The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-03-30
AG RICULT U RAJ.
THE HORSE.

We make the following extracts from ar
interesting lecture delivered recently b,
Hon. Zadock Pratt before the Mechanics
Institute in New York. The lecturer stated
iha, in the course Of = long and active liis
ofmors than three score years, he had worr
on, more than thousand horses ir his ser
vice, and strong love for the subject hat
induced him 10 give il more than ordinary
attention. His remarks would be princi
pally the result Of his own experience ant
observation:
The horse family is distinguished from
all other animals by having an undivided
hoof and simple stomach. /, Is divided
into two classes the common horse, with
its varieties Of work horse, carriage. hunter
and race horse. all OF which have important
peculiariiies, which shall mention and
iha, class, the type Of which is the common
jackass, and which includes the quagga and
zebra, not found in this country. and may
say. not wanted either.
The horse is undoubtedly the mos, useful
and manageable Of all animals known 10
man. In gracefulness Of carriage, dignity
OF motion, and in obedience 10 the will oi
his master, he is superior 10 every other
auadruped. Lively and full Of spir,s. he is
yet gentle and ,ractable. Keen and ardent,
he is more firm and persevering than any
other animal, and all these qualities espec-
tally fit him for the purposes TO which man
has applied him. He works patiently and
steadily a, the plough, or in drawing the
loaded carriage he depor,s himself with
pride while whirling along the light pleas.
ure vehicle. or jinsling the merry bells ol
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 zest as
his owner, seeming 10 exult in success, or,
with downcas, head, TO experience shame
Ia defeat. Whilst minisiering TO 50 many
multiplied wants Of man during life, his re-
mains are applied 10 many importan,
branches Of manufacture, though civilized
nations make no use OF his flesh, il is quite
an important item in the food Of many bar
bariau tribes, where il is considered deli.
cacy, ard spiriiuous liquor is made from
The milk OF the mare, which is rs eagerly
soush, after, Us Is the intoxicating wine by
Us.
And now let ms give you my idea OF a
good horse.
He should be- about fifteen and half
hands high; the head light, and clean
made: wide between the nos,rils, and the
nos,rils themselves large, transparent and
open broad in the forehead eyes,
prominent. clear anl sparkling; ears,
small, and neatly set on; neck, rather
short, and well set up large arm or should
or, we'll thrown back, and high; w'lhers
arched and high; legs, fine, fiat, thin, and
small boned body, round, and rather light,
though sufficient, to afford substance when
il is needed; full chest, afording ample
play for the lungs; back, short, with the
hind quarters sc, on rather obliquely. ANY
one possessing horse Of this make and
appearance, and weighing eleven or twelve
hundred pounds, may rest assured that they
have horse OF all work, and bargair
which is well worth getting hold Of
Ai,er alluding a, much length to the va
rious races o! horses in foreign countries
the lecturer proceeded to speak Of these il
our own.
With regard TO horses Of America, W,
learn ,ha, large numbers were brough, owe
by the early Spanish and English discover
ers. The first were imported by Columbus
on his second voyage, in 1893. The hrs
brough, TO any territory now belonging Il
the United States, were landed in Florida,
in 1927, by Cabaca dc Vaca. They were
allowed 10 run loose during the dissension:
that followed, and multiplied TO an almost
incredible extent, especially in South
America. Although the climate in South
America would seem to be suitable for the
proper development ofthe horse, as ], is tol
cattle. vet he has never attained more thar
secondary importance. In large, wild herds
they roam about, acting in admirable concer
10 oppose the attacks Of wild beasts, whc
share the vast wilderness with them. Men
have often fallen victims 10 their iemerily
in approaching them, and travellers have
frequently found their own horses shake ott
their burdens, break away from their 70.
s,rain,, and dash of TO meet body OF their
free companions, If they happen TO NEE,
them. The natives take them with the
lasso, and only ride the horses, leaving the
mares 10 run wild. They make no attempts
10 breed, but catch horse when they need
him, and break him to their use by the mos'
violen, measures. They never bring them
10 market, and II 10 said that foreigner
who was once riding mare, was so hoo,ed
nj and pelied by the natives that he mar
rowly escaped with his life.
The wild horses found in North Americ'
when the West was first explored, were
mos, hardy, they were Of Spanish e1'rsc,
ton, and had been brough, into use oy The
natives 10 a great extent, though many
wild herds OF immense numbers siili roam
freely over the praries Of our western terri
tories.
The racc Of horses which originated those
now used In this country, and in Canada
were imported from various nations.
In 1909 one horse and six mares were
brought to Virginia, from England. In 1925
few Dutch horses from Holland. were i'm.
ported inio New Netherlands. now the Stale
OF New York. In 1905, M. l.. Escsbo,
brought the fpt horse into Canada and
Nova Scotia, then known by ,hs Indian
name Of Acadia. The FIRST ho'se brough
into Massachusetts was from England, ant
was imported by Francis Hig,inson, ia
1879. In 1878 they existed in considerable
numbers in Louisiana. The intians OF
Red River. in Texas, used them in 1909 =
The early French settlers in Illinois, had
them in considerable numbers In 1850
Tha s,crs v>-.als hron 1ht ovaf ih0 flfS