The Art of Taming and Training Wild Horses
🐴 Wild
Horse Taming: A Comprehensive Guide 🐴
This collection of texts offers insight into the world of horsemanship
and 19th-century medical remedies. It begins with a guide to taming and
training wild horses, emphasizing understanding equine nature and using gentle,
persuasive techniques, while also discussing common horse ailments and their
treatments. The text details
the origins of horseback riding equipment such as saddles, bridles, and
horseshoes and provides insight into how horses were treated across countries. Additionally, the collection includes excerpts from a
book claiming to offer invaluable medical knowledge and advice for men and
women in a variety of circumstances.
The Art of
Taming and Training Wild Horses
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Briefing
Document: "The Art of Taming and Training Wild Horses"
Overview:
This
document is derived from excerpts of a book titled "The Art of Taming and
Training Wild Horses." The text covers a wide range of topics relating to
horses, including their domestication, horsemanship history, a novel theory for
taming wild horses, practical methods for handling and training horses, and a
section on common horse ailments and their cures. There is also an unrelated
advertisement for a book about esoteric anthropology.
Main
Themes and Ideas:
·
Domestication and Historical Context: The book emphasizes that
the domestication of the horse was a gradual process, noting its late entry
into human service compared to other animals like oxen and asses. It connects
the horse's utility to the skill and understanding of its handler, contrasting
the "brute force" approach with the "law of kindness"
practiced by the Arabs, who develop a unique bond with their horses.
·
"The first domestication of the horse,
one of the greatest achievements of man in the animal kingdom, was not the work
of a day; but like all other great accomplishments, was brought about by a
gradual process of discoveries and experiments."
·
"being to those who govern him by
brute force, and know nothing of the beauty and delight to be gained from the
cultivation of his finer nature, a fretful, vicious, and often dangerous servant;
whilst to the Arabs, whose horse is the pride of his life, and who governs him
by the law of kindness, we find him to be quite a different animal."
·
Evolution of Horsemanship: The text traces the
historical development of riding practices and equipment, from riding bareback
to the introduction of bridles, bits, saddles, stirrups, and horseshoes. It
highlights the slow pace of these innovations, suggesting that some seemingly
obvious improvements took centuries to implement.
·
"The polished Greeks as well as the
ruder nations of Northern Africa, for a long while rode without either saddle
or bridle, guiding their horses, with the voice or the hand, or with a light
switch with which they touched the animal on the side of the face to make him
turn in the opposite direction."
·
"Here again, as in the case of the
sturrupless saddle, when we reflect that men should, for nearly a thousand
years, have gone on fastening plates of metal under horses' hoofs by the clumsy
means of straps and strings, without its ever occurring to them to try so
simple an improvement as nails, we have another remarkable demonstration of the
slow steps by which horsemanship has reached its present state."
·
Theory of Taming Wild Horses: The author presents a
three-part theory predicated on the horse's inherent nature.
1. Obedience
Through Comprehension: Horses will not resist demands they fully understand, if
made in a way that is consistent with their nature. They lack reasoning powers
to question impositions.
·
"That he is so constituted by nature
that he will not offer resistance to any demand made of him which he fully
comprehends, if made in a way consistent with the laws of his nature."
·
"The horse, though possessed of some
faculties superior to man's being deficient in reasoning powers, has no
knowledge of right or wrong, of free will and independent government, and knows
not of any imposition practiced upon him, however unreasonable these
impositions may be."
1. Unconsciousness
of Strength:
Horses are unaware of their own strength and can be controlled without force.
·
"That he has no consciousness of his
strength beyond his experience, and can be handled according to our will,
without force."
·
"If that wild horse there was
conscious of the amount of his strength, his owner could have no business with
him in that vehicle; such light reins and harness, too; if he knew he could
snap them asunder in a minute and be as free as the air we breathe."
1. Acceptance
Through Examination:
Horses can accept any object, even frightful ones, around, over, or on them, as
long as it doesn't cause pain, and if they are allowed to examine it.
·
"That we can, in compliance with the
laws of his nature by which he examines all things new to him, take any object,
however frightful, around, over or on him, that does not inflict pain, without
causing him to fear."
·
"A log or stump by the road-side may
be, in the imagination of the horse, some great beast about to pounce upon him;
but after you take him up to it and let him stand by it a little while, and
touch it with his nose, and go through his process of examination, he will not
care any thing more about it."
·
Practical Training Methods: The book provides
detailed, step-by-step instructions on various aspects of horse handling and
training, emphasizing patience and understanding of horse behavior. These
include:
·
Catching colts from pasture and stabling
them without causing undue stress.
·
Halting and leading colts.
·
Introducing the bit and saddle.
·
Mounting and riding colts.
·
Breaking horses to harness and driving
them.
