Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-08-29
SOMETHING ABOUT THE HORSE.

The Romans had horses taught to run full
speed, side by side, without bride or saddle
so that the Roman gentlemen, armed at al
points, would shift and throw themselves from
one to the other.
The Numidan men at arms had always 8
lead horse in one hand, besides that they rode
on, for change in heH of battle, to vault from
tired one to fresh one, so active were the
men and 80 docile the horses Horses were
trained so as to help their masters in fight
falling with teeth and heels on those who op
posed them.
Charles V, at the battle of Formona, had
beautiful horse. named Savoy, who, when
his master was hard pressed, did, by his kicks
and plunges, disengage him.
The Mameluke's horse would fall foul oi
the enemy with teeth and heels; also gather
up, with their teeth, darts and lances scatter.
ed on the field, and present them to their
riders as they would order.
Cesar, in his youth, would ride bare back,
without saddle or bride, and his hands tied
behind him, make the horse run, stop and
turn.
Alexander's horse, Bucephalus, would suf
fer himself to be mounted or encountered by
none but his master. Caesar also had one
none but himself could ride.
The Parthians were wont to perform on
horseback all Offices and ceremonies, whether
public or private, make bargains, confer, en-
tertain, etc.
The Swabians taught their horses-while
in battle the rider threw himself off to fight
on foot-not to stir from their place, and they
rode without saddle or pad.
The Messalians, who also rode without sad.
die or bride, made their horses perform all
his airs with the switch only, the reins upon
his neck.
Cyrus, great master of the horse, made
his horses pay their shot, and never suffered
them to have anything until they had first
earned it by the sweat of some kind of work
The Scythians when in the field, in time Of
scarcity, used to let their horses blood and
drink it, and sustained themselves by that
diet-Turks, Muscovites and Tartars, did so
too.
Montaigne tells Of man he saw ride with
both feet upon the saddle, unloose the saddle
disengage his feet, cast the saddle to the
ground, continue his course, and on his return
take the saddle up again, reft and mount it.
riding all the while at full speed, having gal.
loped over cap, would make at it very good
shots backward with his bow, or take up any
thing from the ground, setting one foot down
and the other in the stirrup, with twenty other
apes tricks, which he got his living by.
Also, there has been seen in my time, al
Constantinople, two men upon horse whom
the height of his speed, would throw them
selves off and into the saddle again by turns
And one who bridled and saddled his horse
with nothing but his teeth. Another who
betwixt two horses, one foot upon one saddle
and one foot on the other saddle, carrying q
man on his shoulders, riding at full speed
The other standing bolt upright, making ex-
cellent shots with his bow. Several would
ride full speed, with their heels upward and
their heads upon the saddle, betwixt the rows
of scimitars fixed in the harness.
Montaigne finds more difference between
such man and such man, than between
such man and such horse. We have some
tolerable apprehension Of the meaning of an
animal from its voice, or look, or actions ;
animals have the same Of US. The horse will
know by his masters voice whether he be an.
gry or pleased. What is this faculty beasts
have, Of calling to one another, complaining,
rejoicing, calling for help, inviting to love,
etc., if it be not voice? Horses have their
likes, dislikes and loves; their preferences
for certain colors, and their amours; and
Horace tells how the horse will mourn for his
master.
"And the big tears run rolling down his face"
In fine, the horse has great deal Of the
man in HMM sleep, he will dream, neigh,
kick, start, stretch himself out-and, waking,
he will fei gn sleep, death, lameness, ecstacy,
and 50 on. Arabia, in the opinion Of the nat
uralist, says Gibbon, is the genuine and origi-
nal country of the horse; the climate most
congenial to his spirit and usefulness. The
Arabs preserve, with superstitious care, the
honors and memory of the purest races.
The males are sold at high price the fe-