Horse SecretsAlexander, A. S. (Alexander Septimus)
Science
Horse Secrets
Alexander, A. S. (Alexander Septimus)
Horses
Temporarily to lessen or remedy the lameness of a footsore horse,
turpentine heated to the boiling point is poured into the sole of the
foot. It can be held there for five minutes by binding a bandage around
the foot so that the turpentine cannot run down over the hoof-head. The
buyer may readily detect this trick, as the odor of turpentine gives it
away when the hoof is examined.
It also is alleged that the following treatment is given for muscle
soreness, caused by use over hard stones: The night before he wishes to
sell the horse affected in this way, the “gyp” dealer will pour gasoline
over the withers, and let it flow down both shoulders and forearms.
The gasoline contracts the capillaries and larger blood vessels and
diminishes the blood pressure and nerve sensibility, thus allowing a
nearly natural movement of the muscles. Of course as soon as the effect
of the gasoline passes away the soreness will return. If gasoline were
rubbed on the muscles it would probably result in a blister.
Gingering a Show Horse.
As a preparation for the show ring contest, or before exhibiting a horse
to a prospective buyer, it is almost the general practise to insert
ginger root in the animal’s rectum that the irritation produced thereby
may cause it to carry a high tail and show spirit and action.
While this objectionable practise obtains most as regards coach and
carriage horses, it is also followed by exhibitors and sellers of draft
stallions and mares, and of recent years has been practised extensively.
Indeed the trick is becoming far too common, and we have even seen it
boldly and flagrantly practised in the judging ring to the disgust of all
decent and fair-minded spectators. Possibly there may be some excuse for
the practise as a means of setting a show or sale horse “on edge,” but
if allowed at all it should at least be done in private and be absolutely
prohibited as a public act in the show ring. We sincerely trust that
managers of horse shows will take this view of the matter; and officers
of the humane societies should see to it that horses are not excessively
tortured in this way. While the grooms of some horse exhibitors use
ginger in the judging ring, others pay some regard to the rules of
decency by backing the horses into their stalls before showing so that
the trick may be practised unnoticed by the visitors who throng the
aisles of the horse barns. We have heard of such a plan being followed
when preparing the entire string of coach horses of one owner for the
evening exhibit at a great horse show.
Unnerving and Cocaining.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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