How to judge a horse; a concise teatise as to its qualities and soundness, including bits and bitting--saddles and saddling--stable drainage--driving one horse, a pair, four-in-hand, or tandem; and extracts from Rarey's and Rockwell's method of training young and obstinate horses

Front matter

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A CONCISE TREATISE

Preface

Introduction 5

The column of the Vertebra? —The Spinal column — The Neck — The function of the Hind legs— The function of the Fore legs— Comparative value of the different Bones and Joints.

The angular combinations of the Bones 10

The position of the Hind legs 13

The position of the Fore legs 19

The proportions of the Fore and Hind legs ... 24

The examination of the Horse from front and from behind 27

Suggestions to the purchaser of a Horse 54

Description of the most common Blemishes on the Legs . . 69

" " " " " on the Fore Legs 69

" on the Hind Legs 74

The Age of the Horse 78

Rarey's and Rockwell's Methods of Training Young

or Obstinate Horses 81

Introduction — False views of the habit of horses to smell at unaccustomed objects —Fundamental Rules of Rarey's system — Application of Rarey's principles for wild and shy Horses — Rarey's method of training obstinate Horses — The handling of untrained Horses — Putting the halter on the Colt — To train the Colt to go at the side of a trained horse— To tie the young horse without its pulling at the halter — Bridle pulling— Putting on the Bit -To get the Colt used to the bit— The Bitting bridle — Bitting the Colt — Saddling the Horse — Mounting the Horse — Riding the Horse, after Rarey — Riding the Horse, after Rockwell — Breaking

11 CONTENTS.

Rarey's and Rockwell's Methods, etc., Continued,

the Horse to Harness — Harnessing the Horse — Hitching up the Colt — Teaching the Colt to back — Refusing to pull — To drive wild Horses, or such oi vicious habits — To teach the Horse to lie down — Throwing the Horse — To teach the Horse to follow his master —To cause the Horse to follow you — To teacli the Horse to stand still without tying — Bad to bridle — Hard to back — Hard pullers — Shoeing the Colt — Striking and kicking while shoeing.

Three dimensions of the Horse's mouth. (1) The transversal width of the mouth. (2) The width of the tongue-channel. (3) The height of the bars. The width of the Port — Length of upper and lower branch of the bit — The bit stands stiff, or falls through — Structure and size of the Horse's bars and tongue — Movable mouthpieces — Tongue over the bit — Grabbing at and holding the bit — Combination bit.

The Wooden-tree Saddle— The Elastic Leather-tree Saddle— Ladies' Saddles — Saddle Cloths— Girths- Stirrups — How to saddle Horses properly — Construction of the Horse's shoulder, and its influence on saddling — Where to place the Girths— Stirrups.

Stable Drainage 159

Driving 161

Driving one Horse or a pair — Guiding hand — Assisting hand — Hints — Punishment (where to hit) — Position of the coachman on the box — Starting- Stopping — Backing — Turning.

Driving four in hand — How to arrange the reins — To start correctly — Stopping — Backing — Turning — Going down-hill — Going up-hill — Another way to arrange the reins.

Tandem driving.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Frontispiece

FIG. PAGE-

1.2 35

3, 4 38

5 39

6. 7 41

8 43

9, 10 44

11 Blemishes of the fore legs 70

12 Blemishes of the hind legs 75

13 Teeth of the Horse 78

14 Skeleton of the Horse 80

15 Pulling at the halter 94

16 Bitting bridle 97

17 Rockwell bit 99

18 Rockwell bridle 100

19 Strap with buckle and wooden gag bit 116

20, 20a, 21, 21a To teach a Horse to lie down, (Rarey). . . 117

22 Throwing a Horse, (Rockwell) 120

23 The right and the wrong way 135

24 Combination bit 138

25a New adjustable saddle girth 148

25 About stable floors 157

26 Holding the lines in driving one horse or a pair 161

27 Position of the coachman on the box 164

28 Turning 107

29 Holding the Lines driving Four in hand. 173 3 ) Holding the Lines driving Four in Hand (another way) 178

PREFACE

Every purchaser of a horse knows by experience how difficult it is to arrive at correct conclusions as to its soundness and qualities, and if he is dependent upon the opinions of others, however good the horse may prove to be, his pleasure is marred somewhat by the thought that it was not he himself who selected the horse.

