The pocket farrier; or, Gentleman's guide in the management of horses under various diseases ... Directions for judging of the horse's age, and useful observations on the breeding, raising and training of colts. Hints to purchasers ... Receipt for gelding ... To which is added, the horse's skeleton ...

Front matter

THE OR

GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE

IN -TIIE '

CHAPTER II. 03f THE DISEASES

Anticor,

.

Abscesses,

Apoplexy,

-

- ib.

Bad Appetite,

.

'Barbs,

-

Big Shoulder,

L ib.

Bites of Poisonous Animals,

. 152

Blood Spavin,

-

Bone Spavin, -

.

Blind Spavin,

.

Bots, Grubs, &c.

.

. 58

Broken Wind,

.

Bloody Flux,

.

. 62

Big- Head, -

.

Buffalo Fly, -

-

. 65

IV

Page

Crown Scab, -

-

Colds, - m o

.

Consumption,

•

Convulsions,

=

.

Chest Founder,

.

Corns,

.

.

Cough,

.

Choked, -

■a

.

ib.

Curb,

.

. 75

Cracked Heels,

-

.

Choiic,

.

- ib.

Crib Biting,

-

-

■Dropsy,

-

Diabetes,

.

.

Eyes,

Eye Water,

-

*

Farcy,

-

- ib.

Fistula,

-

Fevers,

-

Fattening 1 ,

-

.

Fourtfters,

-

Glanders,

-

.

Gonorrhoea,

.

. 102

Gravel, or Stone in the Bladder,

-

Grease,

-

. 103

Gravel in the Hoof,

.

Gutta Serena,

-

Hide Bound,

-

.

Hooks, or Haw,

-

Hungry Evil,

-

-

Injections, how to give,

-

Lair pas,

-

.

Lethargy.

-

-

Pass

Laxity*

-

-

-' 113

Lockjaw,

-

-

Malenders,

-

-

. 114

Mange;. -

-

Maw Worms,

-

-

Molten Grease,

.

Moon Eyes, -

.

-

. 83

Osseletts,

.

.

nr

Poisons,

-

-

Poll Evil,

-

-

Quitter Bone,

-

. ib.

Ring Bone,

-

-

Rupture,

-

-

. 120

Rat's Tail,

.

- ib.

Sit Fasts,

■ a

-

. 121

Sore Tongue,

.

.

Salenders,

.

-

Stifle,

.

.

Strains,

.

.

. 126

Scratches,

.

.

Swinney,

-

.

. 129

Splint,

-

-

Stranguary, and Disordered Kidneys,

•

Strangles,

-

-

Surfeit,

-

-

. 134

String Halt,

-

-

Thumps,

-

-

Vives, or Avives,

-

-

Warts,

-

.

- ib.

Warbles,

.

.

Wounds,

.

-

. 156

Wolf 1 eeth,

.

-

Yellow Water,

-

.

VI

Chapter III. Surgical Opjkratigss

Pagb

Barring- the Veins, -

Blistering, -

Bleeding, -

Bleeding- in the Neck,

. 166

-— — in the Arms, •

- ib.

- in the Thigh, i n the Flanks,

- ib % in thr Till i

— — in the Coronet,

— in the Lachrymal Vein,

Directions for Gelding,

Docking, -

Firing, - «

Manner of Glanding,

Nicking, -

Pricking in Shoeing,

Setons, -

. 161

Unhoofing,

Conclusion, * -;.'■'• -

Preface

This Jittle work being intended for the pocket, I shall only offer to the public such information as 1 possess, with candor and brevity — al~ ways avoiding, as much as possible, all redundant and uncommon terms, it being my object to be useful and intelligible, rather than to appeal learned.

I observe with surprise, that men of education and talents, who, in other respects, appear desirous of being serviceable to their country, seldom turn their attention to that noble and useful animal, the horse; whilst they every day uselessly throw away their time and knowledge on the description and anatomy of vile insects, useless animals, worms, &lc.

