84 The Horse Farrier. 



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, with- 

 out letting them pull on the traces, 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 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 fore feet 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 balking, that has long been in that habit, 

 you ought to set apart a half a day for that purpose. — 

 Put him by the side of some steady horse ; have check- 

 lines on them ; tie up ail the traces and straps, so that 

 there will be nothing to excite them ; do not rein them 

 up, but let them have their heads loose. Walk them 

 about together for some time as slowly and lazily as 

 possible ; stop often and go to your balky horse and 

 gentle him. Do not take any whip about him, but 

 keep him just as quiet as you can. He will soon learn 

 to start off at the word, and stop whenever you tell 

 him. 



As soon as he performs right, hitch him in an empty 

 wagon ; have it stand in a favorable position for start- 

 ing. It would be well to shorten the stay-chain be- 



