144 
SOUTHEKN CULTIVATOE. 
ly, and full of high spirits, he is yet gentle and tractable. 
Keen and ardent, he is more firm and persevering than 
any other animal, and all these qualities especially fit him 
for the purposes to which man has applied him. He works 
patiently and steadily at the plow, or in drawing the load- 
ed carriage ; he deports himself with pride while whirling 
along the light pleasure vehicle, or jingling the inerry bells 
of the quick moving sleigh. He sometimes dances with 
delight as he prances along with his martial rider on his 
back, and he enters upon the race with as keen a zest as 
his owner, seemingly to exult in success, or, with down- 
cast head, to experience shame in defeat. Whilst minis- 
tering to so many multiplied wants of man during life, his 
remains are applied to many important branches of manu- 
facture, and, though civilized nations make no use of his 
flesh, it is an important item in the food of many barbari- 
an tribes, where it is considered a delicacy, and a spirituous 
liquor is made from the milk of the mare, which is as 
eagerly sought after, as is the intoxicating wine by us. 
And now let me give you my idea of a good horse. 
He should be about fifteen and a half hands high ; the 
head light, and clean made ; wide between the nostrils, 
and the nostrils themselves large, transparent, and open ; 
broad in the forehead; ’eyes, prominent, clear and spark- 
ling; ears, small, and neatly set on; neck, rather short, 
and well set up ; large arm or shoulder, well thrown back 
and high ; withers, arched and high ; legs, fine, flat, thin 
and small boned ; body, round, and rather light, though 
sufficiently large to afford substance when it is needed; 
full chest, affording ample play for the lungs ; back, short 
with the hind quarters set on rather obliquely. Any one 
possessing a horse of this make and appearance and weigh- 
ing eleven or twelve hundred pounds, may rest assured 
that they have a horse of all work, and a bargain which is 
well worth getting hold of. 
I will now cal! your attention to different varieties of 
horses in foreign countries, and in our own. 
The Egyptian horse is generally known by the name of 
th-e African barb. He exceeds the Arabian in stature, and 
is principally remarkable for the fulness and height of his 
shoulders, and the drooping of his haunches. The most 
remarkable specimens of this tribe are the celebrated 
“ drinkers of the wind.” They are wiry and fleshless, 
and shaped something like the greyhound. It is related 
of one of these horses, that he. once performed a journey 
of sixty miles, in the hottest period of a burning African 
day, without the rider’s drawing bridle, or allowing him 
to relax his speed a single instant, until the journey was 
completed. The little African kingdom of Donkala is 
celebrated for a breed of horses of large size, which some 
have considered as the handsomest in the world. Every 
attempt to introduce them into any other country has 
failed, however. The celebrated Egyptian horses were 
also ridden by the prophet Mahomet and his four com- 
panions, on the night of their memorable flight from Mec- 
ca, in the year 622, and now known as the Hegira. 
The Arabian horses are small, only averaging between 
thirteen and fourteen hands high, rather inclined to be 
lean, and in travelling they rise higher from the ground 
than other blood horses, and gather more quickly. They 
are generally of a dappled gray, or dark brown color, 
with a short black tail and mane. They usually run wild 
and even in that condition, they possess the greatest mild- 
ness and generosity of disposition. After they are do- 
mesticated, they are played with by the children, have the 
most favored corner of the tent, and occupy a deservedly 
high place in the affections of the family. This affection 
seems to be returned with more than ordinary sagacity, 
for it is authenticated that, the master being in danger, the 
horse has put forth every power to the utmost, and so 
strained his endurance that on reaching a place of safety 
he has instantly yielded his life. They are usually cap- 
tured by snares, hidden in the sand, by which the feet 
become entangled, and the terrified animal falling to the 
ground, is made an easy pi'ey. Their amazing speed 
renders this the only method by which they can be 
taken. 
The Persian horse resemble those of Arabian general 
appearance, though somewhat larger. They are esteemed 
less highly than the Arabian, though I think they have 
some points of superiority. 
The hoi’ses of Tartary are exceedingly swift, even out- 
stripping the antelope ; though here their resemblance to 
favorite breeds ceases entirely. They are large and heavy 
headed, very low in the shoulder, awkwardly made, and' 
very ill looking. When feeding, one of their number is 
placed on an eminence as a sentinel, and on the approach 
of danger, he starts off, the rest following like the wind.. 
The fabled flight of Mazeppa, lashed to the back of a 
wild horse, is supposed to be among the wild herds of 
Tartary. 
In Turkey, horses are held in the highest esteem, which 
they well deserve, being of the most docile and affection- 
ate disposition. They are the result of a cross between 
the African and Arabian, and are full of fire and life, with 
a light make, splendid head, and great powers of endur- 
ance. The tail of the horse is considered an emblem of' 
dignity in Turkey, from the fact that a Turkish army once- 
lost its standard in a battle, when the leader, to inspire the 
drooping courage of his men, cut off the tail of a horse, 
hoisted it on the end of a spear, and rallied his forces to 
victory. As a reward he received military promotion, 
the emblem of which was a horse’s tail. The rank of the 
owner is known by the number of the tails he is allowed, 
the highest being three, and theofiicers are called ‘'pachas 
of three tails.” 
The genuine East Indian horse is of small value, owing 
to the unsuitable climate, which seems to be highly un- 
favorable to his improvement ; and the pure native breed 
is small, ugly and ill made, being equally deficient in 
form, spirit and endurance. By judicious and repeated 
crossings, and the utmost care in obtaining healthy stock,, 
a species of a horse has been introduced into the country, 
which will compare favorably with any other. The great- 
est and most continued pains are necessary, however, or 
they will soon degenerate. 
The European horses will next engage our attention. 
One of the most beautiful is the Spanish, or Andalusian,, 
which originated from the Barbary horse, the only fault- 
being that the head is large in proportioh.^ to the body ; 
the mane is thick, long and graceful, the'ears long, and 
the eyes very animated. The Italian horses are very large 
and finely shaped ; they were once highly esteemed, but 
are now principally used for carriage horses, and heavy 
cavalry. Danish and Swedish horses are stout and well 
built, but slow and inelegant. The Dutch and German 
horse is preferred throughout Europe as a draught horse. 
The Russian horse is large limbed and powerful, with 
long, stiff hair standing out from the body, and is not very 
highly esteemed. The French horses differ much accord- 
ing to the portion of the country from whence they come; 
and the same may be said of the English and American, 
to which I shall now invite your attention. 
I can find no mention made of horses in England, prior 
to the Roman invasion by Julius Caesar; and they are- 
spoken of in his commentaries, in terms of high praise. 
In fact he esteemed them so highly, that he carried several 
specimens back to Rome, where they and their progeny 
were in great repute for many years. I think that the 
first horses known in England, were of a kind similar to 
thorough shelties of Scotland, and the mountain ponies of 
Wales and Cornwall, though they were of a larger size, 
probably owing to the more suitable climate of England, 
and the better quality of the grazing fields. It is known 
