Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-11-25
The Horses Punishment.
From the Willamette Farmer.

From the Willamette Farmer
a horse appreciates comfortable
fitting harness as much as he does a
properly fitted shoe. The latter,
when set too tight, or with nail
driven into or too near the sensitive
tissues, produces positive lameness.
Under this condition Of things he is
promptly taken to the shop for relief.
But he may suffer nearly as much
from the chaIng Of badly-iittcd
collar or narrow bclly-band, drawn
too tight. Or from n check-rein
| shortened up so as TO form Of itself
one Of the severest of punishnents.
| Either Of these conditions will pro-
/ ducc rcstiyeness in the dullest brute,
and in the case of an animal Of ncrv-
Gus temperament, and having a thin
sensitive skin, he is liable TO become
| irantic-the obtusc owner or driver
seldom appreciating the origin of the
difficulty.
No greater evidence can be advanc-
| ed TO establish horses entire sub
missiveness than his willingness TO
/ pull against the collar with a portion
of the breast surface denuded of its
skin, and showing the highest posi-
ble state of sensibiity. The average
horse will do this, shrinking at every
step. \ horse learns TO dread the
approach of the master or driver,
with harness in hand, if this has
previously been source Of torment,
or even discomfort. A horse proper
| ly handled for period, in wcll-iit-
ted harness, then CHANGING TO fall into
the hands of a bungler, will at once
detect the undue tightness or loose
ness Of the strap, and will not settle
down TO his usual gait, cOntcntcdly,
while the irregularity remains. A spir-
tied horse may, under such an irritat.
| ing influence, do from downright fear
what may be wrongly charged as
vicioushess. Heavy strokes Of the
whip may fall upon the irritatcd
beast only TO be followed by evil
/ results.
Among the everyday torments to
which the horse is subjected, we will
enumeratc the following lst. Abrad-
Cd breast. 2d. Inflamcd back from
/ defective saddle or harness pad. 3D.
/ Sore mouth from a too tight gag rein.
a severe bit or both. 4th. 4 sore tail
from too tight or lily made cruppcr
/ 5th. An abrasion under the body.
caused by too tight or hadly-ittcd
/ belly band. 9th. Irritation Of the
eyes from blindcrs being strapped
too close together, or on the other
| hand are allowed TO swing around.
first striking one eye and then the
other 7th. Ears chaicd by the brow
band being placed too high, or by
metallic rosettes with sharp outer
/ rim, the base of the ear pressing
across this at every motion. sth
/ The excessive fatigue of all the struc-
lures of the neck under the influence
of the bearing rein. The bearing
rein, if made taut. and kept so for
any considerable length of time, is
/ source Of great discomfort TO all
horses. and an insuiicrablc torment to
many. A taut rein can be used with
entire propriety on horses Of fine
easy up.carriage, especially while in
motion; but if the muscles and bonv
structure of the neck extend forward
horizontally from an upright shoul-
der, rather than striking out from a
slantng shoulder, then the most in.
tense suffering will he inflicted by
straning the neck up to an angle
entirely unnatural to the animal, es-
pecially il this strain be long kept
up. To strain culprit mp 10y thumbs,
till only his toes touch the ground. is
certainly one OF the severest admissi.
ble punishments that can be inflicted
upon mortal, and the check rein is
undoubtedly akin TO it, in its extreme
application.