The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-26


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Maud y or, Horse Training.
can think Of no better illustration of
right and wrong methods in the educa-
ton Of animals than IL seen in the his
tory Of the celebrated trotter, Maud ;.
Amateur hOrsemen think that one
skilful trainer can drive OF develop horse
as well as another That this is a mis-
take, experience has proved over and
over again. For success. there must be
a perfect understanding between man
and horse Perfectly confidential in
telligent and sympathetic are BAR the
trainer, and Maud ).
"He has studied her temperament She
is wilful, hightempered and imperIous
She resists brute force with violent re-
sentiment that cannot be conquered She
Yields to the power OF kindness with the
alectionate sensibility OF noble.boru
genilewOman She is ambitious 10 the
degree of rashncss, and intelligent far
beyond her years and opportunities
After she Was taken East. as the property
of Mr.. Vanderbilt, she showed the
quality OF her metle. Neither her
pfinceiy owner nor the c0it-tFalning
phenomenon, CARL Burr, could, by the
mere force OF will or by the power OF
strong arms, make her Submissive 10 their
demands. Maud ;. remained IN Mi
Burrs charge for an entire season, and
at the end of il she pulled on the BIT,
with distended nOstrils and flaming eyes,
As il she would suffer her movable Jaw
10 be fractured before she would be con-
quered " hen, al the end OF The season,
Mr. Vanderbilt sent her back TO her old
trainer al Chester Park, she was given
public exhibition during the October
trotting meeting in the presence OF
special party OF New York hOrsemen.
She arched her back in determined DISC
bedience, and braced her lower jaws
against her neck to Withstand any at
tempt 10 control her, and, with Il wiltul
frenzy, she plunged and broke and jumped
and tossed her head in defiance TO all ODE
dience When Mr. Bair had trained her
She was gentle and tractable, but when
she was turned over 10 Mr. Dimmick. at
one time during her three-y ear-Oid form,
and at another time 10 the equally yete-
ran reinsman, Mr.. Peabody, she showed
the same irascibility OF temperament.
Indeed, when perfectly calm after these
experiences, she often manifested an in
ability to resume the trOtting action
alter breaking into galOp. Strange as
Il may sound, had Maud > remained IN
the East under her then management,
ave. had she been transferred 10 the
tutelage OF any one but her old trainer,
Mr.. Bair, she never would have become
at any age. tho queen Of tho trotting
turf
That October exhibition AZ Chester
Park was deep modification 20 Mr
Bair. She plunged and jumped with n
mad fury The grand stand was well
hlled with curious spectators Bsir
blushed with crimson confusion al the
insane conduct OF his tayorite But he
showed no exhibition of temper lie
never resorted TO the cruel treatment OF
many so called sklful trainers-that is
10 coax and bride their horses with
sweatmeats Ia the stable, and on the
slightest proyOcatiOns undo all this effect
by Furnishing them numerically in pub
lie. No other trainer within my know
ledge, al all times, and under all circum-
stances. seems to realize that the best
method OF exercising mind over matter
in the horse creation is by the unfailing
power OF considerable kindness.
His conduct that day, followed up In
his subsequent treatment. saved Maud )
from ruin. He quietly held her, cosxing
her 10 desist. never scOlding, or Jerking
or striking her Even 10 the stable door
her eyes famed with open rebellion
There she was Embarrassed amid gentle
caresses, her shoes were pulled of, and
she Was kindly led into winter quarters,
in the hopes that months OF recreation
would bring fOrgetfulness OF disastrous
contests with Ler late driver for the
mastery.
After the trial ia 1879, We have de-
scrbed, she ran out daily, in fine
weather, from October 10 the beginning
OF the new year hnt all this time she
was receiving unconscious tuition that
was certain to develop her unequaled
powers In her box as well as in her
paddock, she was fondled and pampered
with apples and sugar till, like petted
child she would search the neyer-empty
pockets OF her friend and trainer every
time he came into her presence. Would
that every master did so. He did every.
thing to make her forget her late expert
ence He drove her everywhere except
on the race-course, which she remem-
bered as the scene Of her trbulations;
plying her with the most untiring kind
ness of voice and touch till her spirit Of
determined rebellion finally sottened
under the influence or gentleness and al
fiction. Gradually she ceased pulling;
only occasionally did she indulge Ia
bucking her head upon her breast, and
still mole rarely insist upon those violent
PUSHES, ending in wild, plunging break.
that are 50 dlscouraging 10 the majority
OF horsemen. At last the track was
drying up, ,he spring rains were over
and gone, and Maud 5. was quietly led
upon the course. Instantly the old fury
returned. She showed defiance TO the
tips of her great ears. But the same
gentle touch and kindly voice treasured
her, and she became al last as tractable
as a little child How wonderful 10 the
power OF neyer-failing kindness
"ohe was not driven al once upon the
track, but led four or five miles, aud then
quietly harnessed amid caresses.
IF she began 10 show the least dispo-
sition 10 renew her battles she was not
resisted. for she would certainly have
gained the mastery; but she was quietly
walked 10 the stable and put gently away
till the next day, when she was led ten
miles before being harnessed to the
sulty. This may seem to be too much
but she required vast amount Of judi
cious work. Thus her anger and fears