Our country (and I am sorry to see it,) is more regardless of the welfare of this noble animal, than Europe, though his exertions are in as great demand here, as well for our pleasures as for our comforts and necessities. In the catalogue of Farriers, only one or two in the United States 2

XIV

are worthy of our perusal, or have turned their attention to this very interesting and useful subject.

Natural history has very deservedly become an object of general attention. It leads to discoveries of the greatest importance to mankind; and agriculture (the most useful of all sciences) is indebted to it for its most valuable improvements, and cannot be brought to any degree of perfection without some knowledge of that science.

Anatomy, a branch of natural history, is likewise of great importance to agriculturists, especially so far as it respects a knowledge of the horse — on whose exertions they not only depend, but likewise the whole human family. How often do we see him the sole dependence of the poor farmer, his wife and his children, sharing in their toils, and keeping them not only from want, but filling their granaries even to a luxury of abundance! In every species of drudgery, the horse bears the principal burden, and even seems to delight in being made the instrument of man's pleasure.

In a work of this nature, it would be presumptuous in me to claim entire originality; and so far from it, I confess having perused many authors on the subject, (all Europeans except one,)

XV

and gathered from them much useful matter, when their opinions appeared to me to be founded on reason and experience. I hope this acknowledgment will be a sufficient apology for not marking quotations.

Several diseases, and among them sbme very fatal ones not noticed by other authors, will be found in this work; and among the receipts, those for gelding, and the bots, will alone be more valuable to the farmer than the entire cost of this little volume.

This little treatise contains, observations oti breeding, raising, and training of horses; a description of the diseases to which they are exposed; the symptoms of the diseases, and the remedies to be applied for their cure; together with the necessary surgical operations to be performed on those animals.

To assist the well-meant endeavors of the husbandman; to eradicate dangerous and ill-founded prejudices; to guard the ignorant and credulous against the frauds and impositions of dealers and jockeys: and to show men what is in their power, both with regard to preventing and curing diseases in horses. These were the author's principal inducements for writing and publishing the following sheets — and he hopes that they will not

XVI be found unworthy of any farmer's perusal. They were suggested by an observation of men's conduct with regard to their horses; a sincere desire to be useful to them, and confirmed by thirty years' experience and attention. During this period, it has often been the earnest wish of the writer, that his acquaintances and fellow creatures in general, had been possessed of some plain guide to direct their conduct towards this noble animal. How far he has succeeded in supplying the deficiency, he leaves to the candor and judgment of his readers to determine.

But if his endeavors have, in any degree, contributed to alleviate the distresses and losses occasioned by ignorance in the proper management of the horse, he will consider his time and labor not wholly unrecompensed.

The Author.

THE

Chapter I. Skeleton

I have thought it best to present to the public the Skeleton of the Horse, as taken from the Academy of Sciences in Paris, in order to give an explanation of the different parts of that animal, without the tedious method of dissertation on the uses, shape and size of the different bones, the skeleton being sufficient to exhibit them, and to point out their different names and precise situations. It would be too tedious in a work like this, to give a complete detail of the numerous parts constituting the horse's frame; it is hoped that the skeleton, with its explanations and references, will be very useful to the farrier, by affording the necessary directions in the surgical operations. 2*

BREEDING.

Nothing can be more interesting or beneficial to farmers, than the task of raising good horses, though it is attended with much trouble and expense. Raising from mean, old, or diseased horses, is neither entertaining nor profitable. In this country, a four years old colt seldom costs the owner less than a hundred dollars: if, therefore, your colt be worth only a hundred dollars, you lose your pains and time, besides other losses in proportion, when he falls short of that sum. It is evident, that a good colt may be raised on as moderate terms as a mean one. You should therefore be particular in the choice of the dam and sire, and attend to their blood, size, age, and the cross they would make. Some people pay no regard to the age or health of the horse, and had as well put a good mare to a blind horse, as to any other, not observing that the offspring seldom fails to inherit the diseases and vices of their ancestors, rather than their good qualities. In all things that have life, not excepting plants, the crop must depend on the quality of the seed. Weakly and diseased animals, as well as injured seed, seldom produce a vigorous offspring, or a plentiful harvest.

