SPRING BOXES FOR HALTER REINS. 
413 
with no hurt at all perhaps. On the other hand, something may 
alarm the horse at the time his leg is entangled, or he may be, 
coutes qui coute , make efforts by plunging to extricate himself, 
and in his fright and violence may possibly break his leg, or even 
his neck or his back. 
The writer of this once knew a horse to break his back by getting 
cast underneath the bail in a bailed stable. 
A contrivance that was introduced many years ago, and which 
is still to be found in operation in some old-fashioned stables, is 
the concealed strap playing between two rollers, let into the skirt- 
ing-boards underneath the manger, behind which plays up and down 
the log, out of reach and sight as well. 
The spring halter-box we have now before us is, in effect at 
least, not very unlike this, the operation of the spring within being 
to cause the strap to recoil back into the box the moment the force 
that dragged it out is removed. To render this more intelligible — 
the box itself is about the shape and size of a very large padlock, 
and is composed of two stout iron plates, between which is lodged 
a circular steel spring, and around this is coiled the strap of the 
halter, after the manner in which the chain of the works of a watch 
is lapped round its mainspring : the strap running out of the box 
whenever sufficient pull is used, between two brass rollers, which, 
as often as the pull ceases to operate, the length of rope recoils, 
per force of the spring, back into the box. The opposite side of 
the box to that which gives issue to the strap is furnished with a 
ring and screw-staple, by which it is fastened to the manger. 
Feeling desirous of ascertaining what weight or force was re- 
quired to draw the strap out of the box, we suspended the box to 
a hook in the wall, and appended a weight to the spring-hook 
attached to the end of the strap. To drag the strap out to its full 
extent required seven pounds, half that weight proving pretty well 
sufficient to extend it half-way : the power requiring increasing, of 
course, in ratio with the length of strap drawn out : so that a 
horse tied up with a single box and strap would have from three 
to six pounds pulling at the head ; with double box and strap, 
double that force : to which something need be added for the 
weight of the box, that being moveable, up and down upon its 
ring-staple. This to a horse while he is standing, and is full of 
health and spirits, may not, perhaps, be any great matter, further 
than the continual drag upon the head-stall, through which his 
nose or his poll, or the roots of his ears, may in the course of time 
become chafed ; but it is another matter in the case of a horse that 
is already hanging his head from being unwell, or of one that is 
lying down, wishing to take his rest — a posture in which, from 
VOL. XXI. 3 K 
