The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-07-28
MANAGING HORSES.
HOW YOU SHOULD AND HOW YOU
SHOULD NOT TREAT THEM.

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SHOULD NOT TREAT THEM.
Horses Err Prom Ignorance. Pain or Fright
Tl.cy Must lie Convinced That Resist
.nce Is UscI.ss-Use the whip sparinsly
and Never Kick the Animal
Horses are essentially creatures OF
habit: of gentle, ccnfiding dispositions,
but utexcessively nervous; timid, at times
irritable. and promo TO resist strenuous
lv ANYTHING that frightens them. y, for
example, you put n rope halter on an
unhroken colt and tie him 20 post, the
more the rope cuts into his tender skin
the greater will be his struggles, while
he will soon yield to a halter that in
flicts no pain
Through nervous fright horses some
times become panic stricken and abso-
lutely uncontrollable They suffer also
occasionally from what, for want Of
better name, may be called nervous
paralysis. 4" when they seem 10 be phys
ically incapable of motion. This con-
dition is almost invariably the result Of
brutal treatment, and the only reason
able EXPLANATION of IL is that the first
emotion aroused in the horse by punish
ment is fear; that when he finds that
ne cannot escape anger and a spirit Of
resistance are mingled with his fright,
and that these combined emotions pro-
duce this morbid state.
The horse is quick TO take advantage
Of the ignorance OF the fear of those
who control him. AS compared with
the dog. be is somewhat slow of COM
prehension, but be differs from the dog
in this aiso-that he seldom becomes
''too old 20 learn new tricks, and his
memory is so retentive that he never
fnrgets what be has once thoroughly
learned.
Ii may also be set down as rule,
with but few ceptions, that he intends
TO do Just right If be err, it is from
ignorance, pain or fright, rarely from
stubbornness or vice. This seems TO be
generally unknown or at least disre-
garded, for of all animals the horse is
the least understood, the most harshly
judged and unjustly treated, and for the
least infraction of discipline he is too
often brutaily punished II men who
train horses would control their tenn
pers ard endeavor 10 ascertain the cause
of the animals misbehavior, they would
find that there is often good excuse for
his actions
The eye is the best index to the ami
mails feelings The ears are very ex-
pressire, but they do not reveal SO
plainly the emotions that are dOminat-
ing him as the eye does Therefore
study the eye with its varying express
sions, and when you can read its mean
ing you hold the key TO one Of the chief
secrets of successful horse training.
The horse should be convinced that
resistance is useless. hut do not be i'm
patient or harsh. Remember that sue
cess is the reward of uHwearied pa
tience. If you fail at first, keep trying
until you succeed. Do not be discour
aged if you do not seem 20 make much
progress. Your task may take weeks or
even months. but if you persevere you
will triumph.
While l. is true that with some horses
the whip must be occasionally used, IT
should be the very last resort, and re-
member always that one, or at most
two, cuts and a few sternly spoken
words are more efficacious than an
hours punishment. There is no more
vicious or false idea than that horse is
benefited by ''sound thrasbing. On
the contrary, il is the very worst thing
yon can do, because the horses recollec-
tion Of the pain and the fright Occa-
stoned by 1t is more vivid and enduring
than his remembrance of why it was
administered, and at your next lesson
he is nervous and afraid and at the least
note of anger in your voice (for horses
judge the mood of the trainer by his
manner and his tone of voice) he may
become ALMOST uncomfortable in his ef-
forts TO escape the expected fiagellation.
Il is a safe rule for ANY one having n
hasty temper not TO have a whip at
hand. The temptation 20 use it may be
too great. And il is also wise not to at
tempt to teach him when you are in
bad humor, for if he does not do just
right YOU will probably vent some of it
on him.
When whipping is used only as a last
resort the necessity for il seldom arises.
As the horse makes progress in ms edu-
cation he understands better what is re-
quired Of him and transgresses less fire.
quently, and nearly always a sound rat
ing when he knows that he is misbe-
having is sufficient Smetimes when
this is disreGarded a slap with the open
hand will cause instant obedience.
There are two forms of punishment,
or rather brutality, that are irexcusa-
bic under any ircumstances-thesea are
striking horse over the head, no mat
ter how light the blow. and kicking
him-and aside from their inhumanity
there is great danger of permanently in
luring him. Whenever during lesson
colt or young horse becomes heated
and angry, cease at once. and if you
have been impatient and abused him
keep away from him and do not sp-
proach him until he has forgotten the
occurrence.
Be soothing and gentle in your man
ner and your tone of voice Win his
confidence. and you viii never regret it,
for then in the hour of danger your
voice and the touch of your hand reas-
sure him, and he viii face imminent
peril if only You are near.
In conclusion never forget that the
triumph of the t-ainer's art is in will
ing and cheerful obedience from de-
sire to please. and because long custom
has made it habit, not because the
horse fears to disobey through dread of
punishment-Our Animal Friends.
Many of the streets Cf Paris are lined
with trees. If tree dis, another of the
same kind, age and size is brought from
the state forests and nnt in Its nlaca