Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-07-13
MANAGING HORSES.
HOW YOU SHOULD AND HOW you
SHOULD NOT TREAT THEM.

uors.s Err From Ignorance, Palm or Fright
They Must he Convinced That Rsssss-
snce Il Useless Use the whip srssinsiy
and Never Kick the Animal.
Horses are essentially creatures OF
habit; of gentle, confiding dispositions
but excessively nervous; timid, 1t times
irritable, and prone 70 resist strenuous
" anything that frightens them. H. iof
example, yen put n rope halter Oh an
unbrokcn colt and tie hen TO post, the
more the rope cuts into his tender skin
the greater will be his struggles, while
he will soon yield to halter that IN
iiicts no pain.
Through lervous fright horses some
times become panic stricken and abso-
lutely uncomfortable. They suffer also
occasionally from what, for want OF
better name. may be called nervous
paralysis, when they seem TO be phys
ically incapable Of motion. This con-
dition is almost invariably the result OF
brutal treatment, aud the only reason
able exclamation of IL IL that the first
emotion aIoascd in the horse by punish
ment il fear; that when he finds that
he cannot escape anger ard spirit Of
resistance are mingled with his fright,
and that ihcs. combined emotions pro-
duce this morbid state.
The horse j. quick 10 take advantage
Of the ieuoIance or the fear of those
who control him. As compared with
the dog. he j. somewhat slow OF com
prehension. hut he differs from the dos
in this also-thaf h. seldom becomes
..,co old "a learn new tricks. and his
memory i so rctsntiyc that he never
forgrts what he has once thoroughly
learned
IL may also be ct down as . rule.
with bat few exceptions. that b. intends
10 DO lust right II be err. 10 l. from
Ignorance. pain or fright, rarely frum
uubbornness or vice. This seems 10 h.
generally unknown or az least disre-
gar,ied. for ~ all animals the horse 10
the least understood. the most harshly
Judged aud unjusily treated. and for the
lcas, infraction Of discipline he Is too
often brutally punished. II men who
train horses would control their tenn
pers and cndCayor 10 ascertain the cause
of the animals mishehayior. they would
find that there IL often good excuse for
his actions.
The eye - the best index 90 the AMI
mails feelings Tho ears are very ex-
prtssiye. hut they do not reveal 70
plainly the emotions that are dominat-
| ing him IS the eye does Therefore
study the eye with It's 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 II you fail mt fiist, keep trying
until you succeed. Do not be- discour-
aged IL you do not seem 10 make much
progress. Your task may take weeks OF
even months, but il you persevere you
will triumph.
While-it is true that with some horses
the whip must be occasionally used, II
should be the very last resort, and re-
member always that one, or mt most
two, cuts and few sternly spoken
| words are more efflcacious than an
hours punishment There Is no more
| vicious or false idea than that horse ID
1 -. In
the contrary. il is the very worst thing
you can do, because the horses recollec-
ton Of the pain and the fright coca
stoned by it is more vivid and enduring
than his remembrance Of why II 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 aud his tone of voice. he may
become almost uncomfortable in his ef
forts 10 escape the expected fagellation.
II is safe rule for any one having
hasty temper not to have whip ut
hand. The temptation 20 use 1t may be
too great And il is also wise not to at
tempt to teach him when you are III
bad humor, for il he does not do just
right you will probably vent some Of II
on him.
When whipping is used only as last
resort, the necessity for il seldom arises.
As the horse makes progress in his edu-
cation he understands better what Is re-
quired Of him and transgresses less fire..
quently. AMI nearly always u sound rat.
ing when he knows that he is misbe-
having is sufficient Smetimes when
this is disfC garried slap with the open
hand will cause instant obedience.
There are two forms Of punishment,
or rather brutality, that are inexcusa-
BILE under any oircumstances-these 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
juring him. Whenever during lesson
q colt or young horse becomes heated
and angry, cease ut once, and II You
have been impatient and abused him
keep away from him and do not APP
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 will never regret it.
for then in the hour of danger your
voice and the touch Of your hand reas-
sure him, and he will face imminent
peril il only you are near.
In conclusion never forget that the
triumph of the ,-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 feaIs to disobey through dread Of
punishment.-Our Animal Friends.