The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-06-24

usefulness OF horses during the last ten
or fifteen years, must have noticed
among owners and drivers, a change in
regard to general opinion about the
employment of stations in ordinary
work, III harness or under the saddle
for business or for pleasure. which Is
manifested in the increased number 60
employed. The old prevailing opinion
was that stations were really fit for but
one purpose, and unless colt showed
promise as stock progenitor, he was
20 be made gelding in his second
summer. But the fact that stations
when properly trained and prudently
handled, have proved valuable IN har-
harness, superior In all respects to geld
lngs OF the same general qualities. is
becoming more known
The popular belief has been and is
still to large extent that stations in
harness IN ordinary work are both dis
agreeable and dangerous but better
knowledge proves that if they are so.
1t Is the result of injudicious treat
ment, or the development of vicious
disposition. A stallion is one of the
most intelligent animals in existence,
and may be taught anything which his
master desires within the range of ami
NAL intellect Taking in training at
two or three years of age, before disa-
greeable or vicious habits are acquired,
he need never make any such manifest
atoms, and will not under proper care.
unless he comes of very bad race
here dispositions are transmitted by
horses as well as by men.
1t is well known that he Percheron
stations at work in France are handled
with ease and safety by women and
children. Kindness and affection be-
long to many races of horses, and are
developed IN stations more than in
either mares or geldings. Nearly all
the great feats of endurance have been
performed by stations. The best trick
horses IN the arena have been stations:
IN fact, 1t is next to impossible to teach
geldlng tricks involving superior in
telllgence. In the large cities teams of
stations are found to be able to do
more work and show less fatigue then
geldlngs, and to be equally quiet and
safe IN the street Some Of the hand
soonest single horses and teams driven
for pleasure In the parks or on the av-
enues are stations; no mare or geld
ing, other things being equal, ever
shows the fine coat, the proud st lie,
the splendid action, of the stallion.
1t is disgrace to the statute book of
several States that they make it penal
tor farmers to allow colt to run q sec
sond summer in pasture unless as a
gelding. The best development OF a
Young animal is thus prevented. Young
stations will remain perfectly quiet in
pasture with FLIES or mares that have
been stinted, with the same fence that
confines other horses. They NAV be
put to light work at three years, always
remembering that a stallion or mare at
three Is more capable of work than a
geldlng at four years. With proper
care IN handling as colts, their habits
may be made perfectly secure, and
when they have reached five or six
years, their superior intelligence, spirit
and endurance viii amply repay the lit
tie additional trouble
Let the stock raiser reflect for a mo-
ment how many valuable stock getters
have been lost to the breeder by castra-
ton before the qualities of the animal
have beea developed Dexter as
geldlng Is worth over 500, 0OO-at least
that money cannot buy him-and who
can say what price he would bring but
for the blunder that destroyed his
sexual organization. Some persons
who have thought much on this sub
ject, have concluded that stallion will
not do well in work unless the sexual
instinct is gratified by reproduction,
that he will become ugly, violent and
lntractable. so he may, if pampered
by high living and Incidence, or leased
by foolish or villainous keepers, but
with proper feeding, sensible handling,
and regular work, his nervous energies
will be expended in his muscular eff
forts, and the balance of his system be
preserved.
Only vicious, incorrigible brutes
should be subjected to an operation
which is destruction of their finest
animal qualities, and a disgrace to hui
man civilization.