The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-10-19
Seleetine Horses by Their Color.

Nest persons have their choice iii re-
gard to the color of horses, but we pre-
sumo few of our readers ever thought
that il had any thing to do with speed
or strength. A correspondent of the
English Farmey, however, seems to
think that there is no doubt that fash
ion with regard to color has been
greatly influenced by the special quail
tiles usually found in combination
with special tints or shades; though it
by 10 means follows that colt uner-
ringly exhibits the same colored hide
as its immediate parents. A writer at
the close of the last century stated very
broadly-ihat not only among the Turk
ish horses were many of pure white
color, but that in Persia there were
studs of them, several thousands in
number; while it is well-known fact
that until after the death of Prince
Albert, the Queens state carriage was
drawn by eight cream-colored horses,
of whom succession is still kept up
at Hampton Court. Strange to say,
however. while the cream-colored
horse is noted for powers of endurance
the gray is held TO be deficient therein;
and while black horses are rarely first
rate in the point of speed, the browns,
the chestnuts. and the bays-the last
more especially-are noted for their
turf victories at EPSON and Doncaster.
An author of good credit, treating
of the mixture of breeds in cattle, and
especially in horses, advises, with
good deal of reason, to take care of the
good qualities of the horse and Of the
mare. He says that an ill-bred horse
may 5eget a colt that may have fair
color and shape, appearing beautiful
he may be also strong and vigorous,
but of vicious disposition which may
render him incapable of ever being
brought to rule, without half destroy
ing him. As to the choice of stallion,
a person of great skill ..says, that the
dapple-bay, the white-bay, and the
dapple-gray are to be preferred; but
does allow of horse OF pure black,
provided he has a white star, and a
white foot; but in the judgment of
others he should be all of one color. |
We find, in many cases, that horses of |
a bright bay color, with black name
and tail, are good as well as beautiful,
and these have commonly the tips of
their ears and the extreme parts of
their legs black; it is also common for
dapple-gray TO have a white name
and tail. with the former mentioned
extremities white, such as the tips of
the ears and the extreme parts of the
legs: but for other colored horses, ex
cept the dun, we seldom find their
names and tails of color different
from that of the body. but in a dun
horse, the long hair in the name and
tail is commonly black, and for the
most part there is black lift down
the back, which is not little remark
able, as il is not observed in any other
creature excep. the ass or mule that l
know of.
In horse, indeed, it is only plain
straight line, but in the ass there is al
so a cross stroke of black over the
shoulders, so that if the skin were to .
be opened and spread, the black would
exactly represent the figure of the
cross, as it is represented in painting {
or carving for crucifix. Some pre- |
tend to tell us as to the cross upon an s
ass skin, that asses were not thus I
marked before the Christian era, and {
that none are now without the sign; {
bat upon what good authority they i
assert this, know not. Some are of r
opinion that the black lift down the C
back is token of strength, because S
the ass that is marked with it is ac- t
counted the strongest creature in the e
world among animals, according to o
the size. And for this reason asses are 1
used for carrying heavy and drawing d
heavy loads. Ii this lift, then, be a t
mark of strength in an ass, we may t