Horse Taming.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2083, 22 June 1887, Page 3

Horse Taming.

Last Saturday evening we were present at a horse taming exhibition at Greytowu, by Professor Hicktou, and having beard of this gentleman’s success at Masterton some weeks ago we felt a little interested. The audience was not large, but Mr John Wintriugham, who knows what a horse is, brought a colt and a filly for the Professor to operate upon, and it is perhaps unnecessary to say that he did not bring very gentle creatures. But however wild and vicious a horse may be, once in the presence of Professor Hicktou it appears to be under a spell. On Saturday evening he walked up to the first animal brought in and got on confidential terms with it. Having slipped a cord over the hack and tied up the right forefoot, he fastened a strap round the other fetlock, and passing the cord through it brought the horse dowu. Lying in this helpless condition the Professor goes to the head and by a scries of soothing passes and a few kind words makes the horse as quiet as a lamb. Indeed it would appear that the process is that known as hypnotism, for within a few minutes of bringing the horse down the Professor is able to lie between its legs, put his head between the two hind feet, and lie in all sorts of positions upon its back. The horse rises from the ground evidently with the impression that he is not to play “ high jinks” any more, and first one, then two and even three boys get on its back and walk round before the spectators. Both horses treated on Saturday night were operated n|»u to the surprise and admiration of every one present. Without an unkind word, without whip or roughness of any sort, Professor Hicktou did his work, and Mr Wiutringham expressed his satifaetion after the taming process was over. At Featherstou, the Professor tamed a horse of MrCundy's, and the next day a lad of fourteen years of ago was able to ride it. There is no doubt that Professor Hicktou [tossesses strong magnetic power, and it is the use of this that gives him such a mastery over the animal. What a blessing it would be if illlempered husbands and wives could be brought into a state of docility' with as much ease as Professor Hicktou deals with his horses.