326 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sonably safe, the use of a check rein is cruel. Hardly a day passes 

 that I do not see, here in Foxcroft, tied up at some grocery store, 

 a horse with liis ribs as prominent as if he had swallowed a lime 

 cask head foremost, with his poor head drawn up and his mouth 

 perhaps cut half way up into his jaw. That is wrong ; tliat is 

 cruel ; that is wicked. The agony the horse thus sufl'crs is incal- 

 culable. 



Then, again, this hurts a horse in his travel. As a mere ques- 

 tion of economy it is wrong. My experience is, that my horse 

 gains in time two miles out of eight by the absence of the check. 

 It is much more convenient. I do not object when you have a 

 high-strung horse, that has stood in the stable for a week or two, 

 or for a few days, (he ought never to stand more than a day or two) 

 and is full of life, to your putting a check upon him for half an 

 hour. It may be necessary to hold that horse in subjection under 

 certain circumstances. The old-fashioned martingale has passed 

 away, almost entirely. That was somewhat cruel. Our livery 

 stable keepers are getting more wisdom. AVhen I find a pretty old 

 horse checked up taut for me to drive, I think that mail is going to 

 fail in his business, unless he cheats somebody. Much as I might 

 claim superiority over a horse, I believe that when he puts his liead 

 down going up hill he knows better than I do the easiest way for 

 him to travel. Then how convenient it is to be without a check 

 rein when you come up to the watering trough ! Your horse can 

 drink at his leisure, and swing round his neck to drive ofiF the flies, 

 and he will feel as nice and comfortable as need be. I have hardly 

 ever driven a horse, however spirited he might be, that I did not, 

 after I started out from tlie village, unhook liis clicck rein. I know 

 that this is not popular, because I know a good many think their 

 horses look better and handsomer when they are chocked. Look 

 here. You are made of flesh and bone, and the structure of j'^our 

 bodies is not so very materially diflercnt from the structure of the 

 horse. You are subject to pain as the horse is. Suppose some- 

 body should suggest that you would look a little better if j'ou had 

 a straight pole tied to your back and your head lashed back to it ! 

 It might be very nice for you to walk with your head braced back 

 for a time, but I don't think you would like to continue it a great 

 while. I apprehend that more agonj'- is caused to our beasts of 

 burden by the use of the check rein than by all the blows of whips 

 or clubs that are inflicted upon them. This is not a popular doc- 

 trine, I know ; horse jockeys don't like it ; but, as I told you yes- 



