Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-08-26

INC matter OF harness Is Of no small
Importance, and this should be we'll
ntted and well-made. Some people will
Try to make one harness fit several
norses Of varying sizes and imagine
tnat they are having equal success with
each The bad adjustment Of the head
stall aloe Is thing that makes horse
look uncomfortable, even II he is not
really so. The straps must be adjusted
SO that the bit will fit naturally in the
mouth and will rest easily. II It is too
snort 1t Will push up the flesh in a
manner that makes the animal appear
ridiculous, and II too long the straps
VIII be sagging and have an untidy
look. This is little thing. but one
that has much to do with the COM
tort OF the animal and OF the driver.
The question of binders was large
iy disposed Of some time ago. Their
use w@s begun with the idea that the
morse was easily scared. but il Is now
realized that it is better to educate the
morse than to attempt to protect him
against all possible fright. Some one
mas justly said that there is no more
reason for using binders on the car
rage horse than there is on the horse
that we put under the saddle. 1t is the
experience of horsemen that IL horse
is accustomed TO go without binders
he will do better and go better without
them. They are really no protection.
even to skittish horse, rs the skittish
morse never SHES at what he under
stands. They also cause discomfort
and blindness by retaining the dust
and heat In a hot day even binders
may keep OF the moving air to an ex-
tent that will prove uncomfortable TO
the animal 1t is the advice of train
ers that if horse has been accustomed
to binders it is not best to leave them
of at once. but to use flaring blinders
for time.
Then comes the check rein, that
abomination that is still being used in
some quarters, but which is fast fall
ing into disrepute. The idea that a
horses nose must be pointing to the
stars so that he will appear stylish IS
no longer tolerated by humane horse
men. II a check rein is used at all IL
should never be made short and tight I
1t is sure to tire the neck of the horse I
and will sometimes make 1t stiff. 1t
also tends to destroy all elasticity
There is another reason why the check 4
rein should not be used: If a horse 1
stumbles and is about to fall he nat /
urally puts his head down, and this I
helps him to recover his position, but ii 4
be must keep his head up it often hap I
pens that he is unable to save him 1
self from falling. There is no doubt /
that the check rein has been the cause
Of many a fall and the breaking of |
many carriage, to say nothing Of tue
injury of its occupants. Some hold to
The absurd belief that a check rein
helps to hold the animal up, but one
writer says that you might just as well
expect man to save himself from fall
ng by Tightening his suspenders as for
/ horse to be saved from falling by a
light check rein One writer says:
One of the most prevalent abuses, one
hat causes the greatest torture, one
hat diminishes the value and shortens
he lives of more horses than any 9TH
IT. is. perhaps. the use of over-checks
lightly drawn during long intervals,
md at times when the horse most needs
reedom for the full exercise of his
ungs. nerves and muscles of the neck
nd head. Any thoughtful person that
xamines the anatomical structure OF
he head and neck Of the horse must
e impressed with the great strain upon
hese nerves and muscles required By
allure, even when their normal liberty
nd freedom are urdisturbed or per-
urbed by artificial devices. That over
hecking is often the initial cause of
Inflammation of the muscles, and even
f the brain, there is no doubt. If this
e true can it be doubted that this hab-
of tight overlooking Tor tight rein
lg), as practiced by many persons, Of
IN contributes to the virulence OF spi-
al meningitis, neuralgia, rbeuma-
SIN, thumps, apoplexy and paralysis?
Look After Your Patrons
1t would be valuable object lesson
a great many buttermakers if