The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-06-23
THE FARMERS HORSE.

THE FARMERS HORSE.
The Arabs were the first to ap-
preciate horses Intelligence, and to
treat him accordingly. They kept
the history of their horses written on
tablets of ivory, and traced their par
entage back to the time of the Pha-
raohs. They were extremely careful
of their horses comfort, and they
were treated even better than their
wives and children.
The Arabian horse learned to un-
derstand the meaning of words by
constant companionship with man;
they were brave, obedient and fear
less through constant kindness the
horse always felt safe in the masters
presence. "Jim Key" the best
educated horse living, whose knowl-
edge is almost human, was a descend
ant from Arabian parentage, as are
all of Our most intelligent specimens
of horses we have to-day. To know
beautiful Jim Key one can not but
feel there is an intelligence in horses
that we have never understood or ap-
preciated.
Intelligence in horse varies, just as
it does in people; a horse sometimes
seems stupid because we fail TO under
stand it. How many farmers watch
their horses to know what its move
ments mean?
To a great degree the horse ex-
presses its feelings by the ears the
ears are pointed forward in watchful-
ness if the horse is surprised or fright
ened; if the horse is uncertain he list
ems to every sound, the ears turning
forward and backward. If angry the
ears flatten back against the neck; if
discouraged the ears droop down and
out.
Watch a horse as you drive him
over an unfamiliar road. and he is in.
terested in all the sights and sounds,
his ears are constantly on the move,
alert and active.
Drive him over the same road every
day it becomes monotonous and
there is nothing that interests him ;
he will look discouraged and his ears
will droop and flap dejectedly.
If we understood the ear language
we could prevent many accidents as
a rule, few soothing words will re-
assure him when he is startled the
voice of the driver has great effect
on the horse if the voice expresses
fear it will cause fear in the horse.
Kind treatment, regular food and
water will make horse more valu-
able.
Our barns should be provided with
box stalls, inc1osed on all sides, so
the horse does not have to be tied /;
with his head left free he can choose
his position and rest better all sides
and ends of the stall should be high
enough so the horse can not get his
feet over them.
A horse does not like a dark,
gloomy place any better than we do /;
a gloomy stable is injurious to the
ewes !; stable should be well lighted
and should be kept clean and dry.
Give the horse pure air and dry stable
and prevent disease.
A damp, cold barn will give horse
rheumatism, neuralgia and pneumo-
MIA, Just as it would us; and he
should be provided with good bed
so he will not feel the cold from the
floor.
No two people are alike in their
tastes, looks or desires, and no two
horses are exactly alike.
We always have plenty of salt on
the farm, but often through neglect
the horse does not get his share; he
enjoys it, the same as we enjoy jelly
or pickles with our food, and it is
necessary for him to have the salt to
keep his stomach in good condition.
We should study the horse. Is
our horse nervous, timid, quick tenn
pered or sulky?
Let us talk to him as we would to
anv other member of the farm, and
he will soon understand many words
and be sensitive to our praise or blame.
He will learn readily, and there are
many little ways we can use in teach
ing him !; he soon learns to stand and
wait without tying; this requires
sugar and regularity when you re-
turn to your horse after tying him
take him lump of sugar; he will
soon learn to wait for the sugar, and
| whenever you leave him he will re-
main until you return; you will not
need to tie him.
If the horse objects to taking the bit
in his mouth dampen it and sprinkle
sugar over it; as he takes it in his
mouth he will taste the sugar, and
will reach for the bit when he sees it.
It is cruel to put cold bit in the
horses mouth; it makes the teeth
ache, and can we blame him if he OBJ,
iects to taking the bit after he has
had the unpleasant experience with
the cold bit? A nervous horse is
sometimes ruined by an irritating Bit
large leather bit will accomplish
wonders with nervous horse, and he
will drive finely.
The binders should not set close te
the eyes, and they should not flat
against the eyes.
The horse has reasoning powers
and he does NOT become so frightenet