The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-11
PALACE FOR HORSES.
Robert Bonner's StabIes-How to Feed
Horses-D.xter and his Companions.

4 correspondent describing a visit to the
stables of Robt. Bonner, says:
Every detail exhibited the most perfect
adaptation and taste. Truly q palace would
expensive q stable. Five large stalls on each
side OF a Wide alley; the divisions are about
six feet high, with an iron railing extending
around the top, completely lsolatlng each oc-
cupanti from the others, as well as from The
gaze of visitors. As the door Is open to ad-
mauger; the hay ls eaten from the floor. In
one corner is an iron receptacle for feeding
grain. 1t Is low, very simple and convenient.
The nearer nature Is initiated the better.
That I knew and often advised. There Is
more economy and less trouble to feed from
q manager than from q rack, yet In nineteen
out Of twenty stables through the coun-
try the manger will be found 80 high and
extending 80 far out over the head that q
horse of ordinary size must reach up to eat
bis hay, and In go doing shifts the seed and
dust from It upon his head aud eyes. Nature
has designed the horse to eat his food from
the ground, else the pssturage would be
raised to q level with his head. The proper
exercise of the muscles of the forelegs and
shoulders require this, and a neglect of It is
often the cause of weak knees. While looking
at LnH UOOT, NIL. DUu6Ctr dutiCipot1o u III
curry by saying: 1.-THE floor Is made up by q
series OF Stats, with spaces between large
enough to allow the passage of water. Be.
meath there Is q water-light floor, with a pitch
of two Inches on one side for drainage, with
the false flooring just that much thicker
and higher on that side.n The extra
flooring Is 80 constructed In " o Sec
lions that 1t can be raised from the cen.
ire both ways, and placed on edge when
ropooy{no rho accumulation 0f objectionable
matter beneath. BY this time my attention
was called to the occupants of some Of the
other stalls. "Here," said Bonner, 'ls Prin-
cess, Flora Temples greatest competitor.
When /. bought her, q short time ago, and
placed her under my treatment, she moved
like q fonDdored horse This l know was the
effect of contraction and bad shoelng. The
result of my treatment Is proof Of the correct
ness of my Judgment, as you see she now
moves az freely and naturally as any horse.
She is a little vicious, and we VIII take her In
hand when convenient, X you wish" Prin'
cess looked at me with suspicion, but l so0n
made her Iadyship submit to a caress. or ar
irritable nature, she needed careful handling
aud 8 little watching to prevent a snap judg'
ment in the way o. q Kick. The next morse
shown me was q bay, four years old, named
Starlle, one of the finest modelled horses OF his
age ever saw, and from present accounts IL
the coming horse. He has already made the
fastest time on record by q horse Of his age.
"See what an arm, q shoulder, q loin," said
Mr.. Bonner, calling my lattention to The vari'
GUS points constituting q great %trotter; and &c
thoroughly does he seem to have studied the
point necessary for speed and endurance, that
am convinced he could at q glance select q
trolter from q large drove. The next horse
| shown me was the peerless Dexter. Many q
| man, or woman either, would, I imagine, fee
It an honor to carers this greatest of horses
but like a true king. as he Is, be will not per-
| NIT any familiarity from a stranger; yet TO-
wards his master he seems to evlnce the great
est affection, following him with the docilityo O
the most gentle pet, while at the approach Of
| others ne shows instant resentment. In
| tending 10 renew my visit to the stable
next morning, I was now conducted bJ
Mr. Bonner to Ills private residence. Seat.
ed in his library, the topic of his converse
ton became that of prices paid. am able to
| give the prices paid for the following named
! horses: Dexter, $33, 000; Pocahontas. $35. 600
Lantern, $4,000; Ed Everett, 10000; Lady
Palmer, $4,000; Peerless, $500; Bruno, SIS: 900
| Joe Elliot, $4,000; Flutbnsh Maid, s40O0i Mem
| brino Berthe, about (Mr. Bonner's words
sl2, 900. Total $I45, 500. The stable and the
| ground upon which It was built must have
| cost at least one hundred thousand dollars
| making an aggregate OF the handsome amount
| OF a quarter Of a million of dollars.