Sportsmen know that generous coursers cannot come from diseased jades, nor spaniels from snarling curs. This is contrary to the laws of nature. Why then should we be so careless in selecting the breed of horses from which we intend to raise? . This noble animal has too great a share in the labors necessary for our existence, to be thus ungenerously neglected. We all know, that in the human race many diseases are hereditary; and experience teaches us that the same rule applies to animals. Young colts have often been known to wear the external appearance of old age, only from their having been gotten by old horses, or come out of old mares.

English authors have said a great deal concerning the blood, form, and speed of their horses; especially Douinant, Bay Mai ton, Eclipse, Shark, &c. ; but I have no doubt that the American horses Eclipse, Sir Henry, Fiirtilla, Florizel, Virago, Potomac, Leviathan, and many more, would have had an equal claim to fame and superiority, had they been in competition with them.

It is stated that Flying Childress ran a mile in a few seconds over a minute; but I never saw such running, nor do I believe it possible. I believe, however, that the speed of our best horses is unknown, although they have contended with each other on the turf for many years.

Were I to choose a mare to breed from, she should not be under four, nor exceed sixteen years of age, and not less than fifteen and a half hands high. The horse should be sixteen hands high at least.

By breeding from such horses, you may reasonably expect something valuable; whilst from some breeds you never get but a poney, notwithstanding every care and attention.

I would likewise recommend to every one to endeavor to raise early colts, by putting their mares to the horse as early in the spring as possible. This is necessary, not only because mares are generally horsing in this season, and that this disposition of nature makes them produce a better offspring, but because the colt will by thi? means have the advantage of two summers to one winter, while young. When the mare colts late in the season, the colt is generally weak, because she does not yield a sufficiency of milk, for want of grass to feed upon.

Some people suffer their colts to run at large until they are three or four years old; but this renders them wild, inimical to man, and difficult to break. Many horses have been ruined by oegiecting to tame them before breaking, and making them fond of their master by gentle and tender treatment.

From what has been said, it is plain that docility is one of the first qualities that a horse ought to possess, and that it requires all the patience, skill and industry imaginable, to render a colt gentle, familiar, and fond of man. We now proceed to the manner of breaking colts.

Although a horse is unfit for hard usage before he is five years old, yet he should be broken at the age of two and a half, or three. You should first accustom him to be bridled, saddled, and loosely girded, and suffer him to remain so in the stable two or three hours a day. When you wish to break him to the bridle, you should use a snaffle, and rub the bit with salt to make him fond of it. You should raise bis feet off the ground every day, and strike them with a hammer as if you intended to shoe him. When accustomed to suffer the saddle and bridle in the stable, have him mounted there by a ligLt rider. Trot him every other day with a halter, and on level ground, without being mounted. After being trained to turn easily and willingly, have him mounted and dismounted for some days s or even months, without walking out of place; when sufficiently gentie, he should be led by the halter in a walk, then a trot, but always for a short time, lest you should disgust him. With these precautions, you may succeed in breaking colts, however wild and untractable.

I shall conclude these remarks by recommending to all persons the practice of making gentle their colts from their infancy, and above all, not to break them too suddenly, and to do it by slow and gentle means. Many colts have been ruined by harsh treatment and excessive fatigue in the first rudiments of riding.

It is evident, from what has already been said, that this animal should not be forced to the full extent of his powers before a certain age; and consequently, his constitution may be impaired, (and it always is the case,) if compelled to hardship before the natural period: and even then it will prove hurtful, if abruptly applied. We know by experience, that men who have arrived at the age of maturity, lulled in the lap of ease, would be destroyed by hard labor, much sooner than youths nurtured to it from their childhood,

TRAINING.

