THE HORSE. 



THE horse is universally acknowledged to 

 be one of the noblest members of the Ani- 

 mal Kingdom. Possessing the finest symmetry, 

 and unencumbered by those external appendages 

 which characterise many of the larger quadrupeds, 

 his frame is a perfect model of elegance and con- 

 centrated energy. Highly sensitive, yet exceed- 

 ingly tractable, proud, yet persevering, naturally of 

 a roaming disposition, yet readily accommodating 

 himself to domestic conditions, he has been one of 

 the most valuable aids to human civilisation 

 associating with man in all phases of his progress, 

 from the temporary tent to the permanent city. 



In ordinary systems of zoology, the horse is 

 classed with the Pachyderms, or thick-skinned 

 animals as the elephant, tapir, hog, hippopota- 

 mus, and rhinoceros. Differing from the rest of 

 the class in many respects, he has been taken 

 as the representative of a distinct family, known 

 by the name of Equida (equus, a horse), which 

 embraces the horse, ass, zebra, quagga, onager, 

 and dzegguetai. All these animals have solid 

 hoofs, are destitute of horns, have moderately sized 

 ears, are less or more furnished with manes, and 

 have their tails either partially or entirely covered 

 with long hair. The family may, with little impro- 

 priety, be divided into two sections the one com- 

 prehending the horse with its varieties, and the 

 other the ass, zebra, and remaining members. In 

 the former, the tail is adorned with long flowing 

 hair, the mane is also long and flowing, and the 

 fetlocks are bushy ; the latter have the tail only 

 tipped with long hair, the mane erect, and the legs 

 smooth and naked. The colours of the horse have 

 a tendency to dapple that is, to arrange them- 

 selves in rounded spots on a common ground ; in 

 the ass, zebra, and other genera, the colours are 

 disposed in stripes or bands more or less parallel. 



By his physical structure, the horse is fitted for 

 dry open plains that yield a short sweet herbage. 

 Delighting in the river-plain and open glade the 

 savannas of America, the steppes of Asia, and the 

 plains of Europe, must be regarded as his head- 

 quarters in a wild state. There is doubt expressed, 

 however, as to the original locality of the horse. 

 The wild herds of America are looked upon as the 

 descendants of Spanish breeds, imported by the 

 first conquerors of that continent ; those of the 

 Ukraine, in Europe, are said to be the progeny of 

 Russian horses abandoned after the siege of Azov 

 in 1696 ; and even those of Tartary are regarded 

 as coming from a more southern stock. Natural- 

 ists, therefore, look to the countries bordering on 

 Egypt as in all likelihood the primitive place of 

 residence of this noble animal ; and it is generally 

 believed that the Arabian breed, when perfectly 

 pure, presents the finest specimen of a horse in 

 symmetry, docility, and courage. 



In a state of nature, the horse loves to herd with 

 his fellows ; and droves of from 400 to 500, or even 

 double that number, are not unfrequently seen, if 

 the range be wide and fertile. It is impossible to 

 conceive a more animated picture than a group of 

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wild-horses at play. Their fine figures are thrown 

 into a thousand attitudes ; and as they rear, curvet, 

 dilate the nostril, paw in quivering nervousness to 

 begin the race, or speed away with erect mane and 

 flowing tail, they present forms of life and energy 

 which the painter may strive in vain to imitate. 

 They never attack other animals, however, but 

 always act upon the defensive. Having pastured, 

 they retire either to the confines of the forest, or to 

 some elevated portion of the plain, and recline on 

 the sward, or hang listlessly on their legs for hours 

 together. One or more of their number are always 

 awake, to keep watch while the rest are asleep, and 

 to warn them of approaching danger, which is 

 done by snorting loudly, or neighing. They are 

 seldom to be taken by surprise ; but if attacked, 

 the assailant rarely comes off victorious, for the 

 whole troop unite in defence of their comrades, 

 and either tear him to pieces with their teeth, or 

 kick him to death. 



There is a remarkable difference in the disposi- 

 tions of the Asiatic and South American wild- 

 horses. Those of the former continent can never 

 be properly tamed, unless when very young, but 

 frequently break out into violent fits of rage in 

 after-life, exhibiting every mark of natural wild- 

 ness ; while those of America can be brought to 

 perfect obedience, and even rendered somewhat 

 docile, within a few weeks, or even days. It is 

 difficult to account for this difference in temper, 

 unless we suppose that it is caused by climate, or 

 rather by the transmission of domesticated peculi- 

 arities, from the original Spanish stock. 



SUBJUGATION AND DOMESTICATION. 



As in South America we have the most numer- 

 ous herds, and the most extensive plains for their 

 pasture, so it is there that the catching and sub- 

 duing of the wild-horse present one of the most 

 daring and exciting engagements. If an addi- 

 tional horse is wanted, a wild one is either hunted 

 down with the assistance of a trained animal and 

 the lasso, or a herd are driven into a corral* 

 space inclosed with rough posts and one selected 

 from the number. The latter mode is spiritedly 

 described by Miers, whose account we transcribe, 

 premising that a lasso is a strong plaited thong, 

 about forty feet in length, rendered supple by 

 grease, and having a noose at the end : ' The 

 corral was quite full of horses, most of which were 

 young ones, about two or three years old. The 

 chief guacho native inhabitants of the plains are 

 called peons or guachos mounted on a strong 

 steady animal, rode into the inclosure, and threw 

 his lasso over the neck of a young horse, and 

 dragged him to the gate. For some time, he was 

 very unwilling to leave his comrades ; but the 

 moment he was out of the corral, his first idea was 

 to gallop off ; however, a timely jerk of the lasso 

 checked him in the most eflfectual way. The 

 peons now ran after him on foot, and threw a lasso 



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