The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-03-14
HORSE HISTORY.

HORSE HISTORY.
Horses have figured in history from
the earliest times In Holy Writ we
find them prominent in connection with
chariots and warfare, and in the my
thology of the Egyptians, Greeks and
Romans they are associated with deeds
of strength and noble strife. The sculp-
lures of Ninevah and Thebcs bear clear
| ly-deincd characters Of them, and in all
these records of the past we are assur-
ed that the horse was not regarded rs
Il beast of burden, but rather ranked
among the champions Of nations. As
such the poets sang of him, and Scrip
turc only records one or two instances
where he was subjected 10 serv.lc SER
vice.
The cavalry of the AssYians was re-
garded rs the most formidable branch
Of their service. Solomon had in his
own stalls forty thousand chariot horses,
and his traffic in fine stock OF this kind
was extensive, he purchasing from the
Egyptians, and selling largely to the
Utilities and Kings of. Syria The value
Of fine horses mt that period averaged
zone hundred and fifty shcckles ofsilvcr
each,' or about one hundred dollars.
This was held as price Of no ircon-
siderable proportions, which command
cd the material To be had iii the form of
hi@h-brcd and spirited animals.
1t is believed that horses were intro
duccd into Egypt by the shepherd kings,
about the time Of Abraham. The most
ancient Egyptian sculptures bear no
traces of ti~m.
The Greeks were observation-disclosures
of fine and swift horses, and racing was
a favorite pastimc with them. Homer
says Of Achilles that. above the rest Of
the Greeks, he was renowned for horse
and chariot racing. Thcssaly his native
country, was famed for wealth, civliza-
ton and horscmanship, long before IIo-
mer's time. The people Of Thessaly
were probably the first, among the
Greeks at least, who acquired any skill
as cqucstrians, and adapted the horse TO
the purposes Of warfare. Whence arose
the fable that Thessaly was originally
inhabited by ccntaurs.
The "Olympic games Of the Greeks,
in which fcats III craftsmanship and
chariot-racing formed the leading at
traction, were attended by the kings and
highest classes from all parts Of Greece
and neighboring countries, and the in
tcrest manifested alike by all equaHcd
any popular sensation Of our day. In
deed, the games Of Olympia formed a
period in Greek history upon which
their whole chronology rested, and from
which period all other leading events
were dated.
The horse appears onsome standards
and coins Of past periods as well as OF
the present day. On the coins of the
Hindoos of Bactria and Ccylcn, and
those of the Sax Kings of Luvashtra, he
is conspicuous. Ossian describes the |
standard Of kings and chiefs of clans, in
early Ely iiStl tiHICS, WHICH tllS hIiS |
standard bore the figure of a white
horse.
England owes to Arabia the possession
Of her improved and now unrivaled
breed Of horses, adapted for the turf,
field and road. The Arabian horses are
divided into two great branches: the
Kadichi whose descent is unknown,
and the Kochlain, Of whom written
genealogy has been kept for two thou
sand years. The latter class are held
exclusively as riding horses, and are
valued at high rates. They are said to
have originated from King Solomons
studs, and their powers Of endurance
are marvellous, being able encounter
the most trying fatigues, and to endure
the scverest privations of food. They
are also spoken of as exhibiting IN
courage in the face of the en-
envy in battle, and the degree of intel
Iigence they manifest on such occasions
is truly striking. Often when his rider
has fallen in battle, the noble steed has