The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-11-22
The Cheek-Rein for Horses

The ''Society for the prevention of Cruel
ty to Animals have published pamphlet
on the use Of the check rein for horses, in
which they strongly condemn this contriv
ance. We make few extracts from the
pamphlet t.
The check rain may probably be of some
service in breaking colt, and may per-
haps help to ''get up his head" until be has
been taught his paces," but afterward it
Can answer no end, except souring his tenn
per, making him jib, fretting the corners Of
his mouth, wasting his strength, hurting
his wind, injuring his sight, lessening his
speed, abridging his services, shortening
his days. throwing him down, and break
ing his knees. All these, it is fearlessly as
serted, often proceed from the use of this
appendage.
When loose. the horses neck is naturally
extended as straight as his back in this
manner horses would generally work. 1t is
the natural position, and the nearer we APP
proach to it the better for the animal, for he
is then at his ease, and, though little re- :
membered, his pulmonary action or breath
ing unimpeded. 1t is absurd to make a
bend or auge (f at all acute or sharp in a
water pipe or hose so it is absurd and cru
e, too, to bend hack out of it's natural line
the windpipe of the horse by the use of the
check rein. In the former case full vol
ume OF water cannot be obtained i'll the
latter the free breathing of the animal, SO
essential to its comfort, and even to its life
is hindered The effect of restraining a
horse by the check-rein is to prev ent him
from getting up to the collar. If the bit is
in the least degree affected by the check
rein-in other words, if it is not entirely
loose in the mouth-the horse is checked,
and, beside being kept from the free exer
else of his strength, he is prevented from
leaning the weight of his body into the
collar "
There is one infallible proof, constantly
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 oft. Whenever horse has been
worked with tight check rein tive corners
OF his mouth become raw, indaine, fester
and eventually the mouth becomes enlarged
OH each side, in some cases to the extent of
two inches Even before the bit has pro-
duced these visible effects, if the corner of
| the mouth under the bit be touched, the an
imal will finch as if from hot iron Let
this be the sign with every master and SER
want. 10 what are these engagements at
tributable /? What causes them Nothing
but the friction of the bit in the effort of the
horse to get up to his work. How dreadful l
to see horse heavy laden--his neck bent
into a perfect curve--his mouth wide open
his eyes ready to start out of their sockets
The Ignorant, though, perhaps, not cru
ely disposed driver, looks on with admira
fr~c Az \ u
! pears, and imagines that the tossing head,
open mouth and gnashing teeth are signs
OF game and strength while on the con.
trary, they are the most unequivocal eviden
ces OF distress and agony. Let any one
test the truth of this by loosing the. check
rein, and ne will Immediately find the horse
go faster, keep his mouth shut, and his
head in one steady horizontal position. The
draught horses exhibit the most painful ex-
amples of the cruelty of using tight check.
rein. Whether at work or standing they
will be found in continual :ormeut-toss.
4 ing their heads or resting the weight Of
them on the bit, aud so drawing back the
corners of their mouths as nearly to spill
the Iigatures. At work, Instead of going
on steadily they bob" their heads, feeling
the check at every step Vhey take
i The pamphlet quotes the author of worl
] on ''Horse in Health and Disease in which
he says:
81 am anxious, in this place, to add ny
anathema against that inhuman instrumen
of torture the check-rein. 1t is not les
detrimental to the utility of the ANNA
than it is replete with agony to him |
must have been invented by savage, AM
can only be employed by the insensate