1858. 



KEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



269 



For the Neiv England Farmer. 

 HOKSE TAMING. 



Mk. Editor : — The art of subduing horses of 

 vicious and ungovernable dispositions, has as- 

 sumed an importance only commensurate to its 

 great utility. The wonderful success of our coun- 

 tryman, Mr. Rarey, in England and France, has 

 created a great excitement, and a consequent de- 

 sire to be informed of the method by -which these 

 astonishing results are achieved. I am more par- 

 ticularly induced to revert to this subject, from 

 the fact that numerous recipes have been pub- 

 lished in New England papers, professing to be 

 the method by which Mr. Rarey subjugates and 

 has acquired so much control over the horse. 

 One of the recipes is as follows : "Take the grated 

 horse-castor or wart, which grows on the inside 

 of the horse's legs, put it on an apple or other 

 enticing substance, and let him eat it ; then rub 

 a few drops of the oils Cumin and Bhodium upon 

 his nose." 



It is stated that these drugs possess some po- 

 tent charm by which the animal is rendered ob- 

 noxious to his vicious propensities, and his dispo- 

 sition radically changed to that of subservience, 

 docility and implicit obedience to the mandates 

 of his conqueror. In response to which I unre- 

 servedly assert that no such result is produced. 

 The horse castor exhales an extremely pungent 

 ammoniacal effluvium. The oil of Cumin is man- 

 ufactured from the seed of the same name, and 

 in smell somewhat resembles turpentine ; it is 

 very persistent, and will volatilize its strong odor 

 without any perceptible diminution for several 

 days. The oil of Rhodium takes its name from 

 the island of Rhodes, or roses. It is procured 

 by maceration from rose-leaves, and has a very 

 agreeable and powerful aroma. The use of the 

 drugs in subduing an ungovernable animal is 

 quite limited. Their powerful smells serve to at- 

 tract his attention for a few moments, and in this 

 manner, may possiblj' prove auxiliary to subse- 

 quent operations in ameliorating his incorrigible 

 temper. 



It is a fact, authentic beyond all cavilling, that 

 horses imbued Avith the most intelligence and 

 qualities of endurance, are generally the most 

 stubborn and implacable ; hence, the inestimable 

 value of some process by which they may be re- 

 duced to domestication and consequent utility. 

 The plan pursued by Mr. Rarey and myself pro- 

 duces this result, and therefore its importance. 

 No horse will submit to man unless convinced 

 of his superiority. To obtain this supremacy in 

 ordinary cases require no skill, but where the an- 

 mal is headstrong and obstinate the matter as- 

 sumes a more formidable aspect, and defies the 

 orthodox means by which success has been real- 

 ized. 



The obdurate horse, then, must be vanquished 

 in a trial of strength, he must be placed in such a 

 position that all his efforts and struggles at resis- 

 tance shall be skilfully encountered, and rendered 

 futile. This accomplished, the horse becomes a 

 slave, and only as such, is he useful. In this lies 

 the whole secret of horse taming. It requires 

 nothing but confidence, fearlessness, and patience 

 and perseverance in the operator to perform what 

 appears to be almost miraculous. The time re- 

 quired to conquer the horse varies with the ani- 



mal's disposition, from fifteen minutes to three 

 hours, and in a few isolated cases, it is necessary 

 to repeat the operation. In general it is quickly 

 and noiselessly accomplished, but at times the 

 struggle is severe and protracted, but success in- 

 variably eventuates ; during the period I have im- 

 parted instructions in horse training I have had 

 several very vicious animals subjected to my treat- 

 ment, which I have in no instance failed to con- 

 quer. 



I am not at liberty to give the details of my 

 practice, as it would interfere with my pecuniary 

 interests. The secret has been knoAvn to a few 

 horse-trainers in this country for many years. 

 And in the elementary operation pursued in gen- 

 tling the horse for the uses of the amphitheatre 

 and hippo-dramatic performances, it has alwajs 

 been regarded as a great secret, and only impart- 

 ed by professional horsemen under the seal of se- 

 crecy, and for a large remuneration. Mr. Rarey 

 is not the originator, but his familiarity with the 

 horse has developed in him a superiority and 

 skill, which the amateur cannot realize. In con- 

 clusion, I would remark that any man that can 

 handle a horse, can effectually operate my meth- 

 od of subduing him. Yours respectfully, 



Neio York, 1858. Caleb H. Rany. 



For the New Eiigland Farmer. 

 BABNS, AKD BARN KOOM. 



Mr. Editor : — Your correspondent, "Pine 

 Hill," in the Farmer of Jan. 30th, gives a de- 

 scription or plan of a barn, in reply to the in- 

 quiries of a "Subscriber," which I think Mill not 

 meet the approbation of farmers generally. — 

 Twenty feet posts is decidedly an inconvenience, 

 for it is imposing upon the pitcher of hay, a task 

 that is extremely irksome, in the hottest season 

 of the year. Sixteen or eighteen feet posts, to 

 the extent, is as high as a person of ordinary 

 muscles and strength would wish to pitch, while 

 heated with a hot July's sun. 



Your correspondent recommends a "brick un- 

 derpinning two feet high, containing, at suitable 

 distances, small doors eighteen by sixteen inch- 

 es, for the purpose of light and ventilation. The 

 cellar should be at least eight feet deep, with two 

 rows of brick piers eight feet apart — the whole 

 length of the barn. The entrance to the cellar 

 for teams should be at one end, secured by a tight 

 door." It is obvious that a barn should be built 

 in the most thorough and substantial manner, 

 therefore underpinning should be dispensed with, 

 especially, a brick one. A well constructed •wall 

 three feet in thickness laid in mortar and cement, 

 makes a substantial foundation for the barn to rest 

 upon, which joiners readily admit is preferable to 

 underpinning. Instead of the small doors for 

 light and ventilation, Avindows on hinges are de- 

 cidedly preferable, as they will afford these at 

 will ; this obviates the necessity in extremely 

 cold weather of keeping a door open for the sole 

 purpose of aflbrding light. 



The space for Avindows can be reserved while 

 completing the wall, in less time and with less 

 trouble and expense than could be done in pro- 

 curing and setting underpinning. I presume 

 "Pine Hill" would have the two rows of piers 

 stand directly under the posts in the body of the 



