The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-10-04
THE ARABIAN HORSE.
How he /. bred, Cared For mud rruiue'

How he Is Bred, Cared For nnd Trained.
The Arabs hold thai tho ago mos
favorable for breeding is, for the mare
from four to twelve years for the
stallion from six to fourteen. They are
more particular concerning the qualities
OF the stallion than OF the mare because,
as they say, the colt always Inns the
qualities Of the sire. After the colt is
weaned he still follows his mother to the
pasture, rs tho Arabs find this exercise
necessary for his health and the develop
ment Of his faculties. At night he re'
turns home and sleeps near the tent OF
his master. Tho women and children
make him tho object Of their greatest
care, playing with him, and feeding him
with dates and milk. From this comes
the docility 80 much admired in Arabian
horses. After this the colts arc fastened
up for awhile, which canses them to
grow thin and lose their appetitcs. At
the age OF One year they unloosen them,
and their health again returns. II ut
the age Of fifteen or eightenn months
the colt does not nOvo his shoulders
easily, they do not hesitate to apply fire
to tho joints. Ii the knees are badly
formed, indicating n rredisposition to
tumors, they apply the fire to them on
three parallel lines. Finally, il they
fear that the horse will become deformed,
either in front or rear, they apply fire to
he fetlock joints, but only on the front
part, which indicates TINT the Arabs
know tho tendons and protect them.
The fire is ordinarily applied with Il
sickle; and for this operation they avoid
as much as possible the great heats Of
summer. The most favorable time il
the end Of autumn or the beginning OF
spring, when there arc fewer flies and
the weather is more invigorating.
1t is necessary to commence tho edu-
cation OF the colt ut eighteen months, il
you wish to have him docile. From TINT
time until the age Of twenty months, he
is ridden by child, who conducts him
to drink md to pasture. This exercise
is good for both, making tho child u
horseman and accustoming tho colt to DO
ridden. At this time they begin also to
tether the colt. At first the tethers are
very short, for fear that he will injuro
his shoulder or chest. Little by little
they lengthen them. Tho colt is always
tethered near tho tent, and they place
beside him littln negro with stick,
whose mission it is gently to correct tho
colt whenever lc kicks ut any one who
passes behind him. This watchfulness
begets in the colt complete dociliiy and
tranquility.
At the age OF twenty-five to twenty
seven months, they commence to bride
and saddle the colt, but with the great
est prccaution, never saddlinS him until
he has already become used to tho bri-
die. For several days they keep bit
covered with wool in his mouth. Tho
bit is thus covered, not so much for tho
purpose Of keeping the iron bars o: the
bit from offending the colt, rs to induce
him to hold it in his mouth owing to tho
salt taste of the wool which pleases him.
They consider the colt nearly trained As
to this portion OF his education when hc
begins to chew the bit.
One Of the first things which the Arabs
teach their colts is never to run away
when the master dismouuts. They give
the greatest care to this part OF his
education, rs it is Of supreme import
ance in tho life OF M Arab. 1t is done
by placing n slave on each side OF the
colt, who, whenever he attempts to start,
put their feet on the reins and stop him
suddenly, thus hurting his mouth.
After many days Of this exercise hc be-
comes 80 well trained that he will stand
wherever his master dismounts from
him, even il he is left alone aud Inns to
await Whole days for his masters return.
From the age OF thirty months to that Of
three years they continue these lessons
in order to confirm the young animal in
that docility so necessary in war teach.
lug him also to allow his master to mount
and dismount easily, md to obey his
voice. From three to four years they
exercise the colt moro, but feed him
well, and also begin to mount him with
spurs.