468 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



itself of the gray horses is of a deep slate-color, and the manes 

 and tails are darker than the rest of the body." 



The Origin of the Arabian Horse. The origin of 

 this wonderful race of horses will probably never be fully 

 known. Many historians accept the tradition that Mohammed, 

 desiring mares for his steed, selected a number from his best 

 cavalry, and kept them two days without water. When 

 frenzied with thirst, they were turned out to water. As they 

 approached the drinking-place, the war-charge was sounded by 

 his trumpeters. Five of the mares abandoned the water, and 

 hastened at once to the spot where the call indicated the excite- 

 ment of battle. These five mares were selected for the founda- 

 tion of his royal stud. Oriental travelers assert that pedigrees 

 trace back five hundred years, and even to the time of Solo- 

 mon. Many ceremonies are performed at the covering of these 

 royally bred mares. "After the birth of the foal, a certificate 

 is made out " in due form, by local authorities, within one week 

 after the foal is dropped. 



The Arab Mare as a War-horse. The mare is highly 

 prized by the Arab, and, as has been said, is used by the Arab 

 in war, he never trusting his stallion in surprising an enemy. 

 For this reason many writers have argued that the Arabs value 

 more highly the qualities of the mare than the horse; but their 

 motto el hbr ilebal el fahal " the foal follows the sire " does 

 not warrant the conclusion. Under the Laws of Breeding we 

 shall notice this again. 



The Unique Character of the Arabian. The reader 

 who is interested in a fuller history of the horse will find that 

 the Arab horse has given character to the horses of every na- 

 tion bordering on the Mediterranean Sea and the lands invaded 

 by the devotees of Mohammed. In modern times the English 

 thorough-bred traces many of the best families to the Arabians. 

 What influence the Arabian has had on the celebrated French 

 horses we can not now tell ; but that his blood has given char- 

 acter to the noble Percheron and the ancient Norman we can 

 not doubt. The Turkish horse "seems to be merely the Arab 

 developed by higher food into a larger size and more massive 



