all accomplished by what is called the persuader or bit; which is
made as follows: take a piece of strong rope eight or ten feet long
and a quarter of an inch thick, then part the horse's mane in the
centre, turning one half towards the ears, and the other towards the
back of the horse; next tie the rope by one end in a hard knot that
will not slip--not too tightly--round the horse's neck in the place
at which the mane is divided, having the knot on the right side of
the neck; then pass the loose end of the rope forwards, along the
right side of the neck, into the horse's mouth and back along the
left side of the neck to that part of the rope which surrounds the
horse's neck, and underneath which it is passed; than take the loose
end of the rope in your hand, and you have the persuader or bit
completed. By pulling on the end which you now hold, you draw his
mouth up towards his throat, and can thereby inflict the most
excruciating torture that is possible for a horse to undergo, and
the beauty of it is, without the least injury to the animal. One
pull on this persuader is more dreaded by the horse than a whole
day's flogging with raw-hide. In fact he cannot stand it; no matter
how ugly his tricks may be, such as kicking, balking or anything
else, if you use the persuader on him at the time, you can conquer
him at once; make him as meek as a lamb, and glad to do anything to
escape the torture inflicted by the persuader. A few times is all
you will have to use it, even on the most sulky animal, until you
will see no more of his tricks, and he is completely conquered.
305. TO HALTER WILD COLTS
How to approach and halter the wildest colt of any age without
danger, and lead him quietly, is as follows: choose a large floor,
that of a wagonhouse answers well, strew it over with straw two or
three inches deep, turn your colt into it, follow him in with a
good whip, shut the door, and he will clear to the furthest corner,
follow him, and whip him well on the hips, he will clear to another
corner, follow him, treat him in the same manner, and he will soon
begin to turn his head towards you, then stop and bid him come
to you, if he does not come, lay on the whip again, being always
careful not to touch him about the head or shoulders, but always
about the hips, in a short time he will come to you when you bid
him, then rub his ears, nose, neck, chest, &c., and pet him all you
can; halter and lead him about the floor; it at any time he clears
from you, pay the whip well on his hips until he comes to you again;
after a little use him the same way in a small yard, and after this
you can do as you like with him in any place.
306. HORSES WITH TENDER EARS
How to make a horse, that is afraid of his head or ears, easy to
bridle or halter, is as follows: if your horse is very fractious and
wild, you will need to treat him according to receipt No. 305, first:
at all events you will want the floor well covered with straw, then
raise the left fore leg and strap it so that your horse will stand
on three legs, then tie a strap just above his right fore foot, and
standing on the left side of the horse, holding the strap in your
hand, chirp to him, and the moment he attempts to move forwards, he
is on his knees; you may then fasten the strap to that on the left
leg, or hold it in your hand, as you please; then after the horse
gets done struggling and working, rub his nose and ears gently, and
put the halter on and take it off repeatedly, to show him that it
may be done without hurting him, and in a short time he will not
mind the halter or bridle.
307. HOW TO CONTROL A VICIOUS HORSE
How to acquire the most perfect control over the most vicious and
wildest horse, in a short time, without the use of drugs or charms,
is by going according to receipts No. 305 and No. 306, and sometimes
you may have to use the persuader.
308. TO BREAK A WILD COLT
How to break the wildest colt in a short time, so that a boy of 14
years old can ride or handle him in perfect safety. This is done by
means of the persuader receipts No. 305 and No. 306, and if the boy
is to ride him, after the horse is on his knees, as directed in
receipt No. 306, and the horse is tired out by struggling, then let
somebody get on his back, sit there for a while, then move on to his
shoulders, and back unto his hips, and so work round the horse until
he does not mind it, and has no fear from it. When he has a few
lessons like this, any lad may ride him in safety.
309. TO MAKE A STALLION LIE DOWN
How to make the worst stallion lie down and allow you to perform
any surgical operation on him that you wish, without the assistance
of any one. If the horse is very ugly, you may need to follow,
first, receipt No. 305, and perhaps, use the persuader, but it is
principally done by receipt No. 306, with this addition: when you
have the horse on his knees, you standing on his left side, and
holding the strap which is attached to his right fore foot in your
hand, as taught in receipt No. 306, then put a headstall on him, and
to its ring on the left side of his mouth, tie firmly a stick about
an inch and a half thick, which, let run up on the left side of
his neck, to the top of his shoulders, then tie the strap, which is
attached to the right foot, to this pole; now pull the horse over
on his left side, and you have him powerless, his fore feet are
drawn up, and on account of the pole he cannot raise his head, so
that you have perfect control over him to do as you please.
