200 BAULKING OR JIBBING. 



than are colder blooded, more indolent ones. A high-mettled 

 horse, when carelessly driven, will start suddenly against his 

 collar, fail to start his load, draw back from the pain which the 

 concussion causes, rush at it again, and again draw back, until 

 it becomes impossible for his driver to steady him in his collar 

 for a dead pull. If to all this be added a smart cut with the 

 whip, and a fiercely spoken word, — with perhaps a blow over 

 the nose, or a stone in the ear, — every fear or vicious feeling of 

 the horse will be summoned into action, and the animal will 

 become entirely unmanageable, requiring to be left for an hour 

 or two in his position before he gets sufficiently calm to be in- 

 duced to move. There may, occasionally, be a horse which 

 cannot be made to draw steadily by the most careful treatment; 

 but the cases are exceedingly rare in which gentle treatment 

 and firmness — a patient persistence in mild, authoritative com- 

 mand, and judicious coaxing — would not either prevent the 

 formation of the habit, or cure it when formed. 



The prevention of baulky habits lies with the driver. If 

 he jump upon his load, gather up his reins carelessly, flourish 

 his whip, or call out wildly to his horse, he will be quite likely 

 to start him forward with a jerk which will be of no avail to 

 move a heavily laden wagon. The horse thus commences to 

 baulk at a heavy load, and after a certain amount of such treat- 

 ment, will refuse to draw anything except under the most favor- 

 able circumstances. Let any person driving a strange horse, 

 •ifith a load that he is not perfectly sure he can start easily, 

 proceed according to the following directions, and he may be 

 certain that, if the animal be not already a "jibber," he will not 

 make him so, and that if he is one he will have the best chance 

 for getting him along without trouble : He should slowly ex- 



