TICES AND BAD HABITS. 33\ 



of uo avail to move a heavily laden wagon. The horse 

 thiis commences to baulk at a heavy load, and, after a cer- 

 tain amount of such treatment, he will refuse to draw any 

 thing except under the most favorable circumstances. Le\ 

 any man driving a strange horse, with a load which he is 

 not perfectly sure that he can start easily, proceed according 

 to the following directions, and he may be certain that if 

 the animal be not already a "jibber" he will not make 

 bim so, and that if he is one he will have the best chance 

 for getting him along without trouble : He should slowly 

 examine the harness and wagon (partly to accustom the 

 horse to his presence), gather up the reins gently, speaking 

 to the horse to prevent his starting, get quietly into his 

 seat, and then, if possible, get control of the horse's mouth 

 before allowing him to move, so tha,t when he does step off 

 it may be only at a slow walk. If by a forward movement 

 of the hands he can be made very gradually to press 

 against the collar, and if the whole operation is performed 

 in a cool and unexcited manner, there will be little diffi- 

 culty in bringing him to a dead pull, from which he will 

 recoil only if the load is a serious tax on his strength. 



If you fail in the first attempt, wait until your horse has 

 become quiet, and until you have recovered from your own 

 vexation, and then try again. It may be necessary to have 

 the assistance of one or two persons, to start the wagon from 

 behind, but they should not push it until the horse is fairly 

 against the collar. 



To cure the habit of baulking is not an easy matter, and 

 it is possible only by the kindest treatment. If the horse 

 show fear by his excited manner, or by looking about him 

 wildly, that he is expecting a blow, you may be sure that 

 he has received hard usage under similar ciroumstances, 

 and that he must be ['.onvinced by caresses and kind words 



