THE TURKISH— GER]\r AN. (19 



warped in, eight minutes after him. At starting, the English horses car- 

 ried full three stone more than the Cossacks ; and during the latter half of 

 the race, a mere child had ridden the Cossack. 



THE TURKISH HORSE. 



The Turkish horses are descended principally from the Arab, crossed by 

 the Persian and certain other bloods. The body, however, is even longer 

 than the Arabian's, and the crupper more elevated. They have contributed 

 materially to the improvement of the English breed. The Byerley and 

 the Helmsley Turk are names familiar to every one conversant with horses, 

 and connected with our best blood. 



The learned and benevolent Busbequius, who was ambassador at Con- 

 stantinople in the seventeenth century, gives the following account of the 

 Turkish horses. Our grooms, and their masters too, may learn a lesson of 

 wisdom and humanity from his words. 



" There is no creature so gentle as a Turkish horse, nor more respectful 

 to his master, or the groom that dresses him. The reason is, because they 

 treat their horses with great lenity. I myself sav/, when I was in Pontus, 

 passing through a part of Bithinia called Axilos, towards Cappadocia, 

 how indulgent the countrymen were to young colts, and how kindly they 

 used them soon after they were foaled. They would stroke them, bring 

 them into their houses, and almost to their tables, and use them even like 

 children. They hung something like a jewel about their necks, and a 

 garter, which was full of amulets against poison, which they are most 

 afraid of The grooms that dress them are as indulgent as their masters ; 

 they frequently sleek them down with their hands, and never use a cudgel 

 to bang their sides, but in cases of necessity. This makes their horses 

 great lovers of mankind ; and they are so far from kicking, wincing, or 

 growing untractable by this gentle usage, that you will hardly find a 

 masterless horse amongst them. 



" But, alas ! our Christian grooms' horses go on at another rate. They 

 never think them rightly curried till they thunder at them with their 

 voices, and let their clubs or horse-whips, as it were, dwell on their sides. 

 This makes some horses even tremble when their keepers come into their 

 stable ; so that they hate and fear them too. But the Turks love to have 

 their horses so gentle, that at the word of command they may fall on their 

 knees, and in this position receive their riders. 



" They will take up a staff or club upon the road with their teeth, 

 which their rider has let fall, and hold it up to him again; and when 

 they are perfect in this lesson, then, for credit, they have rings of silver 

 hung on their nostrils as a badge of honour and good discipline. I saw 

 some horses when their master was fallen from the saddle stand stock 

 still without wagging a foot till he got up again. Another time I saw a 

 groom standing at a distance in the midst of a whole ring of horses, and, 

 at the word of command, they would either go round or stand still. Once 

 I saw some horses when their master was at dinner with me in an upper 

 room prick up their ears to hear his voice, and when they did so they 

 neighed for joy." 



THE GERMAN HORSE. 



The German horses are generally large, heavy, and slow. The Hunga- 

 rian may be an exception, being lighter, speedier, and giving greater 



C A 



