Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-11-23
TEE HORSE AN INTELLECTUAL
EING-REMARKABLE EFFECTS
OF JUDICIOUS TRAINING.

III. VI. IL VI DChdlD, NCH
York, sent us a letter few days since, in
which, among other things, he alluded to
the Importance of treating horses as intel
lectual beings and of trying the effect of
constant kindness in training them, the
result of which be believed would be the
attainment on the part of the horse to 'an
elevated position in the scale of intelli
gence, not only distinguishing themselves
among their kind, but actually outSt,Ip-
ping many Of their oa0ners, as far as the
nobler attributes are concerned With
this high appreciation of the capacity of
the horse, the Doctor five years ago came
into possession of fine three year-old colt,
and he concluded to try the power Ofkind-
ness in the endeavor to develope his mind.
The result is given in the St. Laurence
Republican, in which paper correspond
ent writes
During my wandering short time
since, | CHANGED to stop at Hermon. Hear
ing of Dr. Southerland's learned colt, !
had the curiosity to 60 and see him, and
found him a prodigy in learning, besides
being quite curiosity. The doctor calls
him the White Pilgrim His color is
light nankeen, white name and tail, and
white eyes. He Is a splendid little horse !
The Doctor tells me that he has owned him
only six months-rode or drove him almost
every day (as his riding is CONSIDERABLY
but still during that brief time he broke
him to the saddle and harness, and taught
him the different fcats l saw him perform,
such as standing upon his hind feet, jump
ing the whip, kneeling down, lying down,
sitting up and walking on three legs. He
will unbuckle a common saddle -girth,
and take off his own saddle; he will step
up to his own master, make very low
bow, shake hands, take his coat, cap and
mittens off and lay them away, and
when told, bring them all back to him
again. With cards he will tell his age,
the days in the week, months in the year,
&c With the alphabet he will spell any
simple word put to him. Spread out a
number of playing cards and he will fetch
thee eallOd for He will play a good
game at old sledge, and beat you as often
as you can him, and tell your fortune, if
requested. He will waltz around his yard
with quite as much ease and grace as some
of our country gentlemen, and pass round
a hat for contribution at the close of a
performance. He is rare specimen of
horse flesh, and his equal, 1 think for beau
ty, activity and intelligence could not be
found, considering the labor performed by
him and the short time he has been under
and the Doctor certainly deserves
the credit of being great Horse Man.
The Doctor, in the conclusion of his let
ter, says that until this season he never be-
fore undertook to train horse for trotting,
but that he now has three ycar-old mare
he calls Crazy Jane, out of Tom Jeffer-
sons Black Hawk, her dam, sired by George
Parish's imported st. Lawrence. With
very little training she will make her mile
in less than $50 over rather poor track
Now, says the Doctor, if trotting is a sci
ence that a horse can acquire by careful {
training Qike playing old sledge,) Crazy
Jane will yet, if nothing befals her, be one
among many to demonstrate the fact that
the horse has an intellect, or reasoning
power, equal if not superior to many of
their brute owners, and that it can be de- !
veloped and cultivated with as much GER
tainty and profit as the minds of our chill
dren'
We look forward to the result of the
Doctors experience with great deal ofin-
terest; how much kindness will do to de-
velop speed in horses is yet to be asccr- !
S. Journal