Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-10-16
FARM.

I6AlNlNG The HORSE TO IROT.-J. Il.
Geddes has another of his very instruct
i've articles on the horse, in the last issue
of the College Quarterly. His suggestions
will not probably be accepted by all, if
they are by. the majority, because they
are out of the usual line--not in accord
ance with the way we are accustomed
to 90 things, and consequently our
preJudlces in favor Of the way we have
become used to, will no doubt influence
many Of us. Still his suggestions are
very reasonable, and we copy as follows:
The colt having arrived at workable
age, should be placed under the saddle
and mounted by his instructor. This
IS the most important period of his ed
uCatlon. His Instructor is brought into
more hmm ediate and controlling contact
with him than ever before. No hitch
ing the animal to sulky or buggy, with
ms driver sitting 10 or II feet away,
Will ever impress his memory with the
fact of his complete subsection to the
will of man SO forcibly as the act of
riding. The usual custom among train
ers, to hitch the horse to some vehicle
before riding him, is the reverse of the
proper method. The usual excuse for
not adopting this method is, that the
animal is better able to draw than carry
a load at an immature age. We think
the reason very poor one. The back,
lolns and limbs Of the animal which
are all brought into play in the act of
drawing load, develop alike. If the
back of the animal is unable to sustain
the pressure of $50 pounds, the shout
ders and hind quarters may justly be
considered too immature to resist in
drawing the same weight. It would be
always safe to adopt this maxim in re-
gard to that question, "that he should
never be driven until he is sufficiently
developed in structure as to warrant his
being mounted and ridden"
If the truth of the foregoing is adj
mltted, the question now arises Shall
the animals instruction in his PAGES
continue under the saddle Or in harness?
We answer in both But at the same
time would most distinctly and emphat-
ically insist that the instruction ought
hrst to be under the saddle, for which
We present the following reasons:
l. The instructor is brought in much
closer contact with the animal than bv
my other method, and consequently
he horse is more impressed with the
fact of his subsection to the will-power
of his instructor.
2. The legs Of the rider can aid his
hands IN controlling and directing the
animals movements.
3. The whip can be applied, when ne
cessary, to parts other than the hips or
flank, thereby lessening the liability of
the animal contracting the habit of
and last, though not least, es-
peclally to the farmer, the necessary
equipment for the drill compared with
the outlay for sulky is quite inexpen-
sive.
The universal custom among trainers
in preparing the horse for the trotting
course, is to drive the animal in some
kind of a wheeled vehicle, usually a sui
ky. This, think, has been o great mis-
take, a catering to the ease of the man
at the expense of the horse. OF course
it is easier to drive than to ride. Hence
the practice. On account Of this love
of ease very few of our best trotters have
been tried under the saddle. Had rid
ing on the trOtting course been more
generally adopted, after thorough train
ing by the same method, we believe our
trottlng calendar would have shown
marked results in favor Of the system.
The argument IN favor of driving usual
ly made is, that the animal is steadied
by the harness and shafts of the vehicle.
This may be true when a span trots,
when it is not probable that both horses
would require steadying at the samein-
slant, IN which case one could assist the
other. But in the harness very little
assistance can be rendered in the way
of steadying the animal by light trot-
ting harness and toy vehicle that can be
swayed by touch. The best time ever
made in trotting at three mile heats,
was made by Dutchman in 1889, under
saddle, beating by one second the cele-
brated Flora Temple and General But
Ter, who trotted the same distance in
harness in 1860 and 1868. I am in
formed that the now famous Rarus re-
ceived his most effective training under
the saddle This we believe is the true
method of training the young horse
in his PAGES. 1t is not the easiest way
tor his instructor, which is no doubt the
reason it is not more generally adopted,
but it is unquestionably the true meth
cd. Equestrianism is obviously below
par in this country, nor does it seem
that the extensive use Of the cavalry
arm of the service during the late war,
had any perceptible effect in raising the
science particle in the estimation OF
our people. .~ s..
Is CHEESE OR BUTTER THE MORE
PROFITABLE ?-The american Ag7acathatr-
ast has an article under the above head,
which it is worth our while to read, but
it must be rem embered that there is a
market naturally for all the butter and
all the cheese we can manufacture. II
the market has been dull. we have been
largely to blame for it. In a diversity
of an industry a people find their most
fssnSy profit II 9ns s aa o5ese ib ha
neglect Of hlIttar som 9bO0V would