and the lack of sensitiveness in others, necessitating unusual care
in making their mouths, some horses have anatomical defects which
preclude the possibility of them ever having anything like perfect
mouths. Those with necks below of a length disproportionate to the
length of the necks above, particularly if such necks are deep at
their points of attachment to the head, it is impossible for the head
to be bent upon the neck so that the mouth may be responsive. A horse
formed in this way is bound to stick his nose out, and when pressure
is brought to bear upon the lower jaw with the bit it slips up in the
mouth towards the grinders, and does not exert leverage upon the jaw
at a place of vantage or so that the head can be bent upon the neck.
As a rule, ewe-necked horses show this inability, but not all, by any
means, for some of them are clean-cut in the throttle, and the neck
just above the throttle is light, so that it can bend with ease.
In addition to the causes already explained, temperament predisposes
to pulling. A free, courageous, determined horse is much more apt to
get into the way of pulling than one not over-burdened with energy.
Of the exciting causes of pulling, insufficient work and over-feeding
are important; but really the most fruitful one is the unskilful and
heavy-handed driver. Some drivers will make almost any horse pull.
Many have no sympathy with a horse, and if they do observe evidences
of discomfort in connection with the mouth, which may be shown in
some of the ways already explained, they do not endeavor to remove
the cause. It is most important in bitting horses to prevent them
from getting into bad habits of any kind. They get into bad habits
very quickly, which it may take a long time to eradicate. The most
rational principle to proceed on is not to allow them to learn bad
habits. Do not place them in a position to learn bad habits.
IMPROVING ACTION
BITTING, SHOEING AND CONDITIONING FOR ACTION--II
In my last article on this subject I drew attention to the fact that
bitting, or “making the mouth,” is by far the most important matter
to attend to in contributing to action. You must get the head up and
the nose in, and cultivate a responsive mouth, so that when a horse
is urged and restrained, he will step up instead of stepping on.
It was urged that care should be used against getting horses into
bad habits in connection with the mouth in the process of bitting,
such as getting the tongue over the bit, retracting the tongue,
side-lining, going with the mouth open, tossing the head, carrying
the head unsteadily, and so forth. If some of these habits are
developed, they will tend to neutralize any beneficial efforts that
have been made in the cultivation of the mouth.
An easy bit should first be used, such as a straight-barred ringed
one or a snaffle, so that the colt will face it firmly and carry
a steady head. In the development of speed, it is also imperative
to use an easy bit, but for the production of style and action, a
curb bit is almost indispensable for the majority of horses. The
inexperienced ones are apt to think that a curb bit is an instrument
of torture. The ignorant, thoughtless and rough handler of horses
can easily make it so, but if it is properly used it is really more
humane for use in many mouths, than a less severe one. The curb bit
gives very much increased leverage, and will make some horses bend
that cannot be made to do so without it. As soon as they bend, it
requires very little force to keep their noses in, and very little
pressure need be exerted, so that there is no injury nor irritation
resulting. In addition to this, the pressure is divided between the
interior and exterior of the mouth, the curb chain exerting its share
of the pressure just behind the lower lip.
Some free, courageous horses, especially if short of work, will
pull to a most uncomfortable extent, both to themselves and their
drivers, if driven with a snaffle bit. The same horses, if used with
curbs, will go without taking hold, and with the exertion on the
part of their drivers of very slight restraining force. The perfect
handling of a horse with a curb bit is a very fine art, by which are
produced the perfection of carriage and the maximum of style and
action. To realize fully what the perfect handling of a curb bit
means in promoting style and action, one has only to observe a horse
skilfully handled with one, especially if he has a good mouth. The
dexterous rider or driver brings out all the responsiveness there
is in the horse without causing him to fight, while the unskilful
handler allows a horse to carry himself imperfectly and gets him off
his balance, thereby lessening his gracefulness, style and action.
The change from a snaffle to a curb bit should be made carefully and
discreetly, as it takes a horse some time to get used to the change.
