"When your horse is saddled walk around him and see that all is right on the off side. Look especially to the stirrup. Throw away little iron stirrup[s]. Put on a pair of good large wooden ones and put on "taps." Then you will never get hung in the stirrup and dragged to death. With heavy stirrups and heavy daps [sic] you can ride much easier, and steady and balance yourself better than you will believe till you have tried.
"When you are sure the saddle is all right, lead your horse up a few paces. If [he is] a strange horse, watch him closely to get a clue to his intentions. Now for the mount. A cowboy grasps the reins in the left hand, stands in front of the saddle facing it, puts the left hand on the horse's neck, holding moderately firm on his mount, turns the stirrup with the right hand so that the foot can enter, steps in it seizes the horn of the saddle with the right hand, and swings himself, easily and lightly into the saddle. The instant you are seated straighten yourself up, leaning a little back if you have a suspicion that your horse is a bucker, and the instant your right foot is in the stirrup let him go. Many a good horse will not buck all day if started out right in the morning, whereas if he had had a fair chance he would have thrown you sky high at the first mounting.
"If your horse throws down his head and makes sudden jumps into the air, at the same time spasmodically arching his back and raising you out of the saddle a few inches or a few feet, as the case may be, you may decide that he is bucking, and if you have allowed the phenomena to proceed thus far you may expect an opportunity of maing [sic] further observations from the ground." Stock Grower. ~Apache Review, December 05, 1888, 1:4.)
"It costs more to keep a poor horse than it does to keep a good one.
"Change the feed for your horses often enough to make them relish it.
"Every time you worry your horses you shorten their lives and days of usefulness.
"Sweat and dust cause the horse's shoulders to gall. So do poor, ill-fitting collars.*
"The temperature of water for horses is not so much an object as the purity of it. While it is best to have the water cool, it is more important to have it free from all impurities.
"Mares in foal should have exercise and moderate work, and under no circumstances should they be subjected to harsh treatment, nor should they be ever be [sic] allowed to go where they would be in danger of being frightened.*
"The horse which can plow an acre while another horse is plowing half an acre, or that which can carry a load of passengers ten miles while another is going five, independent of all considerations of amusement, taste, or what is called fancy, is absolutely worth twice as much to the owner as the other.
"Affection cannot be pounded into animals. Kind treatment insures the affection of an animal, while rough treatment is sure to cause its hatred.
"It is alike dangerous to other horses and men to spare the life of a glandered horse. Glanders is a highly contagious, incurable disease, and as a rule fatal in the human subject.
"When horse [sic] are suffering from the bites of flies or stings of other insects, sponge the parts that cannot be protected by nets, with water in which insect powder has been mixed a tablespoonful to two gallons of water.
"Animals of vicious habits should never be used for breeding purposes, as vices are transmitted.
"By careful breeding in this respect the dispositions of the animals can be partially controlled.
"Of two colts similar in disposition and sense, one may develop into a steady and valuable family horse, while the other may be everything that is vicious, treacherous and unsafe all because of a difference in the men handling them.
"Plenty of whitewash should be used, not only for the brighter appearance, but also as a disinfectant. Hot whitewash on the inside of barns, stables, poultry houses and pig quarters, will aid in preventing vermin and insects.
"What the colt requires is plenty of exercise, a clean place to sleep, shelter from bitter storms, plenty of good grass of different varieties, good, clean hay without dust, and good, sound oats. Colts raised in this way will not look so well, nor win as many premiums, nor sell for as much money, but they will last." ~"Medical Classics." St. Johns Herald, November 22, 1888 (1:3)
Cave Creek, Arizona, March 23, 1973.
