OKDER VU. rACIIYDERJLVTA. 293 



tluit of tlic sccoinl. Comparing; tlic IjlooJ-liorsc with many of our mag- 

 nificent cart-horses, we find even greater dili'crcnccs in iheir respective 

 beauties ; and yet neither tlic racer, nor tlie hist mentioned, possess the 

 cliaracters best suited for a war-liorsc, nor for the road, and other mixed 

 purposes; liencc beauty in horses is a rchitive term, and must depend upon 

 modifications, adapted for particular purposes. 



The intelligence and scnsil)iiity of the horse are very little inferior to those 

 of the dog. \^'e have seen them perform a great variety of amusing tricks, 

 to which they had been trained, such as firing off a musket, feigning death, 

 fear, and rage. Their attachment to their masters is often very strong. 

 There is an instance recorded, where, when a riiler broke his leg in a fall, 

 and the limb became entangled in the stirrup, his horse intelligently assisted 

 him in getting it out. It is also related of an Arabian mare, that when her 

 master, wounded and ca[)tured, and bound with cords, was lying on tlie 

 sand, awaiting the munlerous knife of the foe, or, what was worse, the 

 decision to carry him away into slavery, she seized the opportunity, when the 

 attention of the enemy was momentarily distracted, and lifted her helpless 

 master with her teeth, placed him upon her back, and was skimming across 

 the desert far away, Avith the speed of the wind, before the captors could re- 

 cover from their astonishment. The attachment of horses to their home, 

 where they arc kindly treated, is well known, there being cases where they 

 have swam broad and rapid I'ivcrs to return to it. The Arabs all declare 

 that their horses or mares, when sleeping aljroad in the open air, will wake 

 them on the approach of an enemy or beast of prey. Their gentleness may 

 be witnessed in the Bedouin tent, where the mare, foal, and children all 

 sleep and play together, without the least fear of accident. 



The horse is very susceptible to kindness, and the most vicious may be 

 subdued by luunane and gentle treatment. Colonel .Smith relates an instance 

 of the subjugation of a superb and beaulilid charger which had been con- 

 sidered perfectly nnmanageaijle. lie had killed one or two grooms, who 

 had attempted to ride him, when he was purciiascd by an English officer, 

 of great firmness and courage, and equal gentleness, who soon reduced him 

 to a state of complete obedience, so that he would f >llow his master like a 

 dog, seek his caresses, and even allow ladies to ride him. 



Considering these noble traits of character, we cannot but denounce with 

 indignation the ill-treatment, wanton abuse, and monstrous cruelties of which 

 the horse is too frequently the subject. The animal ought to attain the age 

 of thirty or thirty-five years, yet through ignorant management, inhuman 

 treatment, and over-work, few horses reaclfc the age of fifteen or twenty 

 years, and nearly all are really old at ten. Every day we see exhibitions of 

 these outrages, and we fear they will never be abated until our laws shall 

 provide more etHciently for the punishment of such barbarities. 



