The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-07-11
Arabian Horses.

No Arab dreams of tying up horse
by the neck tether replaces the hal
ter, and one of the animals hind legs is
encircled about the pastern by a light
iron ring, furnished with paddock, and
connected with an iron chain two feet
or thereabouts in length, ending in
rope, which is fastened to the ground at
some distance by an iron peg, such is
customary method. But should the an
imal be restless and troublesome, fore
leg is put under similar treatment. 1t
is well known that horses in Arabia are
much less frequently vicious or refrac-
tory than in Europe, and this is the
reason why geldings are here so rare,
though not unknown. No particular
prejudice that l could discover exists
against the operation itself, only it is
seldom performed, because not other
wise necessary, and tending, of course,
to diminish the value of the animal.
But to return to the horses now before
us. Never had seen or imagined so
| lovely collection. Their stature was
indeed somewhat low. I do not think
| that any came fully up to fifteen hands,
fourteen appeared to be about their
average, but they were so exquisitely
! seemed hardly, if at all, defect.
Remarkably full in the launches,
with shoulder of slope so elegant as
to make one, in the words of an Arabian
! poet, ego raving mad about it" little,
a very little, saddle-backed, just the
| curve which indicates springliness; q
head broad above, and tapering down to
a nose fine enough to verify the phrase
/ - Il Il inf
| pots exist in Nedjee most intelligent
| and yet singularly gentle look, full eye,
a sharp, thorn-like ear, legs fore and
hind that seem if made of hammered
iron, so clean, and yet so well twisted
with sinew; neat, round hoof, just the
requisite for hard ground the tail set
on, or rather thrown out at a perfect
arch coat smooth, shining, and light,
the name long, but not over-grown or
heavy, and air and steps that seem to
say, "Look at me, am I not pretty ?"
their appearance justified all reputa-
ton, all value, all poetry. The prevail
ing color was chestnut or gray a light
bay, an iron color, white or black were
less common full bay, flea bitten, or
pie bald, none. But If asked what are,
after all, the specially distinctive points
of Nedjee horse, should reply, the
slope of the shoulders, the extreme
cleanness of the shank, and the full,
rounded haunch, though every other
part, too, has a perfection and har-
mOny Unwitnessed, at least by my eyes,
anywhere else. Nedjee horses are
especially esteemed for great speed and
endurance of fatigue, indeed in this
latter quality none can come up to
them.
To pass twenty-four hours Oh the
road without drinking and without flag
ging is certainly something; but to
keep up the same abstinence and labor
cOnjoined under the burning Arabian
sky for forty-eight hours at stretch, is
I believe, peculiar to the animals of the
breed. Besides, they have a delicacy,
I cannot say of mouth, for it is common
to see them without bit or bride, but
of feeling and obedience to the knee
and thigh, to the SLIGHTEST check of the
halter and the voice of the rider, far
surprising the most elaborate manage
gives a European horse, though fur
nished with snaff1e, curb, and all.
often mounted them at the invitation of
their owners, and, without saddle, rein,
or stirrup, set them off at full gallop,
wheeled them around, brought them up
in mad career at a dead halt, and that
without the least difficulty, or the
smallest want of correspondence be-
tween the horses movement and my
own will the rider on their back really
feels himself the man half a centaur,
not a distinct being. ITGU-
| els in A10bjn