The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-06-29
OF INTEREST
TO FARMERS
Some Valuable Hints and In
formation Taken From
Farm Papers
BE Kind to Your Horse

iicuoS siiSAA "aliH' blood iioiSo
that are fed a fair amount of oats a
few months before foaling will pro-
duce stronger and healthier foals
than those that are only fed on hay.
Fuss with the colts in your spare
winter hours; you will find it pays
to get them used to the harness.
And if you attend to their feet by
rasping them there will be fewer
splints. AS the colts come along
you will observe a dead, rough APP
pearance to their coats, which is
invariably caused by worms. To
cure this give them a half pint of
raw linseed oil, and repeat in ten
days, feeding them on soft food in
the interval.
When you are getting stock ready
for tie buyer, take them up and ex-
ercise them; blanket them, and have
them well groomed; it pays to give
them plenty of "elbow grease to
make their coats sleek.
If YOU have any c,.rs or mongrels
on your farm, cut them loose! 1t
costs no more to feed a good colt, or
other stock. than bad ones. And
remember about feeding-that to
stint your horses, especially those
for sale, is "a penny wise and pound
foolish" policy. 1t will be usually
found necessary once in awhile to
mix a little ground linseed-cake with
the feed.
A word to you, too. about the
treatment of the stock. Whipping
a shying, frightened or balky horse,
is s~enseless and cruel. Pain does
not relieve fright, but the assuring
voice of a kind master does. Whip
ping will make a confirmed shyer
of the horse, for he will connect the
pain with his fear. 1t would be
well if,everyone owning. using, car
ing for, or dealing in horses, could
be made TO realize the essentially
human character of most of the
horse traits observable. If this
could be accomplished the effect
would be to enlist every such person
a volunteer member of a worldwide
humane society, and extinguish for
ever the foolish and wicked DISPOSE
ton to abuse and belabor the horse
which now possesses many who
should know better. 1t has ever
been a dictum of the writer (than
whom scarcely any man has had
wider horse experience), always
treat a horse with kindness; never
abuse a horse" And the practice
of this virtue is more than its own
reward, the animal will reward you.
For this he will love, serve, and be
a faithful friend to you.
Many a fractions or balky horse
has been transformed by a little
kindness. Speak to such a one gen.
tie and smoothly. and, if frightened
reassuringly. He soon learns your
voice and knows it as well as a hui
man being does. He will interpret
its very tone and be guided there
by. When he has driven you well
give him a kinly pat, a hearty word
ana an apple to eat, or a bit of sugar
and notice how almost human is hi:
qualification. Remember thai
this is love and fealty which car
never be bought. You cannot
tempt him with gauds and any mer
cenary reward. The value of these
he cannot know, but he will give
you love for life and that is no stint
ed measure.
The writer once bought for eight,
dollars a fine horse which had pre-
viously sold for $1,000, but who's,
temper had been ruined by injudi
cious handling. To drive her a
first strained the muscles almost be
yond endurance, and she jumped a
every trife. In a few weeks tim,
through kindness and sympathy sh'
was brought to go boldly past tn
object of her worst fears. and coul,
be driven with the fingers of on
hand.
Have your horses nicely shod i
front. and when you go to tow,
take along your best horses and you
Sunday harness. Neither one wi
wear OUT very readily if they ar
the right sort, and appearances &
a long way II. Brentano in Dakt
to Farmer.