132 ROAD, TRACK, AND STABLE. 



driver to be able to watch his eye, as well as his ear. 

 Some pulling horses go better with blinders, and some 

 nervous horses may be safer with them. It is a 

 matter for experiment in the particular case. 



The question of check reins is not disposed of so 

 easily, although many good people have convinced 

 themselves that check reins under all circumstances 

 are cruel and unnecessary. I know of one person 

 whose great object in life, apart from the earning of 

 his daily bread, is to do away with this part of the 

 harness. The check rein, as all horsemen know, is 

 often essential to the safety of human life and limb. 

 People who write tracts or letters to the newspapers 

 condemning it in toto have no knowledge of horseflesh 

 beyond what they derive from an acquaintance with 

 some sedate family nag of mature years. If they had 

 a stableful of young horses to exercise in harness 

 in winter weather, they would change their minds on 

 this point. Many gay horses can be driven in per- 

 fect safety provided they wear check reins, especially 

 if they wear the over-draw check ; whereas the same 

 horses without checks would be likely at any moment 

 to put their heads down and run away, or, if they had 

 a touch of deviltry, to kick up behind. It should not 

 be forgotten that the use of the check rein makes it 

 possible to use an easy bit, where without the check 

 a severe bit would have to be employed ; and any 

 horse in his senses would prefer a check to a se- 

 vere bit. 



But apart from these cases, which, after all, are few 

 in number compared with the great mass of horses in 

 the service of man, the check has another function, 

 which is to steady the horse, and to make it easier 



