Another still to prevent a horse from kicking when hitched up in shafts, if he will stand quiet long enough to fasten in the shafts, when you have him hitched up, loop a strong strap around the shaft on the one side, let it pass over the hips and fasten it to the shaft on the opposite side; next fasten the strap to the harness at the top, so as to prevent it from slipping down; you can now drive off with safety, as far as the kicking is concerned; for he cannot kick to do any harm if the strap stays firmly at its place, and the vehicle heavy enough to prevent him from raising it.
FOR THE BLACKSMITH.
If you have a horse which you cannot manage to shoe, take up his leg as directed in the kicking horse, and handle him awhile, patting and rubbing all his legs, &c.; when he becomes quiet, let his leg down to rest; then take it up again and rub his legs as before, and let him know what you are about to do to him; then let his leg down and commence to shoe. Should he be very fretful yet, and will not suffer you to put on the shoe, you will meet with success by making him lay down and perform as directed in making the horse lay down.
CURE FOR BOTS.
Mix 1 pint honey with 1 quart sweet milk; give as a drench; 1 hour after dissolve 1 oz. pulverized copperas 1 pint of water, use as a drench; then give 1 quart linseed oil; this cure is said to be effectual. The principle of giving the horse the sweet drench is good; it will generally cause the bots to let loose and take a fill of the sweet drench; then you should not fail to give plenty of physic to carry them off.
HOW TO MAKE A HORSE FOLLOW YOU.
Put your horse into a large stable or small yard; commence to gentle him a little, take hold of the halter or bridle, turn him towards you, touching him with a long whip; at the same time lead him the length of the stable or yard, rubbing him on the neck, face and head; say to him gently as you lead, come along boy, or better to use his name: whenever you turn, touch him slightly with the whip, so as to make him step up close to you; then gentle him again with your hand as before; he will soon learn to escape the whip and to be gentled with the hand; he will soon learn to follow you around without taking hold of the halter or bridle. Should he stop or turn from you, give him a few cuts about the hind legs; he will soon turn his head towards you, when you must always gentle him with your hand. A few lessons will make him follow you or run after you if he sees the motion of the whip; in a half hour he will follow you about the stable or yard. After you have given him 3 or 4 lessons in this way, you can take into a lot and from thence into the road, and he will follow you any where and run after you.