HOEWDGIAN HOESE.] 



THE HORSE, AND 



[DANISH nOESB. 



from time to time, the bowls are emptied into 

 the kits, &c. 



It is impossible to give an adequate idea of 

 the impressive, exhilarating appearance of the 

 whole inclosure. Every soul seems, at this 

 time, fully occupied, for even the little Lap 

 children are practising the throwing of the 

 lasso, and evincing great dexterity, although 

 their strength is insufficient to hold the smallest 

 doe. Many of the young reins attempt to 

 suck the parent doe, but are always beaten 

 away by the Laps. Great quantities of the 

 loose hair on the backs of the reins, at this 

 season fall to the ground at a touch. Of these 

 the women form beds, on which to stretch 

 their reindeer skins, and thus save them from 

 contact with the mud floor of the huts. 



THE NORWEGIAN HORSE. 

 Norway is one of tlie most mountainous 

 countries in the world, and possesses a larger 

 breed of horses than Sweden. Of their saga- 

 city and affection, the following story may be 

 taken as a proof: — The master of one of these 

 animals had been dining at the neighbouring 

 town, and, when it was time to return, had 

 drank so much that he could not keep a firm 

 seat in his saddle. The horse seemed to be 

 aware of his master's condition, for he regu- 

 lated himself, as well as he could, according to 

 the unsettled motion of his rider ; but, hap- 

 pening to make a false step, his master rolled 

 oft' his back, and hung with one foot entangled 

 in the stirrup. The horse immediately stopped, 

 and, twisting his body in various directions, 

 endeavoured to extricate him, but in vain. The 

 man was severely hurt, and almost helpless; 

 but the shock had brought him to his senses. 

 The horse looked at him as he lay on the 

 ground, and, stooping, laid hold of the brim of 

 his hat, and raised his head a little ; but the 

 hat coming off, the man fell again. The animal 

 then laid hold of the collar of his master's coat, 

 and raised him by it so far from the ground 

 that he was enabled to draw his foot out of the 

 stirrup. After resting awhile, the man re- 

 gained the saddle, and reached his home. Gra- 

 titude towards the preserver of his life, made 

 the man ever afterwards cherish the horse 

 with the utmost kindness, until old age 

 brought the termination of its career. 



In Norw ay, as in Sweden, the horse is some- 

 38 



times attacked by bears ; and if he happen to 

 have a mare or foal with him, he places either 

 behind, and then attacks the others with the 

 utmost fury with his fore-legs. When he ad- 

 heres to this mode of beating off his enemy, he 

 is generally successful ; but if he turns round 

 to strike with his hind legs, the bear imme- 

 diately runs into him, and he is lost. 



In Iceland there is said to be a breed of 

 horses, descended either from the Norwegian 

 or the Scotch. 



In Finland, there is also a breed of horses 

 which are said to be beautifully formed, and 

 very swift, although not more than twelve 

 hands high. 



THE DANISH HORSE. 



The Danish horses are of such an excellent 

 size, and of so strong a make, tliat they are 

 preferred to almost all others for draught. 

 There are some of them perfectly well shaped ; 

 but tliis is but seldom seen, for, in general, 

 they are found to have a thick neck, heavy 

 shoulders, long and hollow back, and a narrow 

 croup ; however, they all move well, and are 

 found excellent both for parade and war. 

 They are of all colours, and often of whimsical 

 ones ; some being streaked like the tiger, or 

 mottled like the leopard. A good many years 

 ao'o there was an importatioa of some Danish 

 horses in London, which were considered to 

 have good action, and to be very serviceable. 



Of the horses belonging to the Eeroe 

 Islands, subject to the Danish crown, Be- 

 renger thus speaks : — " They are small of 

 growth, but strong; swift, and sure of foot, 

 going over the roughest places with such cer- 

 tainty, that a man may more surely rely upon 

 them than trust to his own feet. In Suderoe, 

 one of these islands, they have a lighter and 

 swifter breed than in any of the rest. On their 

 backs the inhabitants pursue the sheep, which 

 are wild in this island. The pony carries the 

 man over places that would otherwise be inac- 

 cessible to him ; follows his rider over others ; 

 enters into the full spirit of the chase, and 

 knocks down and holds the prey under his 

 feet until the rider can take possession of it." 



THE FLEMISH OR DUTCH HORSE. 

 The Flemish horses are a large race, and 

 powerfully formed. They were once fashion- 



