Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-08-16
AGRICULTURAL
PROM the AmsFran Agricuturisi,
Why Horses kick.-RIrey'S Method
of Cure.


Kicking Is the worst vice which horses
IRE taught, Few men will deny the first
part Of the assertion, but some will doubt
that the vice is the result of education, for
say they, does not the horse kick by natu-
raj instinct, as protection against enemies /.
Certainly he does, aud it he is made TO think
(for horses do think that every touch upon
his flank and hind quarters, and every rattle
he hears behind him, are from an enemy,
lac will Lei driye in the most natural man
ner.
The character of horse is established
during the first four or five years OF his
9ae. If through accident or design, colt
be alarmed from behind a few times, par
ticularly if he receive a sudden blow, he
will learn TO expect danger from that quar-
ter, and to ward it off with his heels; and
the finer and more spirited his organization,
the more likely he will be to acquire the
wee. For example, young colt had be-
come quite troublesome by entering neigh
boring fields, over the dilapidated fences OF
his owner. After repeated annoyance. and
much vain expostulation, one Of the ag-
grieved parties caught the colt while tres
passing, fastened tin pan to his tail, and
turned him loose. Away went the fright
ened animal, plunsing and kicking to get
rid Of the fearful enemy banging at his
heels, and he nearly killed himself before
breaking it loose. From that day he was
a confirmed kicker: not leaf could rustic
in his rear, but his heels would fly like
Lightning and he was harnessed and driven
only at the peril of life. Another colt was
taught TO kick while confined in the stable,
by his owner ignorantly trying to "brcak his
spirit" This lie did by belaboring him
with cow-hide, and yelling at the top of
his voice The horse was frightened into
the belief that man was an enemy, and he
acted accordingly, kicking at every one who
did not first terrify him into temporary
submission. This was as sensible as the
advice OF an English horse-breaker Of the
olden time ELF your horse does not stand
still, OF hesitates, then alraie (yelD with a
terrible voyce, and beat him yourself with
a good stick upon the head between his ears,
and then stick him in the squirting place,
iii or iii times together, with one legge af-
ter another as fast as your legges might
walk your legges must go like two boun-
cling beetlesl"
In the training of the colt, too little at
tention is paid to educating the whole ami
NAL. He should be gently and continually
handled, not only about the head and mouth,
but from end TO end First invite his af- |
lection by little presents of corn, or few
bread crumbs. Having gained his conf
dence, smooth his neck, then gradually ex-
tend your attentions along his back, and
down his flank, and so on day by day adj
yancing little at a time, until you can safe
ly handle every part. In time he will learn
to bear smart slap upon the launches
without thought of retaliation, and when
once he has learned this, he cannot be made
TO kick by any fair usage. The man who
abuses horse deserves kick.
But can confirmed kicker be cured p
Rarey says yes, and if any one can exer
else Rarey's frmness, good sense, and pa
thence, we believe he can make the worst |
kicker safe. We witnessed his treatment
of most dangerous mare, and the effects
of the one lesson seemed marvellous. He
first applied the strap TO the fore leg as de-
scribed on page SO, (Feb. No) then led
her round upon three legs until the creature
found she could not kick. He next threw
her, and commenced handling her flank and
hind quarters, at which she kicked Violent
iy. But she soon found that nothing result
ed from it nobody was hurt, frightened
or angered, and in about fifteen minutes her
intrepid conquerer lay down and placed her
hind foot upon his head. When she was
released, he mounted and dismounted re-
peaiedly, until she allowed him to sit quiz
city upon her launches. Such lessons re-
peated half a dozen times or more, as the
case might need, he said, acoald tame her
hind quarters. Our advice is, first, don't
teach your horse to kick but il unfortu-
nately You have been cheated in trade, and
are the owner of a dangerous beast, don't
try TO cheat any one else; try the Rarey
method thoroughly, or employ an expert
enced horseman to do it, and so make the
best Of a bad bargain.
DEATH TO THE BuGs.-The following
is said 10 be infallible Take two pounds
of alum, bruise it and reduce it nearly 10
powder; dissolve it in three quarts of boiling