The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-05-13
From tie North Britsth Rccie'r.
THE HORSE OF THE ARAB.

General Daurnas' book upon the horses OF I
the Sahara is, without his having meant it ;
to be SO, the most successful attempt yet
Arabs.
From what General Daumas reports, it
is impossible that the horse and his rider
should not be one in the social habits of the
dcsrct. For the first few months of his life,
the foal is given up to the care of women,
and at year and half old he is mounted
by children.
The only methol Of making horses infali-
bly docilc," says General Daumas, dis, ac-
cording to the Arabs, to give them riders
of weight corresponding to their strength
at tho very earliest age. The existence of
Arab horses is perpetual movement; he is
never at rest ; ho goes far and wide for his !
riders purposes, far and wide even to fetch !
his own food farther and wider still, very
often to fetch histrink. But this makes him,
Ike his master, abstemious and in;lefatiga-
bic and this is the kind Of apprenticeship
which makes him, in moments Of emcrgen-
cy, capable of Incredible efforts"
eat eighteen months old, a child
leads the foal TO grass, or to the water,
wherever that may he, or mounts him with
an easy, soft mule-brid This exercise
suits both the horse grows gentle and the
child grows up to know how to ride. This
is the principal cause Of the possibility which
the Arab Possesses Of assuring yon with
truth that 'ile has to learn what is the mean
ing of n rcs,ive horse:'"
by the way, Mr. Rarey's mucl,-vaunted
system Of hcrse-training has light thrown
on it in the pages of General Danmas. The
"Cavalicr-type," as the French call him, the
rider who Individually, in modern times, as
nearly as possible, realizes the existence Of
the fabled Contaur of the ancients, never
admits of the practice known in all other
pats Of tho world under the denomination
of "horse breaking" The Arab 'breaks in
no horses, nor would dream Of such pro-
ccedug lie "educates" the animal, so that
he shall never stand in need Of being "bro.
ken in ;" aud he lays down as a principal,
never 10 be violated, the avoidance of any of
these struggles between the horse and his
rider which, supposing even the latter to be
victorious, make the mans victory possible
only at the expense Of the horses best quail
, tiles" Attwo years and Il half grown man
mounts the young horse. But for consld'
erablc time he never goes beyond a foot's
g pace and he is only required to be gentle. His
lit is the lightest imagnable; his rider la:
, no spurs; under his hand is only a mere
twig, which he tries never to use.
4 "In this way" says the General, che goe
, to market, visits his friends, inspects hi
pasture lands and focks, and sees to hi
his affairs, requiring only from his compan
= ion obedience and docilty, both of whic|
It lie usually obtains by speaking to tn
y horse in loud, kind tone but never show
\ ing anger, and never provoking resistance
1t At the age Of three, and a ha
AZ or four years, somewhat more is demand
le ed from the horse, whose food is now yer
IN abundant. Spurs are then used for the fir
" time-and 10 docility it is necessary /
" should add boldness. This is easy too; f'
u the numerous beasts of all kinds that,
i; the Douar, have been lifelong his conpa
Is ions in the day, have used him TO every sp
cies of noise; besides which, he b
OF heard the hootings and howlings Of Il
lat wild animals that prow round the ten
IN; at night, and that oeaseless firing of p'stc
ise and guns that is nseperabc from his mi
'e- ter's ery-day existence; all of which max
Ter it hard to fighten or take horse by 81
~ prise.
nj -~----f