310. PULLING AT THE HALTER
To break a horse from pulling at the halter. This is done by means
of the persuader; if he pulls once on this, he will never try it
again.
311. WILD STALLIONS
How to break the wildest stallion in a short time, so that a boy
can lead him in perfect safety. This is done by putting the horse
through a regular course of training, according to receipts No. 305
and No. 306, and the use of the persuader.
312. BALKY HORSES
How to make the worst of balky horses pull true. Whenever your horse
balks, if you there and then, openly and publicly make use of the
persuader, and jerk him well with it, he will be glad to go, and in
a short time you will have to use it no more; but as long as this
system is kept secret, and when a horse balks, you do not then use
the persuader, you will never break the horse from balking.
313. SHOEING HORSES
How to make a horse stand to be shod. This is accomplished by having
the persuader fitted on, and whenever the horse makes an attempt to
be ugly, pull on the persuader, and he will very soon be glad to
stand as quiet as a lamb.
314. "WHOA"
How to make a horse understand the word "whoa" so perfectly, that
he will always stop when spoken to, no matter what may occur to
frighten him. This is done by having the persuader fitted on, and
whenever you sat "whoa", in a loud and stern tone of voice, pull on
the persuader, and it is impossible for a horse to fear or dread
anything else as much as this, he will stop instantly, no matter
what may occur to frighten him.
315. THROWING
How to break a horse off the habit of throwing his rider. This is
accomplished by means of the persuader, and receipt No. 308.
316. SCARING
How to break a horse off scaring at umbrellas or buffalo robes, so
that you may toss them at him without disturbing him. To accomplish
this you want to get the horse on his knees, according to receipt
No. 306; then bring your robes and umbrellas near him, let him smell
them, toss them at him, and throw them over his head carefully, and
so continue to work, showing him that they do not harm him, until
all fear of them is lost.
317. KICKING HORSES
How to break the worst class of kicking horses. To accomplish this,
you will want to put the horse through a regular course of training,
according to this system, until you have him well conquered; then
keep the persuader on, and if he should ever attempt to kick,
at that moment jerk well on the persuader, and he will think of
everything but kicking; when he attempts it a few times, and you
check him in this manner, he will quit it altogether.
318. TO BIT A HORSE
How to bit a horse more perfectly, in ten minutes, at a cost of ten
cents, that can be done with any other bit and rig, at a cost of
five to ten dollars. This bit is what is called the persuader, and
it is the best bit that ever was used for bitting colts. It puts a
most beautiful curve in the neck, and leaves the colt at ease while
wearing it. When it is used for this purpose, the end that you hold
in your hand in other cases, is now to be tied to that part of the
persuader which surrounds the neck of the horse or colt.
319. JOCKEY TRICKS--TO PRODUCE FOUNDER
How to make a horse appear as if he was badly foundered in one
night's time. Take a fine wire, or any substitute, and fasten it
tightly round the castor tit, the back side of the pasture joint
at night; smooth the hair down nicely over it, and by morning he
will walk as stiff as any foundered horse.
320. FOOD AND STARVATION
How to make a horse stand by his food and starve to death. Grease
the front teeth and roof of the mouth with common beef-tallow, and
he will not eat until you wash it out; this, in conjunction with
the above, will consummate a complete founder.
321. GLANDERS
How to make a horse appear as if he had the glanders, in one night's
time. This is done by melting fresh butter and pouring it into his
ears, not too hot.
322. BALKING
How to make a true pulling horse balk. Take tincture of cantharides
1 oz., and corrosive sublimate 1 drachm; mix and bathe his shoulders
at night.
323. TO COVER UP HEAVES
How to cover up the heaves so effectually, that you may work, ride,
or run him, and they cannot be detected. This will last from twelve
to twenty-four hours, long enough to trade off. Drench the horse
with one-fourth pound of common bird shot, and he will not heave
until they pass through him.
324. THE COUNTENANCE
How to put a young countenance on a horse. Make a small incision
near the sunk place over the eye, insert the point of a blow-pipe or
goose-quill, and blow it up; close the external wound with thread,
and it is done.
325. THE CRIB
How to cure a horse of the crib, or sucking wind; saw between the
upper front teeth.
326. QUESTIONS
To teach a horse to answer questions. This is done by pricking him
with a pin; for instance, you may say to the horse, is your name
Tom? and at that moment prick him with a pin so that he will squeal;
then ask him is your name Sam? don't prick him and he will not
squeal. Then say again is your name Tom, prick him again, and he
will squeal; so continue, and after a time he will squeal without
being pricked when you ask him the first question, &c.
