LAKELAND ABDALLAH. 313 



has a finely shaped head — bony and lean, but well shaped — very little 

 of the Abdallah or Roman form, none of the thinness of front profile 

 often seen in the family, wide between the eyes, and high in the apex 

 or poll, with a long, clean and sharp ear — a perfect Abdallah ear; a 

 full eye, that seems never to sleep or grow dim; an even and well 

 formed neck, not so short as that of his sire; a compact, full breast and 

 shoulder, rising to withers of fair but not great elevation; a round 

 barrel — regular Bellfounder body; round and full at the hips, over the 

 croup and in the hindquarter, close and compactly built, with the 

 thigh or gaskin stout and full down to a hock that is perfection; feet 

 and legs of the most superb kind; a nice mane; a tail not very heavy, 

 and getting rather light close to the dock, but not much lacking yet; 

 and in the whole outline, a horse of as fine form as can anywhere be 

 found — as compact as if he had been cast of molten lead. 



But all this outline gives no idea of the high quality, lofty spirit 

 and nerve organism of intense and positive character which he 

 displays in the box or outside. He displays a brain power, that 

 to the most casual observer is immense. No animal can anywhere 

 be found that outwardly shows evidence of a brain and nerve 

 power of more intensity or greater compass and power. He is 

 in every lineament and feature, a Messenger of the Messengers, and 

 an Abdallah everywhere. He who would govern this horse, must do 

 it with intelligence and kindness, for if it should come to a question 

 of mastery by brute force and power of will, the horse would most 

 likely be the superior. Nowhere can a better illustration of the high 

 nervous organization and proud spirit of old Messenger or of Abdallah 

 be found than in this horse. He is withal a horse of a kindly disposition, 

 and fond of the caresses of his acquaintances — but a little as Bush 

 Messenger was to those who succeeded his early master, whom he 

 would follow as a dog follows the hand that feeds and pets him. 

 Bush Messenger, in his advanced years, was regarded in the light of a 

 man-eater, even by those who had charge of him. Upon one occasion, 

 the veteran turfman from whom he took his name, visited the place, 

 and went into the lot where the old horse was grazing, in spite of the 

 warnings of an old lady, who declared he wovild be eaten up; but 

 when the old stallion heard the sharp whistle that awakened memories 

 of by-gone years, he came charging over the lot with nostrils wide 

 extended, the most perfect picture of intense excitement, until he 

 beheld his old master, and going up to him was ready almost to lie 

 down at his feet from very joy; receiving his kindly caresses, he fol- 



