Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-02-17
FOR the Delaware Gazette.
CAVALRY HORSES.


Our experience in this war will induce The
Government, when the 'back bone Of the re-
bellion is broken and fewer horses are re-
quired flor a large Cavalry force will be want
ed for many years. TO direct that horses shall
be selected with reference TO their capacity for
the work required Of them. Thus far almost
any animal Of the prescribed age, color and
size, has been accepted without any regard to
action, temper or endurance. Fat horses
have been much in demand, when science as
well as experience have demonstrated that the
secretion of fat (grease) is unfavorable TO speed
and endurance. This quality in a pig or an
OK is quite desirable, but decidedly objection
able in any animal raised exclusively for work.
The condition of fatness is not the condition
Of health its operation upon the breathing
functions is more injurious, as its secretion in
the chest tends to compress the lungs so that
we find that fat horse seldom has good wind
Besides an animal of this habit is more liable
to disease, and much more difficult to cure
than horses of less heshy habit. They are
also much shorter lived.
Mr.. Morris. in the paper already referred to,
insists that we cannot have horses ft for cav
poses, without giving strong encouragement
to thorough bred animals 1T is not every
one" he observes, "who knows the meaning of
the term thoroughbred as applied to horses
Originally in Arabia the horse was a member
of the household. 1t is possible that those
psychologist are right who think that domestic
animals acquire intelligence in proportion to
their association with man. Be this however,
as it may the life and needs of the Arab tend
ed in every way TO make him solictous for the
improvement of his horses Tests of speed
and power were of constant occurrence
There were caravans to be attacked and swift
escapes to be made. A girl with several suit
ors, made them compete on horse back in
race with her, the one who first overlook her
being the happy man. Thus the fastest horse
gave celebrity to the owner and was the pride
of the family. This pride is well illustrated
by a curious story OF an Arab who believed
he posed the feetest mare in the tribe. She
was stolen. He was in despair, but mounted
bis next best animal and rode in pursuit
Of the thief coming in site of him,
the owner put his steed to its best pace,
and the chase became exciting. The robber
cheered on the mare, his pursuer followed like
the wiEd and finally began to draw alongside.
At this iuncture his pride in the cherished
animal, the glory of the family, got the better
of his desire to regain the property. He could
not bear to see her beaten by an inferior horse;
SO he cried out "touch her in the left flank
with your heel !! The thief proited by the
secret, and the mare now left her unhappy
proprietor to console himself with the refec-
tion that though he had lost her, she had nev-
er been defeated in a race.
1t was the descendent of such stock this,
importened into England by barley in the
reign of Queen Anne, that originated the beau
tifuI animals that now contest for the prizes of
the British turf. Darleys example was follow
ed by others. Pedigrees we're carefully pre-
served. The English stud book became an
institution. Racing was organized and regard
ed ss a test, and the thoroughbred was per-
fected. As early as 1882, the English thorough
bred horse was acknowledged as the best in
the world"
An erroneous idea prevails concerning the
bred that, beiDg delicate and slender
10 appearance, his legs are not SO strong as
those of the heavy farm horses or roadsters.
This is an egregious error.
The legs of the thoroughbred are indeed y
marvel of mechanical strength. Fancy a
body weighing from 900 TO LOO pounds fly
ing through the air at the rate OF thirty-ive
miles an hour, and striking the ground at rap
id strides of from twenty-five TO twenty-seven
feet in length! Can any one imagine that this
can be done without great strength Uf limb
locomotive engine ever go strongly
built, of the same weight, going at the same
speed, could be made to progress by leaps OF
20 or 30 feet How long would either rail or
engine last The best trotting horses-the
highest type of the mongrel--get lame during
the trotting season without one halt such trials
as the racers undergo aud were il not Tor the
dash Of choice blood 10 their veins il would be
found after trot that they had not leg TO
stand upon