The Red Cloud chief., 1884-04-04
Training q Saddle Horse.

Seth Craig, a Philadelphia riding
master, lately talked with q reporter
about his business.
'HOw do you start with a horse sent
to you to be trained for use under the
saddle:e" the reporter asked.
'tln training the difficult matter is to
discover the resisting muscles and to
overcome their resistance. These are
the jaw, the neck andthe hind legs, and
of these the trainer must possess COM
plete control. The heavy bearing of u
horse upon his bit originates from one
or all of these three points, and can be
Obviated with proper and careful train
ing. If the horse bears uncomfortable,
that is, pulls uneasily on the bit, it is
caused by the jaw; if more than slight
ly, but not as uneasily, the result is
from the neck and jaw and sometimes
from the hind quarters. The latter is
the chief foundation of resistance. caus-
ing the horse to pull with unresting
power, which, if not overcome, becomes
uncomfortable. To this can be attrib-
uted the many runaways. and its essen
tial that the muscles l have named
should be under the control of the
rider"
'.Do you think that training adds to
the physical improvement of the horse
and lengthens his life?"
"MOst assuredly. A horse in balance
will wear twice as long as one that
throws most of his weight forward on
his fore legs. When well balanced by
training the machinery of the animal
works easily and uniformly. Suppose
you start your horse to travel six miles
an hour. He ough: to expend just
enough physical power to make that
speed; but if, as generally happens with
q spirited mount, he has to be re-
strained, he wears himself rs much rs
If his speed was actually ten miles an
hour. Formerly we had no means of
holding him in. and when we put on a
evere curb-bit his center of gravity
was in front and the curb was of little
use. Thus we aim to make the horse
carry his burden 20 that it will fall
principally upon the hind quarters, and
this is a matter of intelligent training"
"What arc the popular gaits?"
"A good, well-formed and Uniform
horse is like a good piece of machinery.
He may be worn a good deal, but he
will still work as well as ever in spite of
years. But when any one part gives
out the whole machine is gone. Thus
it is our aim to equaliZe the work of the
horse. so that none of his organs may
do an undue share. The saddle horse
of the present day walks. trots and can
tiers. The walk and trot are generally
used. few who are considered good rid
ers allowing their horses to canter."
"HOw do you teach horse to walk?"
'.He must first be brought into bal
ance, and be taught to give up the re-
~sistance of the neck and jaws. When
this is done. and he has mounted, the
gentle pressure of the riders legs will
excite him to 90 forward. while he is
restrained by the reins. When you
restrain him thus you expect him to
either stop or go on more slowly. If
you urge him on with your legs or
touch him with the spur or whip. YOU
expect him to go faster. Now, if You
urge him on, you restrain him slightly.
ut the same time YOU will cause him to
gather himself up, step more quickly
and more actively aud bring his hind
legs under his body. When his hind
legs are well under he has better COM
mand of himself. and his front legs are
relieved from the su%perabundant STUN
BILE. His back is stronger, because he
carries his riders weight on his hind
legs rather than on his back. The Eng
lish use a long saddle. put well back,
to accomplish what we do by training.
To have q horse we'll trained he should
first be taught with 4 bit before being
Observation-Disclosures Times.