FARM MEMORANDA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2162, 29 January 1881, Page 3

FARM MEMORANDA.

The following miseries may be enumerated, which are every day inflicted on horses by the use of unsuitable harness :—lst. Abraded breast. 2nd. Inflamed back from defective saddle or harness pad. 3rd. Sore mouth from a too tight gag rein, a severe bit, or both. 4th. A sore tail from too tight or badly made crupper. sth. An abrasion under the body, caused by a too tight or badly fitted belly band. 6th. Irritation of the eyes from blinkers being strapped too close together, or allowed to swing around, first striking one eye and then the other, 7th. Ears chafed by the brow band being placed too high, or by metallic rosettes with a sharp outer rim, the base of the ear pressing across this at every motion. Bth. The excessive fatigue of all the structures of the neck under the influence of the bearing rein. The bearing rein if made tight, and kept so for any considerable length of time, is a source of great discomfort to all horses, and an insufferable torment to many. A taut rein can bo used with entire propriety on horses of fine, easy up carriage, especially while in motion, but if the muscles and bony structure of the neck extend forward horizontally from an upright shoulder, rather than striking out from a slanting shoulder, then the most intense suffering will be inflicted by straining the neck up to an angle entirely unnatural to the animal, especially if this strain be long kept up. To strain a culprit up by the thumbs, till only his toes touch the ground, is certainly one of the severest admissible punishments that can be inflicted upon mortals, and the check rein is undoubtedly skin to it, in its extreme'application. —“ Williamette Farmer.”