The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-19
Objectionable Harness.


Custom is perverse enemy to all ad-
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 q
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 horse is
worked without w;nkers 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 anu 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 q
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 inan-
innate body which will do him. no hurt,
having examined it i'm his mind s eve 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
whore 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
lid.
Tight and continued refining causes
poll-evil. strains the deep-seated liga-
ments and muscles. 1t assists the
causes productive of megrms, and in-
duces vice, such as iibbing 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
can remedy the defect by
putting an arched crest upon a eve
necked animal. Well, it keeps him up.
Nonsense. The driver keeps his eye
upon the animal he is driving, and at
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 carelessly, 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-
nits none of these. Do not think
when you see noble horse standing in
! carriage, tossing his head and clamp
NC his bit. that it is his pride. No; he
s endeavoring to obtain Q moments
to the pain inflicted by his
read being constrained by the short
elm.
If none OF these arguments suffice for |
light harness, ut any rate they should !
prevail for one class of horses. ANY |
me who has noticed q heavy draft
lorsc begin moving an exceptionally
veighty load-to exert greater power
he animal lowers his head and almost |
rawls along the ground; and yet such
lorses are universally provided with this
elm. As in the case of winkers, we do
lot advise q general and immediate
Of bearing reins, as there
re some sluggardS who hang and de-
END on the bit; but if all young horses
we're taught to work independent of
hem, there would be but few subjects
nd those from some natural defect
hat would be benefited by their use
But there is still another important
art of horses harness requiring
and that is the collar, and
1hich, from being constantly pressed
gainst tia neck, interferes with the
rec return of blood from the head.
'urther, it impedes respiratica pro-
uces fistulous withers, poll-evil, and
Their ills. Sore shoulders are of fire.
uent occurrence, causing great incon-
enience to their owners by throwing
nimals out of work. The substitution
f breast harness would remedy most
the Inconvenience of the collar. 1t
ffords greater surface for pressure,
cling thus less likely to produce gals,
esides having its bearings upon parts
,ss affecting the breathing and superb
ial circulation.
The disuse of winkers and bearing
Ems We are satisfied would be no loss.
II the abandonment of collars for
reast-straps we can see no eogent rea
IN against. But We may safely main
lin that custom alone retards improve
tents being made in horses harness
n. N. II. Padren, Illinois State Yet- 1
marian. IN Prairie Farmer.
Destruction Of Food Products.
There is proverb to the effect that
Z who throws away bread shall live to
eed it, or die for the want of it. The
timping OF peaches into the river by
10 carload tn K. or, the nrice mn for