62 THE HORSE 



likely to contract this vice. Dull, sluggish horses 

 are not so subject to it. 



Balky horses, though all exhibiting the same 

 vice, are of such different kinds — each one, ap- 

 parently, having a different kink in his head — that 

 it is impossible to tell, in the first place, which 

 one of several kinds of treatment will work best. 

 But there are so many cases in which palliative 

 treatment is all that is needed that this should 

 always be given a fair trial before coercive meas- 

 ures are used. Use the horse horse-fashion and 

 take his good conduct for granted and very often 

 he will forget to balk. When he does, try to fool 

 him by saying, " Whoa "; get out and adjust the 

 harness or pick up his feet, one after another, as 

 if looking for a lodged stone, and finally hammer 

 on one of them with a stone, keeping it in your 

 hand long enough to take his attention thoroughly 

 and perhaps weary his other leg a little. Then 

 get into the buggy as if everything were all right 

 and start him up in the usual way. 



All this may work and it may not, but it is the 

 first thing to try. I have had a great many balky 

 horses and in quite a number of instances have 

 applied no further remedy and have used them 

 for years with no repetition of the vice. If pal- 

 liative treatment is found insufficient, put on the 

 controller and elevate the horse's nose whenever 



