The Horse's Friend / The Only Practical Method of Educating the Horse and Eradicating Vicious Habits; Followed by a Variety of Valuable Recipes, Instructions in Farriery, Horse-shoeing, the Latest Rules of Trotting, and the Record of Fast Horses Up to 1876

I appended to a former plate instructions whereby a horse may be educated not to kick while shoeing; but if owners of horses will not take the pains to educate, it is scarcely reasonable that the blacksmith should be subject to severe torture in shoeing a vicious horse; therefore I have provided the foregoing plate as descriptive of the mode of perfectly controlling the horse’s hind-foot, so that the farrier need have no fears for his safety. Take a single rein or cord, make a slip-noose and put it on the horse’s hind-leg between the fetlock-joint and hoof; then bring the rein or cord forward to the breast and pass it around over the neck at the shoulder; now bring it down and put it under the rein or cord, forming a half-hitch, and bring up the leg so as to make it convenient for the smith to pare the hoof or nail the shoe; then take a pole-strap or one of similar width, and place it under the other strap or cord, forming a loop by means of the crupper or loop near the buckle with the buckle outside, now pass the end of the strap up on the inside and front of the leg and around the gambol-joint, bring it down and buckle it; when you want to clinch the nails let out the strap two or three holes and draw up tightly on the rein or cord that is in front of the breast and around the neck. By this means you can accomplish the desired end, as you have the foot and leg under your control.

Should the horse attempt to recline over on the blacksmith, put on the Bonaparte bridle with double half-hitch, and pull quickly two or three times, and he will gladly stand erect while being shod.

TO EDUCATE A HORSE NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE CARS.

Much difficulty, and loss of property, has resulted from not being able to control horses that become frightened at the approach of the locomotive or cars, and, in order to avoid the annoyance and prevent accidents, I have with great care prepared the foregoing plate, and will now give an accurate description of the mode of educating the animal, and the appliance required, I will first describe the bridle, seen at the right of the horse. Make the Bonaparte bridle as previously directed, then place it on the horse, stand at the nigh-side holding the cord in your right hand, now pass your left hand over the right and take hold of the cord, then by bringing the hand back and stepping in front of the horse, you have formed a half-hitch, then place it over the head and bring it down under the upper lip and above the upper jaw, thus you have a powerful bridle that will control any horse. Use this with great care and judgment, because you are now in a position to handle the wildest horse found in the country. Don’t forget to caress the horse the moment he obeys.

SWEENY LINIMENT.

Alcohol, and spirits of turpentine, of each 8 oz.; camphor gum, pulverized cantharides and tincture of capsicum, of each 1 oz.; oil of spike 3 oz. Bathe this liniment in with a hot iron, and faithfully follow till a cure is effected.

TO EDUCATE A HORSE TO BACK AT THE WORD OF COMMAND.

This point in the education of a horse is one of great importance, for no animal can be considered thoroughly educated till he will obey the command of his driver without the necessity of using the rein or the whip. Many persons in order to stop their horse will draw with all their strength upon the rein, and to back him requires the exertion of a force enough almost to bring the horse on his haunches, when in either case a well-educated horse will stop or back at the driver’s voice without the need for even drawing upon the rein.

To educate the horse to back at the word of command, let the reader take his stand behind the horse and with the rein in his hand, previously arranged as shown in the engraving, commence the lesson. He may, if he pleases, start the horse forward for a few paces, then stop him, and then with a sudden, short and pretty powerful backward jerk, utter the word “back!” Great care must be taken to speak the word and give the backward jerk on the rein at the same instant, for the two must come together so as to be associated in the mind of the horse. When he obeys caress him, and continue repeating the lesson, and in a short time you will find that your horse will back at the word without your needing to even touch the reins. But in educating him to this there must not be the least interval between the word and the short, sharp jerk, for if only a few seconds pass he will not associate the two in his mind.

This method will be invariably successful, and is so far superior to the protracted and unsatisfactory means formerly employed, that it should be everywhere adopted.

TO EDUCATE HORSES OR CATTLE NOT TO JUMP THE FENCE.

