Huntsville gazette., 1885-09-19

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for fear. No balky horse ever baffied
Rarey, and if we would treat our
horses in the same considerate manner,
we should in the first place see fewer
balky horses, and in the next, we
should soon be able to cure the animal
Of this vice, which is only another
name for groundless fear. In fact, in
all our dealings with the horse, wo
should consider it not as mere ma
chine, but as being which possesses
reason essentially the same as that OF
man, but of less power and grasp.
Even in guiding the horse, it is better
both for the animal and the man that
the reins should be used as lightly as
possible, and the whip not used at all.
1t can be done. and is done, not only
in England, but in America. An ad-
mirable example of the case with which
the horse can be guided by an intelli-
gent and kindly driver came before my
notice few years ago. had occasion
to drive to Streatham, a place about
five miles distant from my house. On
the way I noticed that the driver did
not use his whip, though the road was
hilly and troublesome one. OF course
l complimented him on his kindness.
and was surprised when the man told
me that he did not possess whip, not
being such fool as to want one. The
same carriage conveyed me home
again, and l kept careful watch on
the driver Then found that he did
not even use the reins, but that he
guided the horses entirely by his voice.
A long and steep hill lies about half
way between Streatham and my home.
At the foot of the hill, the driver de-
scended, and walked up the road, the
horse following him. After we had
gone about halfway up the hill, the
driver turned round and said: ''Now
you may have rest" He then re-
sumed his walk. The horse went on
until she reached lighted lamp, and
drew up under it, the driver continu-
ing his walk. After awhile, he turned
round and said: ''Now, my lady, if
you are quite rested. come on" She
turned her head looking at him as if
to acknowledge his remark, and then
resumed her position. She had not
rested sufficiently. The driver went
on, and presently the horse turned
round of her own accord and followed
him to the summit of the hill. Within
a quarter of mile from my house is
the road which leads to the stables,
and l took care to see how the man
and horse would act. just as she
came to the road in question, round
went her head. An ordinary driver
would have given jerk to the oppo-
site rein and slash from the whip.
This man did neither. He only said:
mot as yet. my lady. Straight on, il
you please And she went straight
on accordingly.
On talking with the driver at the end
of the journey, found that he studied
the character of the horse for himself,
and had acted upon his studies. He
said, and rightly, that the horse wants
to obey man. 1t only wishes to find
out what are its drivers intentions,
and will carry them out better if it be
not kept in state Of constant terror
and nearly constant pain, as is
the case with most horses
while they are at work. The
night being dark one, / had scarcely
seen what kind of an animal it was
that possessed such a master. But
while patting and praising her,
thought that her bones protruded more
than might have been expected, and
asked her age. She was twenty-six
years old, and still full of work. 1t is
scarcely necessary to say that | never
afterward employed any other driver,
except when this man was engaged.
The reader may here take note that
kindly treatment of the horse is not
only conducive to the comfort of both
man and beast but that it is by far the
most economical mode which can be
| adopted. This driver had managed to
get out of his horse some seven or eight
years of work more than cruel OF
even rough driver could have done.
The horse did her work gladly, and we
| all know how much better is work done
"with will'' than that which is com.
pulsory. There were no contests be
tween the man and the horse. Both
| were in perfect accord, and when al
| work, the horse suffered no pain and
the man no irritability.
This is the only instance of the kind
that have seen in cab driver, but
every one who is familiar with Londor
must have noticed that the gigantic
brewers men, who accompany the
equally gigantic horses which draw the
heavy beer-wagons, never use theil
whips. and guide the horses entirely by
the voice. These great establishments
manage their horses entirely by kind
ness.-J G. Wood, in Youths Compan
ION.