Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-26
Arabian Horses.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT BY JIG. WILSON
AMERICAN Consul AT JERUSALEM.

II IL n question what sort OF horse
Noah took with him into the Ark, and
where the horse went after the disembark-
alton. Tradition states that the first horse
trainer was Ishmael after he was turned
out Of his fathers tent. He is said to have
captured wild horse. and from her Is de-
scended a special strain Of blood, known
~ Benat ct Ahwaj, the oldest known
breed. and all the Arabian breeds are but
ramificatioDs Of the original stock, par
ticularly of fine. choice breeds known -
thorough breds. or pure-bloodcd, by the
Bedouins of the desert. II is probable
that the home of the Arabian horse was in
Northern Arabia. on the borders of the
Euphrates, where there is more water on
the surface of the ground than in Southern
Arabia. The pure Arabian horse is from
fourteen 10 fifteen hands high. He has a
large head. large eye, and arched neck.
and is of mild disposition. and of I'M
usual intelligence. Compared with other
horses. he is perfectly tractable. For his
size, his speed is great, and his jumping
or leaping powers are remarkable. He is
good walker and runner. The Be
douins do not teach their horses to trot.
neither do they train race-horses. They
themselves are bold riders for short dis
tances. throwing spears. knives, .iavelins,
and exercising themselves in strange feats
of Craftsmanship. impossible for any one
hut themselves.
Travellers will remember the equestrian
ieats OF the Jordan Valley guides. who
are usually Bedouin Sheiks. and who take
great care of their horses. Training
commences when the colt is young. The
Bedouins know nothing about breaking a
horse, and their belief is. that unless a
horse has done good service before he is
three years old. he will never be worth
anything. There are five recognized
strains of Arabian horses, all equally or
nearly equally pure and valuable. Writ
ten pcdigrees are not known, hut by ira
dition the pedigree is preserved for
generations. descent being reckoned by
the dam only.
The pure Arab horse commands high
price; the mare still higher price. And
If sold. the first foal is considered the
property of the seller. A friend of the
writer, an Arab. owns the one-ftth part
of a pure mare. for which he paid fifty
Napoleons. II is a beautiful animal.
In mixed blood. the size and shape of the
head follows the least beautiful type of
the ancestors. rs in the Spanieh horses OF
the present day. The English thorough
bred $50 calledD Is not a pure Arabian.
though he is larger and stronger than the
pure Arab horse. The ear of the Arabian
morse is small and beautifully shaped; the
neck is light; the shoulder good. and the
fore arm very strong. The hind quarters
are narrow, indicating speed rather than
strength. The legs are strong. less bone
and more back sinew than in American
horses. The pastern joints are long and
fipe--too long for strength-and the long
pastern causes the horse to trip even on
level ground.
had last year the offer of beautiful
Arab horse and at u reasonable price. He
was the fastest walker have ever seen in
Palestine. but he tripped aud moved badly
on the down-hill grade. did not pur-
chase HIM. being afraid that he might
stumble. The best gait of the Arab horse.
is galloping or running. hut doubt not
that by training. good shoulder action
could be obtained. The Arab horse has
good wind. great powers of endurance.
and he will bear any amount OF training.
He is fearless. and hence safe. In this re-
spect he is very different from the north
ern horses of the Turks.
The colors are various; gray, white.
brown. black and bay. The bay is said
to be the best the black is rare the best
horses have seen in Arabia are gray.
For the pedigree or family of 4 horse. the
Bedouin looks at the head. where it is
said, signs of parentage are seen. A very
good horse, and favorite one in Pales-
tine. is cross between the Arabian and
the Russian, which is sixteen or seventeen
hands high. a large, and powerful horse.
and sometimes very beautiful. For such
u horse the French Consul paid four hun
bred Napoleo1s.
The supposed deterioration of the Arab
horse OF late years. may be from the sys-
tenn of close breeding, to degree which
would not be tolerated elsewhere. and the
result is weakness. All blooded horses
OF the Arabians are very closely related By
blood. Such is the prejudice of blood. j
that an inferior specimen OF favorite
strain is preferred to fine specimen OF
lower strain. Another cause NAV be
scarcity of food and lack of care If. in
deed, any such deterioration does EXIST
Cor. Fort Madison Piaindcaler.
We notice that Tom, Dick and Harry are