Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-06-27
Management OF Vicious Horses

Management OF Vicious Horses
Miss MILDLY Morgan has closely
studied the horse and all his ways,
and thus disccurses of his vices, or
those given him by his master,
which we find in the Buffalo Lice
Stock Journal.
Scarcely a number of any agri-
cultural paper appears, that does
not contain questions from farmers
and stock men relative to tho treat
ment best suited for the cure of
vice in horses, both in tho stable
and at work; and in most cases the
remedies recommended are entirely
inadequate TO effect cures, if not
actually 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 ovcrtaxcd
when first worked. Vice in the
saddle is generally caused by pain.
A badly fitting saddle has CALLED
the animal and rendered his back
tender; consequently ever after any
weight on the back causes him, if
not acute pain, at least the fear and
discomfort of pain. Baking in
harness is invariably caused by
demanding over-exertion OF young,
uneducated horses. Thus, for
instance, colt is harnesscd for the
first time, and he is required to pull
a weight, perhaps on an uneven
surface. Now, no matter how light
the weight may be, it requires an
immense exertion to move it, to his
uutaught brain. He refuses, is
punished, and fights back, or grows
sulky or stubborn. In either case
his temper is injured, and his value
as an article of merchandise, is
lessencd.
In the stable, horses will pull ON
the halter, first from fear, then from
fatigue. The colt pulls on his hal
ter to regain his lost liberty; the
over-workcd horse to obtain rest, as
thus pulling he reduces the weight
on his wearied limbs. Horses Toll
their tongues out to escape the tor
turc of severe brides and the con-
stantly inflicted agony Of the check
rein. They kick and bite to keep
off their tormentors and abusers,
because to kick and bite are the
only means of defense furnished
them by nature. They kick in
stables when unmolested, not from
vice, but from nervousness, and the
habit becomes confirmed by the
animal being punished for it; where
as the exciting cause should be re-
moved.
Horses crib-bite from being
denied a sufficient amount of open
air daily exercise, and they obstin-
ately refuse to lie down because
stalls are too narrow, and being
once or twice cntangled, fear over
comes fatigue, and the animal stands
when he ought to be resting and
recovering strength. Horses shy
on the road from fear alone, save,
when full Of life, they sometimes
shy from playfulness. Tho RENE
dies certain Of really effecting per-
manent 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 horse kicks in
Harness, put him in company with
steady mate, and avoid all possible
exciting causes. If he does not get
worried into a kicking fit for few
weeks, you may regard him as
cured, while he remains under
mild rule. The same may be said
Of baking.
A baking horse is far less dan
gerous than a kicking one; still he
requires to cure him an equal
amount of good temper and decision
on the part of his driver. TO start
a balky horse, treat him as you
would an uncducated colt; ask no.
thing Of him, start his load for him,
and if he is fatigued never ask any
exertion Of him. This treatment,
steadily pursued for comparatively
short time, will invariably cure even
the most confirmed baker. When
q harness horse is in the habit of
lolling his tongue out, take off all
the extra straps, leave his head free,
and he will speedily forsake his
evil habit.
The worst crib bitter can be pre-
vented from cribbing by simply
keeping him in a stall, the superfices
| of which are smooth and offer no
| rough or sharp edges on which he
can fasten his teeth, for by means
Of his teeth alone can he hold on
firmly enough to suck in air, and it
is air-sucking, not the crib-biting,
that hurts the animal.
Running away is a vice, and when
a horse bolts in unskilled hands, a
most dangerous one. This vice
springs generally from fear, some
times from playfulness, and from
over-tcnsion of the nervous system.
When horse bolts from fear, the
surest way to cure the habit is to
allow him to run, guiding him safe
ly along his road, and as soon as
he evinces symptoms of relaxing his
speed, to gently encourage him.
Without pressing him so as to in
jure him, or to increase his terror,
do not permit him to stop exactly
when he likes, but arrest with a
sudden word of command rather
than with check rein. Avoid a
steady pull on the bride, and while
| he is running feel his mouth gently
and hold his head straight. Never
jerk or worry his head. This would
| increase his fear and render him
more startled and pig-headcd than
before.
Horses run away in nearly al
cases from injudicious treatment
They are kept shivering in the colo
or stung to fury in the heat, till
thoir y,otinnca ia ayhauSto1 or thay