84 The Diseases of Animals 



wanted. It is an extremely aggravating vice, and one 

 that is likely to render a horse practically worthless. 



Balking may be due to a naturally vicious dispo- 

 sition, or to improper handling; it is often a combi- 

 nation of both. The more experience one has in dealing 

 with this trouble, the less he feels like giving advice. 

 The first thing to be done is to get acquainted with the 

 horse and all his peculiarities; then the trainer must 

 exercise his ingenuity and knowledge to overcome or 

 circumvent the animal. 



Balking varies from a disinclination to do some 

 slight act in some particular place or at some particular 

 time, to a disinclination to do anything that may be 

 required at any time. Associated with the disincli- 

 nation to work, there is often a tendency to do 

 some annoying act that he ought not to do. Balking 

 is often associated with a nervous temperament, and all 

 influences that tend to irritate the horse should be 

 removed if possible. In dealing with balky or vicious 

 horses, it is important that the trainer be quiet, per- 

 sistent, and, above all, that he does not lose his tem- 

 per. Shouting, jerking and whipping a balky horse 

 is likely to make a bad matter worse. If punishment 

 in the form of whipping is to be given, it must be 

 given judiciously and thoroughly. In many cases of 

 balking, if he is allowed to stand quietly until the 

 nervousness has passed away, the horse will start 

 of his own accord. Attracting his attention by adjust- 

 ing the harness, or by giving him an apple or a bit of 

 sugar, will often overcome a difficulty that cannot be 

 whipped out of him. A horse that balks, and throws 



