The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-08-17
SECRET OF HORSE TANNING.

1
liable account Of Mr.. Rareys mode Of Treating and
Curing Vicious Horses. After stating that the
law Of kindness is the controlling principle and
that the horse is governed by instinct which admits
Of successful appeal to lis intelligence it is said:
PRACTICE OF TIE HORSE TAMER.
In subjugating the horse, must make pow
erful appeal to his intelligence this can Only be
done by a physical operation. 1t is an undisputed
fact that the battles Of all animals Except such
garniShcd with horns) arc fought by sclzlng
each other by the throat. dog that has been
thus held by his antagonist for a few minutes, on
being released, is often thoroughly cowed that
human artiice cannot induce him again resume the
unequal contest This is the principle upon which
horse tanning is iounGcd
Choking horse is the first process in tanning,
and is but the beginning Of his education. by Its
operation horse becomes doclc, and will thercat-
ter receive any instruction which he can be made to
understand Teaching the animal to lie down at
our biddng tends to keep him permanently cured,
as it is a perpetual reminder Of his subducd con-
dition.
1t requires good deal Of practice to tame
horse successfully; also d nice Judgment to know
when he is chokcd sufficiently, as there is bare
possibility that he might get than would be
good for him. We advise persons not perfectly
familiar with horse to resort rather to the strap
ping and throwing-dOWn process (unlcss he IS very
VlclOlS) uCScIlDcu DCIOWj lHS, Ill C'HCH
will prove successful 1t Is the fault Of most pco-
pie who have owned a horse to imagine that they
are experts in his management; while, Oh the con-
| trary, many professional hOrscmcn are the very
worst parties to attempt his subjuGalon. Unless q
man have good disposition he need not attempt
! horse-taming.
Retire with the animal to be operated upon into
close stable, with plenty Of litter upon the floor
(tanbark or sawdust is rTtferable) In the first
q +l,D l,4+f thn arms ct1.,ll
in such manner that it viii be permanently SC
cured Then take Il broad strap and buckle and
pass it around the neck Just 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 tbs position TO
prevent slipping back. The ANIMAL Will struggle
| for few minutes, when he Will become perfectly
quiet ovcrrowcrcd by sense OF suI1ocat1oh; inc
veins in his head viii swell; his eyes loose their
fire. his knees tottcr and become weak; slight
vertigo will ensure, and growing gradually eN-
hausted by backing him around the stable, he Will
come down upon his knees, in which position 1T Is
an easy matter to push him on his side, when hls
throat should be released. Now pat and rub hlm
for about twenty minutes, when, III most III
stances he will be subdued. 1t is only IN extreme
cases necessary to repeat the operation OF choking
The next lesson is to teach him to lie down; which
is described below in the account Of the second
method of tanning. No horse can ctfcctually resist
the terrible effect Of being chokcd.
1t must be constantly borne IN mind that the
operator must not be bostrous or violent, and that
the greatest possible degree Of kindness is aEso
lutcly most essential. When the horse IS prostrat'
he should be soothed until his eyes show that he
has become perfectly tranquil.
SUBSEQUENT EDUCATIONAL LESSONS IN HORSE
TAMING-IIOW TO SUBDUE A KICKING HORSE
kicking horse is the worse kind of a horse t'
= i II1llI a. InH hN
than any other; indeed, it would not be too much
t6 saw that they are more dreaded than all th'
other bad and vicious horses put together OF
often hear the expression, even from horse jockey
themselves, II don't care what he does, 50 ne doe
not kick" Now kicking horse can be broker
from kicking in harness, and efiectually broken
too though it will require some time to manag
him safely; but perseverance and patience by TN
rIle will do it cffcctually. When you go to har
ness a horse that you know nothing about, if yo7
want to know whether lie is kicking horse or not
YOU can ascertain that fact by stroking him in tn
flank where the hair lies upward which you Cal
discover easily on any horse ust stroke ann dow
with the ends of your fingers and if he does nc
switch his tail, and shake his head, and lay bac
his ears, some Of these, you need not tear III
kicking; if he does any all OF these set hlm dow
for 9 kicking horse and watch him closely.
When you harness kicking horse, have stra
about three feet long, with buckle on one enc
have several holes punched in the strap; wrap
once around his leg just above the hoof lift up HI
foot touching his body; put the strap around tn
arm of MS leg, and buckle it; then you can go b'
hind him, and pull back on the traces; you mu:
not fear his kicking while his foot Is up, for 1t
impossible for him to DO it. Practice him in til
way awhile. and Ec will learn to walk on thre
: legs You should not hitch him up until you haN
practicod him with his leg up two or three time
pulling on the traces, and walking hisa along
After you have practiccd him a few times in til
way, take up his foot as directed; hitch hlm
> Something and cause him to pull it a short dl
: tancc; then take him out; carcss him every TIN
you work with him.
-. You will find it more convenient to tastcn up Il
left fore foot because this is the side you are 0
After YOU have had him hitchcd up once or twlc
YOU should get long strap; put It around his 10
as before directed (above the hOot and below Il
pastern-iontl; put it through ring in your h'
ness; take hold Of it in your hand, hitch hlm
gently, and if he makes a motion to kick, you CT
; pull up his foot and prevent it. You should u
= this strap until you have him broken from klckn
which Will not take long. You should hitch
:. kicking horse by himself; you can manage HI
better in this way than to hitch him BY the side
( another horse.
= HOW TO BREAK \ HORSE FROM SOARING
It is an established rule in philosophy, that th'
IS not all effect without a cause, and II so, th'
> must be some cause for the soaring OF horse,