The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-03-16

ssIhe great secret in training horses -
said Prof George Bartholomew to
newspaper man, sis to make haste
slowly. and at all times to use persua-
sim and firmness in preference to com
pulsion or force. Nothing can be more
absurd than the ideas | find generally
pertaining in regard to this, that to
make a horse understand an thing it
must be beaten into him. The thing to
do IN training horse is to go about it
naturally, to reason with him always
deliberately and kindly, and make him
understand that you are his friend. I
never have found that coaxing and IN
yariably kind treatment spoilt = horse.
On the other hand, the same as with
man, none of the best horses will WELD
to beating. In all or any of the difficult
performances of my own horses it is
impossible for me to force the animals
to do anything by whipping, and never
resort to it. My rule always is to COM
bine kindness with firmness, and to
teach them slowly, and doing this / ex-
perience but little trouble. I count the
military drill, as performed here at the
Windsor Theater. the best feature in
my exhibition. The scene in the last
act of my exhibition, where the horses
rush up and fire off the cannons. hold
ing the short lanyard strap between
their teeth. is another very difficult OPP
Grafton, and requires great amount of
careful teaching. I began at first by
teaching them to become accustomed
to handling substances with their teeth,
without allowing them to destroy the
articles. All my horses will do this.
Afterwards / taught them to fire off a
small cap by pulling at a strap placed
between their teeth, and later to fire
blank cartridge, until finally they be-
came so accustomed to it that it was q
simple step farther to the present per
torrance. When it is considered that
the teeth are remarkably sensitive con-
ductors of sound, and the immediate
vibration which occurs to the animals
head on the instant the shot is fired and
before it is possible to release the strap,
the extreme difficulty attending its sue
eessful teaching can be better con-
ceived. II a horse is very nervous and
easily subject to alarm, the best method
always is to treat him gently and with
the greatest consideration. Find out
the reasons or objects which effect to
brighten him, and make him immediate
ly familiar with them. Show him chat
none of them viii hurt him. Among
the first lessons which colt learns
from its dam is that Of fear of certain
objects, and the effect is always lasting.
In training horses it is necessary as. far
as possible to uproot tn S inherited fear,
and to make it plain to them that you
intend always to befriend them. AS all
the runaways among horses.are caused
through fear, SO the majority might
easily be prevented if only the SIMPLEST
natural precautions were taken. The
fact is, people generally who have the
care of horses show remarkable care
lessness, acting sometimes without the
| slightest reason or consideration. A
person will drive up the street and stop
at some place, getting out of his vehicle,
and either leave his horse altogether
unhitched or very insecurity fastened,
and will afterwards express surprise
that his action has resulted in runa-
way. -IhOrOuQh6red Stock Journal.