80 TAMING HOESES. 



pretty strong decoction of the root of poke-weed. 

 It generally causes him to sweat copiously, and it 

 often happens, that one dose is sufficient to effect a 

 radical cure ; but, it may be necessary to repeat the 

 dose two or three times : after which, treat him as 

 you would a horse taken out of the prairie to bo 

 fattened according to the method laid down in this 

 work. 



TO PREVENT A HORSE'S BACK FROM GET- 

 TING SORE, EVEN ON A LONG JOURNEY. 



The best method I ever found, to keep a horse's 

 back from getting sore, on a long journey, is: in 

 the first place, to procure a saddle, with a saddle- 

 tree sufficiently open as not to come in contact with 

 the spine. If it be a Spanish saddle, or one of the 

 common saddles used in herding cattle in this 

 country, add to it a couple of cushions filled with 

 wool well picked and clean, considerably thicker 

 at the upper part, where they come nighest to the 

 spine, and thinner as they descend upon the ribs 

 of the horse. Fine wool is far preferable to hair, 

 •or any other substance I ever made use of. Put 

 under the saddle a small saddle-blanket, which 

 should likewise be of wool. When you stop, even 

 for a few minutes, unloose or slacken the girt , and 



