The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-08-04
Agricultural.
Dearjug.Rejus.

Ata meeting oil tho Society Tor the
Prevention OF Cruelty TO Animals, held
at the Mercantile Library, in this city
some time ago, Mr.. George II. Angel,
President of the Massachusetts, Society,
made number of remarks which are
well worthy of attention in connection
with the objects for which these socie-
ties are formed. Giving the result OF
his observations on the manner in which
animals are treated in the different
countries of Europe, he stated that, as
regarded horses, he had rarely seen a
check-rein In Ireland or Scotland, and
on the Continent comparatively few,
and those seldom tight, while in Eng
land and In this country 1t was gener-
ally used, and frequently in a cruel
manner. 1t is well that public atten-
ton should be frequently drawn to this
practice, for many people are not aware
how much horses suffer from 1t, and
how much of their strength is wasted
by their being compelled to hold their
heads high. Long familiarity with the
sight of horses, carrying their heads in
lofty manner, and tossing them proud
ly, has doubtless led many well-mean-
ing persons to believe that il was the
natural action of the animal under all
circumstances. SO it is when left to
himself, and when he is not grazing,
but 1t is not so when he is drawing a
weight; his natural action is then to
bend his head down to his work.
Tho origin of the use of the bearing.
rein was the beliefthat it prevented the
animal from stumbling and falling. 1t
is surprising that such a belief should
have held its ground so long, for 1t
seems to be clear that horse is much
moro able to perceive and avoid obsta-
cles in his path when he can move his
head freely in every direction, than
when 1t is held in fixed position. Let
any man apply the rule to himself by
walking along the street with his head
held rigidly erect; he will soon find
himself stumbling over inequalities of
the ground or pavement, and will be
fortunate If he escapes without fall or
sprain.
1t would be good thing If there
were some way to calculate the physical
torture inflicted on draught horses by
the bearing-rein, and the consequent
loss accruing to their owners through
the Premature decay of the animals
working powers occasioned by it. If a
horse pulling load has his head held
up by a bearing-rein 1t is difficult to
understand how he can throw his
weight into his collar, as to all appear
ance he must be hindered from giving
his body that position which is most
natural and effective. He has to pull
by the strength of his muscles only, the
weight of his body being lost, and so
much pulling force thrown away. What
Is done is effected by general expen-
diture of the horses power and health,
to say nothing of his comfort. Ifa man
pulls load by strap across his shoul.
ders he bends his head and chest for
ward and relieves his legs. A horse
does the same when he can. Moreover,
the rein, when tightly drawn, gals the
mouth Of the animal, by the jerks and
pulls on it at each step, the weight of
the wagon, carriage, or cart being
thrown on it. The bearing-rein Injuries
the horse notonly in the way described,
but the confinement of the head in a |
constrained position, while the heart
and lungs are excited by work, hinders
the breathing and the circulation of the
blood in the head. These effects make
the horse uncomfortable, and he be-
comes restless and irritable; in fact, his
head pains him, and he gets many
jerk and blow because his driver cannot
understand the cause of his restlessness.
The bearing.rein inflicts unnecessary
torture on the animal In another way.
BY holding the head upwards it puts
the muscles of the neck in a constant
strain, and they consequently become
uneasy and tired. If the horse cannot
bear 1t, he rests the weight of his head
upon the rein, and his mouth is then
Violently stretched. Thus he only ex-
changes one kind of torment for another.
The evil effects of the bearing-rein may
bethus summed up: 1t is likely to less
on the horses strength TO bring on
disease; to keep him in constant pain
to deform his body; to fret and gall his
mouth, and to spoil his temper, the
combined effect ofany Of these being to
diminish his value and shorten his life.
1t fought to be plain to the owners of
horses that their self.interest is identi-
cal with the cause Of humanity. By
studying the health and comfort, and
outstanding the strength of their horses,
they will gain as much in pocket as
they will lose in trouble.