·
Addressing common issues such as kicking,
balking, and running away.
·
Emphasis on Fear, Love, and Obedience: The text suggests that
these are the principles to govern horses.
·
"Then, in order to take horses as we
find them, or all kinds, and to train them to our likings, we will always take
with us, when we go into a stable to train a colt, a long switch whip,
(whale-bone buggy whips is the best,)... for, in order to obtain perfect
obedience from any horse, we must first have him fear us, for our motto is
fear, love, and obey; and we must have the fulfilment of the first two before
we can expect the latter, and it is by our philosophy of creating fear, love
and confidence, that we govern to our will every kind of a horse
whatever."
·
Critique of Common Practices: The author criticizes
prevailing opinions among horsemen, particularly regarding the use of scent and
cruel training methods. He advocates for a more intelligent and humane
approach.
·
Horse Ailments and Cures: The book includes a
section on various horse diseases and injuries, offering a collection of
remedies and treatments. These range from common ailments like colic and bots
to more serious conditions like glanders and founder.
Key
Facts and Ideas:
·
The author stresses the importance of
understanding the horse's natural behavior and instincts.
·
Patience and a calm demeanor are crucial
for successful training.
·
Force should be avoided whenever possible.
·
Early experiences and proper handling from
a young age shape a horse's temperament and behavior.
·
Horses rely on multiple senses to examine
objects, with touch being particularly important.
·
The book promotes a more humane and
understanding approach to horsemanship.
Quotes
of Note:
·
"Would you have me suffer it to be
said among the tribes that another mare had proved fleeter than mine? I have at
least this comfort left me, that I can say she never met with her match." (Illustrates the Arab's
pride in their horse.)
·
"Haste makes waste;" that is,
waste of time, for the gain of trouble and perplexity." (Emphasizing the need
for patience.)
·
"Never put a rope halter on an
unbroken colt under any circumstances whatever. They have caused more horses to
hurt or kill themselves, than would pay for twice the cost of all the leather
halters that have ever been needed for the purpose of haltering colts." (Specific advice on
halters.)
Caveats
and Considerations:
·
The text reflects the horsemanship
practices and beliefs of its time, which may differ from modern approaches.
·
Some of the remedies and treatments
described in the "Horseman's Guide and Farrier" section might not be
scientifically sound or safe by today's standards.
·
The inclusion of the "Esoteric
Anthropology" advertisement appears unrelated and should be considered
separate from the core content on horsemanship.
Study Guide: Taming
and Training Wild Horses
Quiz
Answer
the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
1. According to the author, what is the first
principle of taming and training horses?
2. Why does the author believe that horses are
naturally obedient?
3. Explain the experiment the author suggests
using a robe and what it demonstrates about a horse's nature.
4. What does the author say about a horse’s
sense of smell, and what does he suggest is more important?
5. How does the author suggest that you
approach a wild horse?
6. What does the author say about using a
whip?
7. Describe how to halter a colt according to
the instructions in the source.
8. How should you introduce a saddle to a
colt, according to the author?
9. How can you prevent a horse from jumping
ahead, rearing up, or running away?
10. According to the author, how can you drive
a horse that is very wild, and has any vicious habit?
Quiz Answer Key
1. The first principle is that a horse will
not resist any demand it fully comprehends if made in a way consistent with its
nature. Comprehension and appropriate delivery are key to cooperation.
2. The author argues that horses lack the
reasoning powers to question impositions. They are thus naturally submissive,
reacting only to violations of their nature, not to perceived injustice.
3. The robe experiment involves introducing a
frightening object and observing the horse's investigative behavior. This
demonstrates the horse's need to physically examine new objects to determine
their safety.
4. The author dismisses the idea that smell is
the governing sense in horses. He posits that touch is more crucial, as horses
use their noses to physically examine objects.
5. The author advises approaching slowly,
steadily, and without sudden movements. He also advises paying attention to the
horse’s body language so that you don’t make it move forward or backward, thus
keeping it stationary as you draw near.
6. The author suggests that the whip should be
used to scare a horse, not to hurt them. Additionally, he claims that fear and
anger can not exist together in the horse, and as soon as one is visible, the
other has disappeared.
7. To halter a colt, approach gently with the
halter in hand, put the strap around his neck and pull his head toward you.
Then raise the halter up to his nose and fasten the top buckle so that it is
properly fitted.
8. Introduce the saddle gradually, allowing
the colt to see, smell, and touch it. Start by gently rubbing the saddle
against its neck, then slowly move it onto its back.
9. Pulling a horse's head around against its
side will prevent it from jumping, rearing up, or running away. Additionally,
if he is stubborn and will not go, he can be made to move by pulling his head
around to one side.
