Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-04-04
Mistellaueuus 8eading.

FamiIrar as We WW9hSrteeS are with the use OF
horses, and accustomed to regard
them as the property of man, we
almost lose sight of the fact that
there was once time when these
noble animals were free to roam
about as they pleased. There are
some wild horses at the present day,
it is true, yet it is believed that all
of these have descended from tame
horses which have at various times
escaped from their masters.
The history of the horse on our
own continent, so far as it is known,
is exceedingly interesting. ltshoWs
that at the time of the discovery OF
America there were no horses here,
and that they were afterWard
brought into the country by the
Spaniards during the Mexican wars.
According to the accounts OF the con-
quest, the natives were greatly aston
ished to behold the inyaders upon
horseback. Not only was the beau
tiful animal itself wholly unknown
to them, but their surprise was In
creased by the remarkable sight OF a
man seated upon its back. NotWlth-
standing the fact that horses were
then unknown in America, still the
fossil remains which have been found
in the western part of the United
States prove that horses existed IN
the new world in early time. There
fore, for some good reason which IS
not understood, they must have died
out upon this continent before the
arrival of the Europeans upon our
shores.
These interesting fossils likewise
show us that the horses of the far
time were curious little animals,
very different from the graceful, eie-
cant horses of our own time. The
earliest of these creatures yet found
was q small animal, only about the
size of fox, with four we'll devei-
oped toes and rudiments of the fifth
toe on the fore foot. Since that time
the horse has gradually increased IN
size and lost its superfluous toes, ana
naturalists now have the satisfaction
of tracing its descent, by means OF
these fossils, through the intermeol-
ate four-toed and three-toed forms
down to the horse of the present day
| with its one perfect toe. These
| changes must, of course, have occur
ned bv easy stages. The side toes no
doubt gradually diminished in size,
and at the same time the middle toe
crew larger and stronger, supported
| by the solid hoof, which is simply a
yerv thick nail. Horses, therefore,
as we know them, walk on this long
| middle toe, which is covered with
the strong hoof and forms what Is
! generally spoken Of as the 1901
! What we call the horses knee is IN
reality the heel, and under the skin,
lust below the heel, may yet be found
two slender bones, called the "spll,nl
bones" which are remnants OF the
lost toes of the ancestors OF our
modern horse.
Horses are remarkably intelligent
/ and docile, showing strong memo
ry for places. They yield themselves
| Wholly, as we know, to the service
of man, often entering with enthusl'
asm into the work assigned them
and we can scarcely estimate the as
| sistance they have rendered in the
spread of civilization throughout the
world. Each of the various breeds
of horses is suited to some special
kind of labor, and we may notice
| that while one breed excels in speed
and another in strength, others are
valued chiefly for their powers Of
endurance. In cold and stormy re;
gions the horses are apt to be small
and shaggy, as is the case with the
ponies of the Shetland Islands
These ponies are exposed to blttel
cold in their native island home, and
they need all the protection which
is afforded by their thick rougf
coat. 49,. =
Horses in a wild condition are in
the habit of congregating in large
troops which are led by one male
When they are attacked the young
animals and those which are weak
and helpless, are generally placed II
the middle of the band and sur
rounded by those that are strong
and we'll able to defend them. Fierce