Balking, Restiveness. 29 



(paretic, spasmodic, congestion) in which the failure to obey is 

 not due to lack of will, but to lack of power. Nor must it 

 be confounded with the . inability of the paralysis of lead pois- 

 oning. It is perhaps most likely to be confounded with that 

 lack of both sensory and motor power which attends on ven- 

 tricular dropsy and other chronic affections of the brain. In such 

 cases (immobility, coma) the habitual dullness, drowsiness, gen- 

 eral hebetude, and lack of energy contrasts strongly, with the 

 strength, vigor and general life of the animal which suddenly, 

 willfully and incorrigibly balks. 



The. balky horse which has no such nervous disorder as an ex- 

 cuse, no badly fitting harness, no lesion on shoulder, back, limbs 

 nor mouth, no unsuitable bit, no special softness nor poverty of 

 condition, no slow, ill-adjusted mate, no impatient driver, and no 

 excessive load, nor impassable road, but which jibs without ex- 

 cuse, as a willful disobedience, may well be cause for annulling 

 a sale. In most European countries such a horse can be returned' 

 to the seller and the sale set aside within 3 days (Austria), 4 

 days (Prussia), 5 days (Saxony), 9 days (Hesse). 



Treatment. This should be preventive by avoiding the 

 various causes above enumerated, for if the habit is once con- 

 tracted it is too often impossible to establish a permanent cure. 

 The horse is largely a bundle of habits and the first act of dis- 

 obedience has given a bias to the nerve cells of the cortex cerebri 

 which like a planted seed tends to reproduce itself whenever an 

 opportunity offers. With every successive act of the kind, the 

 impression on the nerve cells becomes deeper and more indelible 

 and the habit fixed the more firmly. 



In slight recent cases in the milder dispositions the vice may 

 be overcome by some resort which engages and engrosses the 

 animal's attention. Among these may be named tying a cord 

 round the root of the ear and tying it down ; giving an inhala- 

 tion of ammonia or a sniff of powdered capsicum ; closing the 

 nostrils until the horse struggles to breathe ; blindfolding for a 

 few minutes ; tying up one fore leg until thoroughly tired ; even 

 stroking the nose or ears until the fret is overcome. Immedi- 

 ately following on any one of these methods, move the horse 

 gently to the right and left and call him confidently to get up. 

 Some will start if gently tapped with the toe below the knee 



