North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13
farmGr's G0l Il mn
REMARKS ON THE HORSE.

The following excellent remarks this subject ARE
by the editor of the n. E. Farmer. They contain
great deal of plain, every day TRUTH and should be
read by every one who has the charge of horse:
person who loves the horse who studies his won
derful construction aid adoption to the wants Of man.
and who feels a new dignity ard power when he sits
upon noble charger or has a pair of mettesome
steeds In hand can alone appreciate good horse,
knows how very few there are worthy of the term
Few persons of the diff culties they must
encounter, before they can secure horse that is of
the right size of the right temperament one that is
elegant in form and action, and capable of great
dprance of necessity should arise test his
power. Unless occupied with some thought or
that is all-engrossng, never pass horse without
giving him critical notice. however brief that no.
tice may be-and we sincerely believe that nine out
of ten of them-both in the city and country-are
only remarkable for some physical defect,
dangerous habit alike per.lous to both man and
beast. They mean beyond description, compar-
ed with what they might be undera proper course of
breeding and treatment, they are k. -kneed have
corns, splint, bots, broken wind, canker in the
foot, cole, horse distemper, farcy diabetes curb
contraction of the foot fsua, poll-evil, glanders,
founders, heayes mango, rheumatism, ringbone sand
crack, roaring, get bone, bog and blood SPAWN blind
saggers, stranguary and lockjaw thrush wind-gaIls
and warts, and forty other diseases that oppress and
torment the poor animals a thousand times more than
all the labor they ought to perform What a fright
full catalogue of diseases to be visited upon one of the
noblest arimals-both in structdre and disposition
Od hos rIo
wants or crafty orr pleasures. Poor brute! Never
was another beset with evil, or treated with so
much inhumanity.
There are two principal causes for all this, viz:
l. Breeding from old or ordseased animals.
2. The injudicous and harsh treatment which they
receive.
1t has long been a practice, and is widespread
one, to breed from aged and imperfect mares-mares
that have been excellent animals but are full of age
and imperfections that large proportion of all hors
es acquire before arriving at the age Of twenty years
One, for instance has had crooked knees for ten
years, another the spring La!t another capped
hook or the heaves She is past servicable labor in
the field or in the road and as the kind master is
still deSirous Of making her profitable to him. lie
turns her in her old age to the pains of partur
ton. ana just work enough in the pow or cart to pay
for her hay and grain. This is done by thousands
who never think that these defects may be entailel
upon the progency of these mares and thus race of
i'll formed, i'll hammered and comparatively worth
less horses is pepetUated For the purpose of breed
ing, the young middle aged Of both sexes should
be selected-and these should be of the best form,
and possessing many of the best qualities as car
be found in single animal When these preeau-
ti"ns are observed, We shall have race of young
horses to start with that which viii produce the fin
est animals, under. proper course of manager
The rst prolific source Of poor horses, is the inju-
dicons, harsh, and very often cruel treatment which
they receive. Colts put to work too young;
pressed to the utmost Of their power both in speed
aud draft, too frequently; and when fatigued or
heated are left in the storm or cold, or a draft,
where agues and cramps contracted that contin-
he with them through life, They are often urged
70 turn Suddenly and rapidly which strains or breaks
some of the nice organism in the case Of spliut or
spavia. They are hampereI with unnecessary and
injurious harness. such tight cheek rein and blind
ers which leave them with imperfect vision. and
their supple limbs tied and tormented into every
shape but natural one.