36 THE ARABIAN HORSE. 



that the prophet, being desirous of selecting mares as a founda- 

 tion for his stud, had a number of the best of them, which had 

 been used as chargers in battle, kept two days without water. 

 At the end of that time, when mad with thirst, they were set 

 at liberty, and at the moment when they were close to the 

 coveted water his trumpets sounded a war charge, which had 

 such an effect on five of them that they abandoned the water 

 and galloped to the spot where they expected to meet with the 

 still greater excitement of war. These five were therefore 

 selected to form the foundation of his stud, and from them 

 sprang the race called "Kochlani". 



The Arabian horse of to-day is endowed with beautiful 

 points and with an accomplished figure and superlative action, 

 surpassing in graceful movement the finest specimens of the 

 equine race. His broad head and massive brain implies intelli- 

 gence ; the eye is full and mild, yet sparkling with excitement 

 when aroused to action. The great hereditary excellence of 

 this fleet and wiry horse is sound feet and legs and the won- 

 derful claims of ability to withstand rest and hunger which 

 surpass the accredited limit of animal endurance. This enables 

 him to endure long journeys across the sandy deserts, where 

 food and water are scarce, sustained alone by his invincible 

 courage. 



History points to the Arabian horse as the foundation of 

 the English Thoroughbred race horse, which traces to the 

 Darley Arabian, Godolphin Arabian, etc. To the Arabian 

 horse is also justly accredited the foundation of that most valu- 

 able of all breeds for draft purposes where activity and speed 

 in its work is valued, the Percheron. We also find his blood 

 at the fountain-head of what is destined to become the most 

 popular of all breeds of the world — for light harness purposes 

 — the trotting horse of America, which is descended from 

 three great sources or families, and divided and subdivided 

 into several other different families, all branches of which 

 point to the Arabian as then' fountain-head ; and now when 

 we visit the most noted and celebrated stock farms of the 



