Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-02
ABOUT BREAKING" HORSES.

| Hc loiiOMiux atttCit tIoui tnc t<unuou
Livestock Journal, will bear considera-
ton on this side of the sea:
Can anything be do le TO place the sys-
ten of bre king horses on more salts
factory system than that which nov pre-
walls in some parts of the country: We
take every care Ia the registration OF the
various breeds Of horses, the greatest
| skill is brought to bear .on their breed
ing, feeding, and treatment zen rally,
and vet in the case Of the great bllk OF
our animals the breaking Of them Is left
10 hsphszard. In the hands OF some OF
| the men who become breakers large
number of horses are annually deteriorat-
ed In value, aud from becoming the
friend and living companion of man, as
they would have become II properly
broken. In the h.nds OF incompetent
breakers the horse becomes soul ce OF
danger; he has been abused by man, his
temper spoiled, and he cannot be trusted
to serve man, whom he has been led Ia
look upon as his enemy.
Treatment such as this does not end
with the one horse or mare, but Is car
ried onward 10 their descendants. A
Young stallion OF playful disposition and
high spirits, ia the hands OF men OF this
class, Is regarded as being animated by
vice; he has, TO use their common par
lance, the "devil in him." and he must
be beaten until 1t Is subdued. On tn,
other hand, a sluggish or placid dispose
ton is held 10 be Indicative OF sullen
vice. and the remedy is the same AS
above mentioned.
When correction" is performed by an
incorporate breaker, need We ask II it
will be done with discretion? More
likely the tempers Of both will be rails
cd il will be case Of endurance on one
side, and of brutality on the part OF the
other, until the horse Is spoiled. liz a
Young horse SHES st some unexpected
sight in the road, how often have we
seen breakers such as we have described
TRYING BY lashing Of whip and spurring
10 force the animal up to the object, and
the horse becomes AN hsbitual shyer. On
the other hand, il the rider dismounts
in such cases, caresses the animal
10 restore it's confidence, then leads
il gently. ne himself preceding it, 10
show there Is nothing To fear, the horse
as IL grows older will face anything
without shying. The sins of the parents
are said 20 descend 20 the children unto
the third and fourth generation, and this
il only too true OF the horse; but in the
case OF the latter IL Is the sin OF the
hors~ breaker. lie will tell how that
sire or that mare was vicious, and what
trouble he had 10 thrash IL out OF them.
and so the progeny are already marked
out for the same faults. aud the proceed
ure of beating out the devil is continued
with them.
Nv object in writing i To initiate dis
cussion, and TO ask II some process Of
licensing III and proper men, who have
passed an examination, could not be
adopted In the case OF horse-breSIers:
Nv own idea Is that many OF the blem-
ishes. ailments, and distigurements that
are now so very common amongst horses,
10 say nothing of their behaviors, have
their foundations laid by unnecessary
contests between man and horse In the
breaking.
We cannot make Incorporate hors =
breakers sober by legislation, hut II
might be the means of increasing over
the country the number of breakers who
are temperate and skillful. and who, hav-
ing passed qualified examination and
procuaed qualification license, would
wholly supersede the old race. why Is
il that so very few farmers can place
upon the market a well-behaved horse,
with good manners, reliable and TO be
trusted: simply that because, outside
the great breeding studs, in country
places breaker cannot be found capable
OF educating such horses, and the farm
ers, knowing this, have to sell for what
they can get, whilst Others reap the
profit.
Il is scarcely necessary 10 add that
there are already all over the country
men engaged AT the work who are thor
oughly qualified for duties of horse
breaking and are both temperate and
skillful. Il Is with the view OF increasing
the number of this capable class that |
desire to draw attention 10 the reverse
side.