The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-04
THE HORSE IN HISTORY.
He Has Been Demonstrated from the
Earliest Times.
London Standard

London Standard
1t is hard to say with any near approach
to accuracy how long the horse has been
he has been so from time immemorial; that
Is from the earliest times of which we have
any records. The Assyrlan sculptures-and
they are about the most ancient of which
we know anything, for some of them are
timated to date from 400 b. C.-contain
more representations of capariSoned horses
than even men, Still we do not get any ex-
amples OF tavorite horses until long time
after this.
Even the first examples indeed, are only
legendary for, though there is no doubt
that Hector of Troy existed, it is not i'm
probable that Homer invented the names of
his three favorite horses, Poderge, the
cream-colored Gaathe and the fiery Ethon.
But the horse of Alexander thes Great,
Bucephalus, is an individual as historically
real as his master This famous horse was,
says Plutarch, offered to Philip for 10 tall
ents. (about (&2,5lS, but he displayed so
much viciousness that Alexanders father
was about to send him away when the
young prince offered to tame him.
He agreed III the event Of failure to for
fe1t the price of the horse, and began by
turning his head to the sun, as he observed
that the horse was frightened at his own
shadow. In the end he completely tanned
him-so completely, indeed, that Bucepha-
lus, though he would permit nobody except
Alexander to mount him, always knelt down
for that purpose TO his master. He died
the age of thirty, and his master built as
his mausolen the city of Bucephala
Readers of Macaulay will remember the
dark gray charger of Mamilius, whose sud-
den appearance in the city of Tusculum
without his master brought the news of the
defeat Of the allies at Lake Regillus. Con-
necte6 with that battle too. were the
horses OF The 81 eat twin brethren Castor
and Pollux, coai black, with white legs and
however, the well-known horse of Caligula,
lncitatus. This animal had a stable of mar
BILE; his stall was of ivory, his clothing of
purple, and his halters stiff with gems.
He had set of golden plates and was
presented with palace, furniture and
slaves complete, in order that guests invited
in his name should be properly entertained.
His diet was the most costly that could be
imagined, the finest grapes that Asia could
provide being reserved for him. Verus, an
other Roman Emperor about century lat
err, treated his horse almost as extravaganza
ly. He fed him with raisins and almonds
with his own hands, and when he died
erected a statue of gold to him. while all
the dignitaries of the empire attended the
funeral.
AS we come 20 later times so we get more
examples of favorite horses. William the
Conqueror had one which he rode at the
battle of Hastings. about which almost eev-
name. He was of huge size and was a
present from King Alfonso, of Spain-"such
a gift as prince might give and prince
receive" This gallant horse, however did
not survive the battle, for Gyrth, Harolds
butcher, ''clove him with bill, and he
died" Richard Is horse was called Maleck
and was jet black.
He bore his master through the holy war
and arrived in England before him; in fact,
he survived the King several years The
second Richard, too had a favorite horse,
called Roam Barbary, which was supposed
to be the finest horse in Europe at that
time, and it was on Roam Barbary that the
young King was mounted when the incident
wherein Wat Tyler was stabbed by the
mayor of Walworth took place.
About century later we get the Wars of
the Roses, and in the many battles of that
civil disturbance couple of horses played
important parts. These belonged to the
great earl of Warwick the kingmaker. His
first was Maleck. a beautiful gray, which
he rode at the battle of Towton. 1t was
this. horse whose death turned the
fortunes of the battle, for Warwick, seeing
that his men were giving ground, deliberate
ly sprung from his favOrite horse and
killed him. Then his men knew that the
kingmaker was prepared to conquer, but
not to fly. They rallied. and finally won the
battle.
There were two horses belonging to high
Waymen which were famous in their time.
One of them belonged to the celebrated
knight of the road, Paul Clifford. He was
gray, he was reputed by judges of horse
fiesh-and there were some who were quite
as competent to give an opinion, II not more
so, as any of the present day-to be aDsos
lutely without blemish and to be second to
none Another famous horse, or rather
mare. was Black Bess.
Her owner Dick Turpin, or, TO give him
his correct name. Nicks committed rob-
berry in London at O'Clock IN the morn
ing and, fearing discovery, made for
Gravesend. ferried across the river, and APP
peared at the bowling green in York the
same evening, having accomplished his ride
of three hundred miles in sixteen hours on
one horse. At least so says the legend.
acquitted, the jury considering it impossible
that he could have got to York in the time.