The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-05-31
STRENGTH OF THE HORSE.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "sToNE EDGE

We are so completely in the habit of re-
garding the horse as docile slave, expected
20 minister to our necessities with uncom-
planning COmplaisance, unrcslsting generally
under ill-trcatment, often half killing himself
struggling to drag loads beyond his powers,
that we are apt to forget the tremendous
strength which he can exert if he pleaseS to
out it forth.
saw lately a small pony rnnning away
with little carriage, in which were two
large, strong men; one sat in his place drag
ging at the reins with all his might, the other
sat on his knees adding his utmost power
nearer the head, but in vain. They were just
able to give some sort of direction to their
course, so as tc avoid the carts and carriages
which fortunately were not many, and in
turning several sharp corners, but they could
not moderate the pace in The least, till it
pleased the pony to stop at the door of his
own stable. They set their strength against
mis-, and on the tenderest point, the mouth,
and the pony won.
The great dray horses of London brewery
are almost like elephants in weight and pow
er, yet are so good-tcmpered that they can be
guided by child The strength of the neck,
of the heels, of the teeth of such a beast, are
fearful indeed, if they were used against, in
stead of for, the service of man, and it may
help us to treat him with greater respect to
hear how powerful, and at times how savage
an animal a horse can be- We have much to
learn in our treatment of him. An Arab will
make his horse go far longer distances with
out suffering than we can our horses.
In South America, the topping merchant"
Of Santiago used always TO have at hand
horses that could be ridden to Valparaiso,
some ninety odd miles, and back next day,
with no food but hay and little chopped
straw The HanOyerian troopers in the Pc
ainsular war were able to keep their chargers
an good condition, while many of the English
cavalry regiments were dying by wholesale
The Germans were more kindly anxious for
che welfare of their rough ugly beasts than
the English "horse-subduers," as they count
themselves, were of their far superior ami
mails. We shut them up in sitting dark sta.
bles, with no fresh air, and with abominable |
smells, while they are by nature hardy crea,
lures belonging to temperate climates, and
used to exposure. II has been found that the
mortality in some of the great cavalry stables
in London has been diminished very greatly by
admitting more air and light.
The courage which horses will show in "a
charge during battle the temper when in
mob Ghe good-natured giants Of the House
hold Brigade back their horses, so as TO dis.
perSe crowd by mere force of the terror of
their heels, or the switching of their tails,
without doing harm to man, woman or child , |,
The intelligence with which horse who is
set to move whole lines of trucks and car
riages Mt a railway station, understands the
complicated commands made to him by word
and sign, all show powers and qualities of
which at present we make but very indiiier
cnt use
n curious proof Of the courage and strength
Of the horse is to be found in book some 20 Il
years old, bya Mr.. Knighton, an Englishman,
who was IN the service of the King of Dude
in 1875. He tells the following interesting
story VI what he himself once witnessed at
Lucknow:
The King, whom he calls IA sensual, cruel
savage" kept many wild beasts, which he
sometimes set TO fight with each other as in
the Roman games, One day, Mr.. Knighton
was driving from the river Goomtee TO one of
the palaces in sort of little open zig As
they passed along the streets there was not
creature 10 be seen; if any one came in sight
they were rushing hurriedly of. Presently
he saw in the middle of the street trampled
bloody heap. He stopped; it was the corpse
of woman terribly lacerated and torn, the |
face crushed by teeth into shapeless mass,
the long matted hair clotted with blood
Such was the capricious tyranny of the King
that Mr.. Knighton was hardly surprised. at
was probably some execution" he whispered
to his companion. On they drove-there
were still no signs of any inhabitants TO be
seen; the houses were everywhere closed, al
sort of breathess terror seemed TO reign in
the city. Presently they came TO the body of
a lad similarly mangled, lying on the side of
the road, and they stopped once more. On
the top of an adjoining house they saw one of
the Kings troopers, looking inten,ly up the
stree,
Whist is the matter y, asked Mr. Knighton
Of him,
1.-THE man-eater is loose, wallah. Look out,
Sahibs. he is quite wild today"
had heard CONTINUES Mr.. Knighton) of q
savage horse belonging TO one of the troopers
called Kunewallah, because he had destroyed
many men.
"He is coming, he is coming" shouted the
,nsn suddenly from the housetop, "take care,