Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1895 — KNOWS HIS MASTER’S MIND. [ARTICLE]

KNOWS HIS MASTER’S MIND.

One Who Understands Horses Give* Them Credit for Mind Reading. “Horses are almost as superstitious as men, but, unlike men, they can be reasoned with and made brotfd-minded, liberal, free-thinking philosophers. The horse is the noblest animal that walks the earth. He has most of the good traits of the human race, with some of the bad ones.” It was Prof. Bartholomew who spoke in this exalted attain about the horse. - ~ “When a youth I was a cowboy and ohe'of the rough riders of the West. Like other cowboys, I delighted in a bucking broncho, but I soon learned that the wildest horse can be tamed in an hour so that he will follow his rider about and let himself be ridden without a struggle. I have tamed hundreds of horses fresh from the prairies, and never failed to make a complete conquest in a short time. I treat horses as intelligent beings, and after a manner ask them if they can do things. Often they refuse, and again they say as plainly as if they used words: ‘Why, yes, I can do that,’ and they do it. “I my horses in classes. I take a dozen and ask each to do a certain thing. Some will start blindly, while others will step up briskly and say, ‘Yes, I can do that.’ Then J ask them to do something else, and then those who are quickest at first will halt, while those who made no response'before are anxious to do the thing. Thus I soon learn the class of work each is especially fitted for and develop them along theii special lines. In this way they are just Eke men. Now, I have tried numerous ways to make a living outside of horses, but always fail and drift back to my hobby. “Horses are like men in the amount -QfjCQiirage they can muster up. If 1 want ft horse to do extra long jumps 1 select a creature that is finely built and has all the physical qualities, but perhaps he is a coward and afraid to leap. Borne little, half-developed creature, -possessetEwithudare-devilspirit,may outdo him In every respect.”—Agricul-