1965-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1965 December Voice | Page 28

The " Hoss Doctor ” Rides Again !
Hand in hand with thehorseboom , the fabulous days of the " hoss doctor ” returned ! At least this is true in altogether too many cases . Fantastic stories of the wealth to be had caused a rush in the horse products business comparable to that of the forty-niners .
Like Topsy , the light horse industry just grew . There was precious little organized planning and responsible help . With the passing of the draft horse , the Horse and Mule Association of America was inactivated , the Army Remount Service was stilled , and those great horse specialists of the United States Department of Agriculture and our Land Grant Colleges retired and were not replaced . Certainly , many associations , organizations , and individuals serving the light horse industry are rendering yeoman service ; but their uncoordinated efforts are like so many pop guns in an arsenal .
Conditions were ripe for " fast operators ” to make a " quick buck .” Many folks with more money than animal knowledge owned horses , and the breeding and using of horses shifted from farms and ranches to suburban areas . As a result , " horse practitioners ,” whose products and sales pitch were reminiscent of the " medicine man ” of old , developed a flourishing business ; pawning off on unsuspecting horsemen a myriad of potions , cure-alls , tonics , reconditioners , worm expellers , mineral mixes , vitamin mixes , and feeds of a kind . And they ’ re still at it ! Generally speaking , claims are made for increased growth , improved breeding , better development , more speed and increased stamina : and the feeding directions call for a cup or 3 or 4 tablespoonfuls per horse daily .
But such " horse practitioners ” are not entirely to blame . Many owners insist on some kind of treatment . Like the ulcer patient who had to go to six different doctors before he could find one who would tell him that he could have a drink , they ’ ll keep going until they get it . Especially when ahorse '' startsdown ,” they ’ ll grasp at straws . In such frantic moments , they ’ ll buy and try almost any formula for which claims are made ; completely oblivious to the facts that ( 1 ) sterile water might do just as much good , and far less harm , and ( 2 ) they are buying losing tickets with their eyes wide open .
Horsemen are also great imitators . They ’ ll single out some great horse and , in one way or another , find out what he ’ s getting . Then , they ’ ll get some of the " same stuff ’ and use it from then ' til doomsday . The writer has even seen them pay S50 for a gallon of a mysterious concoction , in a green jug , made in some little hamlet in Kentucky . Of course , the fallacy of such imitation — of feeding what the " great horse ” got — is that the " name ” horse might have been even greater had he been fed properly , and that there must be a reason why there are so few truly great horses . Also , the following searching question might well be asked : Why do many horses start trainingingreatphysical shape only to slow down , lose appetite , and be taken out of training for some rest ? It ’ s time for a change . Indeed , it ’ s time for a change ! There is no panacea in the horse business . Success cannot be achieved through witchcraft or old wives ’ tales ; some merely achieve it despite such handicaps . Instead , it calls for the combined best wit , wisdom and judgment of science , technology and practical experience .
We cannot feed the horse of today as we did yesterday and expect him to perform as the horse of tomorrow !
An Opportunity for Boys and Girls
Because boys and girls are our best products , I ’ m always interested in new and ingenious opportunities for them . Here ’ s one : during the month of July , each year , they can live and work on a small Montana horse-cattle ranch with a wonderful family . The owner is one of my former students , a top instructor in the Horse Science School , and on the staff of Montana State College . His wife is a graduate of Swathmore and Stanford . I refer to Mr . and Mrs . R . W . MILLER , Rocking M Ranch , Route 2 , Bozeman , Montana . The Millers devote five weeks to this summer project , and acceptonly 5 boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 15 ; which is the age bracket of the Millers ’ two boys and two girls . The guests live with the Miller family , and get an opportunity to help with cattle and horse work , haying , irrigating and fencing . Each one is assigned a horse , and given expert riding instruction . They even go on a five-day pack trip .
Mrs . Ensminger and I regret that this sort of thing wasn ’ t available when our John was of this age . It ’ s a real opportunity , and with a wonderful family . Because only 5 guests are accepted , you should book now for the summer of 1966 , and in the years ahead . For rates and more information , write to the Millers at the address given above .
Western Boots
Western boots are more than a handsome trademark of the range . They ’ re practical , too . The high heel is designed to give the wearer protection against losing his stirrups at critical moments ; it prevents the foot from slipping through whenpressure is applied for quick stops and turns . The top protects the ankles and calves of the legs against inclement weather , brush , insects , and snakes . Modern western boots possess two added features , namely : ( 1 ) comfort , and ( 2 ) adaptation for walking , so that the wearer can walk without its being a painful experience .
28 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse