesnut of his
legs, which they dry, grind into powder, aud
blow into his nostr!s, sometimes using the oil
Of rhodium, origauium, &c., that are noted
for their strong smell; and sometimes they
scent the hand with the sweat from under the
arm, or sometimes blow their brcuth INTO his
nostrils, &c. all Of which, as far as the scent
goes, have no effect whatever in gentling the
horse, or conveying any idea to his mind
though the acts that accompany these efforts
handling him, touching him about the nose
and head, and patting him, as they direct you
should, after administering the articles, may
have great effect, which they mistake TO DC
the effects Of the ingredients used.
Now reader, can you or any one else give
one single reason how scent can convey any
idea to the bores mind OF what we want him
10 do If not, then strong scouts Of any kind
are Of no avail in the tanning Of unbrUken
horses.
In order TO obtain perfect obedience from
any horse we must first have him fear US, for
our motto is fear, ioCe and obey; and We
must have the fuliimunt Of the first two be.
fore Wa can expect the latter for 1t is by our
philosophy OF creating fear, love and conf
deace, that We govern to our will every kind
Of horse whatever. should not want, for
myself, more than half or three quarters Of
on hour to handle any colt and have him run.
ming about in the stable after me; though
would advise new beginner TO take more
time aud not be IN too much Of Il hurry
W hen you have entered the stable, stand STILL
and let your horse look at you for minute
or two, and soon as he is settled in one place.
approach him slowly, with your arms station
ury, your right hand hanging by your side
holding the whip as directed, aud the left
bent to the elbow, with the hand projecting
As you approach him, so not too near his
head or Group, SO as not TO make him move
ait bar ho, al nrl r1 cta N
the right or left. very cautiously; this will
keep him in one place. a you get very near
him, draw a little 10 his shoulder and stop
few seconds. fyou are very near him, he
will turn his head and smell your hand, not
that LIE has any preference for your hand, but
because that is projecting, aud is the nearest
portion OF your body TO the horse. This all
colts will do aud they will smell your naked
hand Just as quickly as they will OF anything
that you can put in It, and with just as good
an effect, however much some men may have
preached the doctrine Of tanning horses by
giving the animals the scent Of articles from
the hand. ] have already made 1t appear
that that notion is Il mistake.
AS soon as he touches his nose to your
hand, caress him as before directed, always
with very soft light baud merely touching
the hoise, always rubbing the way the hair
lies, so that your hand will pass along as
smoothly as possible AS you stand by his
side, you may fud it more convenient to rub
his neck or the side Of his head, which will an.
swer the same purpose as rubbing his fore
head. Favor every inclination OF the horse
to touch or smell you with his nose Always
follow each touch or communication Of this
kind with the most tender aud ahectionate
caresses, accompanied with kind look and
pleasant word OF some sort, such as lilo my
little boy, no my little boyW Pretty boy!'
Nice lady !" or something Of the kind, con-
stantly repeating the same words. with the
same kind, steady tone Of voice, aud will
know as well when fear, love Granger prevails
as your own feelings two Of which-lear aud
anger-a good horseman should never feel.
II your horse, instead Of being wild, seems
to be of stubborn or mulish disposition if
be lays back his ears as you approach him, or
turns his heels to kick you, he has rot that
regard or fear Of man that he should have to
enable you to handle him quickly aud easily /;
and il might be well TO give him few sharp
cuts with the whip about the legs, pretty
close to the body. 1t will crack keeulY as it
plies around bis legs. and the crack Of the
whip will affect him as much as the stroke !;
besides one sharp cut about the legs will Of.
feet him more than two or three over his
back, the skin on the inner part OF his legs or
about the flank being thinner and more ten
der than on his back. But do not whip him