EARI.Y IIISTOliY OF THE IIOHSE. 13 



that, aflWglited by the clamour of the battle, or by wounds, the horses 

 became ungovernable, and, turning on the ranks of their friends, threw 

 them into complete disorder. They were on this account laid aside, even 

 by the barbarians themselves. 



In process of time, war-chariots of every kind fell into disuse, and the 

 higher classes of warriors were content to tight on horseback, where their 

 personal strength and courage might be as well displayed, and discipline 

 could be better preserved. 



Still, almost to the period of the Christian era, and long after that in . 

 many countries, the use of the horse was confined to war, to the chase, 

 and to public pageants. The first employment of the Eg^-ptian colonists, 

 when they landed in Thessaly, was to rid the forests of the wild cattle, 

 and other dangerous animals, with which they were then peopled. In the 

 central and southern parts of Greece, the country was more open and the 

 wilder animals were scarcely known ; but in Assyria and Persia, and 

 every country in which the legitimate prey of the hunter was found, the 

 horse was employed in its pursuit. 



In process of time, in order to decide the comparative value of different 

 horses, or to gratify the vanity of their owners, and also to give more 

 effect to certain religious rites and public spectacles, horse-races were in- 

 troduced. The most celebrated of these exliibitions was that at Olympia, 

 in Peloponnesus, held every fourth year, in honour of Jupiter. The 

 young men flocked thither from every district of Greece, to contend in 

 every manly exercise — hurling the javelin, leaping, running, wrestling 

 and boxing. The candidates were persons of unblemished reputation — • 

 the contest fairly and honourably conducted, and the conqueror, crowned 

 Avith a laurel, or with gold, was received in his native town with accla- 

 mations of joy. A breach was made in the wall of the towai for one who 

 had so disting-uished himself to pass. He was, for life, entitled to prece- 

 dency at every public exhibition ; he was exempted from all taxes and 

 inferior civil offices ; his name was enrolled in the archives of his country, 

 and statues were erected to his memory. This was the source of the noble 

 spirit of emulation and the ardent love of countiy by which the Greek was 

 distinguished. 



Nearly a century, however, passed before the attraction of the exhibi- 

 tion was increased by the labours of the horse. The first colonists could 

 bring with them only a few of these noble animals. In several of the 

 wars in which they were engaged, their deficiency in cavalry was 

 lamentably apparent. It was not luitil the 23i^d Olympiad that the horse 

 mingled in the contest. 



During the first two Olympiads after this, horsemen alone appeared. 

 Of these races the accounts are exceedingly imperfect. Each horse was 

 ridden by his oAvner, who was obliged to undergo preparatory trials for 

 the space of thirty days. The horses were divided into full and under- 

 ao-ed ; but no explanation is given by any writer of the precise meaning of 

 these terms, nor is anything said of the weight of the riders. We only 

 know the space to be run over, which somewhat exceeded four miles. 

 There was one race called Colne, in which mares alone were permitted to 

 lun. Towards the end of the course the riders were compelled to leap 

 from their backs, and, keeping the bridle in their hands, to ran alongside 

 of them to the winning-post. 



In the 25th Olympiad, chariot-races Avere introduced. The chariots 

 were arranged abreast of each other at the starting-post ; the places— for 

 it will appear that these gave some important advantages — having been 

 previously decided by lot. An altar was erected on one side, upon which 

 stood a brazen eagle, dedicated to Jupiter, and a dolphin, sacred to 



