THE HORSE, DIFFERENT BREEDS, Eio. !)?> 



ttill show both their original and derived excellences ; and a pure-blood 

 Spanish Barb is a fine and beautiful creature. 



In the plains of South America, Mexico, Texas, and the Western 

 Territories of the United States are found great herds of wild horses, of 

 vrhich there are different varieties, though they must have had a common 

 origin, as we have stated in Chapter I. Chance mixture with horses 

 imported into the country subsequentl}^ to those brought from Spain, 

 together ^ith the influences of different climates and food to which they 

 have long been subject, may perhaps account for this. The most marked 

 types of these wild Americans are the Mustang and the Indian ponies, 

 which are noticed on succeeding pages. As a general thing they retain 

 the strildng characteristics of their old Spanish or Audalusian progenitors ; 

 in size, shape, and spirit they show whence they are derived. Their 

 heads are pretty and their limbs clean. They are capable of great 

 endurance ; and though not especially rapid in action, it is related of 

 them that they are sometimes ridden at the rate of ten or twelve miles 

 an hour for a stretch of eighty miles, without an3i:hing more than a 

 temporar}^ halt and such little food as could be hastily eaten. Seldom is 

 any gait knoT^^l among them except a walk and a lope ; but an occasional 

 pacer is discovered. Many of them do well for the saddle ; but care is 

 required in handling them. In the hands of the cruel or inconsiderate, 

 their wild nature returns to them, and they become intractable and even 

 dangerous. 



H. Some Considered as to Work, rather than Breed. 



In treating of the different stocks and specifying distinguishing points, 

 it is perhaps not amiss to consider some characteristics that should mark 

 animals chosen or set aside for special purposes. And yet in this considera- 

 tion it must not be forgotten, that very few horses, comparatively, are kept for 

 but one class of duties. Few horses are for the saddle exclusively, as compared 

 with those who render service in harness at times, as well as under saddle. 

 And so with other grades of horses. A varied work is usually required, and 

 ■especially so among farmers, and the well-to-do residents of cities and villages. 



The good farm horse cannot, of course, be confined to any particular 

 breed. If he combines within himself certain desirable qualities, it is 

 iiot pertinent to inquire particularly what blood he carries. Some pointif 

 that should distinguish him may be thus enumerated : He should b« 

 close-built and strong, but not gross and clumsy, since he is to serve as i) 

 sort of horse of all work — doing duty, by turns, under the saddle, and 

 before the plow, the farm-waojon and the carriage. 