Everybody loves a horse ; everybody ought to study its conformation. To facilitate matters, generally, it is the intention of the author of this little treatise, to assist the intending purchaser of a horse by laying down some rules concerning the judging of horses.

Unlike many valuable books on the exterior of the horse, this little treatise has the advantage of great conciseness in pointing out, in few pages, the most important guiding points for the judging of a horse, omitting a detailed description of the different ailments and their treatment.

PREFACE.

Some points on Harey\ and JZochwelVs methods of training young or obstinate horses are added, as it may become necessary for the owner of horses, especially if living in the country, with nobody near capable of handling young or obstinate horses, to break-in his young stock himself or correct those having formed bad or dangerous habits.

A few remarks, concerning how to handle the reins properly for correct and stylish driving one horse, a pair, a four-in-hand, and a tandem may be of interest to some of the readers. Also bits and bitting, saddles and saddling, and stable drainage, will be considered.

The Author.

Introduction

Horse-breeding in the United States, having, thanks to the efforts of public-spirited men, reached such dimensions, and been raised to a high standard of excellence, our breeders can, most favorably, compete with those of any other nation. Still, the vast expanse of our country renders it in many cases impossible for the buyer to purchase directly from the breeder. He is, therefore, compelled to address himself to the dealer, who, like every merchant, will select his goods to secure quick sales, especially because they are really an eating capital, and perhaps, more than any other, exposed to damage. The appearance of the damaged and the used-up, — some visible defect, — is far more in the way of a quick sale than inferior quality, and, therefore, is studiously avoided by the dealer. He will take good care to produce his goods to the best advantage to him&elf.

The fine appearance of the horse, that is, the good condition and the smooth hair, is brought about by rich and soft feed, a warm stable, careful covering, and good grooming. The whip takes care of the

6 INTRODUCTION.

liveliness of the liorse and the appearance of courage and strength. It makes the horse forget all stable vices, as gripping, weaving, kicking and biting; and in mustering, causes it to exert every nerve, and oftentimes to step as it may never step again.

The dealer will take care that no blemishes are on the bones by dealing only in young horses, having done as yet no hard work, and where hereditary inclinations have not been brought to light by exertion, nor such defects developed which are a necessary consequence of faulty conformation. It is, therefore, very rare to find a good matured horse in a dealer's stable. Whoever has one will take good care to keep it, or else he will get a higher price for it amongst his friends than from a dealer, who is compelled to produce such horses on which even the would-be connoisseur can find no fault. Only large dealers, whose customers are real connoisseurs, buy elderly horses for good prices and need not care for harmless blemishes. The pretending connoisseur knows nothing but to find blemishes, sees everywhere spavins and galls, instead of judging the qualities of a horse according to its whole framework.

How often can we see such people turning in disgust from an eight-year Hercules and pay a high price for a four-year old, clean-legged weakling, which, after the first exacting use, may be

INTRODUCTION. 7

covered with quite more serious defects than with that little gall, which held them back from the purchase of the other horse.

The desire, though unjustified, to buy only young horses, may have its origin partly in that the age of a horse by its teeth can only be judged with accuracy up to its eighth year, and, therefore, the purchaser is afraid to buy a Methusalah, and partly in the mistaken belief that every step the horse has taken in his life be a consummation to be subtracted from its value. But, in reality, the properly conducted work, instead of causing deterioration, is a necessity for the development and strengthening of the horse's powers. The whole appearance of the animal tells better than its teeth whether it is in its decline, and as in the human race there are young weaklings in horses.

The judging of the abilities of the horse according to its proportions and the position of its legs shall form the nucleus of this treatise.