CHAPTER IV • 



THE HORSES OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE 



THE SOUTH AMERICAN HOUSE — THE MUSTANG— THE MORGAN HORSE — THE INDIAN PONY 

 — THE CANADIAN HORSE— THE AMERICAN TROTTER— THE AMERICAN THOROUGHBRED 

 — THE VERMONT CART-HORSE — THE CONESTOGA DRAUGHT-HORSE. 



THE SOUTH AMERICAN HORSE 



For some time after the discovery of America, at the conclusion of 

 the fifteenth century, the horse was entirely unknown in that hemisphere, 

 but according to Azara a few specimens were introduced there by the 

 Spaniards in the year 1535, and in the year 1537 several v/ere shipped to 

 Paraguay. From these have been bred the countless herds which have 

 since spread over the whole southern part of the western world, and 

 passing the Isthmus of Panama have wandered into North America. In 

 both these divisions the horse runs wild, wherever there are plains suitable 

 to him, and not yet brought under cultivation ; but it is in the south that 

 the wild horse is to be found in the greatest numbers, on the extensive 

 plains which stretch almost unbroken from the shores of La Plata to 

 Patagonia. Here herds numbering some thousands in each ai-e to be met 

 with, each under the guidance of a master stallion, who enforces entire 

 submission to his will as long as he has the power to do so. Here the 

 native Gaucho has only to throw his lasso, and he can at any time supply 

 himself with a horse which will carry him for miles at a hand gallop, 

 when he changes him for another, and is thus always mounted at a cheap 

 and easy rate. In this way Captain Head rode all across the continent from 

 one shore to the other, nearly using up one horse in the course of fifty or 

 sixty miles, and then looking out for another befoi'e the first was so spent 

 as to be unable to assist him in making the exchange. These wild horses 

 greatly resemble their Spanish ancestors in malte and shape. They are 

 said to be possessed of a fair amount of speed, but not above the average 

 of foreign breeds. They are, however, from their roving habits, in excellent 

 wind, and it is said that a Gaucho has been known to ride one fresh caught 

 nearly a hundred miles without drawing bit. 



A few consignments of South American horses have been sold in England 

 and at low prices. The venture seems to have been a failure, as many 

 proved vicious and intractable. A more careful selection and preliminary 



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