40 MANAGEMENT OP THE HOESE. 



BALKY HOESES. 



The balky horse is one that will try the horseman's skill, power, 

 ability and temper, more than all the kicking, runaway, bucking, 

 striking, biting, and shying horses, or any other kind of horse that we 

 can think of. 



There are several kinds of balky horses. 



There are those that will not go in any harness, light or heavy. 



Then, again, there are horses willing to go in a light vehicle, but 

 will refuse to pull an ordinary load. There are some that are hard to 

 start from the stable or lot, but will go along all day after they are 

 started ; there are horses willing to go straight ahead on a road, but 

 if you wish to turn them to the right or left, they will stop — these 

 we call " bridle balkers." 



In fact, any horse is a balky horse when he refuses to go when and 

 where we direct him to go. To break him and make him a true and 

 valuable horse, we will begin with him the same as though he was a 

 green colt, and put him through the same training and lessons as are 

 directed in breaking the colt, always being careful to keep the point 

 we gain in working with him, until we have the complete mastery 

 over him on that point, never expecting him to pull all he is able to 

 at the first lesson, but beginning with a light load, and gradually 

 increasing it until he gains confidence in himself. Then he will pull 

 all that any ordinary horse ought to pull. 



The first point to be gained with a balky horse in giving him his 

 lesson, is to teach him to start and stop, turn to the right or left, go 

 forward or backward at the command of the trainer. This you want 

 him to do before you hitch him to the cart. And when you do hitch 

 him in, be careful not to have the cart too heavy. A two-wheel cart 

 is the best. 



The kind of cart I use in hitching the colt or horse to the first time 



