7*4 



THE RACE HORSE. 



ment. The pedigree of these Horses is carefully preserved, and written in most florid 

 terms upon parchment. In some cases, the genealogy is said to extend for nearly two 

 thousand years. The body of the Arab Horse is very light, its neck long and arched, 

 its eye full and soft, and its limbs delicate and slender. The temper of the animal is 

 remarkably sweet, for as it has been born and bred among the family of its owner, it 

 avoids injuring even the little children that roll about among its legs, as carefully as 

 if they were its own offspring. So attached to its owner is this beautiful Horse, that if 

 he should be thrown from its back, the animal will stand quietly by its prostrate mas- 

 ter, and wait until he gains strength to remount. 



The training of the Kochlani is not so severe as is generally imagined, for the pres- 

 ence of water and abundant pasturage is absolutely necessary, in order to rear the 

 animal in a proper manner. Not until the strength and muscles of the animal are 



ARAB HORSE. 



developed, is a trial permitted, and then it is truly a terrible one. When the mare for 

 the male animal is never ridden by the Arabs has attained her full development, 

 she is mounted for the first time, and ridden at full speed for fifty or sixty miles with- 

 out respite. Hot and fainting, she is then forced into deep water, which compels her 

 to swim, and if she does not feed freely immediately after this terrific trial, she is re- 

 jected as unworthy of being reckoned among the true Kochlani. 



For the animals which will stand this terrible test the Arab has almost an idolatrous 

 regard, and will oftentimes spare an enemy merely on account of his steed. 



The RACE HORSE of England is, perhaps, with the exception of the foxhound, the 

 most admirable example of the perfection to which a domesticated animal can be 

 brought by careful breeding and training. 



