Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-01-19
Arabian Horses.

1t Is a question what sort OF horse
Noah took with hun into the ark, and
where the horse went TO after the disembark-
alton. Tradition states that the first horse
trainer was Ishmael, afteri he was turned
out of his fathers tent lie is said TO have
captured a wild horse, and from her is de-
scended a special strain of blood, known as
Benat el Ahwaj, the Oldest known breed
and all the Arabian breeds are but ramif-
cations Of the original stock, particularly
the tne choice breeds known as thorough
breds, or pure -blooded, by the Bedouins of
the desert. Ii is probable that the home
of the Arabian horse was in Northern Ara
bia, on the borders of the Euphratcs,
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, an arched neck, ard is of u
mild disposition, and of unusual intelh-
gence. 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 a good
walker and good runner. The Bedomns
do not teach their horses to trot, neither
do they train race-horses. They themsel-
yes are bold riders for short distances.
throwing spears, knives ,javelins, and exer-
cising themselves in strange feats OF horse
manship, impossible for any but them
selves. Travellers will remember the
equestrian feats of the Jordan Valley
guides who are usually BedouinShelks, and
who take great care OF their horses Train
In xr-ln l,n
the Beduins know nothing about breaking
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 flve recognized strains
OF Arabian horses, all equally or nearly
equally pure and vslusble. Written pedi-
grees are not kuowI, but by tradition the
pedigree Is preserved tor generations,
descent being reCkoned through the dam
only. The pure Arab horse commands a
high price, the mare a 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 fifth part of
pure mare, for which he paid 30 Napo-
Icons. 1t is a beautiful animal In mixed
blood the size and the shape of the head
follows the least beautiful type of the an
cestors, as in the Spanish horses OF the
present day. The English thorough
bred $50 called) is not 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 indicating
speed rather than strength. The legs are
strong, less bone and mole back sinew thfn
in American horses. The pastern Joints
are long and fine-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
"a reasonable price. He was the fastest
walker have ever seen ia Palestine. but
he tripped and moved badly on the down
hill grade. did not purI base him, being
afraid that he might stumble. The best
gait of the Arab horse is galloping or run
ming, but doubt not that by training good
shoulder action could be obtained. The
Arab horse has good wind, great powers of
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
have seen in Arabia are gray. For the
pedigree or familYof horse the Bedouin
looks at the head, whers it is said sigus of
parentage are seen. A very good horse,
and favorlte one in Palestine, is a cross
between the Arabian and the Russian,
which is sixteen or seventeen hands high, a
large powerful horse and something 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 system
of close breeding, to degree which would
not be tolerated elsewhere, aud the result is
weakness. All blooded horses of the Ara
bians are very closely related by blood.
Such is the prejudice of blood that az in
ferior specimen of a favorite strain is pre-
ferred to fine specimen OF lower strain.
Another cause may be scarcity of food and
lack of careif, indeed, any such deter
ioratiOn does exist.