The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-22
MANAGING HORSES.
. VOL SHOULD AND HOW YOU
SHOULD NOT TREAT THEM.

uorses are essentially creatures of
,.h;t. If gentle, confiding dispositions,
I~texcessively nervous; timid, at times
,".;table. and prone to resist strenuous
- orvthing that frightens them. If, for
'ronnle. ycu put a rope halter on an
"hroken colt and tie him to a post, the
u tbe rome cuts into his tender skin
. .ho oreater will be his struggles, while
no will soon yield to a halter that in
Tbrongh nervous fright horses some
Zines become panic stricken and abso-
,ntoIv uncomfortable. They suffer also
OCCASIONALLY from what, for want of
ritter name, may be called nervous
no,alysis." when they seem to be phys
;colIy incapable of motion. This con-
S,tion is almost invariably the result of
hrrtoI treatment, and the only reason
oblo exclamation of it is that the first
emotion aroused in the horse by punish
,nept is fear; that when he finds that
he Garnet escape anger and 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 or the fear of those
who control him. AS compared with
tbe dog. he is somewhat slow of COM
rrehension, but he differs from the dog
in this also-that he seldom becomes
"too old to learn new tricks" and his
memory is so retentive that he never
forgets what he has once thoroughly
learned.
Ii may also be set down as a rule,
with but few exceptions, that he intends
TO do just right. If he 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 brutally punished. If men who
train horses would control their tenn
pers and endeavor to ascertain the cause
of the animal S misbehavior, they would
find that there is often a good excuse for
his actions.
The eye is the best index to the ami
mails feelings. The ears are very ex-
pressive, 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, but do not be I'M
patient or harsh. Remember that sue
cess is the reward of unwearied pa
tience. If you fail at first, keep trying
until you succeed. Do not be discour-
aged if you do not seem to make much
progress. Your task may take weeks or
even months, but if you persevere you
will triumph.
While it 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 few sternly spoken
words are more efficacious than an
vicious or false idea than that horse is
benefited by "sound thrashing." On
the contrary, it is the very worst thing
you can do, because the horses recollec-
tion of the pain and the fright occa-
stoned by it 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 eff
forts to escape the expected flagellation.
1t is safe rule for any one having a
hasty temper not to have a whip at
hand The temptation to use it may be
too great. And it is also wise not to at
tempt to teach him when you are in a
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 last
resort, the necessity for it seldom arises.
AS the horse makes progress in his edu-
cation he understands better what is re-
CURED 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 slap with the open
hand will cause instant obedience.
There are two forms of punishment,
or rather brutality, that are irexcusa-
Ole under any circumstances-these are
striking horse over the head, no mat
Ter how light The ~, and kicking
nlm-and aside from i5cly ilhumanity
there Is great danger " permanently in
Juring him "tcrrter curing a lesson
colt CT yuCrp lose becomes heated
ana angry, t,ts, a. tnCt, ard If You
nave been imrS,icut aud GLused him
keep away frUr. AlEl and 90 not ap-
proach him ur;.l lie t.-s fCISolien tic
occurrence.
BE soothing ard gentle in ycrr man
ner and your tone Cf voice Via bis
confidence, and you villLcycl regret it.,
Ior then in the hour Of Hanger your
voice and the touch Of your band reas-
sure him, and he Will face imminent
ptTll III ONLY yg., - t,rar