grow manageable; and in some weeks they become as tame as if they had never been in a state of wildness. If by any accident they are once more set at liberty, they never become wild again, but know their masters, and come to their call. Some of the buccaneers have often been agreeably surprised, after a long absence, to see their faithful horses once more present themselves, with their usual assiduity, and come up, with fond submission, to receive the rein. These American horses, however, cannot properly be ranked among the wild races, since they were originally bred from such as were tame. It is not in the new, but the old world, that we are to look for this animal, in a true state of nature; in the extensive deserts of Africa, in Arabia, and those wide spread countries that separate Tartary from the more southern nations. Vast droves of these animals are seen wild among the Tartars: they are of a small breed, extremely swift, and very readily evade their pursuers. As they go together, they will not admit of any strange animals among them, though even of their own kind. Whenever they find a tame horse attempting to associate with them, they instantly gather round him, and soon oblige him to seek safety by flight. There are vast numbers also of wild horses to the north of China; but they are of a weak, timid breed; small of stature, and useless in war. But of all countries in the world, where the Horse runs wild, Arabia produces the most beautiful breed, the most generous, swift, and persevering.* They are found, though not in great numbers, in the deserts of that country; and the natives use every stratagem to take them. Although they are active and beautiful, yet they are not so large as those that are bred up tame. They are of a brown colour; their mane and tail very short, and the hair black and tufted. (g) Their swiftness is incredible; the attempt to pursue them in the usual manner of the chase, with dogs, would be entirely fruitless. Such is the rapidity of their flight, that they are instantly out of view: and the dogs themselves give up the vain pursuit. The only method, therefore, of taking them is by traps, hidden in the sand, which entangling their feet, the hunter at length comes up, and either kills them or carries them home alive. If the horse be young, he is considered among the Arabians as a very great delicacy, and they feast upon him while any part is found remaining; but if, from his shape or vigour, he promises to be serviceable in his more noble capacity, they take the usual taia Hall, in his Travels in Mexico and Peru, describes the manner in which the gaucho, or native of South America, takes the wild horse-He first mounts an animal which has been accustomed to the sport, and gallops over the plain, in the direction where the wild herd are, and circling round, by degrees, gets near to one of them; and as soon as he has approached sufficiently near, the lasso is thrown round the two hind legs; and as the gaucho rides round a little on one side, the jerk pulls the horse's feet laterally, so as to throw him on his side, without endangering his knees or his face. Before the horse can recover the shock, the rider dismounts, and, snatching his poncho, or cloak, from his shoulders, wraps it round the prostrate animal's head. He then forces into his mouth one of the powerful bridles of the country, straps a saddle on his back, and, bestriding him, removes the poncho; upon which the astonished horse springs on his legs, and endeavours, by a thousand vain efforts, to diseucumber himself of his new master. * WHERE NATIVE OF? ORIGINALLY.-It is an erroneous opinion that Arabia was the In the native country of the horse. So late as the From the fact of the horse roving in wild liberty in the plains of Asia at this day, and by tradition from all time, we may conclude that he was originally incidental to that continent. One thing is certain, that he was not found either in America or New Holland, at the original discovery of these continents. (g) Marm. Descript. de l'Afrique, lib. i. p. 51. methods of taming him, by fatigue and hunger; and he soon becomes a useful and domestic animal, There is scarce an Arabian, how poor soever, but is provided with his horse.(g) They in general make use of mares in their ordinary excursions; experience having taught them that they support fatigue, thirst, and hunger, better than the horses are found to do; they are also less vicious, of a gentler nature, and are not so apt to neigh. They are more harmless, also, among themselves, not so apt to kick or hurt each other, but remain whole days together without the least mischief. The Turks, on the contrary, are not fond of mares; and the Arabians sell them such horses as they do not choose to keep for stallions at home. They preserve the pedigree of their horses with great care, and for several ages back. They know their alliances and all their genealogy; they distinguish the races by different names, and divide them into three classes. The first is that of the nobles, the ancient breed, and unadulterated on either side; the second is that of the horses of the ancient race, but adulterated; and the third is that of the common and inferior kind. The last they sell at a low price; but those of the first class, and even of the second, amongst which are found horses of equal value to the former, are sold extremely dear. They know, by long experience, the race of a horse by his appearance; they can tell the name, the surname, the colour, and the marks properly belonging to each. When they are not possessed of