The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-06-23
MANAGING HORSES.
HOW YOU SHOULD AND HOW YOU
SHOULD NOT TREAT THEM.

Horses Err From Ignorance. Pain or Fright.
They Must lie Convinced That Resist
anco Is Useless Use the whip spsringly
and Never Kick the Animal.
Horses are essentially creatures of
habit; of gentle, conilding dispositions
but excessively nervous; timid, ut times
irritable, and prone TO resist strenuous
~ anything that frightens them. IT, for
example. you put u rope halter on an
unbroken colt and tie him to ii post, tho
moro the rope cuts into his tender skin
the greater will be his struggles while
he will soon yield to halter that In
tiiets no pain.
Through nervous fright horses some.
times become panic stricken and abso-
lutoly uncomfortable. They suffer also
occasionally from what, for want of
better name, may be called "ncrvous
paralysis, when they seem to be phys
ically incapable of motion. This con
dition Is almost invariably the result of
brutal treatment, and the only reason
ablo explanation of il Is that the first
emotion aroused in the horse by punish
ment IL fear; that when he finds that
he cannot escape anger and spirit Of
resistance are mingled with his fright,
and that these combined emotions pro-
duee this morbid state.
The horse is quick to take advantage
| of the ignorance or the fear of those
who control him. Az compared with
the dog, he Is somewhat slow of com
prehension. but he differs from the dog
in this also--that ho seldom becomes
too old to learn new tricks, " and his
memory is so retentive that he never
forgcts what he has once thoroughly
learned
1t may also be- set down as IA rule,
with but few exceptions. that ho intends
to do just right. IL he err, it is from
Ignorance. pain or fright, rarely from
stubbornncss or vice. This seems to be
generally unknown or Mt least disre-
Rarded, for of all animals thu horse il
tho least understood, tho most harshly
Judged and unjustly treated, and for the
least infraction of discipline no il too
often brutally punished. If men who
train horses would control their tenn
of the animal misbehavior they would
find that thore is often n good excuse for
his actions
Tho eye Is the hest index to the AM
mails feelings. Tho ears nre very ex
pressiyo. but they do not reveal no
plainly the emotions that are dominat-
ing him as the eye does Therefore
study the eye with its varying expires
sions. and when you can read It's mean
ing you hold the key to ono of the chief
secrets of successful horse training.
The horse should be convinced that
resistance il useless, but do not be i'm
patient ar harsh. Remember that sue
cess Is tho reward OF unwearied pa
thence. IL you fail ut first, keep trying
until you succeed, DO not be discour-
aged II YOU 90 not seem TO make much
progress. Your task mny take weeks or
oven months, but IL you persevere you
will triumph.
While IT il true that with some horses
tho whip must be occasionally used, it
should ho tho very last resort. and re.
member always that one, or Mt most
two cuts and few sternly spoken
/
hours punishment There Is no more
vicious or false idea than that II horse is
| benefited by u sound thrashing " On
| the cp.lrary, il IL the very worst thing
you cum do, because the horses rccollcc-
tlon Of the pain and tho fright occa-
stoned by it liz more vivid and enduring
than his remembrance of why il was
administered, aud at your next lesson
no IL nervous and afraid and at the least
motto of anger in your voice (for horses
judge tho mood Of the trainer by his
manner and his tone of voice. he may
become almost uncomfortable in his ef
forts to escape tho expected tlagellotion.
1t IL u safe rule for any ono having a
hnsty temper not to have IL whip ut
hand. Tho temptation to use il may be
too great. And it il also wise not to at
tempt 10 teach him when you are in IL
bad humor, for il no does not do Just
right you will probably vent some Of it
on him.
When whipping IL used only ~ n last
resort, the necessity for it seldom arises.
Az the horse makes progress in his edu-
cation no understands better what IL re-
quircd OF him and trunsgrcsses less fire.
quently, and nearly always II sound rat.
ing when he knows that he IL misbe-
having IL sufficient. Smetimes when
this IL disrcRarded "A slap with the open
hand viii cause instant obedience.
There ara two forms Of punishment,
or rather brutality, that arc inexcusa-
BILE under any circumstances--t these are
n Al.
ter how light the blow, and kicking
him--und aside from their inhumanity
there Is great danger Of permanently in
| jurinR him. Whenever during lesson
II colt or young horse becomes heated
aud angry, cease at once, and ii you
| have been impatient and abused him
| keep away from him and do not mp.
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 ;~aincr's art is III will
ing aud cheerful obedience from IA de
sire to plrusc, and because long custom
has made it "a habit, not because the
horse fcaIs to disobey through dread of
punishment. Our Animal Friends.
Many OF the streets Of Paris are lined
with trees If tree dies, another Of the
same kind, age and size is brought from
! the state forests md put IN lis plnce