GENERTAL HISTORY OF THE HORSE. 415 



of spoken language. Few words, delivered with precision, 

 accompanied by caresses and gentle treatment, will be found 

 more effectual than any other course/" 



The domestication of the horse may be regarded as one 

 of the most important acquisitions made by man from the 

 animal kingdom. Without this useful quadruped, civiliza- 

 tion must have made comparatively but little progress, and 

 we should have been later by many centuries in emerging 

 from barbarism. The horse contributes largely to our luxu- 

 ries, pleasures, and service ; he facilitates and lessens the 

 labours of the field ; he transports burdens, and man him- 

 self, to the most distant parts, with certainty, celerity, and 

 ease ; he is ever the faithful and obedient servant of his 

 master. His form, sagacity, and temper, have been most 

 admirably and wisely adapted for our use ; he is fitted in 

 an eminent degree to fill a most important part in the scale 

 of being. 



The horse is framed with such a pliability of physical 

 structure and constitution, that man may mould him to the 

 form or bulk best fitted for the particular service in which 

 he is to be employed. Whether we contemplate the power, 

 ful and symmetrical structure of his frame, the elegance of 

 his limbs, evincing strength and speed in their movements ; 

 the delicacy and glossy sleekness of his skin ; his large and 

 sparkling eyes, which either beam with mild intelligence, or 

 flash with energetic fire ; or the docility and tractability of 

 his disposition, we cannot fail to regard him as one of the 

 noblest of animated beings. In addition to these qualities, 

 he possesses the most intrepid courage ; he has been from 

 most remote times the bearer of man in the field of carnage, 



* Wo ! used by carters to horses, is derived from the Norman- 

 French, and signifies, ^' attend, stop, listen." Gee ! is derived from 

 the German verb geheuy '' to go." 



