Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-05
A plea for the Hor.e-cruelty Of the Check
Rein.

1t would be quite as sensible t. bit and curb
q hod-carriers head backwards, by a strap
buckling TO the seat of his pantaloons and 10
set him TO carrying brick up a ladder in that
hampered condition, as to brace q horses neck
towards his tail, as an aid in drawing wagon,
or getting fast over the ground.
Three things occurred to establish this stupid
tyranny upon the horse, in England we speak
OF. But one thing was necessary to establish
the custom in the United Ststes-that it was
prscticed by the English. notwithstanding
our Fourth Of July, We are yet. in a state of
provincial servility TO the fashions and the
opinions of Britain, and we inevitably take the
check-rein from them, as the sham Democracy
takes free trade from their transatlantic
masters
To hold up the horses head, and make him
look grand, among the grand institutions of
England, was undoubtedly the pulse to the use
OF the check-rein. Ii was also found that il
was useful, in evenly match hing the gait and
carriage of the nobleman's pair Some timid
fellow bethought him, on an ancient ccssion,
OF using it as sort of tie to post-holding
thus spirited or dangerous horse, and quite
economically too, for he made him hold tim-
self.
In time, too, grew up in stables and halls. a
venerable and obstinate belief, that the check
rein prevented the horse from falling. No
body with the fox hounds az the same time pro-
posed to take off the Squire's ssspenders 10
brace his jaws back with them, by attaching
them to his crupper He was wisely left 10
nature, in his pursuit Of the fox Why was not
the noble animal he bestrode left to its in
stinct and the laws of its mechanical action1
We have frequently thought that the field
Of politics had displayed more of human stu
pidity than any other department Of man 3 ac-
ton. But we guess that a greater and moro
consistent display Of that attribute has been
made In the management of the horse than in
any other business man has undertaken in this
world. How few gentlemen-hOw few sur
geons even-know that n horse should be
treated precisely as we treat man. His muscles
are ike ours, and thela that govern muscu-
lar and nervous action In his system, are the
same that We are subject to. The laws Of
health are the same in horse and in man-and
the most intelligent veterinary surgeons in
France, Germany, and England, treat the in
terruptions of normal action in the two animal
economies in precisely the same way, and
with precisely the same remedies
Now, regard German carrying bags Of oats
upon the back, from a vessel to a warehouse
See natures provisions for easily getting along
with that job. The man stoops forward He
stretches out his neck. The weight of his
body is thrown in advance Of his centre, so as
to give him falling tendency, and in that
way aid his motion. How Stewpyd does over
look this teaching, when he harnesses GOdol-
phin for dragging brick up a grade. Tho
horses head is pulled back towards his tail,
and anchored there, by the senseless and mer-
clless check-rein. The arrangement is unnat-
ural-the animal is constrained by il. He
must inevitably lose strength by it-for il dis
turbs the vital force, and induces an unnatu-
raj action in the muscles of the neck, head
shoulders and mouth. There is actually less
energy and vigOr left for the limbs and chest,
than there would be if the stupid cOntrivance
va ii oG AZ
fence. IT reason cannot teach this promptly
to any man, just let him try the experiment by
putting martingale upon himself, and go to
wrestling, or putting check in the jaws Of a
boxer that shall extend down his back TO his
belt.
Who beside the British use the check-rein-
saving their Free Trade slaves and general
imitators, the Americans The French do
not use 1.-THE Germans do nOt-the Indians
and Spaniards Of South America, who liter
ally live on horseback, and are perfect horse
men, do not-the Spaniards of Europe do not
nor do the Turks. The most observant, and
most natural people in the world, are FREQ
from this mischievous error. 1t Is strange to
US that the English and ourselves, did not
years and years ago, reason upon the con-
stantly witnessed fact, that when a check rein
was loosed at tavern stOop. on in a stable,
the poor horse GiIcayS stretched out bis neck
and hung down his head. That was his Ian
guage for saying that the strap hurt him and
wearied him, and that be was heartily glad to
be relieved from it.
The genius that first proposed the mechan.
ical feat, Of lifting himself UP by seat Of bis
breeches, must have been the author Of the
theory, that the check rein held the horse up,
aud kept him from falling. The mechanical
action in the two cases must be precisely the
same. If the reader will reflect for a moment,
he will see that no suspending power can be
derived, except from without the animal A
pest, tree, or beam, isjust as indispensable TO
the support of horse, as to the support of a
man intent on suicide. A horse can't hang
himself up in the air by the terrets on his
back, any moro than a man can by pulling
upwards at his neck handkerchief.
The check-rein should be abolished. Ii
wastes motive power. Its use is unhealthy
for it disturbs the otherwise naturally and
equally distributed vital forces Ii shortens
The life of the horse. liz diminishes his speed,
and lessons the free and quick action, 50 es-
,ential to the animals safety and that of his
driver. 1t is Of no use, and cannot confer
iignity or grace to an animal that was made
by the Lord. Had man got up the horse,
check -reins and all sorts of contrivances would
have been allowable not only, but perhaps
necessary. But the work of the Great Artist
cannot be improved upon.
Brethren of the press, let US emancipate the
horse from the British check -rein.-BHfsk0
Democrat.