Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-11-07
HORSE WHIsPERERs.
Men Who Can Control the Most vi.
cious Animal by Voice.

~ Hr
Men Who Can Control the Most vi.
cious Animal by Voice.
The horse whisperer might be an I'm
known quantity in England and Ire
land today. but there are. not a few
men who exercise a wonderful contro
with their voices over horses which
when the dominating influence is alb
sent are apt to literally kick over the
traces. In the thoroughbred stables Of
England and Ireland today there are
not a few stablemen and jockeys who
succeed in holding in check the vice ii
horses which in demonstratiye manner
show that they cannot tolerate the
presence of the grooms o. attendants.
Nimrod claimed for Count Duval q
power and influence Of the human
voice over the brute creation, but that
power was backed up by a lecture te
the horse with "his clinched fist in his
face"
But the horse whisperer Of today
avoids all gesticulations and trusts en-
tirely to a combination Of sounds OF
words. There is no bullying done. and
the w%hisperer can face a mad horse
with his hands behind his back and
apparently at the mercy Of the beast
that has to come under the charm
One means Of keeping remount horses
quiet in stations during the South AT.
rican war was that employed by the
yeomen, who sat in a ring of head tc
head horses singing as loudly as posi-.
BILE and riveting the ears and attention
Of the otherwise sprawling and hungry
animals.
One Of the first whisperers to ac.
quire absolute control over fractions
equines was Con Sullivan, who mi.
grated in his youth from Kilmallick.
where he could trace his g~enealogy
through a long line Of snaf1ers, and
became almost exclusively employed
by Lord Doneraile. The whisper of
this man made an indelible impression
upon any horse, bringing the pupil tc
a degree Of docility unattainable in
the ordinary course of discipline.
The race horse King Pepin, a famous
racer, vicious and reputed to have kill.
ed two grooms at the Curragh, once
came under his charge. He was want.
ed to win a race at Mallow, but when
saddling time came it found him in
one of his unmanageable moods. He
reared, plunged and flung out fore and
afr l1nti1 hl aDpop1ofn1r .onvuoI roo
and Jockey. 1t was at this crisis that
some Il recommended that he should
be "whispered." AS it was the only
chance left of tanning him in time fol
the start, his owner gladly availed
himself Of it, though warned that
state of stupor by the process.
Sullivan was 500 found, and he was
delighted at the opportunity OF
"fwhuisperin' before so much 'quoli.
ty' from all parts" "Show us the wild
baste," he said, "and We'll soon tache
him manners"
When he got within the circle-and
a wide n it was-in which King Pc.
pin was playing his antics he walked
up to him, approaching the horse from
behind. He mumbled some words as
he walked which, though not quite
inaudible, were as unintelligible as a
sermon in the unknown tongue, but
they had a most magical effect on the
horse, for he stood stock still. Sulli.
van then patted him on the neck, while
he whispered a word or two in his ear,
whereupon King Pepin went on his
knees and>incontinently lay down.
The whisperer then stretched himself
on him at full length, took out a pouch
containing pipe and tobacco, flint and
steel, struck a light and blew a cloud
as he lounged on the stomach Of this
high melted colt with as much COM
posture as if he were seated on a bench
in his %favorite taproom. After two or
three puffs he got up, .beckoned the
nag to his legs, saddled him and walk
ed off to the starting post, the horse
following and fawning upon him like
q dog. He Won the race in a canter.-
London Live Stock Journal.