Of the five senses of nature with which horses, as well as men, are endowed, there are three in which the horse must be exercised in training: the sight, the hearing, and the feeling. We train a horse in the sense of sight, when we accustom him to the approach of objects that might terrify him; for there is no animal so sensible to the impression of objects which he has not seen before, as the horse.

He is trained in the sense of hearing, when he is accustomed to the din of arms, drums, and other warlike noise; when he is made attentive and obedient to the call of the tongue, the crack of the whip, and sometimes to the gentle voice intended for caresses, or to the rougher tone employed in threats.

But the sense of feeling is the most necessary; for it is by that he is taught to obey the least movement of the hand and legs, by giving sensibility to his mouth and sides, if they be deficient in that respect — or by nursing that good quality, if he possess it already. For that purpose, aids and chastisements are employed — aids, to prevent the faults he might commit; chastisements, to punish him at the time he is guilty of them: and as horses obey only through fear of punishment, aids are only warnings given to them, that they will be chastised if they answer not to their call.

TRAVELLING.

Before you undertake a long journey, it is necessary that you should take your horse from grass and stable him at least one week before you set out. If he has been a long time on grass, a gentle purge may be necessary to assist nature te carry off the foulness brought on by grazing. He should be fed on solid food, and be thereby rendered more capable of undergoing the fatigues ©f a long journey. I am not of the opinion of many who think that the horse should be entirely prohibited the use of green food while performing hard duty; on the contrary, a reasonable quantity serves to keep the bowels open, sharpen the appetite, add greatly to their courage, and promote perspiration — things as useful to animals as they are beneficial to the human species.

Persons who have constant occasion for riding, such as sheriffs, or other persons of active business, will bear me out in the assertion, that horses that have, when travelling, been suffered to graze at convenient opportunities, have, nine times out of ten, been found to perform much better than those that were closely confined, and ted only on solid food.

When your horse is brought to you, it would be prudent to have him rode a few steps, instead of being led. You should examine the girths, stirrup leathers, saddle blanket, and other appendages, before mounting: this would obviate many inconveniences, and prevent many accidents that might befall you in the prosecution of your journey. Be careful to examine his shoes, and see if they are tight, and that the nails do not project over their hoofs to cut their ancles ; these defects should be remedied before you proceed any farther.

Some horses are in the habit of swelling themselves when you attempt to tighten the girths; it is difficult to draw them too close on such animals, as they will slacken on breathing, or abandoning the strap. Those that are not inclined to this vice, may be so tightly girthed as to occasion uneasiness, and obstruct the circulation of the blood: you should therefore avoid this fault, as it greatly tends to injure the performance, as well as the constitution of the horse. A. snuffle bridle is, in my opinion, to be preferred on a journey ; but if from any cause you be induced to use a curb, see that it is not drawn too high. 3

I would also recommend to travellers to have the bit wrapped with a rag impregnated with assafoedita: this has a tendency to guard them from infectious diseases on the road, increase their appetite, and add to their courage. When every thing is rightly adjusted, make your horse stand firm till you are properly seated. When you would have him move forward, do it at first without using either whip or spur, as this has a tendency to make him start at the application of either: but inform him of your meaning by some signal that he understands. Ride moderately for a mile or two to avoid heating his blood too suddenly; you may then quicken his speed gradually, as the importance of your business may require.

