CHAPTER XVI 



BALKIN'G OR JIBBING 



There must be some good reason, Count, why many 

 horses, excellent in every other respect, are so given to 

 balking or jibbing. 



' Ah, madam, a balking horse is a difficult subject to deal 

 with, for he represents the obstinacy of ignorance.' 



In what way ? 



* I have found that in almost all cases the habit comes 

 from not seeing an object perfectly — as in man, the horse 

 often inherits or is born with imperfect sight. Very many 

 are near-sighted, others are far-sighted, and those with normal 

 sight are really the exception.' 



Is this simple fact usually known by horse-owners ? 



' If known, much less attention is paid to it than should 

 be. The sight of each horse should be tested, especially 

 when they shy, swerve, scare easily, balk, or appear in 

 any way, from no definable cause, unruly. A horse which 

 shies at everything along the road will almost invariably 

 be found to have short sight.' 



But what will help this defect ? 



' It would seem a very odd proceeding, I suppose, to 

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