Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-14
THE CLIPPED HORSE.

| He was attached to cutter and hitched
to post in front of the City Hall, and
after giving himself a shake to clear off the
snow, he said
Yes, I'm one of the clipped horses.
It's warm enough to-day, but I've been in
constant shiver ever since winter set in.
just you take off your clothing down to
your shirt and face the rigors of winter,
| and see how you would feel over it,
" But why did they clip you?"
Under the idea that l would trot
faster, and because my owner was too lazy
to care for me when l came in wet. He
don't care for my comfort at all, but looked
entirely at his own"
" And do you trot any faster?"
Not bit. Can a shivering man run
faster than warm one? | am stiff and
sore, my nose runs, my eyes are weak and
] have still further cause for complaint"
&c In WHAT"
Come over on the avenue this after
noon and see how am used. Nature gave
me a fair gait. My owner goes to work
and puts weights and boots and straps on
me, bits my head up, clips me, and tries to
do what Nature couldn't do-make me a
fast horse. The weight gives me an awk-
ward gait, the check makes my neck ache,
and the cold wind prevents my blood from
circulating. That isn't all. .
"Well?'
"I'm expected to get right down and
pass everything on the road. I'm raced
up and down till I'm out of breath, and
then sent flying to beat fresh horse.
You've seen me go? 1 do my best, of
course, but when I'm out of breath I've
got to change my gait. The instant
strike gallop my head is twitched this
way and that, my mouth lacerated, and
ten to one l get dose of the whip, and
hear my driver say Z: 'Consarn 'er if she
don't stay down I'll cut her to pieces ="
That isn't right.
Right Why the law ought to make
it grievously wrong! can trot as honest
as a dollar in three minutes, but because
can do this am matched against horses
which can do ten seconds better. Not only
that, but am dashed and i'll, used because
l can't beat them. If any owner was to
run foot-race, would he fasten half-pound
weights to the toes of his boots Would
he wear knee-pads? Would he have his
head pulled back On his shoulders And
then, if he got beaten, would he submit to
thrashing? 1 tell you it's wrong"
eyes,"
And don't always get a fair show.
Other horses get long start, or have to
travel in the snow, or we meet with an OBJ
struction. My owner never makes any al
lowance for those things. l am expected
to rush to the front and hold the place,
and if faster horse outfoots me, down
comes the whip, and the driver growls !:
Take that and that and I'll sell you
for cent 7"
"And what can you do?"
"Only one thing. l believe I'll run
away
"And go to sea ?"
Not hardly. III smash the cutter and
take myself off into the country. I'll get
a rest, anyhow, and if 1 am picked up for
an estray and not reclaimed I'll fall into
some farmers hands who'll treat me well
for what can fairly do"
"When will you got"
Moonlight off-good. by"
A band struck up to furnish a good ex-
cuse. One pull broke the strap, wheel
and kick cleared the cutter, and as the
horse flew up the street everybody yelled
.'Stars and garters but amt that
clipped horse clipper I'M. Quad.