106 THE ART OF TAMING HORSES. 



matter, or how to start the load. Next will come the 

 slashing and cracking of the whip, and hallooing of the 

 driver, till something is broken, or he is through with 

 his course of treatment. But what a mistake the driver 

 commits by whipping his horse for this act! Reason 

 and common sense should teach him that the horse was 

 willing and anxious to go, but did not know how to 

 start the load. And should he whip him for that ? If 

 so, he should whip him again for not knowing how to 

 talk. A man that wants to act with reason should 

 not fly into a passion, but should always think before 

 he strikes. It takes a steady pressure against the 

 collar to move a load, and you cannot expect him to 

 act with a steady, determined purpose while you are 

 whipping him. There is hardly one baulking horse in 

 five hundred that will pull truly from whipping : it is 

 only adding fuel to fire, and will make him more liable 

 to baulk another time. You always see horses that have 

 been baulked a few times turn their heads and look 

 back as soon as they are a little frustrated. This is 

 because they have been whipped, and are afraid of what 

 is behind them. This is an invariable rule with baulked 

 horses, just as much as it is for them to look around at 

 their sides when they have the bots.* In either case 

 they are deserving of the same sympathy and the same 

 kind, rational treatment. 



When your horse baulks, or is a little excited, if he 

 wants to start quickly, or looks around and doesn't want 

 to go, there is something wrong, and he needs kind 

 treatment immediately. Caress him kindly, and if he 

 doesn't understand at once what you want him to do, he 

 will not be so much excited as to jump and break 



* A much more severe disease in America than in England. EDIT. 



