The morning call., 1892-06-05
"A I5s58 #H=l
Is. #3..I77##.@ .
A San Francisco Horse-KIIIer

face Of the animal who had incurred his
displeasuTe. Near where the horse was
tied was steam engine, being used IN the
construction Of a large building going up
there. This engine had started up sud
denly with y great racket, and the animal,
badly frightened, had begun plugging. IL
was securely tied and could not get away,
but his driver, anxious 70 impress upon him
the futilty OF being alarmed, took the above
method Of calming his fears. SingulaTly
enough the animal seemed in no way
soOthed, and IL was not until he had re-
ceived a terrific blow in the breast from the
knee Of the driver that he subsidized. a
blow over the heart is very quoting thing.
Ii has been known ere now 10 put strong
man to sleep, and 1t had in this Instance the
desired effect Of making pony stand still
while his owner returned to the office to
complete his errand.
Nota pleasant incident, and yet not an
uncommon one II merely expresses the
average mans idea of bow to quiet an I'M
ruiy or fractions horse. Watch The ordinary
driver, when his heavy load has stuck, in
crossing q cartTack, or In hole or sand
heap or some other of the inpediments TO
be found in our OUtrageOusly conditioned
streets, and note whether he considers kind
words and jUdiciOus assistance. or blows
aud oathS, the most etilcacious IN aceelerat-
atins the movements Of his struggling
horses.
California is noted as being the home of
the best horses in tie world, but We have
not yet esta blished a reputation for leading
the way IN humane treatment OF our faith
full equine servants. In fact we are, II any
thing, behind our hOrse-loYing friends in the
East in cur provisions, in many respects, for
their comfort and safety. We load our
horses more heavily. The trucks in use in
the city of San Francisco are worthy Of a
place in the humane sOclety's museum Of
hOrse-killing curios, so admirably are they
4 rod 4 and ho ma irarrs ion
to secure the minimum result IN draught
They are heavy, CumbTous unwieldy aTks,
so built as to present dead weight for the
horses TO pull. and require in extra expendi-
ture Of hOTseflesh and food far more than
they save by any supposed advantage they
offer in being easily loaded. The bearing
rein (overcheck) is 10 almost constant use
among US; the other States have so far out
stripped US IN humane progress as to have
long since abolished by law this prolific
source of enlarged wlndpipe. airOphed
muscles, pOll-eVil and general discomfort in
the horse. Even our valuable trOtting and
running horses are not cared for as they are
In the East, so far as provisions for their
safety, health and comfort are concerned
They ale housed in many instances In frag-
lie wooden structures, with the most made
Quate provisions against fire, and while we
have had, among the great stables of which
all CaliloTAians are so justly proud, any
number Of shocking and disastrous fires,
there is probably not single hreproof sta
Bile in the State.
Nor is this the whole catalogue Of our sins.
Heretofore our California horses have been
at least unmutilated, aud only within the
past four or five years have we found it
necessary to follow the example Of our
cousins across the water, ard our Anglo
maniac brethren across the Divir, in the
cruel. enseless and utterly inartistic custom
IF docking tie tails OF our horses. 10 the
credit Of California be il said that this Gus
Der OF mutilated carriage teams have made
their appearance on our streets, and aside
from the uarlistic ugliness of the poor
creatures, they are a painful enough sight