Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-07-09
The Hor,e nnd Uis Proue, Jlsc,


There is in the following article so mucl
good, strong, practical common sense, min
gled with seasoning of humanity, so un
usual, yet so necessary, that we commend it t.
more than ordinary attention in reading Tt
Young horse handlers in particular, if prop.
erly regarded, its lessons will prove of great
advantage. That genial writer and true
friend of the horse, the late Henry William
Herbert, is its author: a r..sf
II is not, after all, every one who owns a
horse that knows how to use him, whether
for his own pleasure or the horses, which is,
in other words, the owners best ADVANTAGE
Norris it very easy to lay down rules how a
horse should be used, considering the many
different purposes for which horses are kept,
the different natures and constitutions of the
animals, and the different circumstances of
their owners. -lT
Horses may, in general. be divided into
two classes-those kept for work, and those
kept for pleasure. In the former class may
be included farm-horses, stage, coach and
omnibus horses, team-horses, employed in
the transportation of goods, and moving
heavy and bulky masses, carmen's horses
and lastly, the road horses of all professional
men, who, like lawyers, doctors of medicine,
and the like are compelled to drive or ride
many hours per diem, regularly, in the per-
formance of their business.
In the latter class may be included race
horses, carriage-horses, OF roadsters and
many other animals belonging to business
men, which being employed during half the
time or more in actual service, are used dur
ing spare hours on the road, for purposes of
amusement
With regard to the first class of these
horses, the exigencies of the business to
which they are applied are, for the most part,
such as to supeTsede or override all rules,
In some cases the natural hours of the day
and night have to be reversed and the ami
mails are called upon to do their work bv
night, and to rest and feed by day, Under
these circumstances, it may be laid down as
an immutable law that at whatever hour the
horses are TO be worked, they must have full
time, beforehand, to digest their food and
water; they must be carefully cleaned and
made comfortable; they must have sufficient
intervals for halting and batting, on the road,
must be cleaned and well fed during the in
teryals Of work. and must have ample time
for undisturbed repose. The distance which
horses in perfect condition can 20 upon the
road, varies greatly with the powers of the
animal, the degree of pains bestowed upon
him, the skill of his driver and the amount
OF his load, as well as the state of the roads.
But 1t may be taken as a rule, that strong
able horses, of moderate speed, can travel
forty miles day, with a moderate load,
without distress, for many days in succession.
1t may be observed, that it is the better way
TO start at an easy pace when on a Journey
to increase it slightly in the middle of the
day, and again to relax it before coming in
at night, in order to allow the animals to
enter their stables cool, in good order, and
ready, after short rest and cleaning to feed
with an appetite. -a gT
II may also be observed, in this point of
view, that it is a mistake to fancy that horses
are benefited by being driven or ridden very
slowly when they have long distance to
perform. If horse have to get over forty
miles in day, the roads being good, the
temperature of the day pleasant, and the load
not excessive, he will do it with more ease
and less Inconvenience to himself going at
the rate OF seven or eight miles an hour, and
doing the whole distance in five or six hours
with single stoppage in the middle of the
day, to feed and rest, than if he be kept pat
terlng along at the rate of four or five miles,
and be kept out of his stable, hungry and
thirsty, and leg-weary to boot, for longer
time.
Farm-horses whose work is necessarily
slow and continuous, lasting ordinarily from
sunrise to sunset, with the exception of
midday halt for batting, are under different
Their work being ALWAYS
slow, and rarely, if ever, severe. at the mo.
ment, or toilsome, except from its long dura-
ton, they need not be subject to the same
condition as fast working horses, ofbeingfed
long before they are put TO work, and al
lowed 70 eVaeuate their bowels thoroughly
before being harnessed.
They may, therefore, be fed and watered
At the last moment, and put 10 slow work
and will rarely take harm from
travelling on full stomaches. In the same
manner, when they are loosed at noon-day.
leing rarely oyerheatsd, after slight resi-
md slghter rubbing down--which, by the
way, they rarely receive-they may take
heir midday feed without delay, and with
'ut lear OF evil consequences. In the like
manner may be treated carmen's horses, and
cam horses, the labor of which is heavy and
continuous rather than rapid. All horses,
However, whatever the work 10 which they
re applied, should have ample time TO rest at
light, and should be thoroughly rubbed
own, dried, clothed, and made comfortable
efore feeding them and closing the stables |
Or the night--and the more so, the more |
rylng the days work 'H HI |
With regard TO pleasure horses which are
sually in the stables, more or less, twenty |
ours out OF every twenty-four, which are
My taken out for the qualification of the
wner at such times as it suits his humor or
ecessity, they should never be taken out or
riven fast on full stomachs which can
ways be avoidetby letting the groom know
case that they will be required at an
nusual hour for an unusual work-when he
m adapt his feeding hours to the creum-
ances Of the case.
When harnessed and ready for start, the
,iYer should mount his seat quietly, gather
, Telns, and get his horses under way,
owly but gradually, by speaking or CHR.
ping 70 them; never starting them with
TX, or striking them with Whip-aIlowing
em TO Increase their pace by degrees 10 the
zee. eed required, instead of forcing Il on a sud-
1t e far better for boroes to drive them
saduy al regular pace, even If il be ten or ,
eve miles an hour, than 10 send them along
n'S Ano STARTS, now spinning them over