The Dawson journal., 1883-08-02
The Art of the Horse Tanner.

OGulVS ouIlINdH, Cue W uISpeleT. Il
horse breaker at Cork, ''an ignorant,
awkward rustic of the lowest class"
1t was claimed for him that he pos
sessed the art of controlling by some
secret influence any horse or mare
that was VIGOROUSLY vicious. He
practiced in private and would not
reveal his method. "When employ
ed to tame an outrageous animal he
directed the stable i'll which he and the
object of the experiment were placed
to be shut, with orders not to open
the door until a signal was given
After tete-a-tete between him and
the horse for about half an hour, dur
ing which little or no hustle was
heard, the signal was made, and up
on opening the door the horse was
seen lying down, and the man by his
side playing Familiarity with him, like
child with puppy dog. From
that time he was found perfectly
willing to submit to any discipline,
however repngnant to his nature be-
fore. Sullivan could not be persuad
ed to practice his art abroad. He was
welded to the locality, and so his
triumph were witnessed by only a
small circle. It is safe to affirm that
he did not control horses by talking
to them in whispers and by magnet
touch. His practice was different
from his pletensions. When Rarey,
a son of an inn keeper in Central
Ohio, went to England in 1853, he
claimed to have physiological power
over horses, and after he had brought
Cruiser under control, his praises
were sung by two continents. The
truth of the matter is that Rarey,
like those who came after him, OBJ
tanned obedience through force
He practiced the leg tying up sys-
tenn which he had learned at George
town, Ky, from Denton Ofutt.-
Make the vicious horse feel that you
are bis master, and then soothe
him with soft caresses and gentle
words, and you viii accomplish all
that Whisperer Sullivan accomplish
ed. Mr.. Wagner, in his forthcoming
book, gives the full history of the
Cruiser case. The facts were furn
ished by Mr.. Goodenough, who took
Rarey to England, Cruiser was own
ed by Lord Dorchester, and had been
vicious from a colt. He was kept
for breeding purposes at Morrell
Green, forty-fve miles from London
A watering bridal was kept on him
continually. To it were attached
two chains, each about twelve inches
long, with a buckle at the end. The
door of the stable divided in the cen
tire, and when it was desired to lead
him out for use the lower half was
opened and a bucket Of water put in.
When the horse plunged his nose in
the water to drink a strap 90 feet
long was quickly, fastened to each
bit of chain. In this way two men
could lead the animal without get
ing in range of his teeth and feet
Cruiser never were the big iron nuz-
zle which Rarey exhibited with the
horse. That was a little advertise.
ing trick. Cruiser was not subdued
by ordinary methods. As last re,
sort, his fore legs were tied up, a
collar put on and his hind legs drawn
up and tied to it. In this helpless
cqndition he was left all highs e q
solitary stable. In the morn ing he
was watered, caressed, fed and
groomed. Then he was led behind
a dog cart TO London and tied down
the following night. His spirits was
broken, and after this Rarey could
handle him with comparative ease
In London and New York wonder
ing crowds focked to see the vicious
animal which the magic touch Of the
horse tanner had made as gentle as
lamb. After Rarey's death Cruiser
was treated inhumanly, and again he
grew sullen and vicious. He was
confined in small paddock at Grove
Port, near Columbus, Ohio, his feet
seldom trimmed, never carefully
groomed, and his food pitched al
him. He had no love for man, and
the face of every prying intruder
threw him into a rage. He was a
horse of fine grain, with we'll proper
toned head and rather wide between
tile eyes. He was bred to few
mares in Central Ohio, and there left
some colts Of more than average ner
it. The successful horse tanner mus