The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-15
TRoTTlNG HORSES.
The Growth and Development
Of This Animal.
Continually

horses with good old Hiram Woodruff,
who passed in his chips in 1867 and as
Sam Jone, says, "Now, sister, il ever
horseman is in the happy land of
Canaan, it is Hiram Woodruff" OF him
| wish to devote one, two or three col
umns OF TIE TINES. AS stated in my
last, / will give from time to time
to take in the story mon that have OK
pended money and made their brains
active in bringing the horse to thu
standard on which he stands to-day.
1t is a rare treat to hear Robert Bon
ner talk about the trotting horse-rare
in the sense that he is most unwilling
to talk on this, his most favorite sub
ject, unless he is quito sure he has an
appreciativc listener. and rare, above
ALL in that such Il talk is in itself a
liberal education on that subject. His
knowledge is made up of proven facts
tho scientific deductions of tho keenest.
closest observation, and what he knows
about his familiar hobby, tho horses
foot, would be invaluable to the trotting
horse men of the country, il he could bo
induced to make his knowledge general.
OF tho fullness of it he sometimes gives
to favored friends, and | know of one
man, one of the big stock raiscrs of the
East, who says he wouldn't tako $40, 900
for tho things he has learned from Mr.
bonner; and / know OF another man,
the most successful tho country has
known in developing and driving young
trotterS, who values the counsel and
advice MIR. Bonner has given him even
higher that says the Rider and Drivers
pleasing lady contributor, Elizabeth a.
Tomp kins.
''lf horse has tender mouth" said
he, "the best bit to use is the easiest
bit, tho ono that vii induce him to Of
fer the least resistance. The same kind
of bit cannot be used on all horses any
worn by all men. The bit must be
adapted to the mouth. Dexter, for in.
stance, had worry tender mouth, and
only the softest kind of a bit could be
used on him. had one specially made
for him, plain snatilc covered with
bacon rind, that he always went we'll
in. With Sunol | use leather-covere
bit. Other horses, again. don't like
that sort of bit, and go better in bar
bit, or plain steel bit. When / had
Peerless shc was always used with
plain bar bit. BY mistake a leather
covered bit was put into her mouth one
day. ! didn't know it, We took her
over to the old Fashion track to speed
her, and after working her the driver
came to me and said, Il don't know
what's tho matter with the mare. She
won't trot n bit to-day
81 told him to give her another milo,
and he did, but came to mo after it was
finished and said: She's not hers ,lf to-
day, Mr.. Bonner She made milo in
2:32. and as that was nothing for her, I
thought I'D drive her myself and see if
could find out what was the trouble.
did, and could only get her to make it
in 2:3l. Something was wrong, l felt
sure. Then the groom called attention
to her mouth, which was bleeding, and
bit i'll her mouth, and that was the
cause of her poor work. 1t didn't suit
her and she couldn't trot with it,
MAUD ). needs quite severe bit.
When she has severe bit in her mouth
She doesn't catch hold, while il she has
u snaiile she does"
why is it," asked Mr.. Bonner,
''that the same horse will trot steady
with one driver and break with another?"
you've heard Of the painter who
was asked how he mixed his colors. and
what his answer was: with brains
Well that's how man must drive-with
brains horses head and feet must
be nicely balanced to procure the best
results, and It lies to a largo extent with
whoever does the shoeing and dri wing.
Now, oven poor driver could not make
Sunol break round n turn. Why? Be
cause she has tendency to throw her
off hind foot out. Maud S., on the con.
trary, sets hers inside the off front foot
in striding. Consequently the two
mares need different handling. You've
seen boat go round turn? AS the
bow swings round it causes the stern to
swing out. The same principle ap
plies to horse. Now, to balance Sunol
perfectly around turn her he ad
must be held out; you must pull on the
right limo, and that throws her into the
correct trotting position-while with
Maud ). her head must be held in, you
must pull on the left line, and that
brings her square on her feet in the cor
sect trotting position"
TO man who comprehends the won
derful niceties Of driving a trotter and
the difficulty of keeping him on his
feet, this little explanation must needs
make quite a rift in the clouds OF OBJ
security that hover over the sport.
Mr.. Bonner, as everyone who knows
anything about trotting horses is
aware, has made a study of the horses
foot. and when a famous trotter is
lame or goes wrong" in his feet in
any way, his advice is moro eagerly
sought than that of the most skillful
and diplomaed Of may coin word
veterinarian who ever sent in IL bill.
Every work on a horses foot that he
has ever heard of he has read-more to
find out what tho other fellows know
and to sec for himself by experiment