

THE TOORKOMAN HORSE, ETC. 409 



of them have ears nearly as long as those of asses ; 

 their mane is very short and curled, their tails more or 

 less covered with hair, but always shorter than that of a 

 common horse, and certainly far from being a graceful 

 ornament. They are for the most part of a mouse 

 colour, and a few are of an ash-grey ; their coat is 

 very long, and extremely thick. 



THE TOORKOMAN HORSE. 



Turkistan is situate to the north of the Caspian 

 Sea, or South Tartary, and has been long celebrated 

 for a breed of horses possessing great physical powers : 

 these are called Toorkomans. Some travellers affirm 

 that they are greatly superior to the Persian race for 

 enduring long-continued exertion. 



In their form, however, they are by no means 

 attractive, being too small in the barrel, with too long 

 legs, with lank necks, and heads disproportionably 

 large to the body. In size, they are from fifteen to 

 sixteen hands high, and of excellent temper. 



In that portion of central Asia peopled by the 

 Tartars and Calmucks, are many herds, or tabunes, 

 of wild horses. These herds may be seen grazing 

 together on the same plain, but never intermingle, nor 

 do any individuals of the respective herds stray from 

 them. Their forms are so different that horses of one 

 herd can at once be distinguished from those of the 

 other. 



THE TURKISH HORSE. 



The horses of Turkey are chiefly descendants from 

 those of Arabia, Persia, and Barbary. Their fore- 

 heads are slender, and they carry their heads higher 

 than the Arabian breed ; their bodies are longer, and 



