The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-03-25
Treating Animals with G%entleness.

Dueb brutes have everythingto learn.
They are nearly as capable of appre.
ciating kind words and gentle treatment
as many Of the human species. Many
persons are disposed to think that if u
young horse or OK docs not obey the
commands of his driver he is obstinate
or perverse and must be dashed. But
the truth is, animals do not understand
what is wanted of them. All domestic
animals should be made familiar with,
and encouraged to form n sort of atfec-
ton for and confidence in, their
and managers, This can easily be
brought about, especially if commenced
when they are younR and persevered in
by caresSing and talking to them in II
mild, pleasant voice, and showing a
mild, familiar and pleasing expression
OF the conntenance, and especially Of
the eye. Few seem TO understand or
realize the great effect tho expression
of the eye and tone of the voice have
on domestic animals. Take the horse
for instance. Few teamsters seem to
consider TINT his eye and car are con
s%tantly on the watch to discover and
understand what his master is going to
do, or wishes him to do, and that no
small share of this understanding is
conveyed to him by and through the
expression of the eye and countenance
and tone of the voice. This is more e.
p~ecially true in regard to the colt, or
young animal, which has learned but
little in regard to the meaning of words,
and can and will be influenced much
mora Iu tho aua anl untsn than tho ma.
ture or meaning of the words used.
Hence it IL important to make the colt
tame and familiar with it's owner, to in.
duce it to form a liking for ard conf
denco in him. BY exercising n kind,
patient but perseyoriDg firmness in all
Our relations with n colt no ia always
made to know and expect that he liz t.
do whatever is required of him. This
is the more readily and easily done foi
the reason that whatever bad temper OF
disposition he may have, never being
aroused, will have but little if an,
chance to show itself, and consequently
give no trouble in subduing or breaking
him of it. But by learning to hav,
master, he il soon and easily brought
to u condition in which he needs nj
breaking, but only needs to learn to dc
whatever is wanted of him. This Cal
be done the more readily for the reason
that he is used to being caressed ant
talked to, and to understand and ODE,
all the words that will be ordinarl,
used in driving and working him.
The great difficulty in training colt
il the unaccOuntable stupidity of tn
drivers. When u colt is harnessed h
is told to "go on :" but he understand
that language no more than a Tartl
would understand an Englishman if b
we're to direct the Tartar to go to th
field to work. We employed q man In
Season to do some blowing. He had
valuable pair of mules. Ho was FRI
queutly heard to say TO his team
"Whea, haw, gee, peddy." What Sol
Of obedience could a mule, horse or an
other team render to a driver give
such directionsp "Whoa" shoul
never be employed except when it
desirable TO have the team stop an
stand still. If certain language is er
ployed to signify certain movements
team will 1901 learnTwhat is required
them F.; but when n teamster is ince
sanity bawling "Whoa y "Haw
"Geel" "Peddy p or "Whoa-gee
"Gee- whoa or "Whoa back
Gee !" "Golong |" a team will
confused, fear will be excited, 80 tn
OK, horse MOI mule will know what
do more than run, if possible, fro
such n stupid driver. Many teamste
seem to think it an important pa
OF driving to keep up q constant baw
ing Mt the team. Animals are not dee
A horse, OK or mule will obey mu,
more readily if he is commanded in
low tone Of voice. We have kno,
teamsters so addicted to the habit
hallooing andbavling at their teams Il
we have frequently heard them, when
full mile distant, all the day long, ba'
bawl, bawl at the team. 1t is inexcu
Bile for any teamster TO allow himself
become addicted to such an obnoxic