148 HORSE AND MAN. 



loses none of its flexibility, and, like the frog of the 

 horse, or the pad of a dog or cat's paw, has very 

 much the consistency of indiarubber, so that sharp 

 stones, thorns, &c, have but very little effect on it. 



We will now return to the horse, and see what 

 can be done by a horse which has never known 

 a shoe. Here is an account by Lieut.-Col. E. J. 

 Dodge, U.S.A., of the horse as used by the red men. 

 These horses are the descendants of the animals which 

 were brought over by the Spaniards and afterwards 

 abandoned. Being left to themselves, they multiplied 

 exceedingly, and reverted to the wild state, forming 

 themselves into herds, whence they are captured 

 when wanted by means of the lasso : — 



' My subject would not be complete without some 

 mention of the Pony, the plain Indian's inseparable 

 companion and most serviceable slave. 



' Scarcely fourteen hands in height, he is rather 

 light than heavy in build, with good legs, straight 

 shoulders, short, strong back, and full barrel. He 

 has no appearance of " blood " except sharp, nervous 

 ears and bright intelligent eyes ; but the amount 

 of work he can do, the distance he can pass in a 

 specified time, provided that it be long enough, put 

 him in Indian hands fairly on a level with the 

 Arabian. 



