Care and Management of Horses 99 
and they will pull a much heavier load. This is because they have 
more liberty with the head, are able to see the ground immediately 
in front, and to lower the head and thus throw more power into 
the collar. 
The over-check rein was devised for trotting horses, but has 
become so popular that it is used almost exclusively for driving 
horses. It holds the horse’s head in such position that he is un- 
able to see the ground immediately in front of him, and he is 
therefore very likely to stumble. It also holds the head in such a 
way that he cannot pull efficiently. This is particularly true in 
ascending a steep grade. Again, it holds the head and neck in 
such an unnatural position that the neck soon becomes numbed, 
and the horse is seen to toss his head from side to side and to 
take other characteristic attitudes in search of relief. 
The horse should always be reined mildly. Without the rein 
he is likely to become careless in his habits, shambling in his gait, 
and to yield to the temptation to eat grass when standing. When 
the animal lowers his head and neck, the lines, collar, and breast- 
harness slip down and he is likely to become tangled in the harness 
and may get into difficulty. 
170. Fitting the collar.— The service of the horse is largely 
accomplished by the shoulders, and it is of the utmost importance 
that the collar fit the neck and shoulders perfectly. Poorly fitted 
collars cause the horse much pain, result in sore necks and shoulders, 
and are a common cause of viciousness and bad habits. Be- 
cause of the extreme importance of having a well-fitting collar, 
many makes have been put on the market, such as the leather, 
the sweeny, the half sweeny, the pneumatic, the steel, and the 
humane, each asserting superiority over the others (Fig. 43). 
Each has its advantages and disadvantages. 
Fitting the collar is a rather difficult task. It is so firm and 
stiff that usually it is impossible to buckle the harness tight enough 
to bring it to the shape of the animal’s neck, and the shoulders 
are therefore adjusted to the collar rather than the collar to the 
