Student Question
Why was the bearing rein used in Anna Sewell's Black Beauty at Earlshall Park?
Quick answer:
The bearing rein was used at Earlshall Park primarily for fashion, as Victorian society deemed the raised head and arched neck of a horse elegant. Lady W— insisted on this appearance for her carriage horses. However, this practice caused significant discomfort and strain, affecting the horses' breathing and overall health. Although modern uses of the bearing rein, now called the overcheck, exist, improper use can still harm the horse.
The bearing rein, called a check-rein in
Black Beauty, is a piece of tack that runs from the horse's back, over
the head, and attaches at the bit. It's function is to hold the horse's head at
a fixed position to prevent the horse from lowering its head. During the
Victorian era, the era in which Anna Sewell lived and set her novel, members of
society, especially of high society, used the bearing rein to such an extreme
that the horse's neck was pulled to nearly a right angle, forcing the horse's
chin up and creating an unnatural curve in the neck. Victorians
found this curve to be very elegant; hence, in the
Victorian era, the only purpose of the bearing reign was to fulfill a
fashion trend.
When Black Beauty and Ginger are sold to the Earl of W-- of Earlshall Park, we see Lady...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
W-- refer to the fashionableness of the bearing reign and state her position that her carriage horses absolutely must have raised heads in the following:
York, you must put those horses' heads higher; they are not fit to be seen. (Ch. 22)
Yet, used to such an extreme as the Victorians used it, the bearing reign put a great deal of strain on the horses' backs and legs, especially when pulling heavy loads and going up hill. They also made breathing very difficult. Beauty describes his ailments in the following:
Besides this, there was pressure on my windpipe, which often made my breathing very uncomfortable; when I returned from my work my neck and chest were strained and painful, my mouth and tongue tender, and I felt worn and depressed. (Ch. 23)
Today, the bearing reign, now called the overcheck, is used in training and in some equestrian riding activities. It can be useful in that it can prevent a horse from bucking or grazing. However, there is still a great risk in using the overcheck incorrectly, which will still cause injury to the horse's back, neck, and mouth.
References