230 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



jibbing, or refusing to proceed either with or without reason. 

 This is one of the most vexatious vices to whicli horses are 

 liable, and should be prevented if possible by proper treatment 

 in the beginning of the harness-education. If, however, a 

 horse become addicted to the habit it is very diflicult to make 

 him forget it and go always when told to do so, and it is not 

 possible to force or persuade a high-bred horse to pull upon a 

 heavy load more than once or twice unless it starts. A draught 

 horse, however, from his more patient disposition, and from his 

 inherited fitness for the work, will frequently exert all his 

 strength at a dead pull as often as he is commanded to do so. 



The best method of treatment for a balky horse is to caress 

 him, and after removing all other persons to a distance attempt 

 to move him to the right and left, and then forwards. If he 

 will not proceed hold up the nigh fore-leg, and then bidding 

 him go, suddenly drop the foot, and he will usually move along. 

 Mr. Rarey says he has never failed by such means in making a 

 balky horse go within fifteen and often in three minutes. 



If there are two horses in a team, only one is generally balky, 

 and after they have become quiet from kind words and caress- 

 ing, take the balky horse by the head, standing before him to 

 prevent him from starting too suddenly, and turn the team first 

 one way and then the other, and when they move willingly and 

 are fairly in their collars, let them go forward. Whipping very 

 rarely does any good with balky horses, serving only to enrage 

 and confuse them. Nothing is more trying to one's patience 

 than a balky horse, and very cruel means are often resorted to 

 for the purpose of compelling a start. Thus one recommends 

 sticking a pin through the knob of the cartilage in the bottom 

 of the ear. Another says put a bundle of straw under him and 

 set fire to it, or hitch a chain about his neck and drag him by 

 means of an ox team. 



Probably, however, every horse may be most thoroughly 

 cured of the vice by means of a patent machine, invented by 

 Dr. Bunting of England, and which is also adapted for subduing 

 horses that attempt to throw their riders by rearing, kicking, 

 back-jumping, or lying down, or that kick, or run away or bolt, 

 or are otherwise unmanageable or dangerous in harness. 



This break consists of a common capstan head, into which 

 are inserted two poles, twenty feet in length, in such a manner 



