Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-07-23
Arabian Horses.

No Arab dreams Of tying up a horse
by the neck; tether replaces the
halter, and one of the animals hind
legs is encircled about the pastern by
a light iron ring, furnished with pad
lock, and connected with an iron chain
two feet or thereabouts in length,
ending In ropc, which is fastened TO
the ground at some distance by an
iron peg; such is the customary
method. But should the animal be
restless and troublesome, foreleg is
put under similar treatment. 1t is
well known that horses in Arabia are
much less frequently vicious or re-
fracfss.J than in Europe, and this is
tho reason why geldings are here SO
rare, though not unknown. No par
ticular prejudice that l could discover
exists against the operation itself,
only it is seldom performed, because
not otherwise necessary, and tending,
of course, to diminish the value of the
animal.
But 10 return TO the horses now be.
fore u.s. Never before had l seen or
imagined SO lovely collection. Their
stature was indeed somewhat low, /
do not think that any came fully up
to fifteen hands-fourteen appeared
TO be about their average-but they
were so exquisitely woll shaped that
want of greater size seems hardly, il
at all, o defect.
Remarkably full in tho launches,
with shoulder Of slope SO elegant
as to make one, in tho words Of an
Arabian poet, ego raving mad about
it," a little-a very little--saddle-
backed, just tho curve which indicates
springiness head broad above and
tapering down TO nose fine enough
to verify the phrase of drinking from
a pint pot" did pint pots exist in
Nedjee; most intelligent and yet
singularly gentle look, full eye, a
sharp, thorn-liko car, legs fore and
hind that seem as if mado of hammered
iron, so clean, and yet so well twisted
with sinew neat, round hoof, just
the requisite for hard ground; the tail
set of, or rather thrown out at n per-
feet arch coat smooth, shining and
light; the name long, but not over
grown nor heavy; and air and steps
that seemed to say, "Look at me am
| not pretty 7" their appearance justi-
fed..al reputation, ,.all value, all poetry.
The prevailing color was chestnut or
gray; light bay, an iron color, white
or black, were less common; full bay,
fea-bitten or pie-bald, none. But if
asked what are, after all, tho specially
distinctive points of Nedjce horse, |
should reply, the slope of tho shoul.
ders, the extreme cleanliness of The
shank, and tho full rounded haunch
though every other part, too, has a
perfection and harmony 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 come up to them,
10 pass twenty-four hours on the
road without drinking and without
tagging is certainly something but
to keep up the samo abstinence and
labor conjoined under the burning
Arabian sky for forty eight hours at u
stretch, is believe, peculiar, TO the
animals of the breed Besides they
have dclicacy, cannot say of mouth
for IL is common to ride them without
bit or bride, but of feeling and obedi-
ence TO the knee and thigh, to the slight
est check of tho halter and the voice
Of tho rider, far surprising the most
elaborate mdnege given European
horse, though furnished with snaffle,
curb, and all often mounted them
at the invitation of their owners, and
without saddle, rein, or stirrup, set
them off at a full gallop, wheeled them
around, brought them up in mad career
at O dead halt, and that without the
least difficulty, or the smallest want
Of correspondence between tho horses
movement and my own will the
rider on their back really feels him
self the man half of centaur not
distinct being--Pdtgrdre's Trdueis in
arabia.