696 



FARMERS' REGISTER— BREEDS OF HORSES. 



are strong enough to form herds of wild mares for 

 themselves. 



These horsee, or those of a similar breed and 

 habits, were beaten by not the first rate English 

 blood-horses, in a race which fi\irly put to the test 

 both their speed and stoutness. On the 4th of 

 August, 1825, a race of the cruel distance of more 

 than forty-seven miles was nm between two 

 Cossack and tvvo thorough-bred English horses — 

 Sharper and Mina. The most celebrated Cossack 

 horses trom the Don, the Black Sea, and the Ural, 

 were sent; and, after numerous trials, the best 

 were selected. On starting, the Cossacks took the 

 lead at a moderate pace, the English following at 

 about three or four lengths, but before they had 

 gone half a mile, the stirrup-leather of Sharper 

 broke, and he ran away with his rider, followed by 

 Mina, and they went more than a mile, and up a 

 steep hill, before they could be held in. 



Half the distance\vas run in an hour and_ four 

 minutes. Both the English horses were then fresh, 

 and one of the Cossacks. On their return, Mina fell 

 lame, and was taken away. The Cossack horse, 

 likewise, began to flag, when the accompanying 

 Russians began to drag him on by the bridle, 

 throwing away the saddle, and putting a mere 

 child on his back. Sharper, likewise, evidently 

 ehovved the effects of the pace at which he had 

 gone when running away, and was much distress- 

 ed. The Cossacks then had recourse to foul play, 

 and actually carried on then-horse; some dragging 

 him on by a rope, and the bridle at his head; and 

 others pulling him on by the tail, and riding along- 

 side of his quarters to support him, and relieving 

 each other at this fatiguing work. Sharper did the 

 whole distance in two hours and forty-eight mi- 

 nutes, and the Cossack horse was warped in, eight 

 minutes after him. At starting, the English horses 

 carried full three stone more than the Cossacks; 

 and during the latter half of the race, a mere 

 child had ridden the Cossack. 



The Turkish Horse. 



The Turkish horses are descended principally 

 from the Arab, crossed by the Persian and certain 

 other bloods. The body, however, is even longer 

 than the Arabian's, and the crupper more eleva- 

 ted. They have contriiuited materially to the im- 

 provement of the English breed. The Byerley 

 and the Helmsley Turk, are names familiar to 

 every one conversant with horses, and connected 

 with our best blood. 



The learned and benevolent Busbequius, who 

 was ambassador at Constantinople in the seven- 

 teenth century, gives the f()lIowing account of the 

 Turkish horses. Our grooms, and their masters 

 too, may learn a lesson of wisdom and humanity 

 from his words. 



"There is no creature so gentle as a Turkish 

 horse, nor more respectful to his master, or the 

 groom that dresses him." The reason is, becaase 

 they treat their horses vs^hh great lenity. I my- 

 self' saw, when I was in Pontus, passing through 

 a part of Bithinia, called Axilos, towards Cappa- 

 docia, how indulgent the countrymen were to 

 young colts, and how kindly they us.^d them soon 

 after they were foaled. They would stroke them, 

 bring them into their houses, and almost to their 

 -tables, and use them even like children. They 

 hung something like a jewel about their necks, 

 and a garter, which was full of amulets against 



poison, which they are most afraid of The grooms 

 that dress them are as indulgent as their masters; 

 they frequently sleek them down with their hands, 

 and never use a cudgel to bang their sides, but in 

 cases of necessity. This makes their horses great 

 lovers of mankind; and they are so far from kick- 

 ing, wincing, or growing untractable by this gen- 

 tle usage, that you will hardly find a masterless 

 horse amongst them. 



"But, alas ! our christian grooms' horses go on 

 at another rate. Thej^ never think them rightly 

 curried till they thunder at them with their voices, 

 and let their clubs or horse-whips, as it Avere, 

 dwell on their sides. This makes some horses even 

 tremble when their keepers come into their stable; 

 so that they hate and fear them too. But the 

 Turks love to have their horses so gentle, that at 

 the word of command they may fall on their knees, 

 and in this position receive their riders. 



"They will take up a stafi'or club upon the road 

 with their teeth, which their rider has let fall, and 

 hold it up to him again; and when they are per- 

 fect in this lesson, then, for credit, tliey have rings 

 of silver hung on their nostrils as a badge of ho- 

 nor and good discipline. I saw some horses when 

 their master was fallen from the saddle stand stock 

 still without wagging a foot till he had got up 

 again. Another time I saw a groom standing at 

 a distance in the midst of a whole ring of horses, 

 and, at the word of command, they would either 

 go round or stand still. Once I saw some horses 

 when their master was at dinner with me in an 

 upper room, prick up their ears to hear his voice, 

 and when they did so, they neighed for joy." 



The German Horse. 



The German horses are generally large, heavy, 

 and slow. The Hungarian may be an exception, 

 being lighter, sjieedier, and giving greater proof 

 of easte1-n blood.* Eveiy part of the continent, 

 however, following the example of England, has 

 been diligently engaged in the improvement of its 

 breed, and the German and Prussian horses are 

 now better proportioned, and have considerable 

 endurance, but are still deficient in speed. The 

 Prussian, German, and the greater part of the 

 French cavalry are procured from Holstein. They 

 are of a dark glossy, bay color, with small heads, 

 large nostrils, and full dark eyes, the fire and 

 clearness of which seem to denote the inward 

 spirit of the animal. They are beautiful, active, 

 and strong. 



The Swedish, Finland, and Norwegian Horse. 



Of the Swedish horses, Clarke, in his "Scandi- 

 navia," says, that they are small but beautiful, 

 and remarkable for their speed and spirit. Those 

 of Finland he describes as yet smaller, not more 

 than twelve hands high, beautifully formed, and 

 very fleet. The peasants take them from the 

 forests when they are wanted for travellers. Al- 

 though apparently wild, they are under perfect 

 control, and they trot along with ease at the rate 

 of twelve miles an hour." 



* M. de BufFon strangely affirms, ■ tfiat tfie Hus- 

 sars and Hungjarians slit the nostrils of tlieir horses 

 witli a view to increase their wind, and to prevent their 

 neighing; and that Hungarian, Croatian, and Polish 

 horses continue to old age to have the mark in all their 

 fore-teeth. 



