BALKING. 



to connect this ring with the hame rings on each side. This holds the 

 pole in position over the wagon-tongue, and is a better way than 

 the first, but more troublesome to make. 



If there are stay chains on the doubletree, they should be re- 

 moved, so as to give it free play; Get into the wagon (there should 

 be no load) and start the gentle horse quickly. The balker of 

 course refuses to go. The instant the gentle horse starts ahead, it" 

 the adjustment is properly arranged, his whole pbwer is brought di- 

 rectly upon the balky horse's head, compelling him to start. Find- 

 ing he must go, it will usually be but a very few minutes' work to 

 make him so afraid of being pulled upon and hurt, that he will be 

 the first to start at the command. This accomplished, put on a lit- 

 tle loading, gradually increasing it until he learns to use his 

 strength reliably. To fix the impression thoroughly, it may be nec- 

 essary ( to keep the pole on a few days. 



The Patent Bridle will be found to work very nicely in the 

 management of these cases. The reins are simply reversed, so as to 

 pull ahead instead of back, and tied to the end of the pole. 



This method of treatment makes the breaking of double balkers 

 a very simple and easy thing to do. It gives power to force the 

 horse into obedience without danger or cruelty. I will refer to a 

 few cases, showing the ease with which horses of this character can 

 be broken by the treatment given. ' 



Case No. 1. — At Great Barrington, Mass*, an Irishman pro-: 

 posed to join my class and pay a double tuition fee, if I would prom- 

 ise \o break his horse of balking, I told him if he would join the 

 class I would teach him the principle, and if he could not make his 

 horse work perfectly gentle when he went home that evening, he could 

 so report next day at West Stockbridge, where I was engaged to lec- 

 ture, and I would return his money. He was extremely suspicious 

 and incredulous as to my terms, but finally joined the class. The 

 following day he was at the next town, so well pleased that he 

 stated publicly to his friends that in ten minutes he was able to 

 make the "balky horse work as well as the gentle one, and that he 

 could fully indorse all my statements, 



Case No. 2. — At Brunswick, Maine, a man introduced himself 

 to me, and stated that he teamed for a living ; that his whole prop- 

 erty was his horses ; that one of his horses balked, making his team 

 worthless ; that his only object in going into the class was to break 

 this horse of the habit. 



I assured him that I would put him in the way of breaking his 

 horse without difficulty; and that if he could not make- him work 



