J. D. Warren,
Pres. Soc. for P. of C. to Animals.
CHAPTER IX.
LEWISTON—EDUCATING THE HORSE “ANFIELD”—TESTIMONIAL—CONCORD—MANCHESTER—A STEAM ENGINE IN THE RING—LOWELL—LAWRENCE.
Continuing my tour, I exhibited at many places in the State until I reached the city of Augusta, where I remained two days, and met with marked success. Anxious to reach Lewiston by the time I had fixed, I passed rapidly, through many towns and villages, only remaining a day in each place, and arrived at Lewiston on the eighth of September. It was here, as the reader will remember, that I was to handle the notorious “Anfield.”
After building an academy, and giving a public exhibition, I announced my intention of controlling that vicious animal. The citizens turned out en masse, but, as the horse was led into the ring, the whole audience seemed terror-stricken, wondering, no doubt, whether or not I would share the fate that others had; but speedily their terror gave place to admiration, as they saw the powerful animal succumb to the resistless energy and efficacy of my system, for, within one short hour, the lion-like brute became meek and quiet as a lamb, greatly to the astonishment of the multitude, who gazed with wonder on the transformation. I give below the testimonial subsequently presented to me, in which this feat is described:
We, the undersigned citizens of Lewiston and vicinity, hereby certify that we are members of Prof. O. S. Pratt’s school for instruction in the proper education of the horse; that from a careful and thorough examination of his method, as succinctly demonstrated by him in his admirable lectures and apt illustrations, we unqualifiedly pronounce Professor Pratt’s system as most practical, and far superior to any ever before known.
His power over the most vicious and ferocious horses is at once wonderful and instructive, as verified by his handling of the stallion “Anfield,” in Lewiston, on Thursday evening, October 17, 1872, before an audience of 1,000 persons.
“Anfield” is an eleven-year-old dark bay stallion, and standing sixteen or seventeen hands high, and is owned by Dr. S. H. Tewksbury, of Portland, Me. He is reported to have killed one man, and was a bad biter, striker, and somewhat given to kicking. He had never been harnessed.