stallions of the noble race themselves, for their mares, they borrow from their neighbours, paying a proper price as with us, and receive a written attestation of the whole. In this attestation is contained the name of the horse and the mare, and their respective genealogies. When the mare has produced her foal, new witnesses are called, and a new attestation signed, in which are described the marks of the foal, and the day noted when it was brought forth. These attestations increase the value of the horse; and they are given to the person who buys him. The most ordinary mare of this race sells for five hundred crowns; there are many that sell for a of the High God, and of the companions of Mohammed, and of Jerusalem. Praised be the Lord, the Omnipotent Creator. This is a high-bred horse, and its colt's tooth is here in a bag about his neck, with his pedigree, and of undoubted authority, such as no infidel can refuse to believe. He is the son of Rabbamy, out of the dam Labadah, and equal in power to his sire; of the tribe of Zashalah; he is finely moulded, and made for running like an ostrich. In the honours of relationship, he reckons Zaluah * Pedigree of ARAB HORSES.-The Arabs divide their horses into two races. One, in no great repute, and appropriated to servile uses, the name Kadischi, which means, horses of an unknown race. The second they call Kochlani, which means, horses whose genealogy is known for two thousand years. The race, say the Arabs, originated from the studs of Solomon. The individuals composing it are sometimes sold at such enormous prices as appear almost incredible. In the breeding of Kochlani horses, the Arabs use the utmost precaution, to avoid being desire of Mahat, sire of Kallac, and the unique ceived on the point of genealogy. The mares are covered in the presence of a witness, who remains near them twenty days, to make sure that they are not dishonoured by any vulgar stallion. The same witness must also be present at the accouchement; and a certificate of the legitimate birth of the colt is made out within seven days after the event. These precautions show how amazingly jea lous the Arabs are of preserving their better race horses in the most untainted purity of descent.-GRIFFITH. The following pedigree of an Arabian horse, which was purchased in Egypt during the war against the French, by Colonel Ainslie, was hung round the neck of the animal: Alket sire of Manasseh, sire of Alsheh, father of the race down to the famous horse, the sire of Lahalala; and to him be ever abundance of green meat, and corn, and water of life, as a reward from the tribe of Zazhalah; and may a thousand branches shade his carcass from the hyæna of the tomb, from the howling wolf of the desert; and let the tribe of Zazhalah present him with a festival within an inclosure of walls; and let thousands assemble at the rising of the sun in troops hastily, where the tribe holds up under a canopy of celestial signs within the walls, the saddle with the name and family of the possessor. Then let them strike the bands with a loud noise incessantly, and pray to God for immunity for the tribe of Zoab, the inspired tribe. In the name of God, the merciful and compassionate, and of Saed Mahomed, agent (g) Buffon. thousand; and some of the very finest kinds, for fourteen or fifteen hundred pounds. As the Arabians have no other house but a tent to live in, this also serves them for a stable; so that the mare, the foal, the husband, the wife, and the children, lie altogether indiscriminately. The little children are often seen upon the body or the neck of the mare, while these continue inoffensive and harmless, permitting them thus to play with and caress them without any injury.* The Arabians never beat their horses: they treat them gently; they speak to them, and seem to hold a discourse; they use them as friends; they never attempt to increase their speed by the whip, nor spur them but in cases of necessity. However, when this happens, they set off with amazing swiftness; they leap over obstacles with as much agility as a buck; and, if the rider happens to fall, they are so manageable, that they stand still, on command, in the midst of their most rapid career. The Arabian horses are of the middle size, easy in their motions, and rather inclined to leanness than fat. Next to the Barb, travellers generally rank the Spanish genette. These horses, like the former, are little, but extremely swift and beautiful. The head is something of the largest; the mane thick; the ears long, but well pointed; the eyes filled with fire; the shoulders thickish; and the breast full and large. The croup round and large; the legs beautiful, and without hair; the pastern a little of the longest, as in the Barb, and the hoof rather too high. The Italian horses were once more beautiful than they are at present, for they have greatly neglected the breed. Nevertheless, there are still found some beautiful horses among them, particularly among the Neapolitans, who chiefly use them for the draught. The Danish horses are of such an excellent size, and so strong a make, that they are prefered to all others for the draught. There are some of them perfectly well shaped; but this is but seldom seen, for in general they are found to have a thick neck, heavy shoulders, long and hollow back, and a narrow croup; however, they all move well, and are found excellent both for parade and war. They are of all colours, and often of whimsical ones, some being streaked like the tiger, or mottled like the leopard. The German horses are originally from Arabian and Barbary stocks; nevertheless they appear to be small and ill-shaped; it is said also that they are weak and washy, with tender hoofs. The Hungarian horses, on the other hand, are excellent for the draught, as well as the saddle. The Hussars, who use them in war, usually slit their nostrils, which is done, as it is said, to prevent their neighing, but, perhaps, without any real foundation. * ATTACHMENT OF HORSES TO THE HU. MAN SPECIES.