Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-09-29

s eAnnot undertake rejected Communications
- A7 z Co and not personally % either Of the PrOPrie
The Arabian Horse.
Tic AoHitear ds PArmee, publishes letter from
The celebrated EMIR ABD EL-KADIR addressedtO Gen.
DUMAS, and is in reply to certain interrogatories
Propounded hy the latter gentleman in relation to
the Arab horses of Algeria, which at the present
time are attracting the attention Of the French gov
eminent, who have already Instituted breeding studs
IN that country with the most satisfactory results
The statements Of Add Ell Kadir entirely bear ont
the opinions entertained as to the pre-eminence Of
the Arabian horse over all other races and breeds,
The Dsy asserts the Arabian TO be an original race,
and not abreed, and 70 have been first reclaimed and
brought under subsection By Ishmael, the son Of
Abraham aud his handmade Hagar Ishmael being
regarded b the Arabs their great progenior, it
is very natural they should claim all that in their
eyes should reflect honor on his name But the re-
searches Of late years into the hidden reaaures OF
Niueveh, have shown conelusively that the Arabian,
or rather Assyrian horse had been subjected 10 the
power Of man long anterior to the time Of IshmaeI
The magnificent stud Of Solomon, referred 10 by
Abd-el Kadr, was derived from q number Of horses
sent him as present by the King Of Assyria whose
empire noted for the number and quality Of lis
horses Assyrian horses and hOrsemen are constant
y alluded to in sacred history, and the Jews seem
10 have been in continual dread Of the "drinkers Of
the wind 8 be glory Of whose nostrisis terriblel
The manner in which these horses found their way
into Africa is satisfactorily explained by the ez-Dey
and his theory may be the true one It had been
previously supposed they had been introduced into
Africa by the way of the Isthmus Of susz narrow
neck Of land which separated Ghaldea or ancient
MesOpetania from Egypt Beth theories may be
correct, and che inlreduotion have taken place at
different ePOohs, BY the Bed Sea as well as through
Egypt. a--s. . -s-s
From the known high qualities Of the Arab horse
throughout the entire East, it is by means sur
prsing that all equestrian nations should have en-
deavored 10 avail themselves Of his admitted supe
rOriiy, and procured them whenever practicable at
all hazards, for the purpose Of intermixtUrs With
such Indigenous races and breeds as were found in
their immediate localities. This intermiXture soon
formed breeds assimilatng more or less to the Ara
bian in appearance and quality, and known by diff
erent names-the name Arabian being frequently
claimed for breeds possessing in reality bat frac
ton Of that blood, in the same way that che name
Of Messenger is claimed for grey horses in this coun
try. Numerous breeds Of ponies exist in the East
extending even TO China, many Of which exhibit
traces Of Arab blood. But such pony intermixtures
are worthless TO the practical ARglo-SaKOn, what
ever value may attach tOthem elsewhere As stock
horses they are entitled TO no greater consideration
in this country than 50 many Morgans.
Il is very evident that race possesses the capa>
bility Of imp essing some of itspecuarties on any
breed with which il may be crossed. The III success
which has generally attended the importation Of /
horses called Arabian into Great Britain and this
country may Justly be aseribed 10 the fact that thew
uar mt well hrpl--fhqf mar In
seniaives Of certain Eastern breeds impressed With
Arabian blood, and possessed 20 unpractised eyes
its external attributes only while the pth aud mar
row of the genuine race were wanting. OF course |
such horses could make no very favorable impress /
sion on racing stock. for the simple reason that 4
Of the genuine siamp-the infusion Of Arab blood
was as great in the English and American races
horse as it was in those by which it was sought to
be improved, whilst, st the same time, thesPeed
greater,
The Godolphin and barley Arabians are the very
stones upon which the superstruoture Of the
modern racebOrse has been built We wasn't more Of |
such horses if they can be found; for already the
lack Of Arabian blood in rscehorses is distinct
" visible in their weak legs fat tender feet, and
defective wind Neither English American IA
GERS are what they should be-but the English are
much the worse Of the two and have little else than
sn uncertain speed az short distances aad IN single
heats to recommend them Strength, durability and !
haTdiheod have been sacrificed 10 speed. Like the I
dog and the shadow the actual has been sacrificed /
to the ideal. Not one in a hundred Of the horses |
bred in this country for the turf ft to contend
in a four mile race. run in heats. We know Of none
at all in Great Britain The stories about bandaged I
legs tender feet blindness, colds coughs, SC, tell
their own tale. The breed is relrOgradiug-resolv
ing itself into first prineipIos-the Arabian blood
which formerly flowed through the veins Of a lin /
tied number Of racers. is now running through a
thousand channels aud becoming every moment still
more diluted and weakened.
However correct the priDciple and practice Of con-
timed in and. in breeding mny be when applied 10
races yet il has reduced 10 a moral certainty that I
among breeds time will dave'ope il effects, unless
by repeated infusons offresh and orig
inal blood The cold low grade blood in the racer,
go long overpoWered and kept in allegiance BY that /
of the nohler Arabian, is beginning 70 exhibit its
pernicious influence in both countries, IL this be
not checked in Tine We should not be surprised 70
see. instead Of n breed Of valuable thoroughbred [
horses on our race courses, breed Of thorough
bred good for Doihings. Some exceptions to these
remarks however. exist There are individual horses
of undoubted Stamina and high speed which seem
to concentrate in themselves all the bestbood Of the
breed but the majority Of horses about
described e. ony 10 carry light weights and able
b run only ccrasionlly. II would be safe ealcua
ton to make that If a dozen or more horses were
entered in four mile race, either in Great Britain
or America not more than one half would come TO I
st the country. however suitable they may be for
speculative purposes We want horses more nearly /
resembling suoh az old Messenger, Duroe, &c I
horses clOsely allied to the ATaban-EhO if they /
we're not quite speedy some few modern stall /
lions are reported 10 be, yet were infinitely their
superiors in every requisite Of first class horse.
These stations got valuable stock for the road a5
well as the turf, possessing good sound legs ana 4
feet, and never firing endurance. They were 81 4
all times ready for work in the ordinary yoeaiions
Of lie; and at a moments notice man might mar
up for a davis journey without any douo as 10
the ability Of his horse 10 perform H.
Improvement can only be effected through me /
Arabian horse-not by the breeds Of mongre's call /
ed Arabian. but the Arabiaa horse OF me geuulne /
race-such as we're The barley, the Godolpnin, ard |
Grand Bashaw Arabians. Il is matter OF regret that
the services of this latter horse we're conhned e1el9
siveIv to farm and road maTes-only one, the dam |
Of Young BashaW, being known to be thoroughbred.
As IL Is. however be has left progeny unrivalled
for The farm. The road, and the trOtting track-in
fact horses suitable for all the useful purposes Of
life ana with speed and endurance adequate 10 any
smergeney that may arise. These horses are ex-
remslv scarce however even in locality in Penn
SylTsnis where they may be sadtO hsTe originated.