The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-03-06
A Plea for the Horse.


Should we take any standard authori-
ty in Natural History, it would be found
that the "calm and patient horse" occu-
pies no mean position in the order of
the great animal kingdom. Away back
through the dim vista of the past, we see
the horse subject of worship; later,
and in comparatively intelligent copn-
try, we find strong belief that the
horse is possessed Of soul. To-day, in
many countries Get us whisper, they can
be found in the United States), there are
people who esteem their horses of great
er value than their wives and children.
But we did not intend at the outset to
commend the attention bestowed upon
the horse, to the contrary, we intended
to condemn the treatment inflicted upon
him; SO, leaving the aristocratic stced
to enjoy his princely care. we will speak
Of horses in general, and abused ones in
particular.
First, their training and breaking: in
training horses, as all should know there
arc certain natural laws that govern
them. For instance, SAYS an old trainer.
it is natural for him to kick whenever
he gets badly frightened; ii is natural
for him to escape from any thing which
he thinks will do him harm. His facul-
ties for seeing, hearing and smelling,
have been given him for the purpose OF
examining every thing new with which
he is brought in contract. And so long
as you present him with nothing that
Ofends his eyes, nose or ears. you can
handle him at will, Notwithstanding he
may be frightened at first, so that in Il
short time he win fearlessly approach any
object. however frightful at first, which.
is brought near. All Of the whipping
and squirting of horses for shying STUN
bling, etc, is both unnecessary and cru
cl. Should the horse shy and YOU whip
him for it, il only adds terror to fright,
and makes the object much larger, as
well as more hideous than il would 9TH
erwisc be. for he expects that the smart
ing under the whip of his cruel and ig-
norant driver, is in some way connect
ed with the object of which he is afraid:
give him time to examine it, and you
will be surprised how soon he will APP
proach il fearlessly. The same is true
rs regards stumbling let the horse be
punished when he stumblcs few times
and forever afterward, whenever he
stumblcs, however slightly, with the re-
membrance of the lash, he viii jump for
fright as soon as recovering from the
stumble, thus making tie matter ten
times worse, for the habit may be over
come, the education never.
As to noisome smells, such as oils. etc.
there is nothing that assists the trainer
to tame his student better. II is better
to approach the colt with the smell OF
honey, or cinnamon upon the hands,
than the scent of hogs, for, above all
things the horse seems to have loath-
ing for the smell, sight or hearing of
hogs, and will invariably attempt to cs-
cape from il, while they like the smell OF
honey cinnamon, and many other spices.
To affect horse with drugs. il is neccs-
sary to administer some preparation OF
opium, and while he is under the inhu-
ence of il. he can be learned no more
than you can teach drunken man.
Above all things, treat the colt kindly.
for when obedience is required from any
subject, il is much better to have rem
dercd through a sense of love than from
fear, every reader knowing this, and can
tell from experience. show the thing
works."
When the colt has been approached
and has learned TO put confidence in the
trainer. fondle its nose and mouth. TAX
ing great care not TO hurt or iniure in
any way, or else he will dislike very
much to have the bride put on. After
he is taught TO follow. then put on the
harness, putting the lines through the
shaft straps along the side; now teach
him with gentleness to yield to the rcins
turn short TO the right and left, teach
him to stand still before he is even hitch
ed up; you now have the colt complete
ly under control. If he gets frightened
the reins should be used as telegraph
to inform him what you wish him to
do.
mo horse" says Rarey, lis naturally
vicious, but always obcys his trainer as
soon as he comprchcnds what he would
have him do. You must. at the same
time be firm with him. and give him to
distinctly understand that you are a
trainer and that he is a horse" The
best bit to hold horse and at the same
time keep his mouth from getting sore.
is a straight bar bit. four and a half
inches long between the rings; this OPP
crates on both sides of the jaw, while |
the ordinary snafile forms clamp and |
presses only on one side. The curb or
bredoon hurts his under jaw, so that he |
will come 10 full stop before he will |
yield to the rein.
As there is more of the subject than |
We at first thought we will continue thr |
nj some future time. In the |
remember that the horse. to
be rendered perfectly docile and well
broke must be put through system of
education when young, and continued
until his death. 1t will be surprising
how mary things the horse will learn,
md he would learn many more if every
whip factory was burned up.-St. Louis
Journal.
A Talk With Mothers.
Mothers, why all this bitter waiiing:
md why such great change in our
and .,1...,s nr, !