You may safely permit your horse to cool his mouth at almost every brook, provided he be not suffered to drink too copiously; this lias a tendency to refresh him, and to keep him in good spirits. If you perceive that your horse is thirsty, suffer him to drink his satisfaction about a mile from the inn at which you intend to tarry, provided he be not overheated : the exercise in this last mile will warm the water in his stomach and prevent its being injurious. Should you be inclined to have your horse watered in the stable, m

it would be well to make his drink a little saltish, and throw a handful of meal into it — this practice is preferable to any other, and should be complied with on all occasions, especially if the horse be warm and fatigued. At the conclusion of your day's journey, turn your horse out in a lot, that he may have an opportunity of wallowing and cooling himself; fifteen or twenty minutes after, you should wash his legs clean with cold water, and rub them nearly dry : after which, wet them over with equal parts of vinegar and spirits, and rub them till dry; let him be well curried, brushed, and rubbed with straw or woollen; let his hoofs be nicely cleaned, especially under the toe of the shoe; this should be done every night, and occasionally stuffed with sail and clay, or cow-dung. Water again before feeding. Never let your horse stand on a plank floor if you can possibly avoid it. See that he has plenty of good sweet hay or fodder, and that his grain is sweet and sound. Let his stall be roomy, and well supplied with clean and dry litter.

Many of these valuable animals have been destroyed by feeding on unsound grain. The owners of horses have often been perplexed in discovering their diseases, or the cause of their death, uever thinking of the above caution. If vou should be compelled to feed on newly gathered food, pick out as much of the stem as you can conveniently; cut, mash and mix the cobs with the corn, so as to force him to eat as much cob as belongs to the grain; give him after this, half \ pint of spirits, and throw a handful of salt in the manger. This last caution will prevent the colic.

By carefully observing the above rules, and strictly attending to them every day, you will insure success.

RIDING GRACEFULLY.

Most gentlemen and ladies take a pride in knowing how to ride safely, gracefully, and with ease — to attain this talent, it suffices to observe the following short directions:

A snaffle bridle should be your choice in learning to ride.

Teach your horse to stand still while you mount him.

A gentleman should hold the reins even and firm in his left hand.

Place yourself firm in the saddle, the bod> erect, the head up, and the shoulders back. The arms should be kept close to the body, but with* out constraint; the elbows bent at right angles 5 and even with the back; the inside of the thigh and knee firm against the saddle, the just position of the legs entirely depending upon it; the ball of the foot should rest on the stirrups to command your body and the motion of the horse; the leg steady.

The whip should be held in the right hand, resting over the arm, ready for use in case the horse should require chastisement.

The right hand three inches higher than the left.

As the movements of the bridle hand serve to notify the horse of the will of the rider, and the action produced by it in the mouth is the effect of different movements of the hand, it may not be amiss to state what they are, and their effects.

The hand ought alwavs to commence the first effect, and the legs ought always to accompany that movement: for it is a general principle, thai in all gaits, as well natural as artificial, the head and shoulders of a horse ought to commence the first motion ; and as the horse has four principal movements — forward, backward, to the right, and to the left; the bridle hand ought likewise to produce four different effects, yielding, bearing up, turning to the right, and to the left.

The first effect, which is yielding to the bridle in order to go forward, is a movement produced by sinking the hand and turning the nails a little under; the second action, which is bearing up, is done by drawing the hand towards the pit of the stomach, and turning the nails a little up. This last action is to produce a check, or to back the iiorse. You ought not, in this action, to bear to© much on the stirrups; and you must, as you draw in your hand, place your shoulders a little back, that the horse, in his stop, may bear on the hind fegs. The third effect is to turn to the right, inclining your hand to that side, your nails turned a little up, that the left rein, which ought to produce that action, may act with promptness. The fourth effect is turning to the left, bearing your hand to that side, your nails turned a little under, thai the right rein, which ought to produce tha» motion, may act.

From what I have just said, you may easily perceive that a horse, obedient to the hand, is he that follows it in all its movements, and that on the effect of the hand, is founded that of the reins which cause the actions of the head.

The Duke o( Newcastle has written a dissertation on bridle reins, in which there appears to be some likelihood in speculation; but which, in my estimation, destroys itself in the execution.— He says: "that on what side soever the reins may be held in, the mouth always goes to the opposite cheek of the bit: that when the cheek comes in, the mouth goes out; so that" continues he, l< the reins being separated when you draw to the right, the mouth goes to the other side, and obliges the horse to look out of the volt."