Buckle a surcingle around the horse’s body, then buckle a hame-strap, making two turns with strap between the knee and fetlock on each fore-leg; next buckle two hame-straps on each hind-leg, above and below the gambol-joint, placing a ring, say one and one-half inches in diameter, as seen in plate. Now place a strap or cord from the ring on off hind-leg up through the surcingle, then attach it to the nigh fore-leg; then another strap or cord from the nigh hind-leg to the off fore-leg. Now when the horse, or other animal, starts to jump over a fence the appliance will arrest his progress, for, as he throws his fore-legs forward, at the same time it acts upon his hind legs, taking them out from under him, and you will find him sitting up in the field where you turned him out. After three or four lessons your horse will be thoroughly educated not to jump a fence.

FOR INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS.

First, bleed thoroughly; then give tinc. veratrum, ½ oz.; laudanum, 4 oz.; tincture aconite, ¼ oz.; shake well, and give a teaspoonful every three hours, in a pint of water, well sweetened, and, if the pulse is not reduced in a short time, increase the dose to a tablespoonful, until the fever abates. As soon as the horse recovers so as to eat and lie down naturally, keep him on hay, with a few carrots or potatoes, and daily give a bran-mash, with saltpetre, pulverized antimony and sulphur, for a week or ten days, and you will prevent dropsy of the chest, which usually follows this disease.

A REMEDY TO CURE THE HEAVES.

One-half pint of turpentine, 2 oz. assafœtida, 2 oz. aloes, 4 oz. lobelia seed, 1 quart of whisky, 2 oz. of sal ammoniac, 4 oz. saleratus, 1 oz. of camphor.

Dose, one tablespoonful once a day.

TO EDUCATE A COW NOT TO KICK WHILE BEING MILKED.

Hitch the cow to a post, then make the Bonaparte bridle as follows: Make a loop and put it on the lower jaw, carrying the end of the cord on the off-side of the head and around over behind the horns, bringing it down to the mouth on the nigh-side, through the loop. Now carry the cord around the nigh hind-leg, to the off hind-leg and tie it just above the gambol-joint. Then sit down to milk; now the moment the cow kicks, an impression is made on her brain, and she soon learns that by kicking she punishes herself, and rather than suffer the pain inflicted she yields to the influence and says by her actions, “I will not kick again.” The principle here is the obvious one that no animal will persist in doing that which causes suffering to itself, and the moment that it comes to associate the idea of suffering with any action, it will make that action distasteful.

COLIC OR GRIPES.

Symptoms.—Pawing, manifesting a desire to lie down, and, without doing so, commence pawing again. As the symptoms increase, the animal cannot be kept on his feet; he frequently falls as if shot; pulse not altered from natural condition. Intervals of rest, together with the condition of the pulse, distinguish the disease from inflammation of the bowels.

Treat as follows:

Frequent injections of soap and water, and give internally spirits of nitre, 1 oz.; laudanum, 1 oz.; water, ½ pint; mix for drench. This may be repeated in twenty minutes, if relief is not obtained.

Another remedy, giving instant relief:

From 5 to 10 drops of chloroform, given on sugar, I have never known to fail giving immediate relief. I have known men to be from home, and have their horses taken with this disease, and use this remedy, and in thirty minutes the horses were able to be driven.

TO EDUCATE A COW TO LET HER MILK DOWN WHILE MILKING.

Much inconvenience, besides an actual loss of money, is experienced by persons who own cows that are in the habit of withholding their milk. Having spent fifteen years of my life in gathering knowledge of value to the farmer, and to other owners of animals, I am unwilling that even one valuable idea should be lost to the reader, and therefore I have, at considerable expense, illustrated the above-named point, believing that it will be of benefit to many persons. Although the method to be employed is very simple, it will be found practical in its operation, while success will be certain where the directions are followed:

Take a common bag, put into it a bushel or a bushel and a half of grain, or its equivalent in weight of sand, then place the bag across the back of the animal, as indicated in the engraving and the result will be shown in the milking. As an indication of the purpose of the cow to hold up her milk you will always see her hump up her back, then, by applying the remedy named, the habit will be speedily removed.

PRACTICAL RESULT OF EDUCATING THE COW TO GIVE DOWN MILK.