We have good opportunities in the city of observing the ill-effects
of the abrupt change. A dealer gets in from the country a horse that
is possibly well broken, but has never had a curb bit in his mouth.
He hitches the horse, puts a curb bit in his mouth, and “pulls him
together,” as it is expressed; that is, he urges him with the whip
and restrains him to get all the style and action he can out of him.
He is very much encouraged to see his new purchase make such a good
showing. The next day he puts the horse in harness, but finds that
he does not go so well, showing irritability in connection with
his mouth. The horse may hold his head sideways, open his mouth
more or less, put his tongue over the bit, toss his head or carry
it unsteadily, pull, hitch, go off his feet, or interfere. He may
display any one or a combination of these faults, showing that he is
uncomfortable and out of balance.
Why this quick alteration in the manner of going between the first
and second hitching? It is simply due to the fact that the delicate
tissues of the mouth have become bruised or abraded from the rough
handling of a bit with powerful leverage. The horse’s mouth is sore,
and he cannot face the bit without showing irritability, which he
manifests in the ways described. The curb bit feels different in
his mouth, the pressure on the tongue is greater, and if the curb
chain is tightened and reins buckled to the bit, so as to give
much leverage, many horses will chafe under the newly experienced
increased restraint, and will pull, thereby greatly increasing the
injury to the mouth. If this is repeated, the mouth is spoiled and
bad habits produced.
In getting a horse accustomed to the curb bit, it is a good plan to
let him stand with it in his mouth in the stable for a few hours a
day. This gets him used to the shape and size of the new bit, after
which pressure can by degrees be brought to bear on it. Some trainers
are opposed to the use of a dumb jockey. Of course, the mouth cannot
be perfected by the use of this device alone, but it is a very useful
auxiliary to other measures. The dumb jockey is a rubber contrivance
attached to a girth and crupper and with elastic reins to buckle
to the bit. The prejudice against it is largely the result of the
irrational manner in which it is used. In the majority of instances
the reins are buckled too tightly at first, causing too much pressure
on the mouth, and forcing the head and neck into an unnaturally
constrained position. This, instead of cultivating responsiveness of
the mouth, causes irritation of that organ, gets a horse into fussy
habits, and makes him lie on the bit, doing more harm than good.
One not infrequently sees a horse standing in a stall with a dumb
jockey on him, his mouth partly open, his tongue over the bit, and
boring down on it, and sweating profusely from the discomfort he is
suffering. A dumb jockey used in this way is worse than useless. One
of the objects of using a jockey is to get the nose in, and from the
manner in which it is used by many it is evident that they seek to
accomplish this by sheer mechanical force, forgetting that they are
training nerves and muscles to responsiveness, which can only be done
by degrees.
As soon as a horse shows evidence of discomfort, loosen the reins and
tighten them gradually again. If the subject draws his tongue up in
his mouth, or puts it over the bit, raise the bit in his mouth. Some
horses get their heads too low with a dumb jockey on. In such it is
of much benefit to use a bearing-rein attachment to keep their heads
in proper position. The benefit from a dumb jockey used in a stable
is enhanced by using it when a horse is in motion. Some horses will
bend when standing that will not do so when moving, and so have to
be trained to it. Beneficial as a dumb jockey may be, a rider with
good hands, that can use his legs on the horse’s sides, urging him
by degrees into proper position with hind legs well under him, and
head up and nose in, can accomplish more, as he can humor the horse
at will. Next to riding, driving in single harness is best, as it
is hardly possible to humor a horse’s mouth as well in double as in
single harness. The tendency with most trainers is to hurry matters
too much. Urging a horse into the bit too soon causes him to fuss
with his mouth and is apt to make him fight the bit. The successful
trainer needs a lot of patience and perseverance.
