The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-08

sharp tap on the Group. Don't jerk ONT or
draw your hand back. Above all. unless you
wish to ruin your horses mouth, don't let
the reins 60 loose. then flap them both hya-
terically no and down on his back ana sud-
denly pull them up.
Don't fall into that frequent habit OF
goOd-natured drivers of using your whip TO
flick flies off the horses back. or keep up
gentle tattoo with it on his back. The whip
is intended for use in making him increase
his speed when occasion demands, for cor
recting him when he does wrong. or for use
in other emergencies. If you allow him to
suppose 1t is merely to tickle him with for
your own amusement Its usefulness Is for
ever destroyed.
Don't say whoa" to a horse unless you
word Of command. II you fall Into the
habit of using it when you only want him
to go slower there may come time when
your life depends upon his stopping for
word, and you will have left yourself no
word to stop him with.
Don't water your horse at every wayside
trough, at the risk of his contracting con-
tagious diseases. or allow granted horse
to eat grass for more than a few minutes.
A few mouthfnls will not hurt him, but,
more vii! be apt to give him ''bad half
hour" with the collie.
If you are driving on a stony road and
your horse suddenly goes lame he has prob
ably picked up stone. which ought to be.
removed from his hoof. You could prob
ably. in your own estimation. as readily re-
move mountain from its moorings and
cast it into the sea, but you are wrong there.
Ii you are afraid of your horse you may
be sure OF one thing, that he is far more
afraid ofyou. Therefore. go boldly up to him,
swallow down the lump in your throat, pass
your hand gently down the leg of the hurt
foot until you reach the fetlock. Then take
hold of that and he will probably surprise
you by picking the foot up for you if it is
the foTefoot. Ii a hind foot you may have
to give sharp tug. but an ordinarily gentle
horse will offer but little resistance,
and i: will usually be an easy
matter to pick the stone out. He
knows what is hurting him, and as
a rule. recognizes what you are about and
is ready TO assist you all he can. If the fet-
locks, as is now often the case, are clipped
too close to afford you hold you can usually
get the foot up easily by gently scratching
the ankle joint. by which name you prob-
ably know the pastern. A word about hold
ing your reins. There are several ways OF
doing this. Our English friends and many
in the East pride themselves upon driving
with one hand. 1t is we'll to be able to- but
it is not the better way for a woman, espe-
cially in city streets, and more particularly
in community where blo0ded horses are
in as common use as In California. These
are usually gentle enough, but nervous, and
frequently require prompt, firm hand on
the reins.
The best grip with two hands is obtained
by taking the right-hand rein firmly be-
tween the first and middle fingers, letting it
pass through the hand and further strength
ening the grip by pressing the rein against
the middle finger with the thumb. With
the rein in this position the right hand can
also hold the whip and use it effectively.
Take an oyerhold on the left rein, letting
the first, middle and third fingers pass over
and the little finger under it, The pressure
OF the thumb against the first finger pre-
vents the rein from slipping.
The best single-haDd hold for woman Is
what smart horsemen call the old-fogY style
The left-hand rein is held as above indi-
Gated and the right one passed through the
same hand. slipping between the third and
little fingers. In this position a simple
turn of the wrist turns your well-trained
horse to the right or left. as you desire. In
driving with one hand il should be your
left that your right may be free to grip the
whip IL necessity for its use arises. This
will be when you wish to increase your
horses speed, when ne does not mind
promptly and when you are ap-
Is likely to be frightened. 1t is
cruel and senseIess to strike a horse
after he has SHE'D, but when you see that he
is timid about something by the wayside a
pile of brush. bit of flying paper, an ap-
preaching train or strange looking vehicle,
take up firm rein, speak to him soOthingly
and keep his attention other wise engaged by
an occasional gentle blow. His narrow
brain only retains one idea at a
time, and the whip being something
he is accustomed to give attention to will
almost always serve to direct his mind from
what would otherwise occasion him alarm.
1t should be used, however, before and not
after he has become frightened.
In the event Of your horse becoming thor
oughly frightened and running, your best
course is to sit still and do your best to re-
gain control Of him.. Don't let go the reins
# you have them. If you have dropped
them, secure them again if you possibly can,
and do not even think Of such thing as
jumping out unless you see inevitable death
as the result of remaining where you are.
The chances are 10 to for your horse keep
ing the road and getting over his fright, or
your regaining control over him. You see,
in dealing with horse you have to aid you
training In him that has become almost
second nature, habtuating him to submit to
the human will.
The more intelligent your horse the moro
perfect, as rule, is this submission.
Strength really plays no part In governing
them. A yearling colt is stronger than any
man, but the intelligent brute recognizes
and is subdued by the superior intelligence
that governs him. What you need, there
fore, in managing him are self-possession,
selt-eontrol and common-Sense. What he
No woman should ever drive or at
tempt to use q stupid horse. They are
m ore dangerous than dynamite and not
more comfortable to have around I have
ridden, driven and handled horses that men
were afraid of with perfect security, and
have been ANONYMOUSLY run away with by
q pig-headed little Shetland pony scarcely
yard high, who had not the fear of man in
his heart. and 1 think most horsemen
will concur in the assertion that ii
woman is not herself too many
kinds OF fool. the high-strung, nervous
but intelligent and well-broken horse of
good breeding is far safer animal for her
use than the spiritless plug. whose docillty
is really stupidity, and who may be relied
upon sooner or later to reveal his Ill breed.
ing and lack of sense by an unexpected
exhibition of rage, terror or stubbornness at
some crisis demanding prompt action on the
part of driver and horse. This is the sort of
beast that suddenly and Unexpectedly balks
on railroad track when a train Is ap-
preaching, or runs away upon hearing a
band of music, or having all his life been in
the habit of switching his tail over the rsins,
some day takes it into his thick head to be-
come frightened at the incident and kick.
You should accustom yourself to Judge of
horses temper and probable intelligence
from his head and eyes; learn to
know this most friendly aud loyabls
Of dumb animals and all of your fear of
him will IN time vanish. You will
be better friend to him, he more useful
servan; to you, and your mutual enjoyment
will be greatly increased. You should learn
to know from his appearance when brought
from the stable whether he Is we'll taken
care of. II his coat is glossy, his name
smooth and free from dandruif, his feet
clean and his eyes bright you may
feel tolerably certain he Is getting the right
sort of care. If any of these points are
neglected insist upon them being attended
to, even II you have to make change of
stable or greoms; you will be wholly I'M
worthy the services of a faithful equine
friend il you do less than your best to pro-
vide for his comfort and well being
A. e. K.
She Got the Ceachman.
Detroit Free Press.