248 BALKING. 



that he always succeeded with balkers by the following 

 treatment : When n horse balked, he unhitched and put 

 liim in the stall, and stationed a man behind him with a 

 whip. Every minute or two the man tapped the horse 

 on the quarters with the whip, just enough to annoy him. 

 This was kept up for twenty-four hours, the regular feed 

 and water being given. If he refused to go upon being 

 tried, he was put back, and the same treatment kept up to 

 prevent his going to sleep, until he would go as desired. 

 It was rarely, after one or two lessons of this treatment, 

 that a horse would not work in all right. Innumerable in- 

 stances of breaking very bad horses in this way have been 

 brought to my notice by horsemen who have been members 

 of my classes. 



It does no good, practically, to subject a horse to treat- 

 ment in a barn, or where not accustomed to balk. It should 

 be carried out as nearly as possible where in the habit of 

 resisting. Any means that will disconcert a horse when 

 he balks is a step in the right direction. But if we have 

 in addition power to move him as we wish, we have the 

 key of compelling the entire submission of balkers that have 

 defied the greatest efforts to break or drive them. This 

 we can obtain by the Second Method, and other treatment 

 here given. 



Regular Treatment. 



The course I usually pursue, and which I advise, is 

 about as follows : Put into the wagon, ready for use, a 

 good strap halter, a War Bridle, a light bow whip that will 

 not break, and some good apples. Hitch up the horse as 

 if to make a journey, and let him go as he pleases until a 

 level, isolated piece of road is reached. Now if he does 

 not balk, provoke him to do so. Get out quietly, unhitch 

 him, tie up the reins and tugs, put on the halter, over the 