If, in the process of bitting, the mouth by accident gets sore,
rest it by keeping the bit out of it until it is better. This can
be accomplished in the country or in a small town, without keeping
a horse altogether out of work, by putting on the cavesson and dumb
jockey and having the reins tightly buckled to the cavesson and led
alongside of another horse in this way or lunged. It is a bad plan to
let a horse that is in the process of bitting or breaking get too
fresh, as he is apt to reinjure his mouth when he is put in harness
again.
Curb bits for driving are so made that different degrees of leverage
can be exerted. It can be laid down as a rule that it is not wise to
use anymore leverage than is essential, otherwise the mouth is apt to
become sore and carried unsteadily.
There is some diversity of opinion as to the wisdom of using bearing
reins. Some people, particularly the inexperienced, are very much
opposed to their use. Occasionally one finds a horse--much more
rarely a pair--that carries himself so well--head up, nose in and
head steady--that a bearing rein is superfluous. The majority of
horses, however, carry themselves better, drive more comfortably,
and are really more comfortable themselves when driven with bearing
reins. They can, of course, be made instruments of torture, if used
too tightly buckled up and for too long periods at a time, but most
horses will not only carry their heads too low, but bore, pull and
“duck” if not “borne up.” The low carriage of the head is not only
unsightly in a carriage horse, but causes too much weight to be
thrown on the forelegs for their welfare. The French check is very
much better than the pulley bridoon. The bearing rein should not be
used so tightly that a horse cannot bend his head upon his neck, if
he is capable of doing so. The bearing reins should seldom, if ever,
be used on the driving bit; if it is at all tight, it pulls the bit
too high in the mouth, causing a horse to bore and usually to bruise
the bars severely immediately in front of the grinders. A jointed bit
should be used in the mouth in addition to the driving bit and the
bearing rein buckled to it.
So far we have been referring to bitting only as having a
contributing influence in increasing the forward or knee action;
but it has also a marked effect in improving the hock action. It is
remarkable how much the hock action can be increased by cultivating a
responsive mouth, dropping the nose into its proper position, or, in
other words, balancing a horse.
Before we leave the subject of the mouth and bitting altogether, we
must refer to condition as an important factor in contributing to
action. Before a horse can be made to show all the action there is
in him, he must be toned up to the highest pitch. He must be full of
nervous energy, and his muscles thoroughly developed. He must not
only feel like doing it, but must also have the power. It takes time
to bring this about. The cultivation of the mouth and the toning up
of the system should proceed together, but never let the toning up
get ahead of the education of the mouth. It is better not to have a
horse feeling too well while you are cultivating his mouth, for,
if his spirits are too exuberant, he will not learn so fast, and is
apt to fight and increase his chances of developing bad habits. In
cases in which action contributes to a horse’s value, he must also
look well. Without being too gross, he should be in full flesh; it
should be well put on, and there is nothing like a lot of slow work
for this. From an hour to two hours’ walking exercise every day will
make the flesh look solid and give a finish which a horse merely
fattened up without work never shows. Slow work, if a horse gets a
sufficiency of good feed and proper grooming, will not prevent the
accumulation of flesh as fast work does, and it keeps the manners
of the individual good. The development of speed in trotting-bred
horses is a slow process with many of them. It takes several years
in some individuals to bring it to its zenith. This is in a measure
also true of action, if we look to perfecting it. A good deal can be
accomplished in a couple of months with some horses, but much more
can be attained in two years. We have examples of horses well known
in the show rings of this country to-day that have gone on improving
in brilliance of style and action for years. Bitting and conditioning
are the chief contributing factors.
The practical man who is conditioning and developing horses’ action,
for sale, is limited as to time. He cannot afford to spend it and
he has to be guided too much by circumstances, but the principle of
development is the same, whether for the market or show ring. A great
deal is said about shoeing in contributing to action, and it is a
point that should be studied and carefully attended to, but it is
decidedly secondary in importance to either bitting or conditioning.
