154 TAMING HORSES. 



gentling them; it will make them a little more 

 kind, and the spectators will think that you are 

 doing something that they do not understand, and 

 will not learn the secret. When you have them 

 ready to start, stand before them, and as you sel- 

 dom have but one balky horse in a team, get as 

 near in front of him as you can, and if he is too 

 fast for the other horse, let his nose come against 

 your breast; this will keep him steady, for he will 

 go slow rather than run on you ; turn them gently 

 to the right, without letting them pull on the tra- 

 ces as far as the tongue will let them go ; stop them 

 with a kind word, gentle them a little, and then 

 turn them back to the left, by the same process. 

 You will have them under your control by this 

 time, and as you turn them again to the right, 

 steady them in the collar, and you can take them 

 where you please. 



There is a quicker process that will generally start 

 a balky horse, but not so sure. Stand him a little 

 ahead, so that his shoulders will be against the 

 collar, and then take up one of his forefeet in your 

 hand, and let the driver start them, and when the 

 weight comes against his shoulders, he will try to 

 step ; then let him have his foot, and he will go 

 right along. If you want to break a horse from 

 ])alking that has long been in that habit, you ought 

 to set apart a half-day for that purpose. Put him 



