ROAD HORSES. . 135 



able, but at a great disadvantage. I notice that in 

 drawing weight most horses hold their heads in a 

 medium position." 



As to the over-draw check, useful as it is in some 

 cases, I am free to say that I wish it had never been 

 invented, so grossly is it abused. How often do we 

 see some wretched victim of man's cruelty straining 

 up hill with his neck in an abnormal position, or 

 standing still and denied the poor privilege of hang- 

 ing his despondent and weary head. Nevertheless it 

 is extremely probable that the same horse, if equipped 

 with a moderate side check, would perform a journey 

 more comfortably than if he wore no check. If his 

 head were free, he would be apt to carry it somewhere 

 between his fore legs, going more carelessly as he be- 

 came tired, stumbling, and perhaps falling before he 

 reached his destination; whereas a moderate check 

 would hold him together, and sustain his morale. 

 The driver who gets out at the foot of every steep 

 hill and unchecks his horse is, generally speaking, 

 more humane than the man who dispenses with it 

 altogether; and upon a journey, or upon a long after- 

 noon's drive in the family carriage, this amount of 

 trouble ought not to be begrudged. Besides, the exer- 

 tion of hopping in and out (in addition, of course, to 

 walking up all the steep pitches) will tend to ward 

 off that stiffness which is likely to attack the legs of a 

 lazy passenger. 



In a word, then, the check rein is sometimes neces- 

 sary to the proper control of the horse, and more often 

 it is an advantage to the horse himself; but when 

 drawn too tight, especially if it be an over-draw check, 

 it is a hindrance and a vexation, and frequently an 



