TRAINING THE HORSE. 99 



cord for thirty minutes, and in the mean time sit around 

 and read the newspaper or smoke a cigar. At the end 

 of that time, hitch him up again and give him another 

 trial; if he refuses again, put on the cord for another 

 thirty minutes, and so repeat until you have conquered 

 the horse, if it takes the whole day, as to break stub- 

 born horses requires some time. Dead horses are 

 not worth one cent; never spend any labor in break- 

 ing them, as it is only thrown away. High-life horses 

 can be broke. 



THE ABUSE OF THE CHECK-REIN., 



Now a word about the check-rein. I claim that the 

 check-rein should never be used, except to keep the 

 horse from putting his head to the ground. The over- 

 draw check should never be used, as it is too cruel, 

 and the only possible way it can be advantageously 

 applied is on trotting horses when going at a very 

 rapid gait, and it then assists in steadying them. As I 

 have stated before, no horse can be given unnatural 

 style, and endeavoring to do so only injures the ani- 

 mal, by bringing on cramps, etc. 



How many times do we see a fashionable equipage 

 standing on the street, with the horses' heads high in 

 the air, moving uneasily from side to side ! Every 

 time they show the pain they suffer, the well-dressed 

 coachman on the seat gives them a sharp cut on the 

 ears with his whip. This is heartless. How could you 

 bear it yourself, with your head jerked back in this 

 manner, for hours at a time ? Of course, now that 

 your attention is brought to the matter, you see the 

 mistake that is made, and the better the drivers in 

 general understand the effect it has and feel more 

 positive every day, the use of it will probably be less- 

 ened in proportion. 



