Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-05-05
DEXTER.
Ride Behind him.
From the Turf. FIeld and Farm.

From the Turf, f1etu ana arm.
The control that Mr.. Bonner has
acquired over Dexter is truly wonder
full. Those who have been acquainted
with the horse would not believe in
the change without seeing it. As is
well known, Dexter has always been
very free with his heels. His playful
moods bordered on the vicious, and
he has had a fashion of lashing cut
somewhat savagely at those who came
to close to his quarters. For this
reason, strangers have viewed him at
a respectful distance, and trainers
have handled him with the utmost
caution. Notwithstanding he was in
DOble's hands so long, the driver
never ventured to take any liberties
with him, for it is to be presumed that
a horse so strongly muscled can kick
with unusual force. But Mr.. Bonner
is always good at experiments, and by
kind and firm measures he has made
himself master of the situation. On
Saturday last we saw him pinch Dex-
ter in the tlanks, rub him ON the
inner surface of the thighs, and then
wind up by crawling under him and
between his legs. No orc ever before
dared to be so familiar with his king
ship, for his playful moods were gem
orally in the ascendaney, and at such
times he was continually on the Qlti
UiUe to land a foot in somebody's
bread-basket. "You have Hamilton
lied him, have you not?i we asked,
rs we saw Mr.. b. taking these liber-
ties with the horse. Partially was
the brief but smiling reply. "LOok
at his head; see how broad he is
between his eyess Dexter is a horse
of sense, and 1 have conquered him,
not by brute force, but by appealing
TO his reason" A sound theory,
simple as true. When hooking him
to a wagon, Dexter has always had a
fashion of striking out first with one
foot and then with the other, very
often to the inconvenience of groOms
and damage of wheels But Mr..
Bonner has thoroughly broken him
of this habit On Saturday we saw
him stand like an old plOw-horse
between the shafts while the traces
were fastened. And viewing these
things, it occurred to us that no horse
is naturally viciOus-that he is made
so by treatment. And when YOU
find an animal seemingly vicious, the
surest way to conquer him Is by
gentle measures which appeal to his
understanding.
All ready, we stepped into the wagon
with Mr.. Bonner, and in driving up
the avenue to the Park. and through
the Park, Dexter lifted his head with
spirit; nothing escaped those bright
eyes Of his since the bride was blind
less, and he moved forward with the
utmost confidence and gentleness,
swerving neither to the right nor the
left. Sometimes, when. a horse was
passing him, he would prick up his
ears and feel of the smooth bar bit,
'front.'" but n soothing word from his
owner and he was quiet. He is no
runaway brute.
Out on the road and We were away
with the speed of the wind Three
times did Mr.. Bonner urge Dexter to
q break that he might demonstrate to
US the ease with which he could take
him up. How perfect is the ma
chinery. What wonderful motion
No friction, but as smooth and noise
less as the most delicate and freshly
oiled machinery. How swiftly we
got over the ground! It is the sweep
of the lightning without the roar of
thunder. At no time were the lines
tightly drawn. Did you ever see
DOble drive the marvel? Taking a I
firm hold on the lines the trainer /
would brace himself in the sulky and /
pull as if his life were at stake. And /
you could not resist the thought that ]
should vital strength give way, should 1
the muscles Of the arms weaken, Dex- I
ter would be away, mad, terribly I
wicked, and uncomfortable in his .
might and fury. You who have seen
him in such times as this, look now
and mark the contrast. The lines
are loose on his back, and vet he is
flying along at the top of his speed.
A wave of the whip and sharp cry
and he is or his feet. apparently as
angry and irresistible as the mad 4
rush of the hurricane. Now a gentle
pull on the lines and a soothing word
and he has regained his stride-a
horse full of gentleness and power.
''The result of kindness and rea-
son." smiled Mr.. Bonner. l"You see
there is no waste of nerve force, there
IS no choking sensation by hard pull
ing on the Bit J; his flesh is firm, and it
will not require exhaUsting work to
prepare him for race; his muscular
development is full, and for these
united reasons he should be able to
5rot faster than ever this summer.
What do you say ?'' And we could
,nly reply that the argument was
sound, that the conclusion was most
plausible.