The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-11-21
Baking.

As to the matter of baking" no
general direction can be given, or rule
established. Baking on the part of
colts is, for the most part, the result of
the trainers ignorance or passion. Yell
ing and whipping on the part of the
trainer or driver, overlooking, sore
shoulders, or ill-fitting collars, these
are the causes that make horses balk.
But if yoG have a horse or colt that
balks, while / can not, without a per-
sonal knowledge of the subject, tell you
what to do, can tell you what not to do
never whip. If he won't go, let him
stand still and think it over He will
very often think better of it, and after
few moments reflection, and a few
losses of his head, go on of his own &C
cord. Or, if this does not answer, get
out of the wagon and pat him, and talk
to him kindly. A horse is very suscep-
tible to kindness; and have known
more than one quite vicious horse
gentled into good behavior by a few
pats from a lady's gloved hand on the
moist neck and veined muzzle. Some
times it is we'll to loosen a strap or start
a buckle. l have known the act of
mere unchecking and rechecking the
animal answer the purpose. It took
his attention off in another direction,
you see, changed the current of his
thought, and broke up his purpose and
determination to resist. For this same
reason an apple, or a bunch of grass
from the roadside, or handful of oats,
or few kernels of corn, will often ac-
complish what an hour of beati g could
never effect. The truth is, a man must
govern himself before he can hope to
govern lower animals. A man flushed
with passion, his brain charged with
heated blood and eyes blazing with
rage, is not in a condition to think
clearly and it is just this thinking
clearly that is, above all else, needed in
directing and controlling horses. Hence
it is that contact with horses and an ac-
tual experience in teaching them, is one
of the finest disciplines a man can have.
He grows to love the colt he is teaching;
and no nature is utterly depraved in
| which is going on the exercise of affec-
ton, no matter how humble the object
of it may be. His employment makes
it necessary for him to think; and this
keeps intellect, which might otherwise
have no development, alive. The Ian
guage of the stable is not, as many pious
and ignorant people ina CINE, ali slang.
Care and anxiety are felt in the groom's
room, and consultations held upon the
issue of which the health and safety OF
valuable property depend. Plans are
formed, and methods of procedure
adopted, upon which fame, and vast
sums of money, come and go. Faults
| of nature, and errors of education and
practice are corrected; and the trainer
discovers that in schooling Gods crea.
lures he is being schooled himself.
Thus, as in all other branches of hon.
orable industry, the horseman discovers
that he is the point from which one cur.
rent goes forth and another enters in.
He bestows and he receives; he edu.
Gates and is educated; and the life
which so many thoughtless people de,
spise closes as in the case of Hiram
Woodrutf-the upright in heart and act
with honor, and fame which can fail
only when kindness toward animals and
integrity among men are regarded as OF
no account. Perfect Horse.