^%., 



■V 



12 



AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK 



industry of man have ever made. In our opinion, however, 

 the sheep should be ranked first in usefulness, the kine sec- 

 ond, and the horse third. 



Of the six ascertained species of horses, only one has yet 

 been discovered on the !N'ew Continent in a perfectly wild 

 state, and this animal has cloven hoofs. It is an inhabitant 

 of the mountains of South America. 



The horse is a type of man — of man's pride, vices, and in- 

 firmities, no less than of his independence and strength. His 

 martial traits, especially, have been the theme of glowing de- 

 scription and eulogy in all ages. The unthinking horse that 

 rushes to battle is but the truthful representation of his 

 great prototype — man. The description of the Eastern horse 

 in the book of Job is exceedingly poetical and expressive : 



" Hast thou given the horse his strength ? Hast thou clothed 

 his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a 

 grasshopper? The glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paw- 

 eth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength ; he goeth on 

 to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not 

 affrighted ; neither turneth he back from the sword. The 

 quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the 

 shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; 

 neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He 



