Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-11-18
Bits for -Backstraps-
Whips.

ARE there not more hard-mouthed
roadsters than superficial observer
| would own to-many that are SO, no
doubt, by being checked-up excessively?
A blooded-horse with well shaped f1ex-
ible neck of itself carries the head high,
and those not so favored never will &C
quire good carriage by the bearing
rein. The unnatural position of
the head and neck in horses
with short and stiff necks, low withers
(and broad flat feet to match) can not
be materially amended by the modern
check-straps forcing the poor animals
mouth wide open whenever the head
leastwise goes down. This occurs GER
tainly on the horse firing. 1t is a very
short refining in and up, and unless the
driver be vigilant and holds the lines
well in, ready at moments notice, the
weary, heated horse in stumbling has
no help at all in trying to recover itself;
whereas the horse which is at most but
moderately checked, balances quickly
by means of the unfettered head and
neck. The bit tightly drawn up in pro-
portion as the head lowers callouses the
mouth, and renders driving not merely
laborious-especially backing without
standing in front of the team-but some
times needlessly dangerous. A COM
mon snaff1e answers for very tender
mOuthed horses only. find the curb
snaffle (he English Pelham bit) the
next thing and short of a regular curb.
The curb-snaff1e is not so well known
as it might be; therefore, beg to state
that to be effective and admit ample
range, the bars should be at least eight
inches long, affording from three to
four Sits for the lines to be buckled to,
with corresponding leverage. A broad
strong strap, but better plated chain,
passes under the lower jaw, transfer
ring much if not all of the pressure from
the naturally sensitive mouth to where
less pain is felt. With such a bit
carefully adjusted one may hold
the lines of span in one hand, whilst
two hands barely suffice to guide one
stiff-necked, hard-mouthed beast with
the common snaffle going over rolling
country, down steep hills or rough
roads, Astounding maybe in loose stones
and large pebbles. The curb-snaffle
recommends itself to women driving,
and to any other person disposed to
have the lines too slack, particularly
down hill, because there is so much more
purchase and potentialized power of
control.
Letting out the backstrap, if such
there always must be, of horses and
mules blowing, so that with the hardest
pulling in stiff soil the strap is not taut,
very materially eases the team, because
admitting free stretching and throwing
themselves into the collar. Per contra,
in wagons, and in very billy country,
with steep slopes, the backstrap ought
to be snug, unless the wagon may be
slowed by drag, or by locking wheel.
For good, well-ftting breeding greatly
enables the team to hold back. When
ever practical, I prefer to 60 down hill
at brisk trot, supporting the team by
tight lines and checking the speed by
running zigzag. This is more easy than
resisting heavy load crowding forward
at precipitated walk.
do not like driving without good
whip. This may very rarely be needed,
yet should be there for emergencies,
since properly used it may save human
lives, team and all. The physician of
Philadelphia CDR. WILSON, recently
thrown out on railroad crossing
through the horse hating, might be liv-
ing by judiciously urging with the whip
So will spurs, with a strong switch all
whalebone, not often be required, but
their handy presence is advisable.
speak from facts and personal expert
ence.-Cor. Germantown Telegraph.