44 THE HORSE OWNER'S 



he springs off ; but not being able to start the wagon, he 

 is thrown back on his haunches, stopping the other as well 

 as himself. The driver whoops and snaps his whip, and by 

 the time the slower horse has started, the free horse has 

 made another effort, failed, and now both are balked. Both 

 horses recoa^nize that something? is wronof, and neither 

 knows what. They are alike afraid to move. Then the 

 driver plies the whip, whoops and slaps the lines, all of 

 which only tends to make the matter worse. This has been 

 seen by almost every person. The horse was willing to go, 

 but did not know how to move the load; and we ask any 

 sensible man to tell us if the horse should be beaten for 

 not doing that which he did not know how to do ? You 

 can make a horse do almost anything which he can fully 

 understand ; and we do contend that, by proper education 

 any balking horse can be started in a few minutes. Some 

 have adopted the plan of buckling a strap to the ankle of 

 one forward foot, standing in front, and pulling the foot for- 

 ward, so that the collar presses against his shoulder, and 

 thus causing him to move. Others have adopted the plan 

 of throwing a handful of sand in his eyes, but to this plan, 

 though it succeeds, we are bitterly opposed. We would 

 sooner own a balky than a blind horse. 



If you get hold of a horse that has been long in the 

 habit of balking, just set apart a day for his education. 

 Go into some pasture or field, hitch your horse to a light 

 load, which he can move easily. If he refuses to pu44, 

 get a half inch cord ten feet in length, tie it around his 

 neck and loop it forward into his mouth. Step to one side> 

 give him a sudden pull and he will move a step towards 

 you. Step to the opposite side and give him another sudden 

 pull ; by repeating this ten or twelve times he will start wil- 



