St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-10-11
Objectionable Harness.

8 rehgth and durability. SO as not only
to lessen the burden of the horse. but
to allow greater comfort. There ara
many of tho parts appertaining to a
complete set of harness calling for re-
fern, but rs we intend only to call 1T
tention to such portions where improve
ment suggests itself, our remarks viii
be confined to Winkers. collars 2Rd
bearing reins.
Beginning with the smaller evil, we
ask what benefit wi2kers confer ON a
horse other than enabling him to catch
the dust in his eyes, and preventing
him from seeing what he is doiRg.
Custom will reply that if horse 10
worked without winkerB he will BIO
a8righted whun he hears the noise OF
and sees the vehicle behind him. We
can not realize why a distinction is
drawn between saddle and harness
horses-why the latter should and the
former should lot wear them.
Admitting that we have more com.
mand over horse when in tho saddle,
which is asserted to be the reason for
the non-necessity Of winkers in saddle
horses, surely this SHOULD not subject .
horse taken from riding and put to driv-
ing purposes TO the evil OF being semi.
blindfolded. From the absence OF
winkers the horse can see what is be-
hind him, and knows that it IS an IMAM
innate body which will do him NO hurt,
having examined it in his minds eye be-
fore being hitched to 1t; whereas had he
winkers he would be ignorant of the true
o0usa NJ Tho ole +top q M ,,o,,,.a 1;La1w w Re
frightened. It would not be wise, except
with docile horses, to discard winker5
where they have always been used; but
we should bre2k-in horses without
them. thus giving the young horse
confidence by allowing him to see what
he is doing and in some measure to use
his own judgment.
For some years past there has been
considerable agitation against the use
of bearing-reins. which has not caused
q corresponding decrease in their use.
and which perhaps may be accounted
for on the same principle as that clergy.
man understood, who exhorted his
hearers to de as he said and not as he
did.
Tight apd continued refining causes
poli-evA. strains the deep-seated Eg&-
ments and muscles. It assists the
eauses productive of negrims, and in
duces vice, such as Ibbing and rearing.
This should be sufficient to discourage
their use against anything that can be
advanced in faver Of their retention.
We are told that it gives contour to the
neck; but where breed is lacking no
bearing rein can remedy the defect by
putting an arched crest upon a ewe-
necked animal. Well, it keeps him up.
Nonsense. The driver keeps his eye
upon the ani4al he is driving, and at
the slightest trip reminds his charge by
a Sigh. check, which has the effect, not
of keeping him up, but of making him
keep himself up. The rens. being held
easily, though not care!essly, can be
frightened or elongated to the easement
of the horse when going down Or as
cending hill, or to allow for the play
of the head caused by the motion OF
the body. But the bearing-rein per-
mits none of these. Do not think
when you see noble horse standing in
a carriage, tossing his head and clamp
ing his bit, that it is his pride. No; he
is endeavoring to obtain moments
cessation to the pain inflicted by his
head being constrained by the short
rein.
If none of these arguments suffice for
light harness, at any rate they should
prevail for one class of horses. Any
one who has noticed a heavy draft
horse begin moving an exceptionally
load-to exert greater power
the animal lowers his head and almost
crawls along the ground; and yet such
horses are universally provided with this
rein. AS in the case of Winkers, we do
not advise general and immediate
of bearing reins, as there
are some sluggards who hang and de-
pend on the bit; but if all young horses
were taught to work independent of
them, there would be but few subjects
and those from some natural defect
that would be benefited by their use.
But there is still another important
part Of horses harness requiring
and that is the collar, and
which, from being constantly pressed
against the neck, interferes with the
free return of blood from the head.
Further, it impedes respiration, pro-
duces fistulous withers, poll-cvil, and
other ills. Sore shoulders are of FREE
quent occurrence, causing great incon-
venience to their owners by throwing
animals out of work. The substitution
of breast harness would remedy most
of the inconvenience of the collar. It
affords a greater surface for pressure,
being thus less likely to produce gals,
besides having its bearings upon parts
less affecting the breathing and superb
cial circulation. " q
The disuse of winkers and Earring.
reins we are satisfied would basho LSs.
OF the abandonment of collars Tor,
we can see no cdPent req