The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-22

possesses certain degree of intelligence
My own experience, ranging over many
years with almost every variety of the
species, has taught me that the horse is
gifted with an amount of intelligence ia,
beyond what be is credited with by his
very best friends.
KIND OF HORSES TO TRAIN.
A horse of any breed can be trained on
the same principle that uncultivated per-
sons can be educated and attain COM
paratively high degree of intelligence.
Some people think that The Arabian
horse only is used for exhibition pur.
poses, but in my opinion the Arabian
horse has no more natural ability. than
any of our native breeds. I have trained
az Arabian horse and he showed consid-
erable intelligence, but have trained
American horses that could lay no claim
to pedigree and they showed just as much
intelligence as the Arabian.
A horse to be susceptible to training
must be spirited, full of sensibility, quick
to understand and to put his conceptions
into action. The fact that horse is
spirited is one indication that be is pos
sessed of force and intelligence.
1t makes no difference as to the age OF
ssz of the animal of course young hor.
ses are preferred to old onos. But when
they are once trained, as there is no tax
made on their strength, they do their
work just as we'll at the age of ten or fif-
teen as they do at the age of three. Old
horses have been trained as successfully
as young ones.
In selecting horse for trick purposes
1 decide beforehand what 1 want the
animal to do. I look in the open market
for an animal capable of it, just as ship.
builder OF carpenter will 60 out and
select a certain kind of timber which be
needs for special piece of work. OF
course the horse must be sound and nice
looking.
WHAT I ALWAYS DO FIRST.
I turn the new horse into lot with a
number of other horses. stir him up
little with whip 50 as to observe his
action. take note of what he looks at
what he seems to fear.
Sometimes I want horse that will
take the lead in party of horses, one
that is imbued with the spirit of self
reliance, that can general" for himself.
I select one that CLOCKS out for number
one" The horse that looks out for him
self is good deal like fnancier, he
knows how to calculate.
Ifa horse trainer does not understand
his business horse will take advantage
of the situation as soon as he finds him
self able to do 80. But remember that
though at the outset horse will natur-
ally try to free himself from work that is
strange and disagreeable, human being
will do the same thing.
THE BEGINNING OF TRAINING.
First of all, the horse trainer, if he
understands his business, tries to make q
favorable acquaintance with the animal.
He introduces himself in an agreeable
way as you would do if going to see some
man upon whom yen wanted to create a
good impression.
For some time I don't request the
horse to do anything. I pursue this
course until the horse feels at home with
me and looks upon me as his friend.
I do not use force in training-noth
Ing but kindness. give the newcomer
a lump of sugar or handful of grain.
Then he will come TO me of his own
accord for these things. That have
pot him to come to me is point gained.
I have taken the moat vicious horses,
runaways, "man EATERS" and by my
methods trained them 30 that they could
be driven with perfect safety. Kindness
and firmness will accomplish wonders in
training horses. There is great differ
eace between 6rmness and cruelty. I do
not believe in being cruel but l do in
being firm. have to have my "system, -
but it can be carried out without the use
of physical force. I will now explain
how train horses to perform some of the
tricks which meet with popular favor. 1
tell what is done under ordinary circum-
stances; ofcourse the method might vary
slightly under peculiar conditions.
HOW TO MAKE A HORSE STAND ON
PEDESTAL.
To do this trick, FIRST of all teach the
animal to stand still in one place.
Then I call him, alternately, to step
backwards, to step forwards. Imay lead
him, but when I give him the word it
must be followed up at once by the
action.
Next I take hold of his foot, keeping it
for a few moments in my hand. 1 con-
tinue that lesson until he begins to think
that all want to do is to hold bis foot
in my hand. I practice that until be
knows 1t perfectly.
Next I take small box, about foot
high and place it in front of him. Head
him up to it, I take up bis foot and try
to place it on the box. He will pull il
away. I take up his foot again, hold il
awhile, rubbing his leg gently with one
hand. After few lessons he will allow
his foot to remain on the box.
After he conaents to put one foot on
the box raise the other foot and hold il
in my left hand, so as to keep the other
in position on the box (which he is likely
to do) place the other one on the box
When I have trained him to bear bis
weight on the foot which is on the box
have made great progress, for then he
will allow the other one to be put up.