Just Get His Attention
A long time ago a farmer wanted to buy a horse from his neighbor. He asked the neighbor if the horse had any problems.
"Not a problem," the neighbor said. "This horse will do anything you ask. All you have to do is ask him nicely." The neighbor added, "Just make sure you never mistreat my horse."
The price for the horse was fair, so the farmer bought the horse. The very next day the farmer wanted to plow his field. He hitched the horse to the plow. The horse had no intention of pulling that plow!
The farmer said, "Git up!" But the horse paid no attention. The farmer tried talking nicely until his face almost turned blue. It did no good. So, he called his neighbor over.
The neighbor came right away. When he heard the problem, he walked over and picked up a two-by-four. He hit the horse tight in the head. Then he whispered in the horse's ear. That horse started plowing back and forth the field, turning the soil over without anyone standing behind the plow.
"I thought you said never to mistreat your horse," stated the farmer. "You said all that I had to do was to talk nicely to him."
"Well," answered the neighbor. "You just have to get his attention first before talking to him."