250 CHECKING AND BLINDERS. 



temper of the horse, this form of check holds the head up so arbi- 

 trarily that the horse is helpless to resist it, giving the appearance 

 of style, especially in thos'e, that carry the head rather low, and 

 hence their popularity with dealers. These improvements were 

 brought into use, as has been stated before, by the professional 

 trainer, for the sole purpose of making horses trot steadier and 

 faster ; but on account of the appearance of style which they forced 



Fig. 803.— The Head as Usually Drawn up with the Overdraw Cheek. 



the horse to indicate, and the pride most people exhibit in trying 

 to givetheir horses the semblance of superior form and style which 

 it conveys, as we,ll as to intimate, as far as they can, the efforts of 

 the professional trainer of trotters, they have, during the past dec- 

 ade, come into very general use. 



It may be worthy of mention that this check is peculiar to this 

 country, not beirig, as far as I knOw,'used in any other country, 

 only the old form, with its modifications, being used in Europe. 

 In England it is known as the "bearing-rein." 



In originally using this check, or bearing-rein, upon driving 

 horses, the object has been to use only so much restraint as would 



