The Washington herald., 1908-05-10
Punishment Has No
Place in the New System
of the Training of Equines

~ the police department of Philadelphia is
establishing. In other words, the
Baucher method of training is being adopted. And
that the move is a wise one is attested by George
McMenamin, one of its leading exponents in
America.
Briefly, the Baucher method substitutes sci
ence for brute force; kindness for cruelty 1t
teaches the horse to balance himself, to carry him
self properly, and to place himself in position to
execute whatever command the rider may give
Him. 1t enables the rider to control his mount at
all times, to make rebellion impossible.
Punishment has no place in this course of
education Instead, the interest and sympathy of
the horse are enlisted He is taught to be obedi-
ent, not ruined by the cruel and injudicous use of
whip and spur.
ENGLISH OPPOSE EDUCATING THE HORSE.
Our English cousins from whom much Of our horse
anshp inherited always frowned on the higher
education of the horse They teach him to walk trot
and canter to back and sdesep and perhaps to rotate
his front and hind feet That is about training
as they consider necessary advisable II he takes
kindly it, well and good If he doesn't he frequently
ruined by punishment
Our own Western methods are even harsher A green
pony corraled huge saddle thrown him. cruel bit
jammed his mouth and then a cowpuneher climbs
aboard tortures him into submission quirt and
rowels bring blood After he has been thoroughly
subjected he learns to round cattle He braces himself
when roped. keeps the lariat taut This
completes his education.
Directly the opposite Of these methods is that of
Baucher. which has long been in
Europe which is gaining ground in America What
it accomplshes may be seen by visiting the farm OF
George AdcAIenamin. near Valley Forge.
When stranger walks down the road leading to his
house. in field right come over to the
fence inspect the If he manfests friendly
interest they will poke their over the fence TO be
petted And when he leaves after having seen horses of
many put through their paces he will recall that
Of them has shown the slightest fear human
being
fact this humane system Of horse training much
IN lire with modern methods Of reforming Grim
inas It found especially with young offenders
that punishment within four walls usually them
worse when they put both and to work
farms where they healthy exercise wholesome
their bodies develop and their minds their
criminal tendencies
So. when a bad horse is to be reformed he is taught
HIS muscles to the best advantage At 1tst he
tries to rebel But he finds the trainer ready for
Suppose he tries Suddenly he finds his
and neck held in such position that he can't There
has been cruelty to his high spirit further
FebeillVI 1S mas OS6n 5CtntlnCaly conquered
yields gradually science where torture would have turn
ed him into a viritable wild beast
HEAD THE BALANCE WHEEL"
"The head" Mr.. McMenamin will tell you lis the
governor, or balance Wheel of horse The cardinal
principle OF Bauchers method TO teach him to balance
himself In his natural he carries no burden
Therefore, when place on his back you must
teach him himself his center of gravity
falls where the saddle placed.
''Then, when have duty for him 10 perform you
teach him to balance himself that he can perform
It. You must control his and limbs by controlling
the muscles that move them. Wait moment III show
you"
While he talking he in his carriage house. a
small place sixteen eighteen feet wide and
not much longer He went to the door Of box stall
nearby, opened it, and said:
"aThis a thoroughbred stallion"
Ordinarily thoroughbred stallion is no gentle animal
this fellow his Of the door in quite
friendly allowed himself to be sadded with
exhibiting the least nervousness And when
Mr. McMenamn mounted he proceeded TO canter in small
circles and sidestep easily as If he had been
polo pony
"Just notice" said the trainer 'hat he handles as
easily with the heels with the And with that
he allowed the rens loosen by touching his spurs
big fellows side. him rapidly through his PAGES
with hesitation never mistake
It might be well TO remark here that the trainers
only 10 signal to the horse IN place Of the