The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-15
THE ARAB HORSE.

The great Arab studs of Europe are
the Russian, the Austrian, the Ger
man, and the Turkish. In England the
work has practically been left to one
individual and it is surely high time
that the government should interest it.
self in an enterprise which might easily
attain a development of national mo-
ment Serious experiment has con-
| vinced military experts on the Continent
paign, Arab blood is unrivalled. Until
recently, the English thoroughbred was
regarded as the ideal stock, but it has
now come to be admitted, at least by
many, that his artificial breeding, with
two centuries of coddling and high
feeding, has developed an animal I'M
rivalled for speed over short distance.
but too delicate and highly strung for
hard. practical work The Arab, on the
other hand has been Injured, during,
we might almost say, thousands of
years, to the open air and desert, to
want of food and water, and has
thriven upon his privations.
Again and again have armies been
handicapped and even defeated owing
to the inability of their cavalry and
transport horses to endure starvation
rations. OF course an Arab cannot dis"
pense with food altogether, like the
legendary camel of travellers tales, but
his needs are few, and he will maintain
his health and spirits under conditions
which other horses would never be able
to endure Indeed, not only can he put
up with hardships at pinch, but he
actually deteriorates under the generous
regimen which is considered necessary
for other horses This has been proved
over and over again by purchasers who
have refused to believe the usual three
feeds of corn to be supererogatory and
the morning hour of walking exercise
insufficient. There is probably no be-
ing so obstinately conservative as an
English coachman, and even when he
finds an Arab grow utterly unmanage- /
able, he Is not to be convinced that the
simple cause is lack of exercise and ex
uberance of feeding.
The fact is. an Arab Is naturally so t
and so difficult to the |
that even a single feed Of corn Is excess
sive unless he is being subjected to ex
exceptionally hard work. He will answer
every requirement as a hunter If his
diet be restricted to hay or even to
grass, and in the summer time he is
most satisfactory If he has the run of
the paddock, where he can choose his
own food and exercise. So far, the quail
ity of the normal Arab in everyday
life What picked horse can do when
lief An officer recently returned from
the Soudan relates that after ride of
800 miles his horse showed no signs of
work, though he he'd cast all his shoes
before accomplishing quarter of the
Journey though many of the camels
lad died and the others had suffered Sc
1erely. Again, it was an Arab of 142A,
Which carried 10 stone 6 pounds, and
Won ten-nile race at Ferozepore In
twenty-five minutes, feat of endur-
lnce probably unequalled in equine an
lals. And Lord Roberts can bear tes-
imony to the powers of the Arab which !
arried him through all his campaigns ,
Turing twenty-five years and, alone
mong the horses of history, received {
ficial authority to wear the Afghan ,,
1edal with four sps.-London Satur- {
ay Review. {