The Portland daily press., 1869-06-19
cheeE1nx up .he Heads. of Horses.

We are glad to receive the following COM
munication, and fully endorse every word OF
it. The check-rein as often used Is an instru-
ment of torture to the noble horse, and it is
passing strange that these reins are so much
and so tightly used in this enlighteded agel
II a gentleman wishes to make bis horse look
proud and grand when driving about the city
using the check-rsin for short time; but if
he is going to drive into the country, he will,
If he is either wise or a mercifnl man,
slacken it and let his animal have the free
and natural use of all his muscles. If a
jockey has horse for sale, it is expected that
he will strain him up into that shape and ac-
tion which he thinks win best please the pur-
chaser, regardless Of the pain he may give
his animal, and only intent on getting good
bargain. But horses used foI hauling loads
or working on the farm should never be ham
pered by check-reins or il-ftting harnesses.
Team horses often suffer keenIy by such
management, and if they had the use of lam
guage their drivers would often hear sad COM
plants from them that would move heart
of stone. We often see horses compelled to
draw loads which kill them by inches, and
that too in our city almost every working day
in the week. To tax horse beyond his
strength is very Improbable business for
the owner, besides being both a sin and a
shame. If we despise one person more than
another. it is the Individual who is cruel and
unmerciful to that noble animal, the horse
1t is sad to think that the Sabbath has no
rest for our stable horses. In fact, it is the
hardest day of the week for them. We heard
ones stable keeper say a few days ago that he
had no wish to let his horses on the Sabbath
and he said it, too, from business stand
point and not from any conscientious scruples
upon the subject knowing very well that
young men who hire horses for drives on the
Sabbath have but little thought and less
mercy for the animals, he very wisely conlud-
ed it would be for his interest 10 keep them
in their stalls. f.h
We have often seen horses come into the
city from their drives on the Sabbath, pant
ing, sweating and even showing symptoms Of
being leg-weary! The young drivers didn't
see any trouble so long as the horses would
hasten their speed at the crack of the whip,
or is they did see. they didn't care, having no
more feeling than the knife that opens the
oyster. If keepers of livery stables would
consult their own peeuniary interests-to say
nothing of those of a higher nature-we be-
lieve they would let their horses rest one day
in seven. But we will not longer detain our
readers from our friend, "Sub Tegmine Um-
brap sA 3f. alaa.. .tai eaI-l.ls
3.r er AGRIcoLA.
DEAR Mr.. AGRIcoLA Il have been wish
inc long time, that among your interesting
and useful talk about farms, farm produce
and domestic animals, you would have q word
to say about the silly and barbareus style Of
checking up the heads OF horses, especially o.
draft horses. Almost all drayEaen who nave
fine horses are guilty of this FOLLY apd cruelty,
because they think it makes their teauos iooA
smart. 9'ii4fi|Ef aast
wish you would explain to these people
the phi Jsiology of the horse, so lar as 70 SNOW
them that from the connection u sne ,nuscles
ct the back and loins OF the morse Win those
of the neck, it is impossiole ior MN 70 Pus
forth ali his strength with his head checked
nm or checked in land some draymen do both
| to +ho;r borses,) nor can he work comfortably
| tbat way, even with light load. a -oi
In England, where much attention is de-
,,oted TO the care and management OF horses,
check reins are rarely used, but the horses
are allowed to shave their heads.
wish owners OF teams who wish them not
| only to do their work well, but with ease and
| comfort, would not permit their drivers TO
check up the heads Of the horses. My alter
ton was called to this particularly to-day, by
the circumstance, that / found one OF my
| teams checked up in this way, on my return
home, the driver taking advantage OF my alb
gence to do it. ordered the rein taken off
at doesn't check their heads up, sir,"-he