Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-10
ARABIAN HORSES.
interesting Account by j. G. Wilson,
American Consul At Jerusalem.

American Consul At Jerusalem.
Cor. Fort Madison Plaindealer.
1t is a question what sort of horse Noah
took with him into the Ark, and where the
morse went after the Decentralization. Tradi-
ton states that the first horse-trainer was Ish-
fnaei, after he was turned out of his father
tent. He is said to have captured wild horse,
ana from her is descended special strain OF
blood, known as Benat ell Ahwaj the oldest
known breed, and all the Arabian breeds are
but ramificatiOns of the original stock paTticu-
larly the fire, choice breeds known as thorough
oreds. or pure-blOOded, by the BedOuins of the
desert 1t is probable that the home of the
Arabian horse was in Northern Arabia. on the
BORDERS OF the Etphrates, where there Is more
water On the surface Of the ground than in
Southern Arabia. The pure Arabian horse is
from fourteen to fifteen hands high. He has a
large head. large eye, an arched neck, and is
Oh mild disposition. ana of unusual intelli-
gence. Compared with other horses he is per-
fectly tractable. For his size his speed is great,
and his jumping or leaping powers are remark
abie. He is good walker and runner The
Bedouins do not teach their horses to trot.
neither do they train race-horses. They them
selves are bold riders for short distances, throw
ing spears, knives, javens, and exercising
themselves in strange feats of horsemanship,
impossible for any but themselves. Travellers
will remember the equestrian feats of the
Jordan Valley guides who are usually Bedouin
horses. Training commences when the colt is
young. The BedOuins know nothing about
breaking horse. and their belief is that unless
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. Written pedigrees are not known,
but by tradition the pedigree is preserved for
generations descent being reckoned through
the dam only. The pure Arab horse commands
n y,rn, -, \
If sold the first fOal is considered the property
of the seller. friend of the writer, an Arab,
OWNS the one-fifth part of pure mare for
which he paid 50 Napoeons, 1t is beautiful
animal. In mixed blood the size and shape of
the head follows the least beautiful type of the
ancestors. as in the Spanish horses OF the
present day The English thoroughbred ESQ
called) is not a pure Arabian, though he
is larger aud stronger than the pure
Arab horse. The ear Of the Arabian horse is
small and beautifully shaped; the neck is light;
the shoulder good, and the fore arm very
strong. The hind quarters are narrow. indi-
eating speed rather than strength. The legs
are strong. less bone and more back sinew than
In American horses. The pastern joints are
long and fne-tOO long for strengthened the
long pastern causes the horse to trip even on
level ground. / had last year the offer of a
beautiful Arab horse, and at reasonable price.
tie was the fastest walker have ever seen in
Palestine, but he tripped and moved badly on
the down hill grade did not purchase him,
being afraid that he might stumble.
The best gait of the Arab horse is
galloping or running. but l 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 respect he is very
different from the northern 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 l have seen in Arabia are gray
For the pedigree or family of horse the Be
dOuin looks at the head, where it is said signs
of parentage are seen. A very good horse and
a favOrite one in Palestine, is a cross between
the Arabian and the Russian. which is sixteen
or seventeen hands high, alarge. powerful horse
and sometimes very beautiful. For such horse
the French Consul paid 400 NapoleOns.
The supposed deterioration Of the Arab
horse of late years may be from the sys-
TEN of close breeding. to a 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 that an
inferior specimen of a favorite strain is pre-
ferred to a fine specimen OF lower strain.
Another cause may be scarcity Of food and lack
OF care-if, indeed, any such deterioration
does exist