327. TO NERVE A HORSE
How to nerve a horse that is lame. Make a small incision about half
way from the knee to the joint on the outside of the leg, and at the
back part of the shin bone; you will find a small white tendon or
cord; cut it off and close the external wound with a stick, and he
will walk off on the hardest pavement, and not lame a particle.
328. A HORSE'S AGE
The following rules will enable any man to ascertain with tolerable
certainty the age of any horse. Every horse has six teeth above and
six below; before he arrives at the age of three he sheds his two
middle teeth by the young teeth rising and shoving the old ones out
of their place. When he arrives at the age of three, he sheds one
more on each side of the middle teeth; when four years old he sheds
two corner and the last of his fore teeth; between four and five he
cuts his under tusks, and when five will cut his upper tusks, and
have a mouth full and complete, and the teeth will have hollows of a
very dark brown colour. At six years old the grooves and hollows in
a horse's mouth will begin to fill up a little and their tusks have
their full growth, with their points sharp, and a little concave. At
seven years old the grooves and hollows will be pretty well filled
below. At eight the whole of the hollows and groves are filled up,
and you see the appearance of what is termed smooth below. At nine
years old, the point of the tusk is worn off, and the part that was
concave begins to fill up and become rounded. Between nine and ten
years of age a horse generally looses the marks of the mouth. After
nine years old a wrinkle comes on the eyelid at the upper corner of
the lower lid, and every year thereafter he has one well defined
wrinkle for each year over nine. If, for instance, a horse has
three wrinkles, he is twelve; if four, he is thirteen, &c.
329. HEAD, NECK OR LUNGS
How to tell by looking at a horse whether there is anything the
matter with his head, neck or lungs. A knowledge of this is as
useful as it is simple. If there is nothing the matter with the
head, neck or lungs of a horse, the nostrils will have a clean,
healthy, and bright appearance, but if there is, they have always
a dirty, muddy, or in some way an unhealthy appearance.
330. PROF. MANDIE'S HORSE TAMING
Take finely grated horse caster, or the warty excrescence from the
horse's leg, oils of rhodium, and cumin, keep these in separate
bottles well corked; put some of the oil of cumin on your hand and
approach the horse on the windy side that he may smell it; he will
then move towards you, then rub some of the cumin on his nose; give
him a little of the castor on sugar, salt, or anything he likes,
and get 8 or 10 drops of the oil of rhodium on the point of his
tongue; you can then get him to do anything you please. Follow up
your advantage by all the kindness and attention possible towards
the animal, and your control is certain. This is only fit for
nervous horses; but the railroad system is certain. In all kinds
of ugly horses it is the best of methods.
331. BOTTS IN HORSES
This may be relied on as a certain and safe remedy for botts in
horses. When the horse is attacked, pound some common glass very
fine, sift it through a fine piece of muslin, take a tablespoonful,
put it inside a ball of dough, (not mixed with the dough,) then put
it down the horse's throat, and in from two to five minutes the
horse will get up and feel and will be well. The moment the glass
touches the botts though they may have eaten their way into the
coats of the stomach, so that but a small portion is exposed, they
will let go their hold, will pucker up and be driven off by the
bowels. This remedy is perfectly safe, and is the only certain
cure for botts under the sun. Try it.
332. RING BONE AND SPAVIN
Take of sweet oil, 4 oz.; spirits of turpentine, 2 ozs.; oil if
stone, 1/2 oz. Mix and apply three times a day. If the horse is over
four years old, or in any case where there is not sufficient, in
addition to it, you will fit a bar of lead just above it, wiring the
ends together, so it constantly wears upon the enlargement, and the
two together, will cure nine cases out of every ten in six weeks.
333. POLL EVIL AND FISTULA
Take 1 lb. common potash dissolved in 1/2 pint of water. Add 1/2 oz.
extract of belladona and 1 oz. gum-arabic dissolved in a little
water; work all into a paste with wheat flour, and box or bottle up
tight. In applying this, the place should be well cleansed with
soap-suds, (castile soap is best) then tallow should be applied all
around by the paste dissolving and running over it. Now this paste
must be pressed to the bottom of all the orifices; if very deep
it must be made sufficiently thin to inject by means of a small
syringe, and repeated once in two days, until the callous pipes, and
hard fibrous base around the poll evil, or fistula, is completely
destroyed. Sometimes one application has cured cases of this kind,
but it will generally require two or three. If the horse cannot be
kept up, you will put a piece of oiled cloth over the place. The
advantage of this caustic over all others is that less pain and
inflammation is induced. The sores may be cured by the following
or Sloan's ointment: ceder oil is to be applied to the tendons,
to prevent them stiffening, in pole evil, or other cases.
334. DeGRAY, OR SLOAN'S HORSE OINTMENT
Take of rosin 4 oz., lard 8 oz., honey 2 oz., mix and melt slowly,
gently bring it to a boil, and as it begins to boil slowly, add a
little less than a pint of spirits of turpentine, stirring all the
time it is being added, then remove from the stove, and stir till
cool. This is an extraordinary ointment for bruses in flesh or hoof,
broken knees, galled backs, bites, cracked heels, &c. or when a
horse is gelded, to heal and keep away flies.
335. NERVE AND BONE LINIMENT
Take of beef's gall 1 quart, alcohol 1 pint, volatile liniment
1 lb., spirits of turpentine 1 lb., oil of origanum 4 oz., aqua
ammonia 4 oz., tincture of cayenne 1/2 pint, oil of amber 3 oz.,
tincture of spanish fly 6 oz., mix and shake well. Uses too well
known to need description.
336. TO CURE FOUNDERS IN 24 HOURS
Boil or steam oat straw for half an hour, then wrap it round the
horses legs while quite hot, cover up with wet woollen rags to keep
in the steam: in six hours renew the application. Take 1 gallon of
blood from the neck vein, and give a quart of linseed oil. He may
be worked next day.
337. TO CURE COLIC IN TEN MINUTES
Bleed freely at the horse's mouth, and take 1 oz. of oil of juniper,
1 oz. of laudanum, and 2 ozs. of sweet spirits of nitre. Mix in a
pint of gruel, and drench him with it.
338. GARGLING OIL
Take of tanner's oil 1 quart, oil of vitriol 2 oz., spirits of
turpentine 1 oz. Mix all together, leave the bottles open till it
stops working, then it is ready for use.
339. MERCHANT'S GARGLING OIL
Take of linseed oil 2-1/2 galls., spirits of turpentine 2-1/2
galls., western petroleum 1 gall., liquor potass 8 oz., sap green
1 oz., mix all together, and it is ready for use.
340. PURGING BALLS
Take of aloes, 3 oz.; anise seed, 3 oz.; pulverise and mix with
castile soap. This makes one ball for a horse.
341. URINE BALLS
Take of white resin, 1/2 lb.; castile soap, 1/2 lb.; venice
turpentine, 1/2 pint; mix well together; make the balls the size of
butternuts. Give the horse three the first day, two the second day,
and one the third day.
342. FOR THE HEAVES
Give the horse 1/2 drachm of nitric acid, in a pint of sweet milk.
Repeat once in two days, once in three days, and once in four days.
This receipt is highly prized, and is good; but the best remedy for
heaves is so simple that scarcely any one will try it; it is to take
fresh sumack tops, break two or three bunches of them up in the
horse's feed, three times a day. This will actually cure the heaves
unless, they are very bad.
343. INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS
The symptoms of inflammation of the lungs in the horse is as
follows: it is usually ushered in by a shivering fit, the horse is
cold all over, reaction soon takes place, the body becomes warmer,
and the extremities extremely cold. The breathing is quick, he
refuses to lie down. If when wearied out, he lies down, it is but
for a moment.
Treatment--This may be commenced by a good bleeding, which is to be
followed by a drachm of emetic tartar, and three drachms of nitre,
every eight hours, rubbing the extremities, and giving bran-mashes;
throw warm blankets over the animal, hanging down to the floor, and
place vessels of hot water in which put hot stones or bricks, and
sweat freely, also, give one scruple of opium, and two of calomel,
twice a day. The sides of the chest may be thoroughly blistered.
This is the proper treatment.
344. STOMACH AND BOWELS
Inflammation of the stomach and bowels in the horse, resembles colic
in its symptoms, except in colic the pains pass off at times, and
return again, whereas in inflammation, the pain is constant, and the
animal is never easy; after a time the eye acquires a wild haggard,
unnatural stare, and the pupil, or dark spot in the eye, dilates.
Treatment--Take away, at once, six or eight quarts of blood, and
repeat the bleeding if the pain returns. Follow the bleeding by one
scruple of opium, and two of calomel, twice a day; also blister the
sides of the chest; give him bran mash and purging balls, (Receipt
No. 340).
345. INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS
The principal symptoms of inflammation of the kidneys in the horse,
is, pressure on the loins elicit symptoms of pain, the breathing is
hurried, there is a constant desire to void urine, although passed
in small quantities, highly coloured, and sometimes tinged with
blood.
