Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-02-11
Educating Horses.

A great deal of interest has existed in
the county, for several weeks past, in the
lectures Of Mr. Oscar R. Gleason, who pur-
sues his avocation under the title of the
champion Equine Educator of the
World" On no other occasion that we
can think of have the county people come
into town, except on court day or other
public occasion, in such numbers. Last
Monday afternoon the corners of the
streets in the vicinity of the Virginia Ho-
tel were thronged with farmers waiting
for the lecturer to begin his exhibition to
his class, in the large agricultural machine
warehouse of Lynn & Eyler. The interest
does not seem to be confined to Augusta,
for on the route between Mt. Jackson, in
Shenandoah, and Staunton, there are 1 ,42S
persons belonging to Mr.. Gleason 8 classes.
At about two O'Clock the lecturer arrived
and the ware house became busy locality
for nearly two hours. There were about two
hundred farmers present and belonging to
the class including many OF the best known
in the county. Mr.. Gleason is young
man apparently thirty-fve, and has clear,
quick speech, stopping every moment or
so to illustrate what he is saying. The
subject of the illustration, Monday even
ing, was small, nervous looking. dark
brown horse, whose master said he was a
kicker. The lecturer. after stating en-
phatically that he was no horse tanner and
did not claim to be one, remarked that he
was simply horse educator, such as any
of the persons present might become if
they followed his directions with patience.
He said there were three things necessary
in the man who attempted to teach horse
Judgment, patience and common sense.
He then proceeded to give his lecture
and illustrations, which, of course as they
are his private property, we cannot give
in full, but simply and idea of them. He
first showed how to approach horse and
in few trials had the animal on exhibit
ton follow him. Then came description
of the good points which make horse
more valuable. He then showed ingenious
contrivances for stopping halter breaking
in horse and kicking while being shod.
He then fixed slight cord and loop around
the horses head and the animal allowed a
jangling watering pot to be ratified about
his head and over his back. without at
tempting to run or kick. Then he exhib-
tied s.bridlen which was mere cord and
loop tied in peculiar manner by which
cow could be made to stand while being
MIXED, and a horse be made to keep quiet.
Other contrivances we're shown for curing
a horse of running away, of paving his
stall, of rearing in harness and OF back
ing, All these s'cures" we're ingenious ar
rangements of some cords and straps which
instantly put stop to any efforts Of the
horse in the directions named and which
the lecturer said would put an end to the
habit in any horse. At the close OF the
lecture Mr.. Gleason gave some practical
illustrations of how to shoe horse; it ap-
ne,ued that he was a blacksmith as well as
horse educator.
Before adjou ming, Mr.. Gleason took the
members of the class who desired it, and
put them through all he had done-they
tying the knots and arranging the appa-
ratus with their own hands, SO as to be
sure they understood it.
He gave lectures at Arbor Hill and
Waynesboro this week, and on Court day,
special trains are to berun on the Valley
railroad to Harrisonburg. for a genera
gathering of the members of his classes at
THAT point.