The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-01-19
Overcoming Fear in Horses.

The great point of success is in
I guarding the horse from being reused
70 a great sense of danger from any
/ cause, and gradually, as he will bear,
force the mind to an understanding OF
! the innocent character of the object OF
/ cause Of excitement. Familiarity with
any kind of danger blunts the sensi-
/ bilities, and this should be the object
sought, after insuring the greatest
/ possible control over theanimaL The
better to convey an understanding of
my meaning, will give directions
| for overcoming fear of the most COM
mon objects, usually Objectionable to
Z horses, which will indicate the treat
ment for anything else not specified.
While held under careful restraint,
let a robe be brought up gently to the
colts nose. After smelling and feel
[ ing Of 1t in his own way until satisfi-
I ed, rub it gently against the head,
neck and body, the way the hair lies,
as he will bear. Then stand off lit
tie and throw it across the back, over
the neck and head, gradually stepping
farther, until you can throw the robe
upon him as you please. Repeat the
lesson several times.
While holding the colt by the halter
or bride, as may be necessary, brin 2
an umbrella to his nose gently, rub it
against the head, neck and body, as
he will bear, spreading it a little, re-
peating the process of rubbing, and so
continue gaining little by little, until
you can raise the umbrella over the
head, and pass it around the animal
as you please, without exciting fear or
resistance.
Sound Of a GuR.-First, commence
by swapping caps a short distance
from the horse, gradually, as he will
bear, approaching nearer, until YOU
can snap caps while the gun is resting
upon the back, over the head, etc
Then put in a little powder, and at
each repetition increase the charge
until you can fire of a heavy load
without exciting fear.
Railroad Cdrs.-Let the animal see
them at rest, then gradually lead or
drive him up to them, even to smell
ing them with his nose. Now, as you
have an opportunity, drive the horse
around while they are moving, work
ing up nearer as you can, and at the
1e-AAAC NAhAC LuAAAAL5 DAL4 dlOul4u 81
that he can see and hear them from
different directions. This lesson should
be often repeated, being careful not to
crowd beyond what the colt will easi-
ly bear, until they cease to attract his
serious attention.
Should the horse show fear of a
stone or stump, or anything of the
kind, he viii naturally stop and stare
at the object in an excited manner
Should the cause of fear be great and
sudden, he may attempt to turn round
and run away. This is to be guraded
against, by sitting well forward on
the seat, and taking a short hold OF
the reins, at the same time speaking
calmly and sencOuragingly to the
horse, but keep a close watch upon his
actions. In short time the extent
ef his alarm will not only be percepti-
bly, lessened, buthe will become calm
er, and almost disregard the Object
Then drive nearer as he will bear, ex-
ercising the same patience and care.
At each effort to get nearer, the horse
will become apparently as much
frightened as at first. Keep pushing
a little at time in this way, as the
horse will bear, until you can drive up
to the object, or by 1t, and you not
only leave no bad impression upon
the mind, but gradually overcomethe
disposition to become frightened.
Sometimes a horse will dislike a
wheelbarrOw, baby wagon, turkeys,
etc, but the treatment is the same
When the excitement is not so great
as to endanger successful resistance,
and the horse is disposed to 'play of,
or sOldier,n it may be advisable to ap-
ply the whip a little sharply, but this
is to be avoided when it is seen the
resistance is wholly induced by fear,
and the animal is not lazy.
Some horses while driven to carri-
eges, will not bear the noise and ex-
citemenG of other horses being driven
up behind. This is principally on ac-
count of the horses inability to see
and understand the cause of the ex-
element, or 1t may be owing to the
fault of the driver. Some one drives
up rapidly behind, perhaps wishes to
Ego by" to prevent which the colt is
hallOed at and whipped up to prevent
such a result. This may be repeated
a few times, and the consequence is,
if a spirited horse, the habit is aequir-
ed of rushing ahead to avoid the pun
ishment expected under such circum-
stances, and very often, too, a horse
is forced into this habit by being run
into from behind.-Prof. ldgner on
the Education of the Horse.