The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-22


preserves the balance and is useful also IN
trOtting. 1t does not at ali give a firm,
steady seat, though 1t adds to one already
obtained by the knee. When two crutcheS
are used the leg should be brought back so
far as to grasp the crutch as before, but
between the two knees the two crutches are
firmly laid hold of, the upper one being IN
der the right knee and the lower one above
the left The right knee hooked over the
crutch keeps the body from slipping back
ward while the left keeps it from a for
ward motion, and thus the proper position
is maintained. In every instance the right
foot should be kept back and the point of
the toe should scarcely be visible.
Now, these points should be carefully kept
in view by all lady riders, and they should
learn as soon as possible to steady them
selves by the grasp of the crutches without
reference to the stirrup-iron And another
point: In spite of her seat the body should
be square TO the front, with the elbow easily
bent and preserved in its proper position by
the same precaution. AS a rule the whip
should be held in the right hand,
with the lash pointing forward and
toward the left, and by this position it
may be used on any part of the horses
body by reaching over TO the left and cut
ting before or behind the saddle, or, with
equal ease, on the right side. Its use may,
therefore, in all cases be substituted for the
modes of effecting the change of the leg,
turning to the left or right, or leading with
either leg. | do not advise violent attempts
at coercion, because | believe the fine hand
and delicate tact of the lady can be relied
upon solely, SO that all the feats that man
can perform may well be initiated by her.
In dismounting, the horse should be
brought to dead stop, and his head held by
an assistant. The lady then turns her knee
back again from the position between the
outside crutch takes her foot out of the
stirrup and sits completely sideways. She
should then put her left hand on the gentle
mans shoulder. who places his right arm
around her waist and lightly assists her to
the ground.
A word or two about the use of whips.
Always use a whip whether riding or driv-
ing, and let it be good one. When it is
mlsused of course it is an instrument of
torture, but in its place it is commendable
/ often see the misuse of the whip in this
large city. A gentleman, driving his horse
through the streets, often has the equine
frightened at some street band, ana he
jerks the reins tightly until past the band
Then he begins to whip the horse and say
that he will teach the animal how to shy.
Well, the horse does not understand the
reason for such treatment, and naturally
supposes that the object which had
frightened him is giving the punishment.
There is reason in everything especially in
the treatment of dumb animals. The whip
is necessary, as q rule, but should always
be used with discretion, tempered with
mercy.
I notice in the streets that the word
whoa" is often misused, or rather used so
it does not mean anything. Now the word
whoa" is the greatest command that we
have in craftsmanship. Never utter it I'M
less you desire your horse or horses to stop.
Ii in driving along the street you should
come to bad place where you desire to
slack speed, do not say whoa" but STEADY
there, my boy" If any one will simply
practice the proper command language he
can have his horses thoroughly trained in
two weeks. Never use one word with too
many meanings. And above all, never lie
60 your horse, never deceive him
OF make false motions, for if you
do you will never make success
ass q trainer of the horse. Men are too
apt to depend upon their own strength to
beat the horse without making use of the
reasoning powers to outgeneral him, and.
in many Instances, such an exercise of
tyranny over the horse only engenders a
rebellious spirit on the part of the animal
Lay aside your strength and use your
reason.
Be moderate, be temperate. No man can
become a good horseman without first hav-
IL.
be perseveriug, be honest 1t is quite COM
mon to say 'whoa," when it is only intended
TO go slower, OF when the horse has not
stirred foot. to let him know of your
presence. One day, when your life may de-
pend upon "whoa," you will find that
your horse is not stopped by it because you
have entirely played it out of him. Speak
always in a natural tone of voice under all
circumstances. Always let your horse face
hn n ban fri
remember the slower you move your horse
the more power you have over him. There
are times when letting q horse trot is
almost as bad as letting him run away.
A parting word on the subject: Fear is
something horseman should never exhibit
in his countenance OF voice, as the horse is
a close observer and soon learns to take adj
vantage of such indications to become
careless of control, if not indeed aggressive.
Let your lessons be thorough, but not very
long. Be gentle and patient with the colt.
but make the willful, stubborn horse feel
the full extent of your power, until he sub
mits.
The way to educate horse not to be
afraid of things is to get him used to them
by bringing him into frequent contact with
them. If the horse is afraid of the report
of firearms only just throw him down and
fire off a pistol over him. Whenever he
makes a motion to get up pull the strap
that holds him down and fire off the pistol
again. This can be repeated and lesson
should last thirty or forty minutes.
The next day give him another lesson,
and in about three days the horse will
pay no attention to the discharge of
firearms. The theory of this is very
simple. All that you have to do is to con
vince horse that you are his friend and he
is not going to be harmed A horse has to
gain confidence in any one, and then what
ever you ask him to do he will be willing to
perform. There is no secret way to juggle
with or hypnotic a horse. Rational meth
DDS, resolution and firmness are the reoui-
sites necessary to assist in handling, riding
and driving vicious horses. Extreme meas
ures have frequently to be adopted even
with men to keep them under proper SUBJ
lection, but after that has been done gentle
ness and kindness are essential.
My idea has been and is now that the
government should establish horse farm.
The United States government owns l0, 900
horses and 3 900 mules, the great majority
of which are in the west on the frontier.
Every year the service buys hundreds of
horses, the greater number of which are
"bronchos,n or western-bred horses. They
cost the government on an average
$11S each, and are only saddle
broken, which means that they have
been ridden two or possibly three times
each by a "broncho-buster. These same
he hon nh o