Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-10-29
WHY HORSES KICK-RAREY's METHOD
OF CURE.

Kicking is the worst vice which horses are
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 natural instinct, as prOtec-
tion against enemies
Certainly he does, and if he is made 10 think
for horses do Mlak), that every touch upon his
Hank and hind quarters, and every rattle he
hears behind him, are from an enemy, he will
let drive in the most natural manner, The
character of horse is established during the
first four or five years of his life. If through
accident or design, colt be alarmed from be-
hind few times, particularly if be receive u
sudden blow he will learn to expect danger from
that quarter, and to ward it off with his heels ;
and the inner and more spirited his organization,
the more likely he will be to acquire the vice.
For example, u young colt had become quite
troublesome by entering neghboring fields, over
dilApida ed fences of his owner. After repeat
ed annoyance, and much vain expostulation, one
of the aggrieved parties cAught the colt while
trespassing, fastened tin pan to bis tail, aud
turned him loose. Away went the frightened
animal, plugging aud kicking to get rid of the
fearful enemy hanging at his heels, aud he near
ly killed himself before breaking it loose. From
that day he was a confirmed kicker; not a leaf
could rustic in his rear, but his heels would fly
like lightning, and be was harnessed and driven
only at the peril Of life. Another colt was
taught TO kick while confined Ia the stable, his
owner gnorantly trying to break his spirit"
This he did by heaborng with "A cow-hide, and
yeling at the top of his voice The horse was
frightened into the belief that man was an enc
my, and he acted accordingly, kicking at every
one who 81 not terrfy him into temporary sub
ihis sion. This was as sensible as the advice of
an English hOrse-breakcr of the Ulden time
II your horse does not stand still or hesitates,
then alrate lyell) with terrible vOyce, and beat
him yourself with good stick upon his head
between his ears, and stick him in the squirting
place, iii or iii times together; with one egge
after another as fast as your legges might walk;
your legges must 60 like two bouncing beetlesn
In the training of the colt, too little attention
is paid to educating tine whole animal. lie
should be gently and continually handled, not
only about the head and mouth, but from END
to end. First invite his affection by itile pre-
sents of corn, or few crumbs of bread Having
gained his confidence, smooth his neck, then
gradually extend your attentions along his back,
and down his flank, and on day by day advan.
cling little at Il time, until you may safely han
die every part. In lime he will learn to bear a
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 a horse deserves a
kick.
But can a confirmed kicker be cured? Rarey
says yes, and if one eau exercise Rarey's finn
ness, good sense, and patience, we believe he can
make the worst kicker safe We witnessed his
treatment of most dangerous mare, aud the
effects of the one lesson given seemed marvel
Gus. He first applied the strap to the fore leg,
then led her around upon three legs until the
creature found she could not kick. He next
threw her, and commenced handling her funk
and hind quarters, at which she kicked violently.
But she soon found that nothing resulted from
it; nobody was hurt, frightened or angered, and
in about fifteen minutes her intrepid eonquerer
lay down and placed her hind foot upon his
head. When she was released, he mounted and
dismounted repeatedly, until she allowed him to
sit quietly upon her launches. Such lessons
repeated half dozen times or more, as the case
might need, be said, 'eould tame her hind guar
ters. Our advice is, first, don't teach your horse
to kick but if unfortunately you have been
cheated in trade, and are the owner of a dan
gerous beast, don. try TO cheat any one else
try the Rarey method thoroughly, or employ M
experienced horseman to do it, and SO make the
best of a bad bargain,-D. Farmer.