-The horse is susceptible of a very great attachment to the human species, when properly treated. A good deal, however, that is repeated on this head in authors, borders on the marvellous: as, for instance, the stories of Bucephalus; the anecdote of a horse belonging to a Scythian prince, which trampled to death the murderer of his master; and that of the horse of Nicomedes, which, through grief for his death, suffered itself to perish of hunger. The following anecdote on the subject, however, is well authenticated: "The Tyrolese, in one of their insurrections, in 1809, took fifteen Bavarian horses; they mounted them with as many of their men; but in a rencontre with a squadron of the regiment of Bubenhoven, when these horses heard the trumpet, and recognised the uniform of the regiment, they set off at full gallop, and carried their riders, in spite of all their efforts, into the Bavarian ranks, where they were made prisoners! Education deve lopes the powers of horses to a very considerable extent. + SPANISH HORSES.-Spain was early cele brated for a breed of fine horses. In an old poem, quoted by Strutt, entitled the " Squyer of Low Degree," the King of Hungary promises his daughter, that in the morning she shall go with him on a hunting party, arrayed most gorgeously, and riding in a chariot covered with red velvet, drawn by Jenettes of Spain, that ben so whitte Trapped to the ground with velvet bright. These took their rise in the Moorish barb, when that peninsula was subject to that people. When Rome was at its highest splendour, the horses of Calpe were in high repute. Calpe, the modern Gibraltar, is situated at the south-western extremity of Spain, opposite the Barbary coast; and from thence horses were imported; hence the origin of the genettes. The Spanish horses are well made and handsome, as well as very active and nimble; they have good eyes, handsome legs and heads, and are easily managed. The Dutch breed is good for the draught, and is generally used for that purpose over Europe: the best come from the province of Friezland. The Flanders horses are much inferior to the former: they have most commonly large heads, flat feet, and swollen legs, which are an essential blemish in horses of this kind. The French horses are of various kinds; but they have few that are good.* The best horses of that country come from Limosin; they have a strong resemblance to the Barb, and, like them are excellent for the chase; but they are slow in coming to perfection: they are to be carefully treated while young, and must not be backed till they are eight years old. Normandy furnishes the next best; which, though not so good for the chase, are yet better for war. In general, the French horses have the fault of being heavy-shouldered, which is opposite to the fault of the Barb, which is too thin in the shoulder, and is consequently apt to be shoulder-slipt.t Such are the different ac counts we have of the various races of horses in different parts of Europe. I now come to speak of one particular breed, more excellent than any that either the ancients or moderns have producedand that is our own. It is not without great assiduity, and unceasing application, that the English horses are now become superior to those of any other part of the world, for size, strength, swiftness, and beauty. It was not without great attention, and repeated trials of all the best horses in different parts of the world, that we have thus been successful in improving the breed of this animal: so that the English horses are now capable of performing what no others ever could attain to. By a judicious * FRENCH HORSES.-In France, horses of the Bretagne breed are strongly made, and have generally black hair, or brown bay; and good legs and feet, with a hardy mouth, and a head short and clumsy. The horses of Franche Comté are said to have the legs of tigers and the belly of a hind; but they are short and thick, and of the middle size, being much more proper for drawing than riding. The horses of Gascony are not unlike those of Spain; but they are not so handsome and active. Besides these, there are the horses of Normandy, Bretagne, Poitou, &c.-all differing from each other in some essential degree; for France, in its great extent, has various breeds. Great exertions have been made in that country to cope that animal against those of England. The Emperor Napoleon used every means to procure some of our best blood ones; and he imported largely from Arabia. But all efforts have proved abortive, notwithstanding the French nobility have gone so far as to procure English grooms and jockies to manage their horse flesh. The beauty, strength, and fleetness of our horses are unapproachable. Our continental brethren then turn round upon us, and decry the want of weight in our breeding. They had weight enough at Waterloo, in all conscience. With the weight of his cuirassiers, the victor of Austerlitz and Marengo hoped to bear down all opposition, and strike the decisive blow. It failed-our cavalry charged-and though the relative courage and esprit du corps of French and British soldiers may be a matter of opinion, the superiority of English over French horse-flesh requires no ghost from the grave to decide.