Treatment--This is blood letting, active purging, mustard poultices
as near the kidneys as possible, and the horse warmly clothed, &c.,
as in other inflammations.
346. CONDITION POWDERS
Take of flax-seed meal 2 lbs., finygreek meal 2 lbs., liver antimony
1/2 lb., and nitre 1/2 lb., mix well; give a tablespoon for three
days and omit three days, &c.
347. FOR BONE SPAVIN
Take of cantharides 2 oz., strong mercurial ointment 4 oz., oil of
turpentine 4 oz., iodine 3 oz., mix all with a sufficiency of lard
to make a thin ointment; apply to the spavin only once a day until
it bursts; then oil it with sweet oil until healed. If the bunch is
not then removed, apply it again, and again if necessary, which is
seldom the case.
348. TO MAKE A HORSE FOLLOW YOU
The horse is treated in the same manner as mentioned in the receipt
No. 305, always being careful to whip him on the hips. When he will
follow you round the barn floor, then treat him in the same manner
in a yard, and when he follows you here, he will any place.
349. COLTS CHEWING HALTERS
Take scab from the wart on the inside of the leg, rub the halter
thoroughly with it, and they will not be found chewing their halters
very soon.
[There are two consecutive receipts numbered 350 in the original.]
350. HORSES JUMPING FENCES
Pass a small and strong cord around his body just behind his
shoulders, and tie the halter to this cord between his forelegs, so
as to leave the distance about two feet from the cord to his head;
if then he attempts to jump, he is compelled to throw his head
forward, which draws hard on the cord, and causes it to cut into his
back, and he instantly desists. The cord should not be more than a
quarter of an inch in diameter.
350. BLAZE OR STAR
When we have a pair of horses that match well in every respect,
except that one has a blaze or star on the face, it becomes very
interesting and important to know how to make their faces match.
Take a piece of oznaburgs the size you want the star or blaze;
spread it with warm pitch and apply it to the horses face; let it
remain two or three days, by which time it will bring off the hair
clean, and make the part a little tender; then take of elixor
vitriol a small quantity, anoint the part two or three times; or,
take of a very common weed called asmart, a small handful, bruise
it, and add to it about a gill of water, use it as a wash until
the face gets well, when the hair will grow out entirely white.
351. BLACK SPOTS
To spot a white horse with black spots, take litharge 3 oz., quick
lime 6 oz., beat fine and mix together; put it into a pan and pour
a sharp ley over it; then boil it and you will have a fat substance
swim on top, with which anoint the horse in such places as you
design to have black, and it will turn to the colour immediately.
352. INFLUENZA OR HORSE-AIL
The first symptom is debility. The horse appears dumpish, refuses to
eat, mouth hot, in six or twelve hours the appetite diminishes, legs
and eyelids swell. This disease may end in chronic cough, a bad
discharge from the nose, and in inveterate cases in glanders.
Treatment--Keep the horse on light food, as mashes, scalded shorts,
green grass, &c., and if he is very plethoric, he should be half
starved and bled from the mouth. If the throat is sore, rub it with
warm vinegar and salt, or blister; walk him a little for exercise,
administer the following: oil of croton, 5 drops; nitrate of potassa
4 to 6 drachms; potassio-tartrate of antimony, 1 drachm; spirit of
nitric ether, 4 drachms to 1 oz; solution of acetate of ammonia 2 to
4 ozs.; and warm water sufficient to make a draught; and when the
head is much affected, add a drachm of camphor. This draught may be
administered once and sometimes twice a day, the croton oil being
omitted after the first dose; after the first day, 2 drachms of
powdered gentian may be added.
353. STRANGLES OR HORSE DISTEMPER
Symptoms--A discharge from the nostrils, with a swelling under the
throat, a disinclination to eat. Thirst, but after a gulp or two the
horse ceases to drink. In attempting to swallow, a convulsive cough
comes on; mouth hot and tongue coated with a white fur. The tumor
under the jaw soon fills the whole space, and is evidently one
uniform body, and may thus be distinguished from glanders or the
enlarged glands of catarrh.
Treatment--Blister over the tumor at once; when the glands remain
hard and do not suppurate, it may lead to glanders, in which case
rub it with iodine ointment, and give internally, hydriodate of
potash in daily doses of 10 to 40 grains, combined with gentian and
ginger. As soon as the swelling is fit, lance it freely and apply a
linseed poultice; give bran mashes, fresh grass, &c.
354. STAGGERS