The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-22
KING OF HORSE TAMERS.
PROF. GLEASON WRITES ON HOW
TO HANDLE HORSES.

the Whip, the Spurs and Other
Accoutrements That Are Used-Ths
Right and the Wrong Way to Handle
a Refractory Horse-What to Do in
Case of Accident.
(Copright 1907
NEW YORK, June 2l.-The horse is one OF
the most intelligent of animals. He can be
taught to do almost anything but speak.
During an experience of fifteen years |
have handled over II, 900 of the most vicious
kickers, bakers, strikers, plungers, biters,
boilers, shyerS and horses possessing all
other vicious habits known. | have yet TO
find the horse l could not by my methods
conquer, subdue and make docile in a short
time. 1t is gratifying, and with some feeling
of pride that mention the fact that | have
not injured a single horse during my long
and successful career. And it is a source of
happiness to know that / have not ever
been cruel to one of the noblest of dumb
animals. My methods are simple and per-
feet. 1t is recorded in history that Alexan-
der was the first TO ride and tame his steed
Bucephalus He did it by mastering the
horse, and not by sheer brutality. There is
a big distinction between mastering horse
and cowiug the animal by cruel brutality.
Many horses have more sense than their
riders. The equine knows when he Is at the
mercy of some inexperienced rider, and 1t
only renders the animal FESTIVE and appre-
hensive. A horse should never be deceived
by words or action. When a driver or
rider pulls the reins and says whoa" he
should mean it and stick to it. But TO cry
whoa" jerk the reins and lash the horse at
the same time is confusing and means moth
ing.
Equestrian pastime. notice. is becoming
a fad, and a Commendable one, too, among
ladies' Hundreds of them ride daily in the
park and on the boulevard. l have often
been asked what kind of saddles ladies
should use, and how they should carry
themselves in the saddle. A lady'S saddle
should be carefully fitted to the horse, and
there should always be third crutch. An
extra leather girth should be used to keep
the flaps of the saddle in their places. The
stirrup may be either like mans,
with a lining of leather or velvet,
or it may be a slipper, which is safer and
also easier to the foot As a rule the lady's
whip is light, and it should be carried
more to threaten than to actually give
punishment. If a lady desires a spur could
be used, and no doubt it would help to ami
mate the horse at the right moment. am
in favor of no instrument of torture, how
ever, as the spur is often made when used
by the reckless and cruel. 1t should be
buckled on to the boot and small opening
made in the habit with a string attached
to the inside, which is tied around the
ankle, thus keeping the spur always
projecting beyond the folds of the habit.
Sometimes a nose martingale is added for
ornament, but no horse that throws his head
up should be ridden by ladies' The mistake
often made is in selecting the most stupid
animal, fit only for dray, for ladies to
ride, when the most perfect goer should be
chosen. AS a rule the idea seems to prevail
that horse with a beautiful outline will
carry lady, but it is an egregrious mistake.
If it were left to the ladies to decide, they
would soon select suitable horses. Ladies
are usually light, and a horse that will
easily carry them is generally unfit to
mount the average man, because he is SO
much heavier. Few ladies who ride weigh
more than $50 pounds, and, in fact, most of
them weigh considerably less. 1t is
make the scrub horse essentially a
lady's horse. Now. my idea is
that in point of soundness, action, mouth
and temper the lady's horse should be
A gentleman's horse
may be good, yet wholly unable to canter,
and SO formed that he capnot be taught,
therefore he is totally unsuited to lady.
vi Tue JULIET MANU- eNbTH lduN uOTbb buOulu
do his PAGES well. | know that many ladies
never trot, but they should not be furnished
with the excuse that they cannot because
their horses will not In size, the lady's
horse should be about 10 hands high or from
AZ to 49,, for less than this allows
the habit TO trail in the dirt, and
more makes the horse too lofty and I'M
wieldy for lady's use. In breaking lady's
horse. if he is of good temper and fine
littIa ha 70 ,aIy !
ter easily and with the right leg foremost.
This is necessary, because the other leg is
TO the rider from her side
position in the saddle. The breaker should,
therefore, get the horse accustomed to start
off with the right leg. He should also bend
him thoroughly. so as to make HIM canter
well in his hind legs and not with the dis
turbed action which we SO often see.
The curb must be used for this purpose,
but without bearing too heavily upon it.
And the horse must be brought to his pace
by fine handling rather than by force. and
by occasional pressure, which he will yield
to and play with if allowed, rather than by
a dead pull In this way, by taking adj
vantage of every inch yielded, and yet not
going too far, the head is gradually brought
in and the hind legs as gradually are thrust
forward, so as instinctively to steady the
mouth and prevent the pressure which is
feared. When this sitting on the
launches is accomplished, a horse cloth
may be strapped on the near side of the sad
die to accusUom him to the Tapping of the
habit; but | have always found IN an ordi-
nary good-tempered horse that, if the PAGES
and mouth were all perfect, the habit is
sure to be borne.
Many gentlemen make the excuse that
their horses have never carried a lady: but
my answer is that if they will quietly
carry gentleman they will carry ladv
in the same style, though they may not be
suitable to her seat or hand. Many ladies
hold the reins as in driving, and it is in
some respects better, because it allows the
hand to be lower than the gentleman's
mode, and the end of the reins fall better
over the habit. In mounting, the horse
should be held as steadily as for gentle
mans use, taking care to keep him well up
to the place where the lady stands, from
which ne is very apt to slide away.
The gentleman assistant then places his
hand on his right knee, or little below it,
and receives the lady's left foot. Previously
to this she should have taken the rein in her
right hand, which is placed on the middle
crutch, then with her left hand on the
gentleman's shoulder and her foot in his
hand, she should make spring from the
ground and Immediately stiffen her left leg,
using his hand, steadied by his knee, as a
second foundation for spring,
ana then she can be easily lifted
up to her seat by the hand following and
mi hiT1O her SnrinO with what 1ittIa