The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-05-09
PRACTICAL HORSE TALK.

There has been always something
fascinating to me about buying
training and even working with hor-
SEES. | have studied and handled them
all my life, as farmer in Nova
Scotia, a coachman in New England
express driver in New York City, and
again a farmer on the prairies of AL
berta, and yet l am learning some
thing new about 'man's best friend
every day.
l remember a beautiful Clydesdale
horse we had for a number of years
on the farm down East; one of the
best and most faithful animals at
times that ever pulled a trace, but he
had a habit, once in a while of get
ting balky, perhaps on account of
former bad driving or abuse, which
are the causes of balkiness in good
many cases. This horse seemed to
get up cranky" some mornings, just
as a good many people do When he
was in this mood the points of his
ears would almost touch each other,
and this was the signal for trouble.
The remedy was hitch him up and
keep puttering around the wagon,
sometimes offering his mate hand
full of oats. This would take his
mind off his sulky mood. He seemed
almost to court punishment at such
times, and not to let on that you no
ticed him, was the sure cure. After
a few minutes he would start off and
be all right for long time.
Some time ago traded for pair
of horses that were so balky at times
they would not haul the empty wag-
on home for their owner. Tknew all
about this when trading and took a
chance on reforming them. They
were each different in disposition.
One was as crafty as fox and would
not stand a bad driver; the other
was a willing worker and had been
abused. This is how / cured them, |
was kind to them; drove them around
several times with the empty wagon,
then put on very light load, then
| loaded them up gradually and after
a time | had their confidence. used
them for two years and better team
| never owned.
l find that a few horses are born
with balky streak the same as
others are kickers, but the majority
Of baking and kicking horses are
driven to it by bad drivers overloads
and abuse. A driver that doesn't
know his business, in nine cases out
If ten, starts to abuse and lick his
horses when they get stuck with a
Dad. A good teamster knows when
/ team has done it's best, when in a
Dad place. Instead of abusing the
lorses he does the very opposite, pet
ing and encouraging them. 1t is
wonderful how little judgment will
let load out of a bad place. Some
lines, If you wait awhile, another
cam win happen along and help out,
t other times digging in front of the
wheels or removing part Of the load
nay be necessary, but don't ever let
our temper allow you to abuse your
cam.
/ find that a great many horses are
uined physically by bad stabling, no
ght, no ventilation, foul odors. How
'ouid you like to spend night or day ,
here you keep your horse? Think It
yer. Give him light, good ventilation,
ut no draughts and clean stable.
later him often on hot days. 1t will ,
ut dollars in your pockets II you !.
I've this a thought, and you will feel :,
ore happy if your horse is comfor-
bile. He will do more work too. ,
Let him roll every day. / believe
ore in this than currying and brush
g. The latter are all right but I
ink rolling is more beneficial. Don't
sep your horses tied up day after u
" in the stable. have had thirty II
ars' experience, have owned over CT
10 head, have never lost horse fl
d had very few sick ones Perhaps ec
was lucky, but I know the above ii
eas will help you as they have me. D,
We the noble horse a show. It h;
VS.. It's logic It's common-sense. Ii,
two horses are alike. Give them of
square deal. You will be better tn
n by doing Sex. ed