DOMESTICATED MAMMALS OF THE FARM 107 



obstinate to be manageable. His back was a natural saddle, 

 behind the sloping shoulder blades, and his well-knit frame 

 was well braced and fitted for carrying a rider easily His 

 rounded muscular hams gave power to his hind legs and made 

 them efficient organs of propulsion. His lengthened foot 

 bones gave length of stride. His solid hoofs were well 

 cushioned and admirably adapted for 

 travel over solid ground. His gait was 

 more easy and graceful than that of any 

 other beast of burden. The structure of 

 his mouth would seem to have invited the 

 use of a bridle-bit for his guidance and 

 control. The whole horse invited a rider; 

 and doubtless many a savage youth, who 

 had captured an orphaned colt and reared 

 it by hand, felt moved to accept the invi- 

 tation. At first he doubtless rode bare- 

 back, and with only a cord halter for control. Later, 

 he invented a saddle and a bridle. To a strong horse, 

 the weight of grown man is a lightsome burden. The 

 saddle is not a symbol of labor, but of a pleasure that 

 is mutual. The two participants seem complemental. 

 The trained horse and the skilful rider make a unit in 

 action: they make up such a powerful creature as the 

 mythical Centaur was intended to portray. In the long 

 struggles of past centuries during which incessant wars were 

 waged in hand to hand encounter, the mounted soldier had a 

 tremendous advantage. The horse lent him swiftness 

 and strength and momentum in attack, and advantage of 

 position in the fray. The mounted soldiery of the Aryan 

 and Semitic peoples enabled them to overrun the earth. 

 As the wealth of a people was measured of old by its herds 

 of cattle, so its power was measured by its multitudes of war 

 horses. All ancient art and literature testify abundantly to 



