STUD BOOK. 89 



when the animal is stupefied, the breaker goes up to him, and 

 patting his neck and otherwise caressing him, in some 

 respects soothes him, and this goes on till the horse exhibits 

 signs of reliance on the breaker. By-and-by the poncho is 

 removed, and the lesson wished to be imparted has been 

 learned, viz., that of looking on man, who has relieved him 

 from the fearful poncho, as his friend. 



We have seen this lesson so skillfully administered that 

 ihe breaker has removed the weighted stirrups, and mounted 

 on the bare back of the horse, which behaved with per- 

 fect docility. More generally, however, the lesson always 

 the same has to be repeated, till the horse becomes perfectly 

 docile, having learned to rely on man. And if afterwards 

 kindly treated, there are no more docile horses to be found 

 than these recently wild horses. 



'| I HH; Tl I KTTTSTT HOBSE 



The only remaining Oriental horse worthy of notice is 

 the Turkish horse. These are principally descended from 

 those of Arabia, Persia and Barbary. Their bodies are long, 

 and their cruppers elevated; their foreheads are slender, and 

 they carry their heads higher than the Arabian. They pos- 

 sess much fire and spirit, are extremely active, and are ad- 

 mirably fitted for the operations of Turkish cavalry. They 

 are very affectionate, evincing great regard for their masters 

 and the attendant grooms. 



The Turks never strike their horses, and the animals, as a 

 matter of course, never bite nor turn restive, their gentleness 

 and obedience being perfect The Turks take a pride in 

 their horses, even beyond the Arab; and much as we have all 

 read of Turkish ferocity, these people are, par excellence, 

 the most kindhearted of the human race. They caress their 

 horses with almost as much affection as their offspring, and 

 their children are taught to treat them with equal gentle- 

 ness. They especially delight to teach their horses all kinds 

 of entertaining and useful tricks, amongst which they will 

 pick up a stick or scimitar from the ground, and lift it to the 

 rider. When a horse has learned this feat his nose is 

 adorned with a silver ring, as a badge of his proficiency. 



Many Turkish horses have at various times been intro- 

 duced into Britain with good success, and have become the 

 sires of fine horses. 



In the preceding notice of horses, our aim has been to 

 give such of their characteristics as may be suggestive rather 



