The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-07-13


What NAV be done for q horse, not
apparently BY natural conformation
fitted to be used for the saddle, simply
by course of kind, patient and intelli-
gently directed schooling. has been ex-
emplified, not little to the surprise of
the few gentlemen who have been invited
to see it, by an animal belonging to Mr..
Edward L. Anderson, one of our visitors
from America, who is known by his
works on the habits and management
of the horse to many lovers of this ami
NAL. At first sight Alidor is certainly
not promising subject as he stands in
the riding-school waiting for his master
to mount him. He is low at the Shout
der, his head is heavy. the mouth shall
low; he stands with hinder limbs well
out at an angle, and one is not surprised
to learn that the dam was Norwegian
drudge, and that in his youth Alidor
had an unenviable power of pulling a
load with his mouth. But the moment
the groom has hooked up the light
curb chain of the riding-bit and
the owner has mounted. the whole
appearance and expression of the
creature changes; he pulls himself
together. brings his feet well under
him, arches his neck. yielding his head
to the slightest pull of the rein, and
obeying the wish of the rider almost, as
it seems. before the wish is expressed,
BY motion of the heel and the needle
prick of the spur, or gentle touch of
the silk-tipped whip. The movements
of the animal are as different from
those of the farmers gig horse that he
would have been had not fate marked
him out to receive higher education
as the movements of the one who has
passed with profit through the gymna-
SUM, the battle-ground, and the dancing
school are from those of lumpish
country lOut. Alidor's neck and limbs
fire now, as the result of his training,
remarkably supple: the least tightening
of the rein will cause him to bring his
head round to his shoulder; he will
back in circles with a serpentine mo-
ton; he will wheel round with any one
of his legs for pivot that the rider
chooses: he .'traverses" in the passage
action and executes demi-voltes and re-
peats reversed pirouttes with unfailing
readiness and ease. Then, to show his
form" he will advance with the
stately action of the Spanish march,
and again with the same exag-
gerated motions at the trot. Cir
Giles and serpentines are repeated
at the gallop, and he changes lead:
while with the application of the
spurs, he is brought to deadhalt as he
Is going at full gallop. A small wooden
barred hurdle, thirty inches high and
about as wide as an ordinary cottage
garden gate, is placed in the ride; the
rider. taking off his spurs and throwing
away his stirrups, walks Alidor up to
the jump. and the obedient creature
goes over the bars with Hghtness one
would hardly have suspected, even
after witnessing his previous perform
ances. Another narrow gate of the
same dimensions as the first is set up
little more than the length of the horse
away. and he takes the two in and out
as comfortably and unconcernedly as
the one. What is most noticeable. per-
haps, is the perfect habit of obedience
which is the outcome of this system of
education. The animal seems to have
40 idea of refusing to do whatever is
required of him; he went at gallop
straight at the wall, only stopping when
the rider brought him up with the spurs
Just rs his nose would have touched the
bricks: and throughout the whole hours
ride it was evident that the most perfect
accord subsisted between man and
horse. The method by which these re-
suits haze been attained is chiefly that
Of Baucher. with some notifications
and additions suggested by the owners
acquired in the French and