Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-06-20
MANAGEMENT OF VICIOUS
HORSES.

NhN@NaJ
horse and all his ways, and thus discourscs of
his vices, or those given him by his master
Scarcely number of any agricultural pa
per appears, that does not contain questions
from farmers and stock men relative to the
treatment best SUITED for the cure Of vices in
horses, both in the stable and at work and
in most cases the remedies recommended are
entirely inadequate to effect cures, If not ac-
tually in themselves hurtful to the animals
subjected to them.
We commence ON a broad basis, by saying
that stable viciousness is generally caused by
ill.treatment, and vice in harness by fear and
by the animal having been over-taxed when
first worked. Vice in the saddle is generally
caused by pain. A badly fitting saddle has
CALLED the animal and rendered his back ten
der; consequently ever after any weight on
the back causes him, if not acute pain, at
least the fear and discomfort OF pain. Balk-
ing in harness is invariably caused by de-
manding over-exertion Of young, uneducated
horses. Thus, for instance, colt is har-
messed for the first time, and he is required
TO pull weight, perhaps on an uneven sur
face Now, no matter how light the weight
may be, it requires an immense exertion to
move it, to his untaught brain. He refuses,
is punished, and fights back, or grows sulky
and stubborn. In either case his temper is
injured, and his value, as an article of mer-
chandise, is lessened.
In the stable, horses will pull on the hal
ter, first from fear, then from fatigue. The
colt pulls on his halter to regain his lost lib
erty; the over-worked horse to obtain rest,
as thus pulling he reduces the weight on his
wearied limbs Horses loll their tongues out
to escape the torture Of severe brides and the
constantly inflicted agony of the check.rein.
They kick and bite to keep of their torment
ors and abusers, because to kick and bite are
the only means Of defense furnished them by
nature. They kick in stables when unmo-
Tested, not from vice, but from nervousness,
and the habit becomes confirmed by the ami
NAL being punished for it; whereas the ex-
citing cause should be removed.
Horses crib.bite from being denied a sufli.
cient amount of open air daily exercise, and
they obstinately refuse to lie down because
stalls are too narrow, and being once or twice
entangled, fear overcomes fatigue, and the
animal stands when he ought to be resting
and recovering strength. Horses shy on the
road and street from fear alone, save, when
full of life, they sometimes shy from playful.
ness. The remedies certain Of really effect
ing permanent cures in the above specified
instances are not to be found by using force,
or in coercive measures, but by removing the
cause of the so-called vices. If a horse kicks
in harness, put him in company with steady
mate, and avoid all possible exciting causes
II he does not get worried into kicking fl
for few weeks, you may regard him as
cured, while he remains under mild rule
The same may be said Of baking
A balky horse is far less dangerous than n
kicking one; still he requires to cure him ar
equal amount of good temper and decision OF
the part of his driver. To start balky
horse, treat him as you would an uneducateC
colt ask nothing of him, start his load fol
him, and if he is fatigued, never demand ans
exsrtion of him. This treatment, steadily
pursued for a comparatively short time, vii
invariably cure even the most confirmed balk
er. When harness horse is in the habit o
lolling his tongue out, take off all extra straps
leave his head free, aud he will speedily for
sake his evil habit.
The worst crib-biter can be prevented from
cribbing by simply keeping him in stall th'
superfcies Of which are smooth and offer NJ
rough or sharp edges on which he can faster
his teeth, for by means of his teeth alone cal
he hold on firmly enough to suck in air, anC
it is the air-sucking, and not the crib-biting
that hurts the animal.
Running away is vice, and when horst
bolts in unskilled hands, most dangerou
one. This vice springs generally from fear
sometimes from playfulness and from over
tension of the nervous system. When hors
bolts from fear, the surest way to cure tn
habit is to allow him to run, guiding hin
safely along his road, and as soon as he evin
ces symptoms of relaxing his speed, to gentl
encourage him. Without pressing him SO a
to injure him or to increase bis terror, do no
permit him to stop exactly when he likes, bu
arrest him with sudden word of cOmman
rather than with check-rein. Avoid
steady pull on the bride, and while he is run
ming feel his mouth gently and hold his hea
straight. Never jerk or worry his head
This would increase his fear and render hin
more startled and pig-headod than before.
Horses run away in nearly all cases fror
injudiciOus treatment. They are kept shiV
ering in the cold or stung to fury in the heat
till their patience is exhausted, or they ar
frightened by harness giving way or by
load running on them, or they are torture'
to madness by severe bits and cruelty tigh
oheck.reins. The most confirmed runawa,