CHAPTER XXIII. 



USE AND ABUSE OF THE OVERHEAD CHECK-REIN. 



Very much has been written about the abuse of the over-head 

 check-rein, but this subject, hke ahnost all others, has its friends and 

 enemies; but the matter will be treated from both sides of the question 

 believing that it has a valuable use as well as its abuse. 



THE "KIMBLE JACKSON" CHECK-REIN. 



The over-head or over-draw check-rein was devised and first used by 

 the old-time driver, Hiram Woodruff, on the trotting horse Kimball 

 Jackson, and was called for a long time the "Kimball Jackson" check- 

 rein. It was used to prevent him from getting his head down when he 

 made a break, which by the side-check rein, he could not be brought 

 back to the trotting gait again. This "Kimball Jackson" check answered 

 so good a purpose with a great many trotting and pacing horses, that 

 its use has become almost universal. But the trainer knows that it 

 is very hard on the horse to keep his head drawn up high for any great 

 length of time, and so he does not check him up high until he is 

 ready to speed him, and then as soon as he has gone the short distance 

 of one or two miles, he does not fail to uncheck his charge and give 

 relief to the horse. 



ITS USE WITH THE RACE-HORSE DRIVERS. 



This check was intended to be used on the track, where the surface 

 is about as smooth as a floor, and only for a short time, without giving 

 relief, by letting the horse have a chance to rest his tired neck. 



ITS ABUSE WITH THE ROAD RIDERS AND DRIVERS. 



The use of this check became so popular with the trotting horse- 

 men that everybody thought it must be just the check to be used on 

 every horse, and for any length of time, and today it has become almost 

 universal with all classes; but the poor horse is a great sufiferer on ac- 

 count of it being drawn tight, and left for so long a time, in conse- 

 quence of which we see the horse turning his head from side to side for 

 relief whenever stopping, and if we go to him and uncheck him he will 

 immediately put his head down near the ground for relief, just as we 

 would put our head forward and rub the back of our neck if we had 

 been looking up at the stars for two or three minutes. 



THE HORSE'S COMPLAINT OF HIS MASTER LEAVING HIM 

 CHECKED TIGHT. 



THE STORY TOLD BY THE HORSE. 



, Oh, cruel, unthinking, unfeeling, forgetful and neglectful master. If 

 you could have realized the cramped feeling and pain you have caused 



