THE BEARING-REIN. 89 



an attitude, and appearing to clog any free or easy 

 motion. 



"Ah, yes, it is as effectual in i"s way as is the 

 handcuff on the hands of a prisoner. A man cannot 

 run far with his hands tied together, the connection 

 between his arms and legs being such that they 

 unconsciously assist each other, and to tie the hands 

 is to prevent any rapid progression." 



Then what is the check -rein good for? 



"It is supposed to produce 'style' in a driving 

 horse. That is, his head is held up at an angle to 

 his body, at once unnatural and painful, and is kept 

 in a position, that every one must acknowledge, is 

 stiff, artificial, and ungraceful." 



Does it not defeat easy locomotion? 



" Undoubtedly, producing excessive fatigue, pain, 

 and long-suffering, through the severe strain put 

 upon all the muscles of the body." 



The constant use of it must then be an unmixed 

 evil? 



" It is so, emphatically. A horse driven daily 

 with a check-rein, will in time have the tendons of 

 his tongue paralyzed. The steady pull, so fixed and 

 constant, strains the muscles of the head and neck, 

 and becomes unbearable in its cruel pressure against 

 the corners of the mouth." 



Do they not get callous? 



" No, unfortunately; the effect is to wear away the 

 corners, little by little, until a hole is formed on 

 each side of the mouth from which the tongue pro- 

 trudes. I have seen horses' mouths so worn away at 

 the corners by the constant use of the bearing-rein, 



