ON EDUCATING THE HORSE. 



DR. J. C. HENNESSY. 



Many people may know more of the 

 horse, in general, than I do; but I have yet 

 to meet any one who has more love for 

 horses than I have. I am especially inter- 

 ested in the training and educating of 

 horses that have been spoiled or made to 

 balk; and in teaching horses to perform. I 

 have a horse that was sold me 3 years ago 

 because the owner was afraid of him. This 

 animal had run away and had demolished 

 several rigs. I have since raced him 3 



are more balky drivers than balky horses. 

 When horses balk whipping will not make 

 them go. They have been cut to pieces, 

 fires have been built under them, ropes tied 

 to their tongue and that member pulled out 

 by the roots, but they have never moved. 

 All of this is inhuman and places the per- 

 petrator beneath the brute. A horse balks 

 because he is abused; because the harness 

 hurts him; perhaps because the whipple 

 tree strikes his hocks every time he at- 



WHEN I TELL PRINCE TO KISS ME. 



times and have won each time, giving him 

 a record close to 2.20. Notwithstanding 

 his reputation, I paid $150 for him. After 

 driving him one month I could start him 

 trotting, throw the lines out of the buggy, 

 snap the whip, and he would stand still. 

 One day when I was driving him the axle 

 of a wheel broke and he absolutely refused 

 to run away. This was simply because I 

 was kind to him and understood his dis- 

 position. He was a high-strung animal 

 and could never be whipped into doing 

 anything. I am always kind but firm, and 

 when he is within hearing distance he will 

 obey me. If your horse balks it is your 

 fault and not that of the animal. There 



tempts to move, or for some other good 

 reason. He gets stubborn and nothing 

 can move him unless you distract his 

 thoughts. Have him forget his anger and 

 he will be all right. There are many ways 

 of doing this. People have been known 

 to pour shot in the animal's ear, or whirl 

 him around by catching hold of the bridle 

 and tail; but this is entirely unnecessary 

 and inhuman. The best way, and one that 

 has never failed me, is to advance cheerfully 

 toward the animal, pat him, speak kindly to 

 him, take hold of the bit, raise his head 

 and blow gently in his nostrils. As soon 

 as he throws his ears forward in astonish- 

 ment, start him and he will go. This will 



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