EARLY HISTORY OF THE HORSE. 7 



tliat they Avere always in request as merceuaries, and deemed to be invin- 

 cible. In all long and tedious wars the assistance of the Colophonian 

 troops was courted, and the party that obtained supplies from them were 

 so certain of success, that KoXocpwra ndircu, and afterwards among the 

 Romans, ' Colophonem imponere,' were used proverbially for putting a 

 conclusion to any affair. Strabo, lib. xiv. 



We must now travel to Armenia, on the west of Media, before we meet 

 with anything to arrest our steps. A beautiful breed of horses was culti- 

 vated in this district. The chariot of Xerxes was drawn by Aimienian 

 horses, being the stateliest and the noblest which his extensive empire 

 could produce. 



Some writers, describing the horse at a later period, mention the great 

 care that was taken of the dressing and adorning of the mane. Vegetius 

 gives a long account of this. It was cut into the form of an arch or bow ; 

 or it was parted in the middle, that the hair might fall down on either side ; 

 or, more generally, it was left long and flowing on the right side — a custom 

 which has been retained to the present day. 



Many old sculptui-es prove that the horsemen of almost eveiy country 

 mounted on the right side of the animal. Thei'e are a few exceptions to 

 this. The mane hanging on that side would assist the rider in getting 

 on the horse. There were not any stirrups in those days. The modern 

 horseman always mounts on the left side, yet the mane is turned to the 

 right. 



Media produced numerous liorses of the same character as those from 

 Ai'menia. 



Cappadocia stood highest of all the eastern countries for its breed of 

 horses ; not perhaps so speedy as those from some other districts, but dis- 

 tinguished for their stately appearance and lofty action. Old Blundeville, 

 from the inspection of many of the ancient sculptures, says that these were 

 more heavy-headed than the heroes of the Parthians. Perhaps- they were 

 so ; but no one can dispute the stateliness of their figure, and their proud 

 and high and equal step. Altliough often ridden, they were better cal- 

 culated for the chariot. This kind of horse seems to have pleased the 

 ancients ; and their painters and statuaries are fond of exhibitmg them 

 in their most striking attitudes. The horses in the cut at the commence- 

 ment of this chapter are illustrative of the remark. Oppian says of them, 

 what is true at the present day of many horses of this character, ' when 

 young, they are dehcate and weak ; but strength comes with years, and, 

 contrary to other horses, they are better and more pow^erful when advanced 

 in age.' 



The Parthians fought on foot in the army of Xerxes. Either they had 

 not begun to be celebrated as horsemen, or there were reasons which no 

 author states for their being dismounted at that time. No very long pcidod, 

 however, passed before they became some of the most expert riders that 

 the world could produce, and were reckoned, and justly so, almost in- 

 vincible. They are described as being exceedingly active and dexterous 

 in the management of theii' horses. They were as foi^midable in flight as 

 in attack, and would often turn on the back of the animal, and pom* on 

 their pursuers a cloud of arrows that at once changed the fortune of the day. 



Vegetius gives a singular account of the manner of their breaking in 

 their horses, and rendering them sure-footed when galloping over the most 

 irregular, and dangerous grounds ; for they were lighter and hardier 

 liorses than those of the Cappadocians or Medes, and better for their 

 ]>eculiar pace and manner of fighting. A spot of dry and level ground was 

 selected, on which various troughs or boxes, filled ■with chalk or clay, 

 were placed at iri-egular distances, and with much irregularity of surface 



