TARPAN, OR WILD HORSE.—Equus Coballus 
HORSES. 
Tue Horse has, from time immemorial, been made the companion and servant of man, 
and its original progenitors are unknown. It is supposed, however, that the Horse must 
have derived its origin from central Asia, and from thence have spread to almost every 
portion of the globe. 
There are several countries, such as Tartary and Northern America, where the Horse 
runs wild, and has almost entirely reverted to its primeval state, thus affording an idea 
of the manners and customs of the Horse before it was subjected to the dominion of 
man. In Tartary, the Wild Horses are found in herds, consisting of many thousands in 
number, and are actuated by a wonderful spirit of discipline, each herd acting under the 
commands of a single leader, and executing his orders with military precision. The 
Tartars recruit their studs from these herds, capturing the best and strongest animals 
with the aid of a falcon, which is trained to settle on the Horse’s head, and flutter its 
wings about his face so as to blind and detain him until the hunter comes up to secure 
his prize. The horses thus taken are coupled with the tame animals, and in a very short 
time learn to perform their share of the work, and to obey the orders of their master as 
implicitly as they once obeyed those of their quadrupedal leader. 
Each herd is headed by an old experienced Horse, who holds his position by right of 
conquest, and loses his chieftainship if vanquished by any opponent. The young males 
are always excluded from these herds, and are forced to live solitary lives until they can 
attract some of the opposite sex, and set up an establishment on their own account, The 
colour of the Wild Horse of Tartary is red, with a black stripe along the back. 
