Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-06
secret Of Horse Tanning.

and reliable account Oh MI. marcy h'A'
of Treating and Curing Vicious Horses.
After stating that the law oe kindness is the
controlling principle and that the horse Is
governed by instinct which admits of a sue
cessful appeal to his intelligence. it is said:
PRACTICE OF THE HORSE tanner.
In subiugating the horse, we must make a
powerful appeal to his intelligence; this can
only be done by physical operation. 1t is
an undisputed fact that the battles of all ami
mails Except such as are garnshed with
horns) are fought by seizing each other by the
throat. A dog that has been thus held by
his antagonist for few minutes. on being re-
leased. is often so thoroughly cowed that no
human artifice can induce him to again re-
sume the UNEQUAL contest. This is the prin-
cinle upon which horse-taming is founded.
Choking a horse is the first process in
tanning. and is but the beginning OF his edu-
cation. By its operation a horse becomes
docile. and will thereafter receive any instruc-
ton which he can be made to understand.
Teaching the animal to lie down at our bid
ding, tends to keep him permanently cured.
as it is a perpetual reminder of his subdued
condition.
II requires a good deal of practice to tame
a horse successfully, also nice judgment to
know when he is choked sufficiently. as there
is a bare possibility that he might get more
than would be good for him. We advise
persons not perfectly familiar with horse to
resort rather to the strapping and throwing
down process (unless he Is very vicIous) d-s-
cribed below; this. in ordinary cases, Will
prove successful. 1t is the fault of most peo-
nile who have owned horse TO imagine that
they are experts in his management; while on
the contrary, many professional horsemen
are the very worst parties TO attempt his sub
iupation. Unless man have good DISPOSE
tion he ne, d not attempt horse-taming.
Retire with the animal to be operated upon
into a close stable with plenty of litter upon
the floor (tanbark or sawdust is preferably.
In the first place faSten up the left fore leg
with the arm strap, in such manner that 1t
will be permanently secured. Then take
broad strap and buckle and pass it around
the neck lust back of the jaw bone. Draw
the strap as tight as possible. so tight as to
almost arrest the horses breathing. The
strap must not be buckled, but held in this
position to prevent slipping back. The ami
NAL will struggle for II few minutes, when he
will become perfectly quiet, overpowertd by
a sense of sufiocatiou; the veins III his head
will swell; his eyes lose their fire; his knees
tottcr and become weak; slight vertigo viii
ensue, and growing gradually exhausted, by
hacking him around the stable, he will come
down on his knees, in which position IL Is an
easy matter to push him on his side. when his
throat should be released. Now pat and rub
him for about twenty minutes, when in most
instances he will be subdued. 1t is only in
extreme cases necessary to repeat the opera
ton Of choking The next lesson is to teach
him to lie down. which is described below III
the account of the second method of tanning.
No horse can efitctually resist the terrible
effect of being choked.
1t must be constantly borne in mind that
the operator must not be bOistOrous or violent,
and that the greatest possible degree OF kind
ness is absolutely essential. When the horse
is PROSTATE he should be soothed until his
eyes show that he has become perfectly tran
quill.
ANOTHER METHOD.
Buckle or draw strap tight around the
neck, lift fore leg and fasten around 1t the
opposite end of the strap, the shorter the bet
ter. In this plan the horse is made the in
strument by which the punishment is inflicted.
When he attempts to put his foot down bus
head goes with it, and he thus chokes himself;
care should be taken that lie does not pitch
on his head and thus endanger his neck
TANNING HORSE WITHOUT RESORT TO STRAPS.
Secure the horse with a stout halter to the
Manager If extremely unruly, muZzle nm.
Soothe him with the hands for a few minutes
until he becomes somewhat pacified. Then
seize him by the throat, close to the Jaw-bone
with the right hand. and by the name with
the left. Now forcibly compress his wind
nine until he becomes so exhausted that, by
tightly kicking him on the fore legs he will
lie down, after which he should be treated as
as previously described. The process re-
uuires courage in the operator, and also great
muscular strength.
TEACHING HIM TO LIE DOWN.
The horse to be operated upon should he
led into a close stable. The operator should
be previously provided with stout leather
halter; "a looped strap to slip over the ami
mails knee; IA strong surcingle, and long and
short strap-the first to fasten round the fore
foot which is at liberty, and the second To
secure the leg which is looped
up. The application OF the straps VIII be
better understood by reference to the engrav-
ing.
In the first place, if the. horse be a bitter,
muzzle him; then lift and bend his left fore
leg, and slip loop over it. The leg which
is looped up must be secured by applying the
the short strap, buckling ii around the past
ern Joint and forearm; next put on the sur
cingle, and fasten the long strap around the
fore foot, and pass the end through loop at
tached to the surcingle; after which tasten on
a couple of thick leather knee-pads-these
can be put on in the first place if convenient.
The pads are necessary, us some horses in their
abradins them badly. Now take short hold
of the long strap with your right hand; stand
on the left side of the horse, grasp the bit IN
your left hand; while in this position back
him gently about the stable until he becomes
SO exhausted as to exhibit desire to lih
down, which desire should be gratitied wife
as little violence as possible; bear your
weight firmly against the shoulder Of the
horse, and pull steadily on the strap with
your right hand; this will force him to raise
his foot, which should be Immediately pulled
from under him. This is tue critical moment;
cling to the horse, and after few struggles
he will lie down.
In bearing against the animal do not desist
from pulling aud pushing until you have him
on his side. Prevent him from attempting to
rise by pulling his head toward his shoulder.
AS soon as he is done struggling cares his
face and neck; also. handle every part of his
body, and render yourself rs familiar rs pos
sible. After he has lain quietly for twenty
minutes let him rise, and Immediately repeat
the operation. removing the straps as soon as
be is down; and if his head is pulled toward his
shoulder it is impossible for him to get up.
After throwing him IRON two 10 five times
the animal will become as Submissive and
abject "a a well-trained dog, and you need
not be afraid to indulge in any liberties with
him. n young Nurse is subdued much quick
er than an old Que, as his habits are not con-
firmed. An incorrigible horse should have
two lessons a day; about the fourth lesson be
will permanently conquered. Ii the operation
Is repeated several times, he can be made Ia
lie down by simply lifting up his iore-leg and
repeating the words, Lie down, Slr,p which
he must be previously made familiar with.
The following rules will serve as a guide TO
the amateur operator, aud should be strictly
observed first the horse must not he fore
ed down by violence, ,at must b. tired out
condly He must be kept quiet on the ground
until the expression OF the eye shows thai he
H. tranquilized. which invariably takes place