82 BALKING. 



up my mind that she was a bad one ; still, I did not have 

 the most remote idea that I could not make her work, yet 

 I did not know just how I could do it. I have one quality 

 of nature, and it is about all that I could ever feel nature did 

 for me it is that of great perseverance. Indeed, whatever 

 my success, it is all the simple growth of great perseverance. 

 First, I improvised a cart and harness. I next went into an 

 orchard, and rilled my pockets with the best apples I could 

 find. I now pulled the cart, leading the mare into a by- 

 road, took part of the apples and cut them into small pieces ; 

 next I provided myself with a switch, and, with harness on, 

 led the mare to the top of the hill ; standing at her shoulder, 

 I tapped her on the hip with the switch until she started, at 

 the same time saying, " get up ! " After going a few feet, I 

 called out, " whoa ! " holding by the rein to do so. Imme- 

 diately I gave a little apple, then I repeated this operation, 

 but gradually going a little farther back each time, but care- 

 fully rewarding, for each movement of going ahead, with 

 some apple. This I repeated until I could stand behind and 

 she would do the same, but carefully rewarding her obedi- 

 ence. This little point established, I now led her back to 

 the hill-top, and attached her to the cart. Again, I com- 

 menced as before, first standing at the shoulder, and going 

 a little farther back and carefully rewarding at each succes- 

 sive step of obedience, until I could, as before, stand behind 

 and make the start and stop at command, but always care- 

 fully rewarding, but not giving but little of the apple at a 

 time. I soon got on the axletree, and repeated as before ; 

 then with the seat, letting her go each time a little farther, 

 until I could go for some distance. Gradually I repeated 

 this up the hill. Next day, at first, I worked cautiously, 

 until I got her attention, and from the start she responded 

 to every command. In a few hours I could stop and start 

 her at will in a buggy, and she would work gently and 

 promptly as required anywhere. Now this was but a little 

 common-sense in the way of management. This sort ot 

 tact is always to mingle with your treatment of the balker. 

 An ordinary young horse, of good disposition, can usually be 

 made to go on by a little patience and tact in winning and 

 humoring him to go, if possible not to let the horse feel or 

 know that he has balked. You should be careful about 



