JIBBING HORSES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4380, 11 June 1901, Page 7

JIBBING HORSES.

In an article in the “Live Stock Journal," on the training and management of horses, the following reference is made to jibbing in horses. The writer says; Ninety per cent, of the jibbing horses we see amongst ns have been made to jib through carelessness by overloading them at'first. Nothing will spoil a colt sooner than by making him pull a load for which he is physically ‘unfit. He will struggle and strain for sometime until he feels it is too much for him, when he will stop, and run backward to relieve his shoulders from “the pressure. In future he will be shy to start another load, if, indeed he will draw an empty cart. All those who have had the experience of a jibbing hors» know well what an unmanageable brute he is when thoroughly confirmed "in this bad habit. Neither coaxing nor whipping will induce him to pull when he takes it into his head to refuse; and "we have known a pronounced jibber stand for several hours before he could be compelled to start. We have even seen a jibber so determined that he would throw himelf down when punished, necessitating his being unyoked, which is always a bad example, as he will repeat it whenever beds punished, knowing that in doing so he will be relieved from work. HOW "TO START A JIBBER. We shall describe a simple method, which, when applied by good hands, will generally be effectual in mastering a jibber when all other treatments fail—viz., to convey to him for the moment the artificial idea that he is wanted to go in "the opposite direction to that in which he is being driven. But while this "matter is comparatively simple in practice to a good horseman, it is very difficult to reduce to print; for, "as already pointed out, different temperaments require varying degrees of treatment, even though the treatment in the main be the same. All the circumstances of the case must be considered—the place, the time, and the "nature of the position. The moment the horse stops the driver should turn him abruptly round, and impart to him the notion that he is wanted to go the opposite way. The driver should give him a series of similar rapid turns, "and then face him sharply in the original direction, and he will generally do as desired. If he should still remain obstinate, however, the driver must repeat the lesson with greater severity, and wheel him rapidly round again and again, according to the nature of 'the ground, and in a very short time he will be glad to go straight forward *in the direction indicated. , PREVENTIVES OF JIBBING. Shy-starting horses should always be harnessed "a quarter of an hour at least previous to yoking them. A number of excellent horses "will not throw their weight into a cold collar, thus it is an advantage to warm the collars pre • vious to yoking the horses. In the case of colts it is a good plan to lightly oil the Inside of the collar before putting it on. By this the pressure of the collar will "not be so hard on the shoulders, and they are less likely to be injured "in consequence. Jibbing, like most other bad habits acquired by horses, is more easily prevented than «ured; indeed, it'is doubtful if a confirmed jibber can be thoroughly cured. In the hands of some men they will behave all right and do'an enormous amount of work, whilst with others they will scarcely tighten a trace. Great patience and tact are necessary in successfully-working jibbers. As soon ns a jibber is yoked he should be driven off at once, care having previously been "taken to place the trap so as to give the horse every advantage of the ground in starting. He should never he pnlled up'at the foot of hills, but should “he allowed to descend them in his own peculiar way. ‘Many horses will negotiate hills at a trot or a gallop that will not walk hip them. In such cases they should he compensated by being allowed to walk down hills so as f to regain their wind. Generally speaking, tact and not force is the secret‘of success in working pronounced, jibbers. Such expedients as thrashing, rubbing the legs with rough cord, "kindling fires beneath them, and a dozen other absurdities, are simply barbarous and of no practical help whatever. ‘