The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-21
The Check.Rein.

There is one infalhble 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 Of it. Whenever horse has been
worked with tight check-rein the corners
of his mouth become rd,o, tntlame, tester,
and eventually the mouth becomes enlarged
on each side, in some cases to the extent OF
taco inches. Even before the bit has pro-
duced these visible effects, if the corner Of
the mouth under the bit be touched the ami
NAL will finch as if from hot iron. Let
this be the sign with every master and SER
want. To what are these engagements at
tributable What causes them Nothing
but the friction of the bit in the efforts of
the horse to get up to his work-how dread
full to see horse heavily laden-his neck
bent into perfect curve-his mouth open
his eyes ready to start out Of their sockets.
The ignorant, though, perhaps, not cruelty
disposed driver, looks on with admiration
to see how " handsome his horse appears,
and imagines that the tossing head, the
open mouth, and crashing teeth, are signs
Of game and strength; whilst, on the contra
ry, they are the most unequiyocsl evidences
Of distress and agony. Let any one test
the truth of this by loosing the check-rein,
and he will Immediately find the horse 60
faster, keep his mouth shut, and his head
in one steady horizontal position. Draught
horses frequently exhibit the most painful
examples Of the cruelty of using a tight
check-rein. Whether at work OF standing
they will often be found in continual tor
ment-tossing their heads, or resting the
weight of them on the bit, and 30 drawing
back the corners Of their mouths az nearly
to split the ligstures. At work, instead Of
going on steadily they i" bob" their heads,
feeling the check at every step they take.
A short time since the writer stopped 8
wagon to look at the mouth of tho shat
horse--he found the mouth, actually cut
open by the bit at least Two inches on each
side the WAGNER said he know'd it sure;
t,cas the fair toear of the i'rni" The man
was open to conviction, and upon the cause
of this dreadful punishment being shown
he altered the rein.
The propensity to back, if not actually
caused, is much increased By the check
rein. In ascending hill the freest horse
may be compelled to stop and refuse to ex-
ert himself, knowing that he can put forth
no more strength until the head is loose.
A short time since the writer saw crowd
collected looking at cosl-cart, fully load
ed, drawn by sn immense horse. The street
is Of moderate ascent, and the horse hsd
stopped just below the top Of the hill; the
driver turned the horse round down tbs
hill, then up, and with his helpmate very
humanely assisted by pushing. The horse
without being logged or spoken to, wentor
steadily with his heavy load TO shout thu
place he before stopped at, and again gave
up; he was sweating much, and appeared 4
be good, gene horse. The writer went ~
to the driver and advised him to unhool
the check-rein. The man said It's ri
use, have turned him round three times
The writer said &C. he must be good hors'
to take the load three times" snd presses
him to unlock the rein. The man replies
I" He will fall down." The writer coaxet
him to try. The rein was unlocked, ant
Immediately the horse took tho load from
the spot where it stood. The man sait
swell, I would not have believed that.
It is not uncommon for considerable driver
to unlock their horses at the foot Of hill