The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-14
"A PLUMB PET"
A Case Showing the Effect Of Kind
Treatment on n Horse.

Treatment on n Horse.
On an Indiana farm where the men and
boys are habituaIly harsh and unsympa-
thetic in their treatment of the cattle in
their charge. a kind-hearted woman won a
decided victory by gentle methods. A re-
Gently purchased horse became a bone CT
contention because of his refractory habits.
He was settled in those habits, being four
teen years old, and therefore difficult to
conquer. He had been a livery stable horse
and had been vilely treated for many years
by hostlers. Being naturally high-spirited
animal and having been subjected to cruel
abuse he had acquired the habit of retalia-
ton. Each time a hand was raised before
his face he fiattened his ears in an ugly
manner, showed his teeth so that he looked
like a fiend incarnate and jumped on all
four feet. Any sudden movement near his
head caused him to start in this way. He
could not endure to be touched or petted.
and each time the crupper was put under
his tail he squealed as if in pain and kicked
out viciously. This habit became so an
noying that the crupper was removed from
the harness. The first time man on the
farm attempted to curry him he seemed
half mad with fear. and actually sat down
on his launches and pulled at the halter
with all his strength. Altogether, he did
so many ill-tempered things Immediately
after being purchased that he became an
object Of fear and dislike to all on the farm
who were OF male persuasion. The con-
sensus OF opinion among them was that the
horse should have a good beating, and he
rarely escaped their handling with a curry
comb wound
But the poor creature belonged to the
farmers wife, and she, while put into
many quandary by his unexpected be-
havior, still felt great kindness for him.
Just as she would have done with regard
to human being, she took the animals
past life and unhappy environment into ac-
count in judging him. He had always had
a hard life, she argued, and knew not how
to expect kind treatment, and she deter
mined to render the remainder of this one
horses existence peaceful If she could.
She first tried to make him comfortable.
She fed him at regular intervals and took
entire charge of him at all times. Yet she
was often very much afraid Of him. She
encouraged the advice of people whose
horses were well-cared for and appeared
contented. A young woman said, Treat
| your horse like a human being and you
will never have any trouble" An old
woman urged her to sweeten his temper
at times with lump sugar, 50 the farmer s
wife gave him two Jumps every time he
was harnessed for trip to town.
| There was this much I'm his favor-he
went at good pace, was willing, obedient
and perfectly reliable in harness. He was
very decided in his likes and dislikes. and,
| not liking the strange water at the farm,
| would only drink when he went to town.
| Whenever he passed a group of small boys
| playing in tho streets he showed that he
had unpleasant recollections of their kind
by making wide swerve and trotting at
the top of his speed.
| The first time the farmers wife curried
him he was afraid and so was She He
seemed to have an exceedingly tender hide
but with her he only manifested his evil
dent uneasiness in a subdueG fashion. By
slow degrees he became accustomed to her
! and in eighteen months she had won him
completely by her answering gentleness
| and kind treatment. While his intense dis
like towards men and boys seemed quite
undiminished. for her he would return
! from grazing and enter his stall without
being haltered-a reluctant docility that
! seemed marvellous in the light of his former
attitude. Nor was it necessary to tie him
while he was being curried; he stood quiet
ly obedient at her bidding. He had con-
quered his distate for the farm water by
that time, too. and when he found none
ready for him came and knocked four
times with his hoof on the back porch
| floor.
He had. indeed, become a plumb pet .
as the old horse dealer had assured the
farmers wife ne would be, but all his ole
fire and bad temper were only smothered
in the presence of femininity. He had only
scowls for the men and boys who would
have applied the whip to him. The victory
was due merely to kindness and gentle.
ness, lot to a subdued spirit.