10. Take up one fore foot and bend the horse’s
knee till his hoof is bottom upwards, and merely touching his body, then slip a
loop over his knee, and up until it comes above the pasture joint to keep it
up. This will leave the horse standing on three legs, making it impossible for
him to kick.
Essay Questions
1. Critically analyze the author's three
fundamental principles of taming wild horses. Are these principles
well-supported by the author’s arguments and examples?
2. Compare and contrast the author's methods
of taming wild horses with Powel’s method. In what ways are they similar, and
how do they differ?
3. Discuss the role of fear and respect in the
author's approach to horsemanship. Is there a balance between these two
emotions, and is it ethically sound?
4. Evaluate the author's claims about the
ineffectiveness of strong smells in taming horses. How does he support his
argument, and is it convincing?
5. Assess the author's horsemanship advice in
the context of modern animal behavior science and training techniques. Are his
methods humane and effective by today’s standards?
Glossary of Key Terms
·
Colt:
A young male horse, typically under the age of four.
·
Fetlock:
The joint on a horse's leg between the cannon bone and the pastern bone, above
the hoof.
·
Pacha:
A high-ranking official in the Ottoman Empire or other Middle Eastern
countries.
·
Bedouin:
An Arab nomad of the desert.
·
Martingale:
A strap or set of straps used in riding to prevent a horse from raising its
head too high.
·
Snaffle Bit:
A type of bit for a horse, typically with a simple, jointed mouthpiece.
·
Sulky:
A light, two-wheeled cart used in harness racing.
·
Hames:
Part of the harness used to connect the horse to the load; the curved bars
lying upon the collar.
·
Checkreins:
Reins used to control the position of a horse's head, often to keep it
elevated.
·
Founder:
(also called Laminitis) Inflammation of the laminae within the horse's hoof.
·
Fersey:
A term for a horse disease marked by inflammation of the sheath or preputial
cavity.
·
Fistula:
An abnormal passage between two internal organs or from an internal organ to
the surface of the body.
·
Spavin:
A bony growth within the hock (a joint in the hind leg) of a horse.
·
Ringbone:
A bony growth occurring on the pastern or coffin bone of a horse's foot.
·
Curbs:
A thickening at the back of the hock joint in horses, often due to a strain of
the plantar ligament.
·
Windgalls:
Soft, fluid-filled swellings on the lower legs of horses, typically around the
fetlock joint.
Frequently Asked Questions about Taming and
Training Horses
·
Why was the
horse domesticated later than other animals like oxen and asses?
·
The
domestication of the horse was delayed due to a limited understanding of the
animal's nature. Its inherent superiority over other animals presented a
greater challenge for humans to control and utilize its capabilities
effectively.
·
What are the
three fundamental principles behind taming wild horses?
·
The three core
tenets are: 1. Horses naturally comply with understandable requests. 2. Horses
are unaware of their physical strength. 3. Horses can be desensitized to
frightening objects through gradual exposure that avoids pain.
·
How can one
successfully get a colt from the pasture?
·
Approach the
herd calmly, avoiding sudden movements that cause them to run. Drive them
gently in the desired direction, taking advantage of their ignorance and using
gradual movements instead of aggressive tactics.
·
Why is a leather
halter preferable to a rope halter when training a colt?
·
Leather halters
are safer and more effective. Rope halters can tighten and pinch, causing the
colt to panic, pull, and potentially injure itself. A leather halter that fits
well around the colt's head is less likely to cause the colt to struggle and
pull, which is essential for training.
·
Why is the sense
of feeling more important than the sense of smell when taming horses?
·
Horses use
feeling (touching with their nose) to fully examine and understand new or
frightening objects. While they may initially react with fear, physically
interacting with the object through touch allows them to determine it is
harmless.
·
How can a
stubborn or "mulish" horse be approached?
·
Address their
lack of respect with controlled assertiveness, using a whip to establish
boundaries and respect. Follow up with gentle caresses to inspire both fear and
love, establishing dominance while building trust.
·
How do you
prevent a horse from balking?
·
Balking often
stems from mismanagement, confusion, or a lack of understanding. When a horse
balks, caress it calmly and try turning it gently to encourage movement.
·
What are some
common horse ailments and their traditional remedies?
·
The text
provides numerous remedies. For colic, a turpentine and opium drench followed
by chalk in cider vinegar is recommended. For bots, fresh milk and molasses are
followed by linseed oil. The article also includes a wide variety of different
ailments from cuts to glanders and a wide variety of remedies.
19th-century horsemanship, horse training techniques, equine history, horseback
riding equipment, horse ailments and treatments, 19th-century medical remedies,
historical horse care, wild horse taming, saddles and bridles history,
horseshoes origin, vintage medical advice, 19th-century lifestyle, historical
texts analysis, equestrian culture, horse history documentary
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