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BALKING SINGLE. 



195 



the critical point of the experiment,, and I did not propose to take 

 any chances of failure. I commenced again at her head, rewarding 

 as before, until I was able to get on the step, and finally into the 

 wagon, at each repetition being careful .'to reward her, even getting 

 out of the wagon to do so. It was soon quite amusing to see bow 

 eagerly she would reach round her head in anticipation of her re- 

 ward. Now I required her to go a little farther at each time of start- 

 ing, until able to drive fifteen or twenty rods ; then I took her out 

 of harness, and put her in the. stable. The next day I hitched her 

 up again, and commenced cautiously as before, spending only a few 

 minutes, but requiring her to go farther and faster until on a sharp 

 trot or run. I repeated this lesson again next day until she could 



be driven as desired. The point of 

 success was that I made the lessons 

 short, and was careful not to do 

 more at a time than she would bear. 

 I could even make her stop in a 

 mud-hole and stand as long as I 

 wished her to, and them at com- 

 mand she would pull out willingly. 

 Those who knew the mare were 

 quite surprised to see me drive her, 

 and regarded it as a great feat. In 

 reality it was no feat at all, but 

 merely the result of a little patient 

 management, which it is not diffi- 

 cult for anyone to practice. This 

 mode of treatment is especially 

 adapted to nervous horses that will not bear pushing. 



There is nothing that so tries a man's temper and patience as a 

 sullen balker. One may resolve to be patient, but after reasonable 

 efforts with kind treatment, and failing, he determines to see what a 

 whip will do. Some men in anger will strike a horse over the ears, 

 twist and pull his tongue severely, and yet not be able to make the 

 animal flinch. A balking horse of spirit, thoroughly maddened by 

 such treatment^ may resist the most severe punishment. Horses 

 have been known, when excited in this way, to sullenly stand even 

 the burning of straw under them. The skin on the legs and body is 

 so thick, and has so little sensibility, that when the blood is. thor- 

 oughly warmed up,, the severest whipping or pounding can be 

 scarcely felt, and it becomes only a means of intensifying the habit. 

 The usual method of whipping, kicking the belly, hitting back of the 



Fig. 252.— Slow, Patient Nature, — not 

 Disposed to Balk. 



