1084 



THE UNGULATES, OR HOOFED MAMMALS 



ENGLISH RACE HORSE ("BEND-OR" BY " DONCASTER "). 



all, drive her back into the herd by kicking her. The younger horses live in herds 



apart, but the more 

 vigorous ones are 

 always on the 

 lookout to pick up 

 a mare from the 

 herds of the older 

 ones, and drive her 

 off with them, and 

 they sometimes 

 gather a few mares 

 for a short time 

 and hold them, till 

 they are recap- 

 tured. When they 

 think they are 

 strong enough, 

 they try the 

 strength of the old 

 horses in battle, 

 and eventually 



each old horse is beaten by some rival and displaced. The fighting is done mainly 

 with the tusks, and front to front, not with the heels. Thus the most active and 

 strongest males are constantly selected naturally for the continuation of the herds. ' ' 

 As in the continent of South America, these wild horses are captured either by the 

 lasso or the bolas. When caught, Moseley states that " they are often broken in by 

 tying them with a rawhide halter to a post, and leaving them for several days with- 

 out food or water. After long ineffectual struggles to break loose, the animals be- 

 come convinced of the absolute power over them of the halter, and in future become 

 cowed and docile directly a halter or lasso is over their heads. The wild horses, 

 when broken in, are very tame and quiet to ride." 



The habits of the wild horses of continental South America appear to be very 

 similar to the above. There they are known by the name of cimarrones, and are 

 captured and tamed by the Gauchos, who generally mount them at once and ride 

 them till they are tired out. The Gaucho rides with a loose rein, and his horse's 

 head almost at liberty; and so well are the animals broken, that merely pressing the 

 part of the reins next to the hand against that side of the neck from which the horse 

 is required to turn is sufficient, without making him feel the bit at all. 



Feral horses are as abundant in Australia, where they are known as 

 brumbies, as in South America. Indeed, so numerous are they in 

 certain districts as to become a positive nuisance to the settlers, by whom they are 

 sometimes shot down in large numbers. 



Proceeding to the consideration of some of the leading breeds of domesticated 

 horses, we may commence with those known as Barbs and Arabs, which have had 

 such an important share in the production of the modern race horse. With regard 



Australia 



