BALKING SINGLE. 87 



reversing once or twice. Make this point thoroughly. 

 Now put on the double hitch, and make the next point 

 thoroughly, of making the horse lead without an impulse of 

 resistance. Then turn the cord into the simple form of war- 

 bridle, and pull ahead as for double balking, or to lead until 

 that point is well made : be very careful that the cord is 

 under the bridle. Now tie the cord into the turret, and drive 

 around by the reins, making the horse start and stop as de- 

 sired, and for which reward liberally. You are simply, all the 

 time, only preparing for the real tug of battle, by weakening 

 the horse's confidence sufficiently to be able to force him 

 over the point of resistance when hitched, and thoroughly 

 overcome all inclination of repeating the habit. It is easy 

 enough to make the horse go and work quite well for the 

 present ; but the real point to be made is to get up so thor- 

 ough a re-action in the mind, that there will be no inclination 

 to balk afterwards. So when you hitch to the wagon, work 

 as gently as you can, at first feel your way, stopping and 

 starting with all the .delicacy and encouragement you would 

 do without the resource of power. 



If you have made previous work thorough, the horse will be 

 likely to work in nicely. If so, work slowly and gently, with the 

 utmost kindness, until he is cool and entirely over the excite- 

 ment. It is, however, often the case the horse will resist with 

 great stubborness when you hitch him to shafts. Try the simple 

 form of war-bridle first : it will usually make the horse yield 

 the point ; but if he fights it hard, increase your power by 

 using the double hitch, which will rarely fail. If, however, the 

 horse is a stubborn, plucky brute, unhitch, and go back at 

 once to the second course of subjection, now occasionally 

 giving a keen cut of the whip across the tip of the nose, 

 which will hurt intensely. Follow up again as before, hitch- 

 ing up and driving : when there is prompt obedience, reward 

 with the kindest treatment. You should always carefully 

 test the horse once or twice the next day, and see there is no 

 intention left to repeat the resistance. If all horses were alike 

 I could give a definite rule ; but, as they are not, we must 

 simply harmonize the efforts to the case. Ordinary cases 

 yield readily to one sharp lesson. The second method of 

 subjection is by all odds the most reliable and valuable means 

 of breaking single balkers. This treatment, properly ap- 



