Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-07-29
OVERHEAD CHECK REINs ON HORSES.

For time it seemed as though the
fashion OF over head check reina on
horses was passing away, hut for some
understandable reason il appears tn have
taken on new life. Ii ~ most I'M
reasonable practice since II has nothing
whatever to recommend it, not even
style, or beauty and is an objectionable
cruelty and injury to mans faithful
friend, the horse. 1t is not even fash
ionable in the quarters whence we
usually receive our fashions, since tho
finest carriage horses in New York,
Newport, &C., are now driven without
check reins.of any kind, and the hand
soonest harness contains no provision
for refining.
Doubtless many persons who use this
rein do ii from thong htlessness or ignor-
anre OF the pain they are intlicting, for
it is occasionally seen on the horses OF
women and men who nrr active in phil
anthropy, and full OF thought for the
well being of their fellow. human crea-
lures. They may have accepted the ex-
cuse often MADE for it, /. O., that ii
keeps the horse from stumbling. This
is false in theory and 10 fact. DO the
persons who make this excuse think ii
their heads vera drawn back and their
saws Wy ~ Aut SUI ~ hQuth
render them leaa liable to stumbleY
They would probably rather have the
privilege of looking where they are
going; il is curious reasoning TO de-
prive creature of sight to enable him
the better to use his legs. Few horses
are inclined to stumble when they are,
all that is necessary is to keep firm,
taut rein, especially when they are
| going down hill, but horses that are
properly shod rarely bave this fault.
1t is better to look to the shoes and
to the proper manner Ut driving to cor
rect it, than to the check rein, whose
use for this purpose is a reflection upon
tho skill OF the driver.
When horses have been accustomed to
the tight rein 1t might he best 10
! gradually loosen it until it is removed
altogether. as, IL suddenly restored to
full liberty. they might take advantage
of it by running.
Tho arguments against the check rein
are not merely sentimental ONES a man
using it ia inluring his own property.
Some time ago 500 surgeons signed a
paper coudemning tight check rains
as painful to horses and productive of
disease, causing distortion OF the wind
pipe to such n degree as TO impede
, respiration and circulation. sometimes
causing paralysis of the muscles of the
face. aponleXy, coma and injury to the
eyes by turning tho hoFss's face up to
the sun. 1t puts tho muscles Of the
neck on constant strain they become
painfully uneasy and tirei If the horse
cannot bear this he rests his head upon
the rein and his mouth IS violently
stretched. He thus exchanges one tor
fF,H L.. l.
head and champs his mouth into a foam
from the intolerahe torment aud be-
comes restless and irritable. That part
OF the spine that is at the back OF the
neck, is in the horse, as it is in man,
very sensitive and most liable to injury.
If horses head is fastened by the
old.fashioned rein below it's natural
place, he suffers, hut less than when
it is fastened above it. Stiff shoulders
and weak knees result from its use. !"
The veterinarians sum up their state.
ments thus: 1.-The check rein lessons
the horse's strength. brings on disease,
keeps him in pain, frets and Injuries his
mouth, spells his temper, and is useless
to the driver, and is not preventive OF
stumbling"
Persons who use the check rein are
throwing away much of their horse 8
power; the head is natural aid to the
horse in his work as any ono can see by
watching an unreinad horse pulling a
heavy load up hill, and noticing how
no lowers his head and swings it from
side to side, balancing and aiding in
the drawing Of the weight
Horses that are comfortable have a
wistGul contented look with an easy
movement of the head that improves
their appearances. while thuse with the
overhead check have a stiff, constrained
bearing noticeable a square away. The
beautiful curve of the neck replaced by
the we-neck, and their noses in
the air, like camel. A check rein
cannot possibly give style where no
natural style exists. A horse that has
been accustomed to it, when driven
withuu, may move awkwartlly for awhile
but this is soon corrected by keeping d
firm rein, and using little care in
training him. Horses should he broken
} to travel without check rein or blind
halter and thor use would never be
necessary. If the owner OF horse
considers it quite necessary TO his good
appearance to use the rBin while driv-
ing, no might at least uurein ham wher
standing hitched and allow him few
: minutes in which to stretch his tirec
{ muscles in comfort.
Perhaps the most frequent reply to +
/, remonstrance against the check rein is,
! "Oh, that's the way the horse naturally
, holds his nead,n which provoles tn,
/ obvious answer, "Theu why DO yot
! need the cheGk?''
The practice seems especially cruel il
/ hot weather, yet ono constantly seel
passing in tho street horse who il
e dangerously heated by fast driving, ant
I with this additional fret his blooC
probably boils, like that of the spectator
y docs, with Indignation. Many mar
thus driving probably thinks the pro
, lnnged gaze Of lhe onlooker meana adj
miratiou of his team when if he coult
a read it correctly ne would understand
a that it means contempt of him for hi
a cruelty. and Genp pity fer the poo
4 animal in his power. The idea that v,
+. have unlimited rigGt over the ANNA
y creation is Il remnant of harbariam
4 animals are ours 10 use, not to abuse
n They are Gods creatures aa much q
4 We, and We are Responsible 10 Him 70
! tho manner in which wa treat them
The righteous man regardeth the lif
of his hpurt - Irst;na