This principle is destroyed by usage, which proves to us that the horse is inclined to obey the movement of the hand, to the side we draw the reins; for example, by drawing the right rein, the horse is forced to yield to the movement, and to incline his head to that side.

I admit, that by simply drawing the rein, without bringing your hand to you as ought to be done on this occasion, the bearing will be hardest on the opposite side; but that will not hinder the horse from obeying the hand, because he is obliged to follow the strongest impression, which proceeds not only from the bearing outside, but from the rein which acts on the mouth, drawing it, and consequently, the horse's head to the side you wish to go. Moreover, by using your hand in due time, you shorten the in rein a little, and then the bit bears on the part which you wish to determine.

A lady, '-the master-piece of the Almighty,'' *and before whose charms the soul of man bows with reverence and submission, ought not to neglect that accomplishment which is by no means the least to add to her graces, health and safety. She should, when seated on the saddle, take hold on the horn, and by a shake, try if it is well girthed and steady; if not, have them tightened by some person present.

As a particular knowledge of a horse's age is drawn from an acquaintance of his teeth, 1 must explain their situation and differences.

Horses have forty teeth, which are divided, masticating, fore teeth and tusks.

Mares seldom have tusks, if they have, they are very small.

The masticating teeth are placed at the bottom of the mouth beyond the bars. They are twenty-four in number, to wit: twelve in the upper jaw, six on each side, and as many in the under jaw, placed in the same order. These teeth they never lose to make room for others, as the fore teeth do, and are not used to distinguish the horse's age.

The fore teeth are twelve in number, to wit: six below, and six above. About a fortnight after the colt's birth, they begin to grow, and are called milk teeth; they are short and small, white 5 and not hollow — they are dropped to make room for others that serve to discover the age.

At two years and a half, four of them fall, in the room of which come the nippers, placed in the front of the mouth, two above and two below.

At three years and a half, or thereabouts, four more fall, and those that come in their places are called mean teeth ; they are placed near the nippers, two above and two below.

The nippers and mean teeth obtain their growth in a short time. At four years and a half they lose the last four milk teeth, which make room for others that are called corner teeth. When the corner teeth begin to grow, the tooth just appears above the gums, and grows slowly. There is a hollow in the tooth, which serves to distinguish the horse's age.

The term marking, is derived from the black spot found in the corner teeth.

Between five and six years of age, the hollow begins to fill up, and before he is six, the two lower front teeth become entirely smooth; between six and seven, the two adjoining teeth, one on each side, become smooth, and the black spot decreases till he is seven and a half or eight years old, when it entirely disappears and leaves a brown spot in its place; and before they are eight, the two corner teeth below become smooth, at which time all the natural marks of the lower front teeth disappear.

There are horses that always mark, which proceeds from the hardness of their teeth, which prevents the black mark from wearing out, and has been the means of many persons being imposed upon by jockeys,

As it is not necessary that the horse should have the black mark, but must have a hollow in his teeth to distinguish his age, it is by that difference that we discover a horse that is over eight, and one that always marks.

When a horse quits marking, and his age cannot be discovered by the corner teeth, you must then have recourse to the tusks.

The tusks are placed beyond the corner teeth on the bars, four in number, two above and two below, one on each side the mouth.

The lower tusks begin to appear sometimes at three and a half, sometimes at four, and the upper ones at four, and sometimes at four and a half years of age. At times they precede the corner teeth, and sometimes follow them. Until the age of six they are very sharp and fluted, that is, hollow in the interior of the mouth. Many are sick while cutting their upper tusks, and are thus rendered incapable of great fatigue, which has caused many a fine young horse to be sacrificed through the ignorance of his master.

By the time they arrive at the age of eight years, one of the two hollows or flutes in the tusk fills up; and at nine the other one is full, and the tusk becomes entirely round on the inside.