-ED. + SWEDISH HORSES.-To the list of the horses most usually known in Europe may be added those of Sweden. "The Swedish horses in general," says Mr. Lloyd, in his Field Sports of the North of Europe, "are small, though hardy, and capable of considerable exertion; their manes and tails are usually left in a state of nature; they are seldom cleaned, and when in the stable, even in the most severe weather, are rarely littered down. This treatment of their horses arises as well from ignorance as neglect, on the part of the peasants. In saying this, however, I am willing to admit that many of them are almost as fond of these animals as if they were their own children. The average price of a good horse of the description I am now speaking of, may be taken at from 54. to 8/" thousand; and some of the very finest kinds, for fourteen or fifteen hundred pounds. As the Arabians have no other house but a tent to live in, this also serves them for a stable; so that the mare, the foal, the husband, the wife, and the children, lie altogether indiscriminately. The little children are often seen upon the body or the neck of the mare, while these continue inoffensive and harmless, permitting them thus to play with and caress them without any injury. * The Arabians never beat their horses: they treat them gently; they speak to them, and seem to hold a discourse; they use them as friends; they never attempt to increase their speed by the whip, nor spur them but in cases of necessity. However, when this happens, they set off with amazing swiftness; they leap over obstacles with as much agility as a buck; and, if the rider happens to fall, they are so manageable, that they stand still, on command, in the midst of their most rapid career. The Arabian horses are of the middle size, easy in their motions, and rather inclined to leanness than fat. Next to the Barb, travellers generally rank the Spanish genette. These horses, like the former, are little, but extremely swift and beautiful. The head is something of the largest; the mane thick; the ears long, but well pointed; the eyes filled with fire; the shoulders thickish; and the breast full and large. The croup round and large; the legs beautiful, and without hair; the pastern a little of the longest, as in the Barb, and the hoof rather too high. The Italian horses were once more beautiful than they are at present, for they have greatly neglected the breed. Nevertheless, there are still found some beautiful horses among them, particularly among the Neapolitans, who chiefly use them for the draught. The Danish horses are of such an excellent size, and so strong a make, that they are prefered to all others for the draught. There are some of them perfectly well shaped; but this is but seldom seen, for in general they are found to have a thick neck, heavy shoulders, long and hollow back, and a narrow croup; however, they all move well, and are found excellent both for parade and war. They are of all colours, and often of whimsical ones, some being streaked like the tiger, or mottled like the leopard. The German horses are originally from Arabian and Barbary stocks; nevertheless they appear to be small and ill-shaped; it is said also that they are weak and washy, with tender hoofs. The Hungarian horses, on the other hand, are excellent for the draught, as well as the saddle. The Hussars, who use them in war, usually slit their nostrils,—which is done, as it is said, to prevent their neighing, but, perhaps, without any real foundation. * ATTACHMENT OF HORSES TO THE HUMAN SPECIES.-The horse is susceptible of a very great attachment to the human species, when properly treated. A good deal, however, that is repeated on this head in authors, borders on the marvellous: as, for instance, the stories of Bucephalus; the anecdote of a horse belonging to a Scythian prince, which trampled to death the murderer of his master; and that of the horse of Nicomedes, which, through grief for his death, suffered itself to perish of hunger. The following anecdote on the subject, however, is well authenticated: "The Tyrolese, in one of their insurrections, in 1809, took fifteen Bavarian horses; they mounted them with as many of their men; but in a rencontre with a squadron of the regiment of Bubenhoven, when these horses heard the trumpet, and recognised the uniform of the regiment, they set off at full gallop, and carried their riders, in spite of all their efforts, into the Bavarian ranks, where they were made prisoners! Education deve lopes the powers of horses to a very considerable extent. + SPANISH HORSES.-Spain was early celebrated for a breed of fine horses. In an old poem, quoted by Strutt, entitled the " Squyer of Low Degree," the King of Hungary promises his daughter, that in the morning she shall go with him on a hunting party, arrayed most gorgeously, and riding in a chariot covered with red velvet, drawn by Jenettes of Spain, that ben so whitte Trapped to the ground with velvet bright. These took their rise in the Moorish barb, when that peninsula was subject to that people. When Rome was at its highest splendour, the horses of Calpe were in high repute. Calpe, the modern Gibraltar, is situated at the south-western extremity of Spain, opposite the Barbary coast; and from thence horses were imported; hence the origin of the genettes. The Spanish horses are well made and handsome, as well as very active and nimble; they have good eyes, handsome legs and heads, and are easily managed. |