Why people use it I cannot imagine, for anyone with half an eye knows that it ruins the looks of a horse.
Master says that he, for one, will never presume to improve on the works of the Creator, who is far more artistic than man, and understands the science of beauty perfectly.
Many horses have told me, in tones from which all hope seemed gone, of the long hours of inexpressible torture they endure. They say, and I hear it told that the most eminent veterinary physicians in the world say the same, that the check-rein injures a horse from his head to his tail, from his shoulder to his hoof; it brings on disease and deformity. If a horse's neck has not naturally a fine curve, the rein is not going to remedy the matter. Forced curves are not elegant, and the most of the animals I have seen wearing it look like ganders when pursuing somebody.
Master said it was terrible to witness the mute agony of horses harnessed to fine carriages and sleighs, that he saw while East; and the worst of it is, they generally belong to people who call themselves Christians. Sabbath after Sabbath men and women kneel in the churches and pray for mercy, while their helpless servants stand without, suffering the extreme of torture. There is no mercy for them.
People go about trying to do good, with never a thought of the agony within reach of their hand that they might relieve.
Strange that intelligent, human beings should imagine for a moment that the continual champing of bits, twitching of the lips, and tossing of the head of an over-checked horse should mean "high life;" don't they know that they are the only protests that they can make against the cruel torture that they are enduring; the signs of pain; the mute entreaties for mercy?
Master says that if some people have it measured to them as they measure unto the helpless, there is a dreadful day coming; and he believes that many a man will make his bed in hell because of his treatment of God's defenseless creatures here.
Some young men, caught in a rain storm, came into our barn for shelter one day, and I am going to give a little of their conversation for the benefit of other sportsmen. These had been out hunting.
"Hi, Billy, but didn't that rabbit cut some antics after I got a pop at him?"
"Yes; why, he didn't seem to know nothin', jest come up 'nd looked a fellow right in the face with the blood all tricklin' down. He died game."