CHECKING AND BLINDERS. 



17 



by the author of the work referred to, showing the position of 

 the head pulled up and back, which necessarily shortens the 

 back and extends the limbs to such a degree as to subject the 

 horse to the most uncomfortable and painful position of restraint. 

 This engraving, the author tells us, was made from a photo- 

 graph of the horse as he appeared when purchased. Fig. 331 



Fig. 329. — The check rein on work horses. 



shows the same horse with the head and neck free, being also 

 engraved from a photograph of the horse, in the position he 

 appears ; so that these figures do not exaggerate facts. 



Figs. 324, 325, are photographs of what are termed " burrs" 

 that have been used by the drivers of that city upon the bits of 

 their horses, and are here given for the purpose of showing 

 their effect upon the horses. The side view (Fig. 325) shows 

 the ends of the tacks as they extend through the leather. 

 These burrs were placed on the bit on each side of the mouth, 

 so that the least pull of the reins would force the ends of the 

 tacks against the cheeks, thereby producing great excitement 

 and pain. The one copied from was taken from hundreds of 

 others like it in Mr. Bergh's office, which had been taken by his 



