BALKING. 85 



The principal cause of this habit is harnessing horses and 

 attempting to drive them, and make them draw heavy loads, 

 before they can know what is required of them, or learn to 

 use their strength in pulling. 



The whip is too irritating, without giving sufficient power 

 to force obedience, and as the will is stimulated to increased 

 positiveness and sensibility is blunted in proportion to the 

 degree the blood is warmed, this advantage of force by the 

 whip decreases, while the resistance is increased, and hence 

 is often a direct cause of failure. 



If the whip is to be depended upon, the horse should be 

 driven around in harness only, when it should be made to 

 crack keenly around the hind legs the instant after "get 

 up " is spoken, until the horse learns to spring ahead when 

 commanded. When there is perfect obedience, attach to 

 the wagon and move gently, stopping and starting often, 

 until obedience becomes habitual. To prevent this habit 

 the colt should be driven around in harness, touching up 

 with the whip, until the idea of starting at the touch of the 

 whip, and guiding and submitting to the bit, becomes 

 prompt and habitual. Then drive slowly and gently for 

 some time after being attached to the wagon. 



If the habit is formed, and especially in single harness, it 

 is usually more from resistance to the bit than collar, and if 

 the horse is young he will yield readily to simple treatment. 

 Put through the second course of subjection. Then put on 

 harness. Drive around, whipping sharply the instant the 

 horse does not start when commanded, guiding right and 

 left, and stopping at the control of the bit. If there is a 

 habit of LUNGING ahead, regardless of the bit, or of not 

 standing as desired when hitched, be positive and thorough 

 in requiring instant obedience to the command whoa, which 

 can be easily done with breaking bit. Drive around until 

 there is perfect obedience. Then hitch to wagon, gently 

 start and stop the horse repeatedly, until the obedience is 

 made certain. The lesson of driving to harness should be 

 repeated, if there is any disposition to resist. The war 

 bridle will enable working an ordinary balker very easily 

 First, make follow promptly with harness on, when the 

 horse will soon yield to it in harness. There must be 

 kindness and flattery for every act of obedience. Talk 

 kindly, give apples, oats, or anything the horse likes. 



