St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-10
THE HORSE. .
Better Drivers Will Aid to Secure
Better Horses


Better Drivers Will Aid to Secure
Better Horses.
Better horses is the cry of every one,
but why does not some one say better
drivers? There is no questioning the
fact that there are too many poor and
worthless horses in the market and
there is no profit in raising or handling
such. The life of horse in the city
varies from three to fifteen years accord
ing to the work which he is put to, the
care which he receives, but most of all
to the driver, and the same is true
among farmers horses. Look at your
neighbor on one side who always has
good horses. They are in good con-
dition, with smooth coats and plenty
of lite and spirit. He can draw
heavy load and work his horses
hard all day, and when the next morn
ing comes they are ready for work
again. When the owner gets home at
night he takes the harness off and hangs
it in dry place, and the horses get
good brushing off or rubbing down If
they are wet. They get good blanket
to keep them warm, and are put in a
sweet-smelling, clean stable with plenty
of light and air, where they find soft
bed and good feed of grain with some
nice hay. They also get good drink
of pure water, and i'll an hour or two
the blanket is taken off or changed for
the stable blanket. The next morn
ing the norSeS are fed and wateIed
at the regular time. and receive
a good grooming before going out.
The harness is looked at, and any dirt
on it where it will chafe the shoulders
or other parts is carefully scraped Off.
and occasionally it is taken apart. washed
and oiled. The wagon, too, runs easy
because it is kept under cover and well
creased. The horses know their owner.
and do not fear HIM, for they are always
treated kindly and with respect. When
they get i'll bad place in the road or
field the owner does not yell at them,
nor strike them with whip, but with o
firm, yet steady, hold on the reins, he
talks to them and gives them confidence
by his voice, so that in response they
will use their greatest efforts to pull.
Now look at another neighbor and no.
tice him and his horses. Last year he
bought a good, smooth, well-built pair
that we're just as good as the Cnes you
have just seen, but how changed they
are from them. When he comes home
at night with his horses tired and warm,
he pulls off the harness. throws it at a
peg i'll the stable and part of it hangs up
while the rest falls down and lies in the
manure and dirt. If he thinks of it he
may put OH blanket, which will be
the first one he can find and this will
stay on all night. The horses are
put in the stable and are watered or
not, just as it comes handy, the measure
is picked up and they are given more
or less quantity of grain, but the man
ger is not brushed out and any kind of
hay is thrown in. This man goes on
the plan that anything will do and his
actions and whole farm show it. When
morning comes they are fed again
at whatever hour the owner gets
around, and possibly may receive lit
tie brushing off. The harness. which
is stiff and dirty. is put on and they are
put before the wagon which is not
creased very often, and away they go
with cut and a slash. Ii the horses
get stuck or have heavy load to start,
the owner picks up the lines and yellS
at them or whips them. OF course, the
horses are frightened and nervous and
begin to see saw, and soon give up if
the load does not come, or else break
something.
This treatment of horses is seen in
every neighborhood, both in the coun-
try and city. The trouble is not with
the horses, but with the drivers. The
horse that receives good care and has a
good driver will last long time and be
in his prime, while the one that has
any sort of care, with a careless and
rough driver, will be an Old and
worn out horse at the same age
Drivers should learn that a horse has
nerves, feeling and sense-horse sense,
if you please, but common sense any
way. Remember that the horse appre-
ciateS and remembers kind treatment
and will respond to it. Have some sys-
TEN in feeding, never give anything but
good grain and hay, always groom them
well, keep the harness clean and safe
and remember that it is good care and
good feet that makes the good horse.