Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-05-22
From the Turf, Fleld and Farm.
DEXTER.
A RIDE BEHIND MN.

The control that Mr.. Bonner has
acquired over Dexter is truly wonderful,
Those who have been acquainted with
tho horse would not believe in the change
without seeing il. As is we'll known,
Dexter has always been very free with
his heels. His playful moods bordered
on the vicious, and he has had fashion
of laslling ont somewhat savagely at
those who came too close to his quarters
For this reason, strangers have viewed
him mt respectful distance, and the train
ers 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 il is TO be presumed that 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. We saw him pinch Dex-
ter in the fianks, rub him on the inner
surface of the thighs, and then wind up
by crawling under him and between his
legs. No one ever before dared to be so
familiar with his kingship, for his play
fu moods were generally in the ascend.
ency, and at such times he was continu-
ally OH the gui UiUe to land foot in
somebody's bread-basket. "You have
Hambletonized him, have you not % we
asked, as we saw Mr. b. taking these lib
critics with the horse. Partially" was
the brief but smiling reply. "Look at
his head see how broad he is between
his ewes. Dexter is horse of sense, and
| have conquered him, not by brute force,
but by appealing 20 his reason" A sound
theory, simple as trae. When hooking
him to a wagon, Dexter has always had
a fashion of striking out first with one
foot aud then with the other, very often
to the Inconvenience of grooms and dam
age of wheels. But Mr.. Bonner has
thoroughly broken him of this habit
We saw him stand like an old plow-horse
between the shafts while the traces were
fastened. And viewing these things, it
occurred to lis that no horse is naturally
vicious-that he is made so by treatment.
And when you fiud an animal seemingly
vicious, the surest way to conquer him
is by gentle measures which appeal to
his understanding.
AL ready, we stepped into the wagon
with Mr.. Bonner, aud 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 wss bindless, and he
moved forward with the utmost conf
dence and gentleness, swerving neither
to the right nor the left. Sometimes,
when horse was passing him, he would
prick mp his ears aud feel of the smooth
bar bit, as much as to say, "My place is
in 'front.'" but soothing word from his
owner and he was quiet. lie is no run.
away brute.
Out on the road and we were away
with the speed OF the wind. Three times
did Mr.. Bonner urge Dexter to break
that he might demonstrate to us the ease
with which he could take him up. How
perfect is the machinery What won
derful motion No friction, but as
smooth and noisclcss as the most delicate
and freshly oiled machinery! How swift
ly we got over the ground 1t is the
sweep of the lightning without the roal
OF thunder. At no time were the line.
tightly drawn. Did you ever sec Doblt
drive the marvel? Taking a firm holG
on the lines the iainer would brace him
self in the sulky and pull as if his lie
were at stake. And you could not resist
the thought that should vital strength
give way, should the muscles of the arms
weaken, Dexter would be away, mad
terribly wicked, and uncomfortable in hi!
might and fury. You who have seer
him in such times as this, look now anC
. mark the contrast. The lines are loos,
Is on his back, and yet he is flying along a
the top of his speed. A wave OF til,
e whip and sharp cry and he is off hi
feet, apparently as angry and Irresistible
as the mad rush OF the hurricane. Nov
!; a gentle pull on the lines and soothin!
word and he has regained his stride
horse full of gentleness and power.
''The result of kindness and reason,
smiled MIR. Bonner. "You see there
10 waste of nerve force, there is no che
king sensation by hard pulling on tn
bit his flesh is firm, and it will not II
quire exhausting work to prepare hit
for race his muscular development
full, and for these united reasons he shoul
is be able to trot faster than ever this sun
W ner. What do you say ?" And W
, could only reply that the argument wa
sound, that the conclusion was mos
plausible.