678 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



is, therefore, supposed that up to the commencement of the Christian era, the main charac 

 teristics of the horse had been but slightly changed by domestication, the principal changes 

 being such as had been produced by different climates, soil, and food upon which they sub 

 sisted. Where the climate is cold and vegetation scanty, the wild horses are dwarfed in size, 

 active and hardy, with compact bodies and long hair. The horses of Iceland, Shetland Isles, 

 and the wild horses of the northern and central portions of Asia and. Northern Europe gen 

 erally, are of this type. These present a striking contrast with the high bred racers of 

 England and the United States, the beautiful Arab, the active Barb, the powerful Clydesdales 

 and Percheron-Normans, or the wild horses of America. The latter are known to be 

 descended from domestic horses brought to this country from Europe by the Spaniards, the 

 thousands of wild horses on the plains of South America being, according to the best author 

 ity, descended from only two stallions and four mares which the early Spanish. adventurers 

 left there. 



Arabian horses, as a race, have been the most celebrated, while those of Turkey and 

 Barbary (the latter called Barbs) are quite similar. From these, by a thorough and judicious 

 system of breeding, have sprung the English race-horse, which at the present time so far 

 surpasses the original, that scarcely any benefit- has been derived from imported stock for 

 more than three-quarters of a century. 



The Persian horse has also been quite celebrated. It is more stoutly built than the 

 Arabian, nearly equal to the latter in speed, but possesses less endurance. The Flemish and 

 Dutch horses are generally large, well-formed animals, with fine chests, and an abundance of 

 bone and muscle, and well adapted for purposes of draft. The celebrated draft horses of 

 England were principally descended from these. The French horses are particularly valuable, 

 the Norman breed having long been noted for their excellence. The most celebrated of the 

 Russian breeds is the Orloff. 



The Chinese horses are quite inferior. Italian horses were formerly quite highly valued, 

 but do not compare favorably with the present improved breeds of some other countries. 

 England is the source from which the best of our horses have been derived, the thorough 

 bred blood of our racers being obtained from that source. 



The horse is invaluable to man in all climes and conditions, but willing and faithful 

 servant that he is, he too often suffers from ill-treatment and neglect, and is but poorly re 

 compensed for all his fidelity. There is no animal that has proven more useful to man, and 

 none that has been so much abused. There is also no animal that so well deserves or amply 

 repays by his services the best treatment. 



The Arabs have the following tradition respecting the origin of the horse : &quot; &quot;When 

 God wished to create the horse He said to the south wind, I wish to form a creature 

 out of thee, be thou condensed, and the wind was condensed. And God formed a 

 chestnut horse, saying, I have called thee, horse ; I have created thee an Arab, and have 

 given thee a chestnut color. I have bound fortune on the mane which falls over thine eyes ; 

 thou shalt be chief among animals ; men shall follow thee whithersoever thou goest ; good 

 for the pursuit, as for the retreat, thou shalt fly without wings ; riches shall repose in thy 

 loins, and wealth shall be made by thy intercession. Then He marked him with the sign of 

 glory and of happiness, a star shining in the middle of his forehead. After the creation of 

 Adam, God called him by name, and said Choose now between the horse and the borak. 

 Adam replied, The more beautiful of the two is the horse. And God said, Excellent, thou 

 hast chosen thy glory, and the glory of thy sons; while they exist my blessing shall be with 

 them, because I have not created anything that can be more dear to me than man and the 

 horse. &quot; 



Next to man he is one of the noblest and best of God s creations, and under proper 

 training, and kind treatment, can be made to do everything that comes within the limitations 

 of his powers. 



