La Junta tribune., 1907-12-28
HORSE wHIsPeReRs.
Mon Who Can Control the Most vi
eieus Animal by Voice.

ctouo ANIMAL oy VOICE.
The horse whIspercr might be an un.
known quantity In England and Ire
land today. but there are not few
men who exercise wonderful control
with their voices over horses which
when the dominating influence Is all
sent are apt to literally kick over the
traces. In the thoroughbred stables OF
England nnd Ireland today there are
not few stablcmen and jockeys who
succeed In holdiug in check the vice III
horses which In dcmonstrative manner
show that they cannot tolerate the
presence of the grooms or attendants.
Nlmrod claimed for Count Dural u
power and influence OF the human
voice over the brute creation. but that
power was backed NJ by Al lecture To
, the horse with his climched fist In his
face
But the horse whisperer OF today
avoids all gesticulations and trusts eu-
tircly to combination OF sounds oi
words. There is no bullying done. aud
the whisperer can face mad hors,
with his hands behind his back and
| apparently at the mercy of the beast
that has 10 come under the charm.
One means OF keeping remount horses
quiet In stations during the South Az.
rican war was that employed by the
yeomen. who sat in 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 nc.
quirc absolute control over fr;lctious
equines was Con sullivan, who mi
grated IN his youth from kilmnllick.
where he could trace his gcncalogy
through long line of snafliers. and
became almost exclusively employed
by Lord Doncraic. Tho whisper oi
this man made an indciblc impression
upon any horse. bringing the pupil {,
a degree OF docility unnttainable in
the ordinary course Of discipline.
Tie race horse King Icpin. It famous
| racer, vicious and rcputed TO have XIII.
cd two grooms at the Curragh. once
came under his charge. He was want
cd to win n race ut AIalow. but when
saddling time came IL found him In
one of his unmanageable moods. He
reared, plunged and flung out fore and
aft until lie completely cowed groom
and jockey. 1t was ut this crisis that
some one recommended that lie should
be whispered" AS 1t WAS the only
chance left OF tanning him In time for
the start. his owner gladly availel
himself of II. though warned that
horses were sometimes thrown into a
state of stupor by the process.
Sullivan was soon found. and lie was
delighted at the opportunity OF
"fwhuIsperin' before SO much 'quoli.
ty' from all parts" 'Show us the wild
baste," he said, "and well soon tnche
him manners"
When he got within the circle-and
wide one II was--in which King Pc
pin was playing his antics he walked
up to him. approaching the horse from
| behind. He mumblcd some words ;,s
lie walked which. though not qnite
| inaudibe. We're as tlnintclliGible as II
sermon In the unknown tongue. but
they had a most magical effect on the
horse. for he stood stock still. Sulll.
van then patted him on the neck. while
he whispered word or two in his ear.
whcrcupon King Pepln went on his
knees and incontinently lay down.
The whlspcrcr then stretched himself
on him nt full length. took out Il pouch
containing pipe and tobacco hint and
Steel struck light and blew II cloud
as lie lounged on the stomach of this
high mettled colt with as much com
posure as II he were seated on a bench
In his favorite taproom. After two or
three pufrs lie got up, beckoned the
nag to his legs. saddled him and walk
ed OF 10 the starting post, the horse
following and fawning upon him like
Il dog. He won the race in canter.-
London Live Stock Journal.