830 eakey's hokse-taming. 



makes tlie animal more and more troublesome each time 

 that he refuses hia work. 



The writer has known a thick-headed, quick-tempered 

 Irish driver to fly into a passion and beat or otherwise 

 abuse his horse, on the least symptom of baulking, until 

 the animal became absolutely worthless from a confirma- 

 tion of the habit. 



As a rule it may be stated, that horses baulk from nerv- 

 ousness, or unsteadiness of disposition, if not, indeed, from 

 an over-anxiety to perform their work. Nervous, well-bred 

 horses are more susceptible to the influences which induce 

 baulking, than are colder blooded, more indolent ones. A 

 high-mettled horse, when carelessly driven, will start sud- 

 denly against his collar, fail to start his load, draw back 

 from the pain which the concussion causes, rush at it again, 

 and again draw back, until it becomes impossible for hia 

 driver to steady him in his collar for a dead pull. Add 

 to this a smart cut with the whip, and a fiercely spoken 

 word, — with perhaps a blow over the nose, or a stone in 

 the ear, — and every fear or vicious feeling of the horse will 

 be called into action, and he becomes entirely unmanage- 

 able, requiring to be left for an hour or two in ffis position 

 before he gets sufiiciently calm to be coaxed to move. 

 There may, occasionally, be a horse which cannot be made 

 to draw steadily by the most careful treatment, but the 

 cases are exceedingly rare in which gentle treatment, and 

 firmness, — a patient persistence in mild, authoritative com- 

 mand, and judicious coaxing, — would not either prevent 

 the formation of the habit, or cure it, when formed. 



The prevention of baulkey habits lies with the driver. 

 If he jump on to his load, gather up his reins carelessly, 

 flourish his whip or call out wildly to his horse, he will be 

 very likely to start him forward with a jerk which will be 