Some years ago a great deal of weight was used in shoeing show and
sale horses. You would frequently see a horse weighing from 1,000 to
1,100 pounds carrying on each forefoot from one pound and a half to
two pounds weight, and even more. This answers for some purposes and
before some judges, but if an owner wishes to sell or show a horse on
his merits, it does not do. A lot of weight on a horse’s feet will
make him show more action for a short time, particularly if shown in
hand and if he is feeling fresh and well. If, however, he is called
upon to exert himself for any length of time, especially if the going
is heavy, and if he has to draw any weight, he will soon begin to
labor, pound the ground, very likely forge, and the character of his
action will be destroyed. With a good judge, the character of the
action is of more importance than the amount of it, and he would not
look a second time at a horse that labors and pounds, no matter how
high he goes. One has to be guided by the individual, and the object
in view in determining the amount of weight to put in a horse’s
shoes, in order to get the best results in the way of action. From 16
to 22 ounces is usually sufficient, but there are horses for which a
little less or a little more may be carried with advantage for sale
or show purposes.
In addition to carrying a moderate amount of weight, the hoofs should
be allowed to grow to a fair length. Length of toe causes a horse
to exert increased effort in raising and extending the forelegs; so
the tendency is to increase the action. Defects of action can in a
measure be corrected by modifying the shoes and form of the hoof.
For instance, some horses extend too much and do not fold or bend
their knees sufficiently, but what is called “point,” and are apt
to go on their heels, or come down heel first, instead of planting
the foot squarely, heel and toe at the same time. For this defect,
have the toes fairly short, lighten the web of the shoe at the toe,
and increase its weight gradually towards the heel. With a horse
that folds too much and does not extend sufficiently, put the weight
towards the toe and lighten the heel. In a horse that “dishes” or
“winds out,” the heavy portion of the web should be in the inside
branch; while in a horse that “winds in,” just the opposite should be
done.
In carrying out these modifications, they must be done so as not
to interfere with the level of the foot. If a horse does not tread
level, ill-results, in the shape of lameness or wear and tear of the
leg and foot, are likely to follow.
EXERCISE FOR HORSES
Everybody who owns or has to do with horses in any way, recognizes
that exercise is necessary for them in some way or other. Judging,
however, from the practice pursued by many persons, one cannot but
conclude that opinions differ widely as to the amount necessary, the
manner in which it should be given, the character of it, and the
circumstances which should guide one in prescribing it.
In giving the subject reasonable thought we must first of all
recognize the fact that the horse is so constituted that he is
naturally an active animal. In fact, activity is his paramount
characteristic. If from any cause he is brought to lead the
comparatively vegetable existence of the sheep or cow, his powers
become more or less impaired, temporarily though it may be.
Recognizing as we must the basic principle of a horse’s inherent
activity, we can make deductions as to his reasonable treatment
which are borne out by experience. It is not my intention to
make theoretical statements in treating of this subject, but to
endeavor to give some practical hints that may be of some use in the
everyday treatment of horses. It is not convenient to draw a line of
demarcation, in the treatment of this subject, between exercise and
work, though one might be able to define the difference to suit one’s
views.
If one were asked to explain the effects of reasonable work on
a horse’s system, one might truthfully state that there is no
healthy part of his organism that is not beneficially affected by
it. Judicious work stimulates the appetite, promotes digestion,
encourages assimilation or the conversion of food into nutritive
material. It not only has an important influence on these functions
already mentioned, but in a greater degree it aids the various
tissues of the animal to take from the blood those elements required
to restore the loss which is going on all the time, and also to
promote their growth and development. Further than that, it helps the
system to get rid of material that it has no further use for, and
which, if allowed to remain, will prove prejudicial to it.
The casual observer will almost be able to determine the change which
takes place in a horse, when not sufficiently worked, if he will
give it a little thought. If he is at all liberally fed, he will not
only retain his flesh, but will gain in weight. But what about his
muscular tissue? It apparently looks as bulky as ever. So it is and
possibly more so, but that it has become impaired in muscular power
can easily be demonstrated by an hour’s brisk work in the case of a
driving horse. He goes out full of life, and possibly shows to the
best advantage for a short time, but soon begins to drop his head,
go heavy in hand, in fact to lag, loses his action, and very likely
forges. This demonstrates the fact that, no matter how well a horse
may seem nourished, he cannot maintain his muscular tone and muscular
power without adequate work.