Having directed the attention of the reader to the education of the cow so as not to disappoint her owner in receiving the quota of milk he may rightly expect, it is but natural that the eye should be gratified by witnessing the result. For this purpose I have prepared this engraving, in which is represented the bag and its contents upon the back of the animal, in just the spot where it should be placed. The reader will also perceive the impatient wife standing with milking pail and stool in hand, waiting for the result, which becomes apparent in the freely flowing milk, and one can almost imagine that he hears her saying to her husband that it is scarcely necessary now to milk the cow, for the simple method adopted has caused a spontaneous flow of milk, and nothing now is needed but to set the pail under her and view with wonder and delight the pleasing effect produced!

A CURE FOR HEAVES, NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.

Take a common stone jar, fill it with eggs, cover them with cider vinegar, and let it stand till the vinegar eats up the shells. Then stir all together. Take a lump of lime about the size of a goose-egg, slack it in hot water, using about one quart of water. Add one-half pint of the lime-water to a quart of the egg mixture. Give a teacupful, at feeding time, in feed, three times a day.

TO CURE WORMS IN HORSES.

One dram white hellebore in powder, 1 dram sulphate of iron in powder, 1 oz. flaxseed meal.

The above for one dose, mixed with bran-mash, given at night. Repeat in forty-eight hours, if the horse is old. Two doses are enough for the worst case.

TO EDUCATE CATTLE TO LEAD BEHIND A WAGON.

Make a rope halter and put it on the head of the animal you desire to lead; then take a small rope, about twenty feet long, double it in the center, placing it under the tail; cross it on the back, bringing the ends down each side of the animals neck and then through the nose-piece of the halter under the lower jaw, and tie the ends firmly to the end of your wagon.

If you wish to lead more than one, take another rope, twice the length of the former one, double it in the center, placing it under the tail, cross it on the back, bringing the ends down each side of the animal’s neck and then through under the lower jaw. Now bring the ends, one on each side of the forward cow, and carry the rope through the halter under the jaw and tie it to the wagon.

By adopting this plan no difficulty will be experienced in educating your animals to lead, and when you drive home with your cattle following thus they will be sure to arrive there at the same time as yourself.

TO EDUCATE A TENDER-MOUTHED HORSE TO PULL ON THE BIT.

Many horses are very sensitive to a hurt in any part of the body, so much so that they often grow frantic when severely punished, and it seems to be the delight of some persons to inflict injury to a horse of this temperament, sometimes with a view to make him rear or prance about, believing it adds to the appearance of the animal, when the contrary is the fact; a bad habit is almost sure to grow out of such treatment, and then it may take some time to eradicate it. One of the evils often presented is that the animal becomes tender-mouthed, and I have known many cases where balking has been the result. Let me urge the reader never to jerk sharply on the bit, except when educating or correcting a habit, as heretofore directed.

The only effectual method of treatment for a tender mouth is to use a large straight bit, leave the check-rein quite loose, and drop the bit low down in the mouth, as seen in engraving, which will slip up and down and harden the mouth in a short time.

TO EDUCATE A HORSE NOT TO BE AFRAID OF A BUFFALO ROBE.

The education of the horse being quite a new idea to many persons, it therefore becomes necessary that, in my characteristic explanations, I should make my ideas both plain and simple—so that even the most unlettered may not become fogged while attempting to apply any illustrated idea in my work.

A Buffalo robe is an article in common use, and one at which very many horses become frightened, proving a decided source of annoyance. Let not the reader imagine that one lesson, as below indicated, is sufficient to warrant success and thoroughly eradicate the habit. Much depends upon the temperament of the animal; but, in most cases, three lessons carefully imparted will accomplish the purpose. After you have given two or three lessons do not tempt your horse by suddenly approaching him with the robe, and when you do approach him, be sure you have the Bonaparte bridle on him, that you may be able at once to control when the slightest resistance is seen.

Directions.—If your animal is very nervous lay him down, as directed in other places, fold the robe, hair side in, making it as small as possible; let him smell of it, rub it gently over his nose, head and body; punish if he resists—if not caress. When submission is apparent allow him to rise to his feet; then, with your Bonaparte bridle, properly adjusted, present the robe to him again. Bearing in mind the grand idea, punish for disobedience and caress when he obeys. Carefully avoid all unnecessary excitement while educating any animal, as it only tends to benumb their senses and make them less susceptible of being taught.