The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-08
HANDLING 4 BALKY HORSE.
One Driver Who Kept Ills Temper and
knew the Right Thing to DO.

In n downtown street, just of Broad
way, a constantly changing bunch OF on
lockers had gathered on the sidewalk to
watch a balky horse and the doings of the
horses driver. This horse was not only
balky, but a kicker. also. There was n
good stout hit of rope carried over his
launches and dow TO the shaft on either
side. He was hooked TO an empty light
delivery wagon. and he had just baked
because he was a balky horse.
This horse NAV have been made balky
by iil-trcatment and overlooking: but, II
this was the case. the ~mishandling had
not been done by his present driver, whose
treatment of him and whose perfect con-
troll Of himself awakened the admiration
Of all the bystanders. He was a young
man. hut he was, nevertheless, calm, level
headed and sensible,
Above all things he was in no hurry.
He neither fretted the horse nor permitted
himself 10 get fretted. He took his time
about everything.
OF course he treated the horse with abso-
lutte kindn,s So. and lie never nee lost his
temper in the slightest degree Two or
three times he tined TO lead the horse, and
on one Of these occasions n truckman
stopped his horse and jumped of his truck
and put his weight on one of the rear wheels
of the wagon
He was a strong man. this truckman.
and he pushed the wagon up against the
balky horse good and hard. making II
q bsolutcly clear 10 the horse that there
was nothing there but what he could easily
haul. but the horse wouldn't start. The
man pushing on the Wheel got him forward
a little hit until the horse realized what was
going on. and then he settled hac against
the Wagon and there was nothing more
doing in that line.
Twice, when the driver tried to lead him.
the horse, instead OF going ahead started To
back. And then the driver backed him
He didn't yank On the bit nor pull and haul
on him at all. but with perfectly cool, calm,
deliberate neutrality-suspicious. he backed
him slowly clean around a circle. When he
got the horse backed clean around the
driver would halt him, and then stand be-
side him. No hurry, plenty of time.
About FIVE minutes later the driver hav-
ing decided. apparently. that he had now
given the horse all the lesson that he could
give him To advantage on this occasion
accepted an offer Of q tow from a passing
truck driver. The truckman took a piece
81 rope which no made fast TO a drawpin
on his truck, while tho driver of the wagon
made the other end fast around one of the
shafts Of his wagon.
While this was going on the balkv horse
fairly trembled Evidently he knew per
fer,lv well that the dickering with him. the
effort To- make him go as other horses went
had ceased and that they were going now
to move him He realized that the solid
chunky horse ahead Of tie truck could
draw him and the wagon chino him right
along. with perfect ease.
And that's just IA the truck horse did.
With everything made fact each driver
got out his seat and the tulckman started
up has horse Then, In just about "A min
ute. the whole incident was closed
Thus compelled 10 n th" balky horse
tooh up his load and hrgan to pun u him
self. and just around NJ" corner IN Broad
wav they cast the towline loose. o th"
T-aopir who had remained fur a moment Ia
-e th" outcome 81 n all saw the lslky
horse stepping brl-kly up Broadway going
night ahead. nov. under hi- oNn steam
"He couldn't have handled him With
l-attrr Judgment. zaid a man un n" side
walk Who APPEARED 90 know something
about horses and fhr handling 81 them.
and " 10" ke-p- o. up thai Nay he'll get
she hur-" 80 uIat ho wont balh any more.
with HIM. anyway bat What the hur-e
would So n -ume u'l'r man should ~ 90
drive hlm wouldn't D. -p o~ralu