The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-12-16
ANNOYING BRUTES.
Tho Prevention of Halter-PulIing an
Other Vicious Tricks in Horses.

The Prevention of Halter-Puliing and
Other Vicious Tricks in Horses.
There is no more annoying brute than
a halter-pulling horse. He is also as
dangerous as annoying. Once the vice
is fairly acquired, the animal is there
after to be regarded as untrustworthy.
It is true, many of the advertised de-
vices will prevent halter-pulling so long
as they are employed in the stable, and
if the means is used before the animal
has become fairly confirmed he may be
permanently broken of the habit.
Nevertheless, the chief danger from
halter-pulling and halter-breaking is in
the street. The animal is almost sure
to run away, the halter being broken,
unless promptly caught. Hence, the
only sure ean of combining such a
horse in the street is by a strap about
his neck to which a rope is attached,
| neither of which can be broken.
Any horse when frightened is quite
apt to break an ordinary halter. For
this reason it is a measure of safety that
horses left in the streets-espec:ally
high strung and tim:d horses-be fasten-
ed with strap and rope until it be found
that they are Indifferent to the various
objects that may come in view. After
such time they may be confined with
the ordinary halter. Until they be.
come thoroughly broken to stand the
end of the rope should be passed through
the rings of the bit. Then if the bit OF
bride breaks, the straps will hold. In
the end, if this means is used before
the habit of pulling becomes confirmed,
the animal may eventually be held By
the smallest-sized halter strap, or even
with a piece of Irvine.
In buying an animal, n of the first
things to be looked to, after unsound-
ness, is that of halter-pulling. The an
imal should also be examined for other
vices. Kicking, biting, baking, run-
ming away. backing, rearing. shyine
and slipping the halter are the most
dangerous. Disabilities should also be
looked after. These are c%rib-biting,
overreaching, interfering or cutting,
rolling in the stall, stumbling, rearing
in the stable and paving. Unless the
guarantee be from a responsible man
and this should include age. soandness,
vices and minor disabilities-the pros,
pective buyer must so satisfy himself
personally.
The time to prevent halter-pulling is
when the colt is first battered. The
halter should not only be so strong that
it can not under any possibility be
broken, but it must pain the colt when
he seeks to pull back. For this a cave
son halter should be used, and the AM
NAL will always stand SO the halter
strap is loose. In case a horse has &c
quired the vice of pulling in the stable
and he be valuable enough to pay for
the trouble, take a half inch rope
twelve to fourteen feet long, double i
in the center, put the middle of thu
cord under the animals tail, cross thu
rope over the back, carry the ends un
der the neck, and tie them securely il
front of and close to the breast. It ma,
be necessary to place a sir-singie or til
a rope around the body to hold tn
rope in place. Put on a strong halle
with a strong rope attached. Pass thu
end of the rope through the iron rins
of the manger and thence under thu
ropes at the breast and tie securely
Then the horse will pull on his tail
This he VIII find so unpleasant that
firm att mpt will cure him, unless he b
an old rogue. Many horses will neve
pull when any person is present. The
can generally be made to do so. how
ever, if given some fright from before
The better plan. however, is to bn
only sound horses and free from vice.
thfc1go Tribune.