Knowledge (XXG)

Overcheck

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349: 179: 77: 36: 345:, it generally is not used at all, as it puts the animal off balance by preventing it from lowering its head when trying to pull significant weight. A horse pulling weight normally lowers and extends its neck in order to push against the harness. If an overcheck is inappropriately used, or used for too long a period, spinal strain resulting in neck or back injury can occur. 264: 330: 445:
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
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An overcheck has a practical purpose; if a horse lowers its head too far when in harness, particularly if moving quickly, it can catch the bridle or reins on the shafts of the carriage or wagon, risking an accident. Properly adjusted and when used for a limited period of time, an overcheck does not
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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. Today it is used primarily for
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when being ridden by very young riders in order to prevent the pony from putting its head down and grazing while being ridden, an act of disobedience that a small child often lacks the physical strength to prevent.
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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. On a hard-working
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The modern overcheck is often a necessary piece of safety equipment for certain types of harness and is an aid to the driver in keeping a horse's head properly positioned.
432:. The fashion extremes of the 18th and 19th centuries at times tightened a bearing rein to the degree that it made breathing difficult. This is touched on in the novel 189: 396:
horses, because it can lead to the horse traveling with a hollow frame, the opposite of the rounded frame encouraged in dressage. A device that looks similar, the
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that assists the horse in learning the proper high head position for competition that also emphasizes high knee action. While not normally used by a rider in the
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Historically, improper use and overuse created chronic problems with the spine and back that in some cases made certain horses useless as
1479: 241: 223: 160: 63: 400:, is sometimes used in training of dressage horses. However, the chambon encourages the horse to lower, not raise, its head. The 578: 98: 610: 1472: 1181: 141: 348: 113: 205: 466:, intended to keep the horse's head tucked in. Side reins are a very common training tool for working horses on the 94: 49: 87: 120: 603: 670: 127: 1501: 1007: 109: 1249: 890: 291:. It is used to prevent the horse from lowering its head beyond a fixed point. A variation called a 1064: 471: 1416: 987: 706: 1166: 1129: 935: 844: 574: 549: 1139: 1082: 992: 675: 311: 1327: 1280: 1275: 1265: 584: 557: 483: 1506: 1234: 1039: 854: 829: 795: 721: 665: 660: 429: 365: 353: 201: 134: 55: 1495: 1454: 1322: 1239: 979: 963: 920: 915: 834: 785: 488: 361: 307: 284: 1054: 1029: 701: 434: 418: 1347: 1270: 1229: 1161: 1024: 1017: 905: 819: 805: 754: 685: 493: 377: 369: 342: 288: 263: 257: 76: 1171: 910: 839: 680: 626: 455: 414: 1383: 1378: 1342: 1285: 1156: 1044: 930: 925: 864: 790: 762: 726: 561: 545: 518: 459: 303: 267:
A modern harness with an overcheck rein, visible along the neck of the horse
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Related types of checkrein often used in conjunction with an overcheck are
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Head shot of an overcheck on a harness racing horse, with separate bit
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the word, meaning "patient endurance; suffering without complaint".
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An overcheck or bearing rein can be attached to the same bit as the
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This article is about the part of a harness. For other uses, see
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or exhibition use, particularly in the schooling and showing of
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that runs from a point on the horse's back, over the head, to a
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passes beside the ears through loops at the top of the
197: 458:, a pair of reins which run simply from the bit to a 384:, it is common in some places to put an overcheck on 1258: 1214: 1063: 978: 873: 804: 773: 694: 651: 188:deal primarily with America and do not represent a 101:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 474:, but rarely if ever are used by a mounted rider. 611: 392:The overcheck is generally not used to train 186:The examples and perspective in this article 8: 64:Learn how and when to remove these messages 1440: 1402: 1361: 1303: 1211: 1200: 1115: 975: 958: 770: 749: 648: 634: 618: 604: 596: 360:The overcheck is also used today in some 242:Learn how and when to remove this message 224:Learn how and when to remove this message 161:Learn how and when to remove this message 531:Edmonton Bulletin, March 12, 1907, p. 11 27:Item of harness over the head of a horse 510: 368:. In particular, it is used on certain 364:activities, and for certain types of 7: 546:George Routledge & Sons, Limited 99:adding citations to reliable sources 1120:Tack accessories and training tools 25: 1480:Category:Horse tack and equipment 45:This article has multiple issues. 1308:Historic or ceremonial equipment 321:, or to a second, separate bit. 177: 75: 34: 874:Component parts and accessories 86:needs additional citations for 53:or discuss these issues on the 542:The Encyclopædia of the Stable 1: 1473:Glossary of equestrian terms 1182:Draw reins and running reins 642:, components and accessories 571:The Encyclopaedia of Driving 421:horses and certain types of 404:is a related training tool. 200:, discuss the issue on the 1523: 695:Components and accessories 302:It can be attached to the 255: 1467: 1450: 1439: 1412: 1401: 1374: 1360: 1313: 1302: 1210: 1199: 1125: 1114: 974: 957: 769: 748: 647: 633: 627:Horse equipment and tack 569:Walrond, Sallie (1979). 671:Australian stock saddle 352:An overcheck used on a 1003:Bearing rein/overcheck 573:. Country Life Books. 357: 334: 268: 351: 332: 266: 891:Mechanical hackamore 372:horses while on the 310:, or to the harness 206:create a new article 198:improve this article 95:improve this article 1065:Horse-drawn vehicle 540:Shaw, Vero (1909). 472:equestrian vaulting 275:, also known as an 358: 335: 297:bridle cheekpieces 269: 1489: 1488: 1463: 1462: 1435: 1434: 1397: 1396: 1356: 1355: 1298: 1297: 1294: 1293: 1195: 1194: 1167:Longeing cavesson 1110: 1109: 1106: 1105: 1008:Blinders/blinkers 953: 952: 949: 948: 881:Noseband/cavesson 744: 743: 740: 739: 450:Related equipment 362:equestrian riding 252: 251: 244: 234: 233: 226: 208:, as appropriate. 171: 170: 163: 145: 68: 16:(Redirected from 1514: 1441: 1403: 1362: 1304: 1212: 1201: 1116: 1030:Collar and hames 976: 959: 771: 750: 676:McClellan saddle 649: 635: 620: 613: 606: 597: 592: 565: 532: 529: 523: 515: 283:, is a piece of 247: 240: 229: 222: 218: 215: 209: 181: 180: 173: 166: 159: 155: 152: 146: 144: 103: 79: 71: 60: 38: 37: 30: 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Index

Bearing rein
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verification
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"Overcheck"
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JSTOR
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worldwide view
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riding aids

horse harness
bit
bridle cheekpieces
surcingle
horse harness
saddle
reins

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