Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1878 — The Proper Way to Work a Horse. [ARTICLE]

The Proper Way to Work a Horse.

There never was a greater mistake made than to say that a man who owns 11 horse, and drives a horse, knows ail about a horse; for, in a majority of cases, it is the very reverse. There are two classes of horses—work and pleasure; and all horses who do pulling and hauling heavy loads are termed workhorses, and the balance are horses of pleasure. It need only be said of working horses, that they should be well cleaned and fed, have their regular hours of rest anil plenty of time, before their work commences, to digest their food. It is a mistake to say that horses having a long journey to go, are benefited by being driven slowly; for if the road be good, the weather not too warm, and the load not very heavy, it will be better to drive him at the rate of eight miles an hour than five miles an hour, for then he will get to his stable sooner, be foil earlier ana have a longer rest for the trials of* to-morrow. Of oourse, tiie work of farm-horses is generally slow, and they do not need the same attention as tast-womag horses, and can be fed and watered at almost any time; but with horses of pleasure, everything is different, for, as a rule, they are in the stable threefourths of the time, and should never be taken out or driven on full stomachs, which there is never any necessity for; for if the stable-man is apprised of their goinjr out, he can fix the feedingtime to suit the conveniences of the horses. When harnessed, and the driver seated, he should never send them off with a jerk, or strike them with a whip, but by speaking to them kindly; allow them to increase their speed by degrees, but never force it.

A steady pace, say ten mile an hour, is mere preferable than sending them along by fits and starts. The less punishment a horse gets, tho better for all Earties; although it is true, that a lazy orse along with a free one, must be kept up to his work; or else the latter witl be “played out” before half the trip is enaed; and in this case, the whip must be used; but do it gently; so as to remind him of his duty, but do not hurt him; and in no case should the whip be given to a horse that is exhausted, for no good is gained by it; while the result may be bail. Fear of the whip causes sudden starting and stumbling, and as the whip cannot cure it, do not use if but get somebody to hold the horse’s head, and when you are ready, let the man lead him along easily, and in this way ho will get broke of it, after a while. A good driver, going at the rate of ten miles ail hour, will not drive up hill and down at the same rate, but will guide himself according to the road, and ease them up in rough' places. If traveling fast, horses should have a sip of water every hour; and if going a long distance, one feed in tho center of the journey will be sufficient. This is the best point I can give you, and do not forget it. —Hints and Helps to Horsemen.