1861.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
37 
fort, and thus more readily learn that they were 
in his power. A thick bed of straw prevented 
injury to the knees during this floundering. 
Sometimes an animal holds out a long time, hut 
usually in from three to seven minutes you can 
plainly discern that his 
spirit is being conquered, 
and that he begins to be 
sensible of his helpless¬ 
ness. You can see an 
imploring look in the 
eye of the most viGious 
animal. After a few 
more struggles he gives 
up completely and 
stretches himself upon 
his side. His muscles 
relax, and he permits 
himself to be handled in 
any way you desire. The 
result is the same in 
every case. When the 
horse yields—and every 
horse will yield under 
such treatment — he 
yields completely.— 
When this point is 
reached, Mr. Rarey 
soothes him to show he 
is a friendly conqueror; 
and handles him in a variety of ways—lifts up 
his feet, lies down on him, strikes his fore and 
hind feet together, sits astride of him, opens his 
mouth, sits upon all parts of his body, etc. In 
one case the horse sprung upon his knees and 
tried to resume control of himself, but after try¬ 
ing it awhile, again laid down and gave over 
the struggle entirely. When evidently subdued, 
tho straps are removed, and the various evolu¬ 
tions and manipulations are performed again. 
He lays down between the feet of the previously 
kicking horse—in short, does exactly what he 
pleases with the animal. We could hardly have 
believed so complete a subjugation possible, in so 
short a space of time, and by so simple a process, 
had we not seen it repeated upon a variety of 
horses of known wildness, and vicious, untame- 
able propensities. 
After the horse has lain for ten or twenty 
minutes, more or less, and learned not to fear or 
be alarmed at any movements of his conqueror, 
his head is raised up and his fore feet are placed 
out for him, when he is invited to get up. He 
does so, and then the manipulations performed 
while he was down, are repeated upon him 
standing, and with just as much facility. His 
feet are handled, his mouth opened, the opera¬ 
tor sets astride his back and neck, and upon his 
rump, lays down under his feet, puts them on 
his breast, etc. 
The philosophy of this matter is simple and 
self-evident. Firmness, calmness, and kindness, 
are requisite, and with them we feel quite sure 
that Mr. Rarey’s simple process will effectually 
subdue any horse. That a few repetitions of 
the process will be required with many horses 
is doubtless true; but a few half hours will be 
well expended, if they suffice to “ tame ” a horse 
good in other respects. 
A horse was brought in which was evidently 
afraid of a drum. Mr. Rarey took the instru¬ 
ment and held it out for the horse to smell of, 
until convinced that it was no dangerous ani¬ 
mal. It was then rubbed against his head, and 
all over his body, until he paid no further atten¬ 
tion to it. It was then set upon his rump, and 
Very gentle taps given, These were gradually 
increased until smart strokes were given without 
disturbing the animal. He was made acquaint¬ 
ed with it, and learned for himself that it was 
harmless. 
A colt was then brought in, unused to the sad¬ 
dle. He was introduced to the saddle just as 
the other horse was to the drum, and in a few 
minutes allowed it to be put any where upon 
his back. After the “ taming process ” the sad¬ 
dle was put on and sat upon, and after his sub¬ 
jugation, he allowed himself to be freely mount¬ 
ed and ridden. “ Never jump at a horse, or ap¬ 
proach him suddenly, or throw a saddle upon 
him. An unbroken horse will allow it to come 
in contact with his nose, and be gradually put 
upon his head, and over his neck to his back, 
when he would not let it be brought up to his 
side where he could not first examine it with his 
nose.Never cause a horse to jump from you. 
_In getting upon a saddle never stand direct¬ 
ly against it, so as to push the toe against the 
horse’s belly, and also turn the saddle over. 
Stand behind with your right side against the 
saddle; put the foot on the stirrup so that it will 
be pushed forward; then seize the mane with 
your left hand, and you can easily raise your¬ 
self up and swing over the saddle.” 
-—-«•»-- —- 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Stumbling Horses. 
No fault of horses is more annoying or dan¬ 
gerous than the not uncommon one of stumbling. 
