The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-11-09
HORSE WHlSPERERS.
Men Who Can Control the Most vi
eious Animal by Voice.

Men VINO IAN Sohtroi the MoSt vi
eious Animal by Voice.
The horse whisperer might be an IN
known quantity in England and Ire
land today. but there are not q few
men who exercise a wonderful contro
with their voices over horses which
when the dominating influence is ab
sent are apt to literally kick over the
traces. In the thoroughbred stables OF
England and ireland today there ar.
not few stablemen and jockeys who
succeed in holding in check the vice il
horses which in demonsrative manner
show that they cannot tolerate the
presence of the grooms or attendants
Nimrod claimed for Count Duval ii
power and influence of the humau
voice over the brute creation. but tina
power was backed up by lecture It
the horse with his clinched fist in hi,
face"
But the horse whisperer OF toda.
avoids all geSticulations and trusts ell
tirely to a combination Of sounds o
words. There is no bullying done. an,
the whisperer can face a mad hors,
with his hands behind his back an
apparently at the mercy OF the beaS
that has to come under the charm
One means Of keeping remount horse
quiet In stations during the South Al
rican war was that employed by the
yeomen. who sat In a ring of head t.
head horses singing as loudly as posi-
Bile and riveting the ears and attention
Of the otherwise sprawling and hungr.
animals.
One of the first whisperers to az
quire absolute control over fractions
equines was Con Sullivan. who mi
grated In his youth from KilmallicI
where he could trace his genealog.
through a long line of snafflers. anO
became almost exclusively employed
by Lord Doneraile. The whisper OF
this man made an indelible impression
upon any horse. bringing the pupil tt
a degree of docility unattafnabe in
the ordinary course of discipline.
The race horse King Pepin. 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 manageable moods. He
reared, plunged and flung out fore and
aft until he completely cowed groom
and jockey. 1t was at this crisis thai
some one recon mended that he should
be whispered" AS it was the only
chance left Of tanning him in time fol
the start. his owner gladly availet
himself Of it. though warned thai
horses were sometimes thrown into g
state Of stupor by the process.
Sullivan was soon found. and he was
delighted at the opportunity Of
"fwhuisperin' before so much 'quoli
ty' from all parts" SHOW us the wic
baste." he said, land Wen soon tachs
! him manners"
When he got within the circle-ant
wide one it was-in which King Pc
pin was playing his antics he walked
up to him. approaching the horse from
behind. He mum bled some words a:
he walked which, though not quite
inaudible, were as unintelligibie as ;
sermon in the unknown tongue. bu
they had a most magical effect on tn,
borse, for he stood stock still. Sulii
van then patted him on the neck. while
he whispered a word or two in his ear
whereupon King Pepin went on hi
knees and fncontinently lay down.
The whisperer then stretched himsei
on him at full length. took out a pouch
containing pipe and tobacco. flint ant
steel. struck light and blew a clout
as be lounged on the stomach OF thi
high melted colt with as much com
| posture as If he were seated on bench
| in his favorite taproom. After two .
three puffs he got up. beckoned tn,
nag to his legs, saddled him and walk
ed off to the starting post. the hors
| following and fawuing upon him Xix
a dog He won the race In a canter.-
London Live Stock Journal.