East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-11-22
enjoy their own religion, but prevent
every one else from enjoying his.
Tho Check -R Elm for Horses.

The Society for the Prevention ol
Cruelty 70 Animals" havo published
a pamphlet on the use of the check,
rein for horses, in which they strongly
condemn this COZ trivance. We make
q few extracts from the pamphlet:
srhe check-rein may, probably, be
of some use in breaking a colt" and
may, perhaps, help to get up his head
until taught "his PAGES !" but af-
terward it can answer no end, except
souring his temper, making him jib
fretting the corners Of his mouth,
wasting his strength, hurting his
wind, injuring his sight, lessening
his speed, abridging his services, shor-
tening his days, throwing him down
and breaking his knees. All these,
it is fearlessly asserted, often proceed
from the use Of this cruel appendage.
Wheniloose, the horses neck is us
ually extended as straight as his back
in this manner horses would general
ly work. 1t Is the natural position,
and the nearer we approach it the
better for the animal, for he then is at
his ease; and, though lit.le remember
ed, his pulmonary action, or breath
ing, unimpeded 1t is absurd to
Lend or angle tif atall acute or sharp
in a water pipe or hose; SO it isabsurd
and cruel to, to bend back out of its
natural line hewindpipe Of the horse
by the use OF the check-rein; in the
former case q, full volume Of water
cannot be obtained; in the latter, the
free breathing of the animal, so essen
final to its comfort, and even to its
life, is hindered. The effect of re-
straining a horse By the check-rcin is
to prevent him from getting up to the
collar. If the bit is in the least de-
gree affected by the check-rein in
other words, if it is not entirely loose
in the mouth the horse is checked,
and, besides being kept from the free
exercise of the strength, he is prevent
ed from leaning the weight Of his
body into the collar.
There is one infallible proof, con-
siantly to be obtained, of the cruelty
of the use Of the check rein and of
its injurious effects, though we believe
very few persons are aware of il.
Whenever horse has been worked
with tight check-rein, the corners of
his mouth become raw, infame, tester
and eventually. the mouth becomes
enlarged on each side, in some cases
to the extent Of two inches. Even
before the bit has produced thesevisit-!
bic effects, If the corner of the mouth
under the bit be touch d the animal
will finch as If from hot iron. Let
this be the sign with every master and
and ecr,ot. 70 what are these en-
largements attributable? What caus-
es them? Nothing but the friction of
the bit in the eiioit of the horse to get
up 10 his work. How dreadful to see
a horse, heavy laden, his neck bent
into perfect curve, his mouth open,
his eyes ready to start of their sock
cts. I." -
Tho ignorant, though perhaps not
cruely disposed driver looks on with
admiration TO see how 'handsome"
his horse apears, and lima.
gines that the tossing head, open
mouth and gnashing teeth are signs
of game and strength; while on the
contrary, they are the most unequiv-
ocal evidences of distress and agony.
Let any ono test-the truth of this by
loosing the check-rein, aud he will
Immediately find the horse 60 faster,
Keep his mouth shut, and his head in
one steady'horizoutal position. The
draught horses exibit the most painful
tight ick}iesqG.frelhHf. i}is "wfltyue Of Asips. o
or standing, they will be found in con-
tinual torment tossing their heads,
or resting the weight'of them on the
bit, and so drawing back the corners
of their mouths as nearly to split the
licaturps. At work, instead Of going
steadily they ''bob" their heads, feel
ing the check at every step they take,