53(j CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AJSTD COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



fecommend a small rope, passed under the tail and tied to the manger, 

 which may act well in some cases. But tlie main point lies in so fasten- 

 ing him that he cannot get away, when, after a few inettectual attempts, 

 he w ill give it up. 



In halter breaking a colt, pass a rope behind him, so that he cannot 

 pull full strength on the halter, and be very sure nothing is used with 

 him that will break ; one accident of that kind may be enough to start a 

 persistent bad habit. 



VII. Balking. 



This, though not strictly a stable vice, is so nearly allied thereto that it 

 seems quite proper to treat of it in this connection. The best way to 

 break a horse of balking is not to be in a hurry, but, rather, to let him 

 stand to his heart's content; avoid hitching him to any load he cannot 

 pull easil}^ ; coax him and pat him; feed him apples, salt, sugar, etc., 

 out of your hand. Let the same man always handle him, if possible; 

 a change of drivers might spoil all that has been accomplished. If there 

 is no time to wait for him, hitch another team ahead of him and 

 snake him along. The chain, or even rope, passed around his neck for 

 the other team to pull by, is very effectual. Try and divert his attention 

 by offering a handful of salt or oats ; or, even a handful of earth may 

 serve every purpose. 



The maxim always to be observed in all of these cases is : Treat the 

 horse with kindness. A balky horse cured by kindness, an achievement not 

 only possible but absolutely feasible, is the best, toughest, most perse- 

 vering creature in existence, from the fact that only horses possessed of 

 a great amount of spirit and determination ever get balky, those that resent 

 and resist abuse. It is abuse, generally speaking, that makes a horse 

 learn to balk, — such foolish and barbarous work as gettmg into a hole 

 with a heavy load, and then whipping unmercifull}^ to try and make the 

 poor dumb victims perform impossibilities. Let the reader set it dowp 

 as an axiom, that kindness is always repaid by faithful service. 



