198 BALKING. 



her to work. She worked all right for a few days, and then balked 

 again. This time he let her stand forty-eight hours, then fed her, 

 when upon trial she went all right, and he ke,pt her at work. ' She 

 never balked afterward. 



t 



Anothe^man of much tact with horses informed me that he al- 

 ways succeeded with balkers by the following treatment : When a 

 horse balked, he unhitched and put him in the stall, and stationed a 

 man behind him with a whip. Every minute or two the man tapped 

 the horse on the quarters with a^whip, just enough to annoy him. 

 This was kept up for twenty-four hours, the regular feed and water 

 being given. If he refused to go upon being tried, he was put back, 

 and the same treatment kept up to prevent his going to sleep, until 

 he would go as desired. It was rarely, after one or two lessons of 

 this treatment, that a horse would not work in all right. Innumer- 

 able instances of breaking very bad horses in this way have been 

 brought to my notice by horsemen who have been members of my 

 classes. 



It does no good, practically, to subject a horse to treatment in a 

 barn, or where not accustomed to balk. It should be carried out as 

 nearly as possible where in the habit of resisting. Any means that 

 will disconcert a horse when he balks is a step in the right direction. 

 But if we have in addition power to move him as we wish, we have 

 the key of compelling the entire submission of balkers that have de- 

 fied the greatest efforts to break or drive them. This we can obtain 

 by the Second Method, and other treatment here given. 



Regular Treatment. 



The course I usually' pursue, and which I would advise in the 

 management of bad cases, is about 'as follows : Put into the wagon, 

 ready for use, a good strap halter, a War Bridle, a light bow' whip 

 that will not break, and some good apples. Hitch up the horse as if 

 to make a journey, and let him go as he pleases until a level, isolated 

 piece of road is reached. Now if he does not balk, provoke him 

 to do so. Get out quietly, unhitch him, tie up the reins and tugs, 

 put on the halter over the bridle, and subject him to Second Method 

 both ways until well off his balance. If hitched up now he will be 

 likely to go off all right, but will be apt to balk at some future time. 

 As the object should be to effectually break up the habit, it is neces- 

 sary to make the lesson very thorough. 



This treatment makes a powerful impression upon him in two 

 ways: First, to convince him that there is power to make him move 

 any way desired, which is the point to be established, as he does not 