The changes that take place in the muscles of locomotion also take
place in the muscular tissue of other parts of the individual. The
central organ of the circulation, the heart, is a hollow muscle, and
the blood vessels have muscular fibres in their coats. If a horse
is insufficiently exercised, the muscular tissue of the heart and
blood vessels becomes impaired in power, as that of the muscles
of locomotion does. If a horse in such condition is abruptly put
to brisk work, the circulation is apt to show weakness, and there
is danger of congestive and inflammatory attacks. A horse out of
condition and lacking in muscular tone will develop congestion of the
lungs, from an amount of exertion that would have no injurious effect
upon one in moderately good condition. If the muscular tissue of
the heart is weak, that organ lacks the power under severe exertion
to force the blood through the lungs, when stagnation and congestion
follow.
Horses in the condition just described, if given a long, quick
journey on a hard road, are apt to develop founder or inflammation of
the quick of the feet in its most intense form. The circulation being
weak, the concussion resulting from the pounding on the hard road
interferes with it, and congestion and inflammation are apt to result.
The amount and the character of exercise to be given during
convalescence is an important point in influencing the hastening
of that process, as well as in determining the completeness of the
recovery and the prevention of untoward sequels. Even during sickness
the restricted and gentle movements possible in a box stall of fair
size not only contribute to the patient’s comfort by admitting of
freedom and comfortable attitudes, but the slight exercise has a
beneficial effect upon the circulation, particularly that of the legs.
After attacks of influenza, strangles, laryngitis or pneumonia,
and as soon as the temperature has regained its normal condition,
the question of exercise should be considered, and judgment should
be used in determining how soon the patient can stand exercise.
Sometimes a couple of days after the temperature has become normal
and the appetite is regained in a measure, the patient shows strength
enough in movement to justify one in concluding that he can stand
a short walk. He may be only able to stand a few minutes’ or he
may be able to stand ten minutes’ gentle leading, but usually each
succeeding day it will be found he can stand a little more. If he
can stand ten minutes a day, it is better, if possible, to divide it
into two periods of five minutes each. In my opinion this applies to
all exercise, whether that given during convalescence or conditioning
for market, for the show ring, or for the race track. Exercise rouses
the circulation, and in fact all the activities of the organism, with
beneficial results.
Much better results can be attained by stimulating the functional
activity of all the organs of the body twice in the twenty-four
hours, than once. The period of convalescence is very much shortened
by pursuing this plan, and the horse can be put to work much sooner,
and with less danger of relapse. Those in charge of horses will
often keep a convalescent one in a box stall until he gets full of
life, then hitch him up. He will be for a few minutes full of vim
and go, but will soon begin to sweat from the too violent exertion
he gives himself. Violent exertion abruptly given is very apt to be
followed by a relapse after the weakening effects of illness and the
consequent inactivity.
Plenty of walking exercise during convalescence from affections of
the breathing organs is the only course likely to ward off defective
wind, which so frequently occurs as a sequel to these affections.
One often hears it advised to turn a horse out for a few weeks after
attacks such as referred to. This means a run at grass in the summer,
and in the winter turning in to a box stall. In either case too
much bulky food is apt to be consumed to be favorable to good wind,
and systematic exercise is not given. Of the two courses, turning
out to grass is the better, as the food is of a laxative character,
and the animal takes some exercise. But the best of all is to keep
the horse up so that the amount and character of the food can be
regulated and a definite amount of exercise given. Walking exercise
during convalescence from acute affections of the breathing organs
brings these organs gently into play, rouses mildly their functional
activity, and is the only safe way to tone them up, and prepare them
by degrees for more violent exertion, which they can then perform
without showing any unsoundness of wind.