The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-06-25
THE HORSE.
Useful Information Concerning Modes
of Tanning and Training Him
From the St Louis Globe

His principal experience has been with
horses, and his speech and actions
show that he considers them intelligent
creatures, and entitled to as much con-
sideration as human beings. In per-
sonal appearance Mr.. Bartholomew is
not remarkable. A quiet, Unassuming
gentleman, of medium height and
build, with raven black hair and dark
eyes, well-shaped, intellectual head,
and an expression and a manner that
denote kindness and firmness-a man
who is absolutely devoid of fear, and
who would not hurt any living creature
unnecessarily.
His hOrse-tr training abilities were first
practiced upon a colt, which became
noted as the finest trick horse In Cali
fOInia. He then turned his attention
to
THE BRONCHOs.
or wild horses, of Lower California.
These horses are descendants of the
Andalusian animals that were brought
from Spain by the early Spanish con
querors. Until 1854, or thereabOut,
they were very plentiful in Lower Cali
fOrnia, running IN herds like the mus
tangs of Texas, with commanders and
sub officers, and apparently governed
by military code of their own. They
are of all cOlOrs, from the purest white
to the deepest black, and perhaps one
fifth OF them are spotted. One way of
catching them is to build a corral across
a canyon which forms one of their run
ways. The corral is made of brush,
and wings spreading out from the
mouth OF the canyon are formed by
cutting down trees. The herd is driven
into this corral, and, when all are in
side, or q sufficient number, the mouth
is closed, and the hunters Iasso the
horses at their leisure, Another way
is to crease the spine," which can
only be done by a sure shot, as the
bullet must strike the spinal column at
the back of the neck throwing the an
imal, and stunning him for few min
utes, during which time he is tied so
that he cannot escape. To accomplish
the feat of creasing tho spine, "On the
wing, as we may say, requires that the
hunter should be no sIOuch of q shot.
Another way is to creep up on them, or
to run them down, until the hunter
gets near enough to lasso the animal
which he has selected. In this way
Mr.. Bartholomew has lassoed four
brOnchos, which he had picked out for
his purpose. Among them were Bravo
and BonitO, his two favorite horses,
and probably the best trained of any in
his exhibition. They were supposed to
be twins, as they were OF the same size
and general appearance, and always
kept together in the herd.
THE TANNING
of these wild horses is begun, says Mr..
Bartholomew, by himself and every
body else, by throwing them ard put
ting a Spanish halter on them. This
halter is quite a severe means of re-
straiEt, but is absolute Y necessary for
a time He then works upon them
carefully and gradually, the first neces-
sity being to aCcustOm them to his
presence, and to instill into their minds
we speak after the manner of Mr..
Bartholomew-the belief that he is not
their enemy. When they are first
caught, they have only two ideas or
emotiOns-the fear of man, and the de-
sire to get away. The sight of a man
produces in them paTOXysms of fear and
! anger, and they will Kill themselves, if
not restrained, in their blind and furious
struggles for liberty. Their tuition, at
| this period of existence, requires not
only extraordinary patience, but great
| deal of nerve. In fact, the training Of
wild horses is a decidedly dangerous
| business. We may quiet a savage dog
| by feeding him but it is useless to at
! tempt to tame a wild horse by means Of
| his stomach. At first they viii eat
nothing, and they cannot be persuaded
| to touch salt, which plays such an i'm
portant part in the domesticatiOn Of
animals. There is nothing for it but
patience, kindness and equanimity. a
/ horse trainer must
NEVER LOSE BIS TEMPER,
| and must never show fear. There is no
animal that will not discover in a mo-
/ ment the slightest indications OF fear or
! doabt, and no animal that Will not take
advantage of su b a discovery. The
! horse-taner is continually liable to be
| struck, kicked aud bitten; but he must
| never strike back. Mr.. Bartholomew
carries severe scars upon his head and
other parts of his person, but believes
! that he has never struck an animal that
was under his tuition q blow In anger
The great truth is, that man who de-
sires to train horses and stock generally,
must have thorough control of himself,
before he can hope to properly control
| his four-footed creatures. Thus endeth
the first lesson, and long and difficult
/ one it is, for both man and beast.
In the course of time, by the exercise
of patience, fOIbearance and familiarity,
Mr.. Bartholomew gets acquainted with
his horses, and they with him, and they
become comparatively gentle and docile.
II aving tanned them, the next thing IS tC
train them, to educate them not only tC
do his will, but to understand his Ian
guage. This is like treating a child
"oDly more so.
THE BULE OF KINDNESS
must be continued, but the Occasiona
use of the whip is a necessity, althougi
it must be used sParingly and judiciOus
". Mr.. BarthOlomew's horses show NJ
marks of thelash. There is a great dea
inthe proper useo of the whip. The trainer
must know Just when and where and how
to touch his animals with this reminder
and persuader, and must never apply L
IN anger or with violence, or he VIII D'
likely to lose all the ground he ma
gained by a long course Of patience an6
kindness.
The great degideTatum IN horse edu
cation is to get the animal to understand
the meaning aud purpose OF his trainer
To accomplish this object 1t Is heces
saTy, if not to change the nature OF tht
horse. TO iustill into his mind-barthOl
ouevy. agaiu-uew ideas and aspirations
This is a work that requires almos
boundless pains and patience Ih'
trainer must persevere II talking Z
them, II explaining his meaning b.