Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-10-20


used to a check rein, are very apt to
let their heels 60 up If by any unusual
indulgence of their drivers they get
their heads down. II by any combina-
ton OF misfortune you ever fall in with
that most wretched of brutes, the horse
who kicks in harness, pull up strongly
on both reins and jerk his head sharp
ly to one side. After that get rid of
the creature as soon as possible. Don't
trot your horse down hill 1t is the
worst thing you can do for him, aud
will inevitably tell on the stoutest knees
and shoulders.
Don't ''push on the lines" | must
confess l think this must be essential
ly woman's custom, as | never saw
man do it. If YOU wish to quicken the
horses speed hold the left one perfect
" still and raise the right one, at the
same time swapping it so it will give
him sharp tap on the Group. Don't
,rk on 1t or draw your hand back.
Above all, unless you wish to ruin
your horses mouth, don't let the reins
20 loose, then flap them both hysteri-
cally up and down on his back and
suddenly pull them up.
Don't fall into that frequent habit of
good-natured drivers of using your
whip tc 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 correcting him
when lie does wrong, or for use in 9th
err emergencies. L. You allow him to
suppose it is merely to tickle him with
for your own amusement its usefulness
is forever DESTROYED
Don't say whoa" TO a horse unless
YOU want him 10 stop. That is your
supreme 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 a word. and you
Will have left yourself no word to stop
/ him with
Don't water your horse at every
wayside trough. al the risk of his con-
/ tracing contagious diseases. or allow
granted horse To cat grass for more
/ than a few minutes. \ few mouthtuls
will not hurt him. but more will be apt
to give him "bai half hour" with the
collie.
If you are driving on a stony road
and your horse suddenly grows lame.
he has probably picked up stone,
which ought to be removed from his
hoof. You could probably. in your own
estimation, a readily remove a noun
tain from its moorings and cas-, il into
the sea but You are wrong there. If
you are afraid of your horse you NAV
be sure Of one thing. that he is far
more afraid of you. Therefore, 90 bold
ly up 10 him, swallow down the lump
IN your throat, pass your hand gently
down the lex 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 fore foot. If hind foot you may
have to give a sharp tug. but al ordi-
nary gentle horse will offer but little
resistance, and it 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.
II the tetlocks. as is now often the case.
are clipped too close 10 afford You a
hold, You can usually get the foot up
easily by gently scratching the ankle
Joint, by which name you probably
know the pastern.
a word about holding the 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 1t is not the better way for wom-
an, especially in the city streets, and
more particularly in community
where blooded horses are in as common
use as in California. These are usually
gentle enough, but nervous. and fire.
quently require a prompt, firm hand
Oh the reins. The best grip with two
hands j. obtained by taking the right
!, hand rein firmly between the first and
middle fingers, letting it pass through
The hand. and further strengthening
the grip by pressing the rein against
, the middle tiuger with the thumb. With
the rein in this position the right hand
can a 50 hold the whip and use it efec-
tually. Take an overnold Of the left rein.
letting the first. middle and third fin
gers pass over it and the little finger
under il. The pressure Of the thumb
against the first finger prevents the rein
from slipping.
In driving with one hand it should
be your left, that your right may be
free to grip the whip if necessity for
its use arises. This will be when you
wish to increase your horses speed.
wheh he does not mind promptly, and
you are approaching an object az which
he is likely to be frightened.
1t is cruel and senseless to strike a
horse after he has SHE'D, but when you
See that be is timid about something bv
the wayslde, pile of brush. bit OF
flying paper, an approaching train or
strengthening vehicle, take up firm
rein, speak to him soothingly aud keep
his attention otherw Use by an occasion
al gentle blow
In the event Of your horse becoming
thoroughly frightened and running your
best course is to sit still and do your
best to regain control Of him. Don't let
go of the reins if you have them. II
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 ten to one for your
horses keeping the road and getting
over his fright, or your regaining con
troll of him. You see in dealing with a
horse you have to aid you training in
him that has become almost second ma
ture, habituating him to submit to the
human will.
| The more intelligent your horse the
more perfect, as a rule, is this submits
sion. Strength really plays no part in
governing them. A yearling colt is
stronger than any man, but the intell-
gent brute recognizes and is subdued
by the superior intelligence that gov
ems him. What you need. therefore,
in managing him are selfpossession,
self-control and common-sense. What