The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-09-18
Objectionable Harness.

AUSIOIu II pCIk CLCLLlt W all IbNA-
vancement, and possesses no greater
stronghold than it does among owners
of horses. Harness should be made as
light as possible compatible with
rength and durability. SO as not only
to lessen the burden of the horse, but
to allow greater comfort. There are
many of the parts appertaining to a
complete set of harness calling for re-
form, but rs we intend only to call at
tention to such portions where improve
ment suggests itself, our remarks will
be confined to winkers, collars and
bearing-reins.
Beginning with the smaller evil, we
ask what benefit winkers confer on a
horse other than enabling him to catch
the dust in his eyes, and preventing
him from seeing what he is doing.
Custom will reply that if a horse is
worked without winkers he will be
affrighted when 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 not wear them.
Admitting that we have more COM
mand over horse when in the saddle,
which is asserted to be the reason for
the non-necessity of winkers in saddle
horses, surely this should not sub ,ect
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 mind S eye be-
fore being hitched to 1t; whereas had he
winkers he would be ignorant of the true
cause of the chatter and more likely to be
frightened. 1t would not be wise, except
with dOcile horses, to discard winkers
where they have always been used; but
we should break-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
a 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 do as he said and not as he
did.
Tight and continued refining causes
poll-evil strains the deep-seated liga-
ments and muscles. 1t assists the
causes productive of megr ms, and in-
duces vice, such as jibbing and rearing.
This should be sufficient to discourage
| their use against anything that can be
advanced in favor 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 eve
necked animal. Well, it keeps him up.
Nonsense. The driver keeps his eye
n, 4 10 hn SO driNvinr and of
the slightest trip reminds his charge by
a slight check, which has the effect, not
| of keeping him up, but of making him
| keep himself up. The reins, being held
| easily, though not carelessIy, can be
| frightened or elongated to the easement
of the horse when going down or as
cending a 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 a 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 a moment S
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
weighty 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 a general and immediate
| discontinuaace 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
| amendment, 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, poli-evil, and
| other ills. Sore shoulders are of fire.
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. 1t
| affords q 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.
The disuse of winkers and bearing
reins we are satisfied would be no loss.
| OF the abandonment of collars for
| breast-straps we can see no cogent rea-
son against. But we may safely main
tain that custom alone retards improve
ments being made in horses harness. -
| Dr. N H. PqGren, Illinois State Yet
sriwarlaa, To Prairie Farmer,