608 
YEETEBRATA. 
And feet that iron never shod, 
And flanks unscarred by spur or rod — 
A thousand here — the wild, the free — 
Like waves that follow o'er the sea" — 
is one of the most noble and inspiring scenes presented by the animal creation. 
In South America the wild horses are captured with the lasso by the Indians and Guachos, and 
in a few days are completely broken to the saddle. The same process is adopted in Northern 
Mexico, and in the adjacent territories of the United States. These horses, thus subjected to the 
use of man, are exceedingly serviceable ; though generally of small size, they are peculiarly hardy 
and powerful. Those called Indian Ponies, which are occasionally brought to the Eastern States, 
though far from being handsome, are remarkable for endurance, performing an almost incredible 
amount of labor with moderate fare. 
The animals thus civilized are, however, very apt to retain a streak of their native savage- 
ness. Occasionally a number of them will be seized with a sudden frenzy, such, no doubt, as is 
common, and perhaps habitual and constitutional among the wild herds which are often attacked 
by carnivorous beasts, or assailed by fiercer and more dangerous eneinies — the Indian hunters. A 
panic of this sort, which is not uncommon among the caravans of traders and travelers, who trav- 
erse the southwestern deserts with large numbers of horses and mules, is called a stampede. 
Under the influence of one of these paroxysms, all the horses in the troop, and even the mules 
and oxen, are seized with an uncontrollable madness, and bursting away, spread mischief and con- 
fusion on every side. Most frequently these events take place at night, the darkness of course 
adding to the turmoil and terror of the scene. Often a traveling party is stoj)ped for several days 
by one of these incidents, it being a matter of great labor to overtake and bring back the scat- 
tered animals to their duty. 
DOMESTIC BREEDS. 
There has been in the United States an earnest endeavor, within the last fifty years, to improve 
the breeds of our horses, the same methods being generally followed as in England. But it is ob- 
vious that the diff'ei'ence of our habits and situation, in several respects, from those of the people 
of England, must lead to a diff"erence of wants, and consequently to the cultivation of peculiar 
breeds of horses. In England there is a large number of persons — and those of the highest social 
position— who interest themselves in the race-coitrse and the chase, and who bestow a large part 
of their time and money in these pursuits. Hence the Racer or Thoroughbred, and the Hunter, 
which is nearly a thoroughbred, stand at the very head of the species, not merely because they 
are of the finest blood, but because they are actively demanded for actual use. In our country 
these breeds are interesting to comparatively few, and these chiefly known by the name of "sport- 
ing characters," exercising little influence beyond their own limited circle. "The uses to which 
the horses sold in the principal markets of our country are put," says a well-informed writer,'* 
* See Linslej^'s valuable and interesting "Usswy on Morgan Horses." From that work we extract the following re-, 
marks on the diflTerent uses of the horse in different parts of our country, as well as the different kinds employed: 
" The Conestoga liorse is found chiefly in the Middle States, but is not as often met with now as formerly. He is 
descended from early importations from Flanders and Denmark : he is inclined to be too long in the leg, too light in 
the barrel, and too dull in his paces. His quarters and shoulders are generally good, and when his body is found 
sufficiently deep he makes an excellent draught-horse ; he is often over seventeen hands high. 
" The Englisli tliorouglihred is found in perfection in many of the states, but is bred chiefly at the South. In most 
of the states the great majority of the horses in ordinary use possess traces of racing blood. 
" The Canadicm horse is found chiefly in Canada, and is undoubtedly of Norman-French descent, and to this day 
they preserve, in a high degree, the distinguishing traits of the stock from which they sprang. There are many va- 
rieties, some having been crossed with the English thoroughbred. They have maintained the good qualities of their 
ancestors, but have less size, probably owing in a great measure to the rigor of the climate and their scanty fare. 
Thej' are exceedingly hardy, easily kept, are long-lived, and jDerfectly gentle and docile. Some of them are celebra- 
ted for speed at short distances, but as a breed they are not good roadsters. 
" The Narragansett Pacer, a breed long celebrated in Rhode Island, but now nearly extinct, is said to have de- 
scended in part from a horse imported by Governor Robinson fi'om Andalusia, in Spain. They were noted for their 
easy pace under the saddle, docility, and powers of endurance. They were small and not well adapted for draught. 
" The Norman liorse has not yet been extensively bred in this country, but a few fine animals have been imported. 
They are large, usually full sixteen hands high, compact and muscular, and though not adapted to high speed with 
light weight, j'-et it is believed they are unrivaled in their powers of endurance, carrying a great weight at the rate 
of six or seven miles per hour. 
