12 



CHECKING AND BLINDERS. 



horses, and his colt ought to trot, etc." But notwithstanding 

 my utmost efforts, I could not persuade him to leave off 

 the check. 



The same evening I saw a gentle family horse driven by 

 two girls. The horse, one of the kindest of animals, was 

 checked as high as he could be made to carry his head ; and 

 while driving on a walk it was really painful to notice the 

 strained manner in which the poor creature stepped, taking up 

 his feet and putting them down almost like a blind horse, be- 



FiG. 322 



cause the nose being pulled up so high, the blinders prevented 

 his seeing the ground before him, at the same time working 

 the mouth and throwing the head right and left in the effort to 

 free himself from the severe restraint. For a good illustration 

 of these positions, see Figs. 305 to 310. 



This is only a fair illustration of how many favorite driv- 

 ing and family horses, including even some work horses, are 

 unintentionally checked up, and compelled to remain so for 

 hours at a time, no matter how worked. 



Geo. T. Angell, Esq., President of the Massachusetts Hu- 

 mane Society, in a paper showing the injurious effects of the 

 check, says : — 



