A BALKING HORSE.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 156, 17 February 1903, Page 4

A BALKING HORSE.

Says the Horseshoers' Journal : "For the benefit of those who have been caused a great deal of anxiety by a balky, horse, lost trains, as well as tempers, and* even sometimes ruined the horse, the nest time they have the experience to run across a" balky horse, no matter how bad he is, let me tell you how to stait him ninety-nine times out of one hundred. Of course, it may fail one time in a hundred.' When a horse balks, no matter how badly he sulks or how ugly he is, do not beat him ; don't throw sand in his ears ; don't use a rope on his forelegs, or even burn straw under him. Quietly go'and pat him on the head a moment; take a hammer, or even pick up a stone in the street; tell the driver to sit still ; take his lines, hold them quietly, while you lift up either front foot ; give each nail a light tap and a jrood smart tap on the frog ; drop the'foot quickly, and then chirp him to go. In ninety-nine cases out of one hundred the horse will go right on about his business, but the driver must keep his lines taut, and not pull or jerk him back. If I have tried this once, 1 have tried it 500 times, and every time I have suggested it people havelaughed, and even bet 5 dollars and bottles of wine that I could not do. it. So far I have won every bet. This makes you smile, but a horse has more com - rnon sense than most people are willing to give him credit for. The secret of this little trick is simply diversion. lam a firm believer that with kindness and proper treatment a horse can be driven with a .sbrin»."