The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-19
HORSE TRADERS TRICKS
How the Teeth and Forehead Are ManIpu
lated to Hide Age-Beanlng and
Doping.
g.. .>- - Boston Herald.

Probably in no business are so many
tricks and wiles practised as in that OF
horse dealing. 1t is safe to affirm that
thousands of horses are sold throughout
the country every year under false condi-
lions, and so skilful have takers become
that 1t takes a. very clever and expert
enced man to detect the doctoring tricks
Of those who are anxious to sell a bad
animal to the best advantage.
Perhaps the commonest of all taking or
bishoping-as it Is often called-a term
derived from a man named Bishop, who
during the eighteenth century obtained
great reputation for making old horses
appear young-is in relation to a horses
teeth, At full age horse has forty teeth,
and not until the fifth year are they all
visible. Six months later the "nippers" or
front teeth become marked by natural
cavity, and it is the presence or absence
of these marks that certi6es the animals
exact age.
AS the horse gets older, these marks
wear away, and 1t is then that the copper
or faker sets to work to make fresh cav
tiles. las found in a horse of the age he
wishes to represent. The surface OF the
teeth is cut cut with steel tool, and the
black lining of the groove. which must
be visible, burnt in with nitrate of silver
or some other chemical. In this way
horses which are often over or years of
age are sold as 5-year-olds.
The age of a horse Is often increased
as well as reduced by means of taking the
teeth. A 3-year-old will often be trans
| formed into 5-year- old by means of
chiselling out the side milk teeth with
which horses are furnished up to their
! third year, when they are supplanted by
the permanent ones. The extraction of the
former, of course, brings on the latter
much quicker than would be the case In
the natural order Of things, thus making
a horse appear much older than it really is.
There are various other things, however,
besides the teeth, which give away the
age of a horse, and which have to be faxed
if the animal is to fetch a fair price. In
old horses there is generally certain cav
ity or depression Of the skin In the fore
head Immediately above the eyes. This
disbursement is remedied by q process
:. knowns as putting the gltms." A fine
pointed blowpipe is introduced under the
skin above the eye, through which the
copper blows gently until the deep hol-
low is filled and is replaced by a perfectly
smooth surface.
The taking of broken winded horses Is
an art in itself, so to speak. It is generally
accomplished by means of drugs, arsenic
being chiefly used. The copper also pay.
strict attention to such an animals die
previous to a show. If, during the trial
|, a horse is little short winded, the owner
will turn furtously upon the groom TO-
giving his horse too much hay, when in al
probability 1t has had nothing to eat o.
drink for hours
The groom will thereupon explain hov
. the animal got loose and ate bushel o
oats and half a truss OF hay In the nigh
and that he was afraid of losing his plac
! if he said anything about 1t. This ex
PLANTATION will, in nine cases out of ten
satisfy the intending purchaser, and re
rry1,3o Lob, ho r,oicr 1,oxy
had esi
A singular dodge is resorted to by tn
copper when he comes into possession Of
lame horse out Of which he desires t
make some profit. The method Is Gale
! "beaning,' y and consists In making hors
which Is lame, say, for instance, in tn
left fore foot, lame In the right one also.
Perhaps a small pebble is inserted be
tween the shoe and the hoof of the latte
I foot, the pain Of which causes the anima
to limp with the right as well as the LEI
lleg one thus counterbalancing the othe
4 land making it appear as though it wa
Z the horses natural gait. In lieu of
! small pebble small iron wedge is some
times driven underneath the foot CORE
spending with the lame one, thus causin
both legs to go lame alike, which onl
gives the horse different motion.
Doping is term usually applied to tt
it trick of making horses appear spirite
], and high-steppers by means of drugs
1e chemicals An animal is often made
:. pick up its legs in the quick, nervous sty
B; of a thoroughbred by having the bac
K tendons Of the leg rubbed with turpentin
= Icow-itch and ammonia, which burns Ill
!. fire and makes the animal prance wit
Z pain.
:. Occasionally the copper is successful
b selling what is known as a rogue hors
IF one which resists all attempts to be p,
$. into harness. With a sharp razor the sid
I. LOT the horse will be shaved in certa
:. jplaces, making it appear as though tt
animal was just out Of harness and
9. Thorough carriage horse.
q: The same performance will be gol
e. through just below the withers, where Il
8 collar chafes, while, If the horse be
{ tricky one, choral hydrate and opium w
$ be administered. It is not until the u
On lucky purchaser tries to harness the hor
9 to carriage that he discovers the ar
u imal's temper and its unmanageable way