THE NEW SYSTEM OF EDUCATING HORSES. 259 



taught us our A B C; but Magner teaches us how to put the letters together" 

 The committee are to witness several more exhibitions before mak- 

 ing their report ; though, without exception, they state that they are 

 fully satisfied with what they have seen. 



At the close of the exhibition the following 



AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM MR. BONNER 



was handed to the representative of this paper : 



"OFFICE OF 'THE LEDGER,' 

 " Mr. D. Magner. New York, Jan. 25, 1872. 



"DEAR SIR, From the conversations I have had with you, and 

 from the satisfactory manner in which you handled Mr. Wilkins's 

 horse to-day in my stable, I have no hesitation in saying that I con- 

 sider you the most scientific and successful educator, or tamer, of 

 vicious horses I have ever met. Mr. Wilkins's horse was a most 

 vicious brute. He would kick with more spite and determination than 

 any horse I ever saw ; and at the same time he would strike with his 

 forward feet. Indeed, Mr. Wilkins himself told me that he was, to 

 use his exact expression, ' the worst horse in New York.' 



" In less than an hour you succeeded in handling him as freely, and 

 with as much apparent safety, as you 'would any ordinary family horse. 



" I have myself handled Princess, the famous old competitor of 

 Flora Temple, on your new system ; and, although she was at one 

 time so vicious as to be almost unmanageable, my youngest boy a 

 lad of fifteen has, during the past week, been driving her daily in 

 the Central Park. 



" All things considered, your treatment is, in my opinion, entirely 

 new and reliable, as well as humane and practical. 



" Yours truly, "ROBERT BONNER." 



In a conversation subsequent to the exhibition, Mr. Bonner stated, 

 that, if he could have made his letter any stronger, he would have 

 done so. 



Committee Keport. 



APRIL 9, 1872. 



We, the committee appointed by the citizens and prominent horse- 

 men of New York to investigate and report upon the merits of Mr. 

 Magner's system of training and educating wild and vicious horses, 

 respectfully report that we have exerted every effort in obtaining 

 horses of bad character to test the practicability of his treatment, and 

 secured a thoroughbred mare, owned by L. C. Popham of No. 945 

 Broadway. This mare was fourteen years old, and had resisted all 

 efforts to control her in single harness ; would kick herself free from 

 shafts, and run away at all hazards. Also, a thoroughbred gelding, 

 sixteen years old, owned by H. L. Herbert of Red Bank, NJ. He 

 would balk while riding, kicking and running away while in harness, 

 and was so vicious that he could not be driven or controlled in har- 

 ness ; was purchased by Mr. Herbert for $2,500; proved so worthless 

 that he sold him for $150, and afterwards repurchased him for $25. 

 Also, a fine Star mare, owned by R. L. Pell, Esq., of Fifth Avenue 

 and Twenty-sixth Street ; would kick herself free in single harness, 



