4 THE HORSE 



Hay and grain have always been so abundant in 

 America that every farmer could afford to keep at least 

 one horse, however small his holding. The business of 

 all except the older great cities is still largely carried 

 on by men who were reared on the farm and who love 

 the horse. This fact, coupled with cheap maintenance 

 and abundant traffic, has filled the cities as well as 

 the country districts with horses. Unfortunately, until 

 the twelfth Census was taken, we have had no means 

 of knowing the exact number. 



When the pioneers reached the vast open grass- 

 covered plains of the west and southwest, they might 

 have expressed their surprise and wonder in the words 

 of Byron: 



"A thousand horse, the wild, the free, 



Like waves that follow o'er the sea. 

 A thousand horse, and none to ride ; 



O! where are they the reins to guide?" 



They did not stop to quote "Mazeppa," however, but 

 proceeded to catch and tame the horse and to furnish 

 him with a rider, who learned to keep a firm seat even 

 though the horse frequently stood alternately on one 

 end and then on the other. Thus American boys and 

 men have become expert horsemen by reason of unique 

 conditions not found in countries long settled. The 

 word "expert" is not full and comprehensive enough, 

 for they love to own, rear, educate and drive the horse. 

 The American is usually a kind, good caretaker, supply- 

 ing the wants of his horse before his own are satisfied. 

 Like the Arab, of all his possessions, he is proudest of 

 his colt; and so the large number of good horses in 