It may be traced to one or more of these three 
causes: malformation, weakness, or disease. 
Some may add that of carelessness on the part 
of the animal; but this, without the others, 
would not produce it; for with a sound, well de¬ 
veloped shoulder, breast, and fore leg, unimpair¬ 
ed in strength, the horse does not need to give 
especial attention to his movements even on a 
rough road. 
The first cause, malformation , may show itself 
in a narrow chest; a shoulder blade rising too 
perpendicularly from the leg; a small, unmus- 
cular “ fore armknees more or less “ sprung 
a badly shaped pastern, or hoofs too slanting and 
large, or upright and small. The fore parts of a 
horse give sure-footedness or its opposite, and 
should be most carefully scrutinized. 
Second— weakness. This may proceed from 
and be detected by malformation, as a badly 
formed horse is, other things being equal, weak¬ 
er than a well formed one; or it may be occa¬ 
sioned by injuries, such as strains, colds, bad 
shoeing, or excessive work. 
Third —diseases of any kind in the shoulder 
or hoof may cause stumbling, not only on ac¬ 
count of the weakness produced, but from the 
effort of the horse to relieve the painful part, he 
will lift his feet but slightly, or perhaps point 
the toe downward, either of which will cause a 
liability to stumble. This is the case particu¬ 
larly with foundered horses, and with those that 
by bad shoeing have “ corns.” In one animal 
of my own, the first perceptible symptom of the 
presence of corns was repeated stumbling. A 
few days after, she was lame, and on removing 
the fore shoes, just in the “ angle ” of the hoof 
were well developed corns. Proper shoeing 
and careful use for a few days remedied the evil. 
The cure for a stumbler is, in some cases, easy, 
but more generally it can only be partially reach¬ 
ed or is beyond human s kill . If disease or in¬ 
jury has weakened the limb or its connecting 
muscles, whatever will restore health will 
he a cure. If the evil is permanent, or proceeds 
from malformation, then the animal should be 
put to such use as will not render him liable to 
stumble, or will allow him to fall without risk 
to life or limb. Such a horse is especially unfit 
for the saddle or for shafts. 
Some palliatives may be found in the proper 
management of the horse, such as holding a 
moderately tight rein, and maintaining a lively 
mood in the animal, keeping the head well up 
and chiding him judiciously when he stumbles, 
If the head is allowed to hang down, the horse 
becomes negligent of his steps, and moreover, 
the weight of the head and indeed of the whole 
body is thrown upon the fore legs, more than 
when the head is well erect. Some good au¬ 
thorities to the contrary notwithstanding, a 
rather short check and a firm rein, do render a 
horse less liable to stumble. An occasional 
touch of the whip to keep him attentive is also 
beneficial. ; 
One other much mooted point is, punishment 
for stumbling. Nothing can be more cruel or 
senseless than the habit of whipping a horse for 
an act which is involuntary on his part, or the 
result, perhaps, of former cruelties. It is dan¬ 
gerous too, for if a horse is made to expect the 
lash whenever he stumbles, he will immediately 
after each mis-step, start off at a rapid gait. 
When, as is often the case, by the violent 
effort of the horse to recover himself, he has 
broken some part of the harness or carriage, it 
is impossible to stop him promptly, for he is 
expecting the usual application of the whip. 
Yet it is not best to allow the fault to go alto¬ 
gether unnoticed or unpunished, for undoubt¬ 
edly inattention or carelessness on the part of 
the horse does very often aggravate the evil. 
When you are sure that this is the case, at each 
false step, check him up forcibly, and chiding 
him with a few sharp words, bring him to a 
stand. In some cases, a smart stroke of the 
whip may be allowed, but never until he is 
brought to a halt (not then if you are angry). 
By this means he will soon be taught to stop in¬ 
stantly after he has stumbled, and if the harness 
be broken, he will be less liable to attempt to 
run away; while the slight pain to the mouth, 
and your chiding, will do all that can be dona 
toward making him more careful. 
Horseman. 
--«— -—— » — i—►—- 
Pleasure is sometimes only a change of pain. 
A man who has had the gout, feels first rat$ 
when he gets down to only rheumatism. 
