This article is about the part of a harness. For other uses, see riding aids.
Bearing reins
Side check
Overcheck
Combined overcheck and sidecheck
Bearing reins or check reins, and its variant the overcheck, are parts of horse harness that run from the bit to the center of the horse's back. The primary purpose of a bearing rein is to prevent the horse from lowering its head. The secondary purpose is to raise the horse's head to a higher position for aesthetic reasons. Bearing reins are not reins held in the driver's hand and are not used to direct the horse to turn, slow down, or stop. They should be adjusted to keep a horse from lowering its head too far—such as to graze grass while in harness, scratch their sweaty head on their knee, or pull the reins loose from the driver's hand—and potentially getting their harness straps caught up in the ends of a shaft or pole .[1]:414,450[2]:20[3]:23
There are several variations, but all bearing reins start by connecting to the horse's bit or a separate small bradoon bit, then reach to a hook at the center of the harness saddle or pad, called a pad hook or bolt hook. Bearing reins are optional with horse harness, however when using them the harness must have a crupper to keep the harness saddle in position and not be pulled forward by the horse stretching against the bearing rein.[1]:420,451[2]:20,31,98
Side check: The simplest variation is the side check, a short rein passing directly from the bit to the harness saddle.[1]:425,454
Side check with drop: The most common side check includes a drop. The bearing rein starts at the bit and raises slightly to pass through a ring called a swivel which hangs from a strap called a bearing rein drop (or bradoon hanger or gag runner), travels rearward, then hooks onto the ring on the harness saddle. The drop and swivel are attached high on the bridle near the ear and bridle's rosette, one on each side of the head.[1]:433[2]:20,34,262
Overcheck: The overcheck design has straps which go from the bit rings to the center of the face, up the center of the face to between the ears, over the poll, and then to the harness saddle. There is usually a short half-noseband to help keep the straps in front of the face. The overcheck style is also known as an overhead check, an overdraw, and a Kemble Jackson Check .[1]:446,450[2]:69,204
Overcheck, showing the straps on the face and between the ears
The overcheck style is common in harness racing. Side checks with drop are most common with British carriage driving, while overchecks are more popular with North American styles of driving such as fine harness showing.[2]:204
Use
Driving judge Muffy Seaton stated that although overchecks are permissible or even mandated at some breed-specific horse shows in the US, "overchecks are not allowed at American Driving Society, United States Equestrian Federation or Fédération Equestre Internationale sanctioned events".[4]
According to Shaw (1909), the purpose of the bearing rein is to "assist the driver in controlling the puller or horse that is liable to stumble" but because it also "causes its wearer to carry his head better, it is often utilised for the purpose of improving his appearance".[3]:23
Fairman Rogers wrote in 1899 that the use of bearing reins had mostly been discarded for coach work, but remained in vogue for park driving in order to have a uniform position of the heads of an entire team of horses. He allowed that they were acceptable if adjusted intelligently, suggesting they should be slightly slack while the horse was in motion, and would likely be taught when the horse was standing still. For work which might include going uphill or with a heavy load, "a horse throws his weight forward into the collar and puts down his head", and therefore would be hindered by a bearing rein. Rogers goes on to note that bearing reins can help to control horses in the excitement of a parade, or to save a coachman from fatigue of a horse which bears down on the bit—for which he recommends changing a horse's bit and training him not to pull on the driver. He also suggests it might discourage a horse inclined to kick because it must first get its head down. Rogers considers the overcheck style "an instrument of torture", only allegedly useful to raise the head and open the airways for a racing trotter. A final caveat from Rogers: "If bearing-reins are not used, the coachman must always keep his eye on his wheelers when they are standing still, or one of them may drop his head and, getting his bit caught on the pole-head, pull off his bridle. For this reason the bearing-rein is not out of place on a pair used for shopping or visiting, but it should be loose."[5]:256–263
Abuse
Properly adjusted and when used for a limited period of time, an overcheck does not significantly impede the motion of the horse or cause discomfort. If too tight, however, an overcheck rein can be uncomfortable because it puts strain on the neck muscles and ligaments. If an overcheck is inappropriately used, or used for too long a period, spinal strain resulting in neck or back injury can occur.
Even though the horse's mouth is closed, this excessively short overcheck has pulled the corners of the lips upwards, exposing the inside of the mouth.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, overchecks and bearing reins were commonly used on stylish carriage horses to keep their heads up, at times to an extreme degree, depending on the fashion of the time. Improper use and overuse created chronic problems with the spine and back that in some cases made certain horses useless as working animals. Fashion extremes tightened bearing reins to the degree that it made breathing difficult.
Tight bearing reins were even thought to contribute to the onset of whistling and roaring.[3]:278,358
Abuses were mentioned in the novel Black Beauty where the "Anti-Bearing Rein Association" was formed to try to stop the practice of using bearing reins abusively.[6] About that time, the cause was also taken up by the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.[7]
The term bearing rein is derived from the definition of "bearing" which means "the manner in which one bears or conducts one's self; mien; behavior; carriage." The reference suggested that high head carriage was a sign of nobility or pride. However, 19th century critics of the bearing rein applied a pejorative meaning to the word, meaning "patient endurance; suffering without complaint".[citation needed]
Related equipment
Bearing reins are rarely used while riding, however one may be installed when a very small child lacks the strength to stop a disobedient pony from reaching for grass while being ridden. For some saddle seat breeds, an overcheck may be used as part of a bitting rig to teach the horse the proper high head position for competition. Related types of training equipment include side reins, the chambon, the Gogue, and the gag.[3]:144
‡ indicates vehicles that were used historically in public transport services
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