New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-30
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
THE CRUELTY OF THE CHECK REIN.
IT NOT ONLY CAUSES SUFFERING BUT INJURIES
THE HEALTH OF HORSES.

THE CRUELTY OF THE CHECK REIN.
IT NOT ONLY CAUSES SUFFERING BUT INJUREa
THE HEALTH OF HORSES.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. In valuable article before me. "A Lover
OF Horses" enumerates the crueties heaped upon
the horse and adds: But all these things put TO-
ge her do not hurt like the check rein; that por-
ton Of the spine In the neck constantly rritateo
by the cheeky Is. in a horse. as IN a man, very
sensitive. II mans neck be forced into any con-
strained position and held there. the keenest SUI
fer.ng quickly follows. II horses head De
fastened down a foot below its natural place. ne
will suffer, but not tenth part as much os II II is
fastened a foot above It, The great strain. ne
adds. is felt at the top OF the neck and announcer
common effect OF the check is stn shoulders and
weak knees" He tells that for years ne mas
observed in New-York City that car and OMNIBUS
horses although hard worked and on hardest pave
ments. very rarely become stiff forward, because
their heads are free; while in the country
livery horses wearing tight check re:ns are al
most TO become stiff.
The check doubtless explains why so many good
horses travel stiff, almost as II foundered no"
often we see trottng horses in the park with their
heads unnaturay fastened back. often eight or
ten riches higher than they would naturally carry
them. All the tossing and twisting and jerking Is
their pitlful appeal to relief from the suHerhs
caused by that unyeld!ng strap. The horses sup
pie strength and freedom OF acton are IN 'nat
long. wonderful neck; when the neck Is contracted
and strened by this taut contrvance the strain
OF drawing or OF locomotion must fall, not on MS
neck muscles. as nature intends. but on every
other part OF his sore" body.
Physicians assure that high heels throwing
the weight OF the body forward. are injurious 10
eyes and spine the strain resulting because the
body Is out OF position So serious Is this evil tha
some physicians have refused to attend patients
who persisted In their The first Thought or
the architect is to have lis building on nrm
solid foundation-to have his building square ana
true Surely Of no less importance Is 1t TO nave
a travelling machine properly poised But
horse Is out Of plumb just in proportion as MS
head is forced out OF its natural position.
Doubtless blacksmths are. as rule, ignorant as
vet OF the perfect art OF shoeing but IL trey couid
persuade their clients discard or moderate THIS
device OF torment and disease. they would IN many
cases save their own reputa tion. and nave soun1
horses instead OF lame and sore ones year OF
more ago compa ratively few carriage horses were
harnessed With checks What pleasure II was
TO see them standing at rest. In perfect comfort anu
repose. But now the cruel fad comes back AGAIN
tossing OF heads the carriages OF fashlon slanu
before our churches. our shops ana privatss
dwellings stamped with this badge OF cruelty.
as Ignorant as 1t Is serseless. What a state OF
useless nervous suffering they tell; Tney VINO SO
heartessly impose II upon these helpless creatures
would NOT endure II for themselves one moment.
New-York April 26, 1896. HUMANITY.