Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-10-14
BAULKING HORSES

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On looking, over, our exchanges the
! other day, we saw recommended the ad'
-ministration of chloroform as sure REM
edy for baulky horses; anda case was cit
ed where "a liberal application was made,
and in mindte or two the puzzled and
confused animal evidently forgot where
| he was aud what he stopped for, and
moved off Cheerfully" We then thought
a few suggestions as to the reason assign-
ed by horsemen for this vicious and vexa-
| tiousl habit, and the way in VII. ch it can
be eradicated, might not be amiss. 1t IS
certainly an acquired habit. II is no dis
ease, neither is it transmitted from one
generation to another. The colt of a
baulky mare is as apt to become true,
pulling, faithful, obedient horse as any
other ; and some men wi1l take, of the
worst horses in the neighborhood in this
respect, and make one of the best horses
to be found An instance of this kind
occurs to us now" A man examined as a
witness in horse suit at the late term of
our county court, testified that q horse
would not decrease in value for his use to
the amount of five dollars by reason of
banking, and be stated he had frequent
ly taken such kind of horses. and In a
short time cured them Of the fault entire
ly, and sold them for very material ad-
vance over their original cost. s,zt
.'f, It is, as general rule, the very best
horses in other respects that acquire this
habit. It is not the dull, indolent horse
that baulks, but the horse of high mettle,
of spirit. zeouiage, and perseverance.
And it is from this organization that they
become bauIky. They are oftentimes
hitched beside a dull, plodding, lazy an
ima!, which will not do his share of the
work, and the better animal is contlnual'
ly called upon to do it all, until he be-
comes !eg-weary, tired and mad when
the whip is applied, sudden lunge for
ward given blythe horse, which is pot re-
sponded toby his colnfade. The load don't
bulge the horse is thrown back, and an
other application Of the whip sends him
forward with like result, and at last he
gives up and stands still, only varying the
monotony of his stubborn freak by occass
ionally sends his heels nigh in the air, or
paving or biting whatever comes within
lis reach. The more he is whipped and
yelled at the worse he grows, and the
chances are that for that drivers use the
horse is completely ruined, .a5 t5sT
Mr. John G. Hosmer, of Aurelius,
who has had good deal of experiencein
breaking colts, has also "a very superior
plan Of breaking baulky horses, as we
have seen him try several times with
success, we venture to give our
readers the benefit of it. He bitches the
horse to wagon and drives into field
where ne may have plenty. of room.
Having supplied himself with a half inch
cord from twelve to fifteen feet long, ho
ties one end around the horses neck and
loops it forward into the animals mouth,
and then runs the end between the cord
and the neck He now has bride from
which there is no escape. Then, getting
into the wagon, he drives around, the lot
until. the horse stops; then; getting
qnietl out, he steps to the side of the
horse, gives sudden pull upon the cord,
and the horse invariably makes step
towards HIM them stepping to the other
side he goes through tie same operation,
and so al hbttuae, until the horse walks
off obedientlyon These lessons are con-
tinued in the field until cure is appar-
ent, when the road is taken, ard If any
recurrence of the habit is manifest, les
son is then given, and in short time
permanent and lasting cure is the result.
No whip is used. No yelling or swearing
resorted to, and with decent, and humane
treatment in the. future, no: fears need De
entertained that relapse will take pls. ;.