The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-05-08
HORSE WHISPERERS.
Men Who Can Control the Most Viz
cious Animal BY Voice.

&A0GS SNNAst&t ~
The horse whisperer might be an I'M
known quantity in England and Ire
land today. but there are not few
men who exercise a wonderful control
with their voices over horses which
when the dominating influence is abb
sent are apt to literally kick over the
traces In the thoroughbred stables of
England and Ireland today there are
not few stablemen and jockeys who
succeed in holding in check the vice in
horses which in demonstrative manner
|. show that they cannot tolerate the
presence of the grooms or attendants.
Nimrod claimed for Count Duval
power and influence of the human
voice over the brute creation, but that
power was backed up by a lecture to
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 or
words. There is no bullying done. and
the whisperer can face 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 ring of head to
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 genealogy
through long line of snaflers, and
became almost exclusively employed
by Lord Doneraile. The whisper of
this man made an indelible impression
upon any horse. bringing the pupil to
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 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
aft until he completely cowed groom
and jockey. 1t was at this crisis that
some one recommended that he should
be whispered" AS it was the only
chance left of tanning him in time for
the start, his owner gladly availed
himself of 1t. though warned that
horses were sometimes thrown into a
state Of stupor by the process.
Sullivan was soon found, and he was
delighted at the opportunity OF
"fwhuisperin' before so much squoli-
ty' from all parts" "Show us the wild
baste," he said, ''and Wen soon tache
him manners"
When he got within the circle-and
wide one 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 q
sermon in the unknown tongue, but
they had 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 cloud
as he lounged on the stomach of this
high mettled colt with as much COM
posture as If he were seated on a bench
in his fayorite 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
dog. He won the race in a canter.-
London Live Stock Journal.