Balking. 81 



them to look around at their sides when they have the 

 bots. In either case, they are deserving of the same 

 sympathy, and the same kind, rational treatment. 



When your horse balks, or is a little excited, if he 

 wants to start quickly, or looks around, and don't want 

 to go, there is something wrong, and he needs kind 

 treatment immediately. Caress him kindly, and if he 

 don't understand at once what you want him to do, 

 he will not be so much excited as to jump and break 

 things, and do every thing wrong through fear. — 

 As long as you are calm, and can keep down the ex- 

 citement of the horse, there are ten chances to have 

 him understand you, where there would not be one un- 

 der hai"sh treatment, and then the little flare-up would 

 not carry with it any unfavorable recollections, and he 

 would soon forget all about it, and learn to pull true. 

 Almost every wrong act the horse commits, is from 

 mismanagement, fear or excitment : one harsh word 

 will so excite a nervous horse as to increase -his pulse 

 ten beats in a minute.* 



♦Remarks. — In the first place, never teach your horse to balk, by giving him a 

 greater load than he can carry, or requiring him to go up too steep a hill without 

 permitting him to stop. If you tell him to stop, iu going up a steep hill, it ia 

 better than to allow him to do it of his own accord. If he finds he can stop of 

 his own will, and start when he pleases, he will soon learn to do it when he 

 ought not to. If at any time he stops without your stopping him, give him a 

 sharp cut, and make him go on, even if you think he ought to stop at that very 

 place ; but soon yourself give him an opportunity to stop. This will teach him 

 that he is to stop only at your will, and that you are not unreasonable in your 

 demands. I believe that all balky horses are in the first instance taught to 

 balk by their careless and inconsiderate owners, who overload them, and allow 

 them to stop or go according to their own will. Once a horse finds he can stop 

 at will without reproof, he will stop, perhaps, on a smooth road, or in the mid- 

 dle of a village, or on the street of a city, whore you will be mortified as well aa 

 discommoded. 



