TEACHING TRICKS. 157 



balky horse" is the most amusiDg trick that can be 

 taught him. Yet the process of teaching it is exceed- 

 ingly simple; probably this accounts for so many people 

 having their horses trained in this way (unintention- 

 ally, however.) Have the horse hitched to a buggy with 

 his head towards a building, or high fence, so that he 

 will not be so eager to go ahead; now you may ask him 

 to go, and when he attempts to start, set him back 

 gently with the lines; keep it up until he shows some 

 hesitancy about starting. After shaking the lines and 

 slapping hun on the hips, then immediately caress 

 him. Allow your strokes of persuasion to be but little 

 harder than caresses at first. If he is thoroughly ac- 

 quainted with the right meaning of the command ^^Get 

 up !'^ you had better use some other words at first, that 

 will not be so likely to encourage him to start. Say, 

 "Go on! Now! What's the matter with you?'*^ etc., 

 until he associates the balking with some of your balky 

 actions; then you may use commands and slaps that 

 under any other circumstances he would fully under- 

 stand to mean something directly opposite. Do not try 

 to teach this trick thoroughl}', in one lesson, or you 

 might have trouble jn having him start off pleasant- 

 ly when you are ready for him to go. This is one of 

 the most interesting tricks my regular exhibition horse 

 performs. He imitates the balker to perfection, with- 

 out bridle or lines; ^\dll turn his head around to his 

 side and utterly refuse to move although enough men 

 are pushing on the buggy to almost slide him, and hol- 

 loing "Get Up'M whipping liim with stuffed clubs, 

 et<3., will not start him until the proper signal is given 

 him to go. 



