Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-16
TRAINING BUFFALOES
FURTHER PROGRESS IN DoMEsTI-
CATION OF THE CALVES.
Young Bison Did Not Take Kindly to
Wearing Harness-First Drive
in the Cart.


weeks ago discontinued series Of articles
devoted to the tanning OF several buffalo
calves which 1 obtained from Corbin Park
last spring. It may be recalled that made
special mention Of two little bull calves.
which were already partly broken to the
yoke when I discontinued the story until
cooler weather made it advisable to go on
with the training.
The cool weather has come, and the train
Ing is going on, though in the meantime the
calves have changed very much In appear
ance. The tawny hair which covered their
bodies when they were born, but which be-
fan to fall out early in the summer, has
now entirely disappeared. except about the
ankles, and has been replaced by a dark
brown coat, which daily grows longer and
warmer in anticipation of the coming Win
ter. Their color is now that of the adult
buffalo. and will remain unchanged
throughout the rest of their lives.
When 1 again took up their education
found they had forgotten some Of what
they had been taught concerning yokes;
yet they remembered most of 1t. and soon
relearned the rest. l now determined to
break them to harness well. There are
always so many people ready to tell one
what cannot be done, and / knew that, no
matter how we'll they behaved in the yoke,
some prophet would be sure to arise ana
them with the bit BY the same token l
knew that If they went ever so well IN uou-
BILE harness, it would be said that they
would never work singiy, or Vice versa so
when l ordered the harness, ordered poth
a single and double set. and when l or
dered a cart, 1t was one on which pair
of shafts and pole were interchangeable.
Trying One at Time.
When the harness arrived l thought 1t
would be best to try one of the young buff
faIoes at a time in single harness at first.
The cart was not ready at that time, and
of course | should not have used 1t II II
had been.
First of all, l led the victim to a tree,
and, having secured him with rope and
halter, l proceeded, with the help of an as
sistant. to put on the harness. Goodness.
how that buffalo did kick! He not only
kicked hard and often, but remarkably
straight as we'll, and we had to move Win
considerable agility to prevent his planting
his feet on US even ottener than he did.
But at last the deed was done-the harness
on his back, the bride on his head and the
bit in his mouth. Then, while L took hrm
hold on the reins, my assistant united him.
What did he do? Well, to be frank, he
didn't do ny-hing-at first. He stood quite
steady in his tracks. and slight apphca-
ton of the whip did not seem to even
change his trend Of thought applied II
He deliberately laid down. as though he'd
been trained to do just that thing. L tried
all kinds of persuasion, but evidently ne
had no intention of getting up, ana mlSht
have gone to sleep If | had not thought OF
a certain way to move him. While l do NOT
consider myself in any sense good mimic
of wild animals. l am rather proud OF my
imitation of the screech of Wild cat Not
long ago l hid in a wildcat cave which
knew was to be explored by a hunting
party the same day. BY giving my imta-
ton at precisely the right moment, 1 SIAM
peded the party, and incidentally came
rather near getting shot for my folly.
Screech Of Wild Cat Aroused Him.
Going close to the PROSTATE buffalo,
now gave that screech, and the effect was
magical. The youngster was on his feet in
a wink, and almost before l could get
good grip on the reins he was going up to
road, believing at every leap l ran, too,
for had to, but very soon l drew him H.
and with the exception of few balks from
time to time, when he Sulked under the
Bit he went for three miles as though he
rather liked it,
Next day we put the harness on the other
little bull, and took him out for his first
trial. His disposition proved to be quite
different from that of his mate, for he
never laid down but sprang away the mo-
ment he was given his head kicking, buck
jumping, believing and shopping, until 1t
seemed tildL ne "Oulu ne UDlISGu ~ supp
from sheer exhaustion. He kept 1t up until
his sides heayed and his tongue hung out
of his mouth six inches but / managed to
keep his head pointed away from home, and
gradually he became more quiet. But only
for a minute or two at time, and then
away he would go kicking and bucking as
before.
1 dared not take him more than mile on
the road, for fear he might injure himself in
his struggles, so 1 turned him homeward.
1t was a circus all the way to the house,
but when he came opposite his own gate
he stopped, let me take the harness or
without fuss. and began to nibble grass
as soon as he trotted into the pasture. The
following day, Cfter taking him out for
mile or two, L turned him loose in the pas
ture with his harness on, that he might
have chance to become used to 1t. And
eventually he did. but not until he had tired
himself out bucking, kicking and rolling on
the ground in vain endeavors to rid himself
of his hated burden.
Cart Made to Order.
In the meantime the local wheelwrght
had been at work on the cart. He had