Object number
63/10
Title
National Equine Defense League,
Creator
Description
This is an enamelled sign, with black and red lettering and a two horses on a white background, showing the correct and incorrect way to work a horse in a collar. It was issued by the National Equine Defense League to encourage carters to loosen the bearing reigns on their horses while going up steep hills. The sign was discovered at the bottom of a steep hill in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Physical description
1 sign: good condition, but chippedInscription: 'Restraint & Pain. Give him his head. He cannot work like that. Could you? Freedom & Power. Nice easy position. Head down, weight in collar. Try this way. The National Equine Defense League, New South Gate, London, N.'
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: … // Accession number: … // Classification: … // Negative number: … // Acquisition method: … // Acquired from: … // Date: … // Store: … // Condition: … // Recorder: JMB // Date: New sheet 5.3.87 // Description: Large rectangular enamelled sign showing the correct and incorrect way to work a horse in a collar. Black and red lettering with two horses on a white background. // Notice issued by the National Equine Defence League. // Dimensions: Height: 76.0cm Width: 102.0cm // Associated information: Inscription: RESTRAINT & PAIN // GIVE HIM HIS HEAD // (Drawing) // HE CANNOT WORK // LIKE THAT. COULD YOU? // FREEDOM & POWER // NICE EASY POSITION // (Drawing) // HEAD DOWN // WEIGHT IN COLLAR // TRY THIS WAY // THE NATIONAL EQUINE DEFENSE LEAGUE // NEW SOUTHGATE LONDON N. // BRUTON PALMERS GREEN N. // This sign was discovered by Mrs Gresham Cooke at the bottom of a steep hill near Bushey, Hertfordshire. After a good deal of trouble the ownership of the sign was traced to the London Transport Board who eventually donated it to MERL. // These signs were produced by the National Equine Defense League to encourage carters to loosen the bearing reins on their horses while going up steep hills. A horse was greatly distress and could not pull properly uphill with a tight bearing reign. // References: See correspondence for details about this sign.'
Production place
Enfield
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5989.tif - High resolution image
