The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-22

being In some degree familiar with it's
past. There ia some point which is
readily grasped by the American mind
and which l wish to emphasize. II IS
nay belief that 1t would be an economic
crime II an uncomp promising, unheed-
ing management Of racing makes ii
possible for fanaticism to Danish the
thoroughbred horse from this CONT
nent In order to arrive at "a rational
comprehension of this great subject.
and to understand the important part
the horse has played in the develop
ment and advancement of civilization.
and TO realize clearly the bond that
exists between man his most faithful
servant. II is necessary, az Kipling
would say to go back OF the beyond
In the beginning OF things the horse
was mans first useful servant. II you
VIII allow me to indulge in specula-
ton. ! feel quite sure in saying that
the first cropping toward establishing
In studbook was made by the Arabs.
In the dawn OF civilization when might
was right. and pillage, plumber and ra-
pine the accepted order of the day.
The existence OF the Arabs. by reason
of their nomadic itfe-~here one time
there anosher--always seeking graz
ing for their focks. depended upon the
neetness. soundness. docility and sta
nina OF their horses. Their horses
SiiSA4 CTR with llislT t4lnItS Inc EEEitGr
of their tents. In these days vehicles
were not known. and the Arab steed
was the perfection of the saddle and
racing horse. Life or death depended
upon his superior qualities. The SUI
ptemacy and dominion OF one tribe
over the others depended upon how ii
was mounted. So you may be sure
that while not only worldly goods.
fame and reputation. but life itself
denNndAd ia faS nf ,u
strength. fieetness and good manners
were constantly made and recorded
and natures inexorable law the sur
vival OF the fttest.' was persistently
carried out by the Arabs.
Interesting Tradition.
This very interesting tradition is
taken from a German MfaEk-e4a- Arabia
The faithful Bedouin believes that the
prophet prince. Mohammed himself
founded the Kalihan. the noblest race
of horses they have. He SAYS Mo-
Af mined, wishing to set aside from his
stud the best mares In order to form
distinct and perfect breed, had them
all kept for two entire days and nights
without water, On a sudden. when al
most mad with thirst. the mares were
released and galloped with the swift
ness of the winds to the well known
spring. when, in view of the refresh
iAG FalGtS Wy pi eISisCtfAcu 6lEnAi
the trumpets sounded a war charge.
At this well known sound Ave of the
mares, forgetting in a moment the
agonies of their thirst. left untasted
the waters of the spring and galioped
TO the imagined war. From these FIVE
mares the Arabs believe the noblest
breeds have descended
Another sketch of Persia states that
the Arab put this test upon his colts
in order to And out If they are true
to their lineage. The colt Is mounted
in its second year. when the Arab, on
all occasions most kind to his horses,
puts 1t to usually severe trial. The
colt or flly is led out To be ridden
for the first time. Its master springs
upon Its back and rides at full speed
for perhaps Atty miles over sand and
rock OF the burning desert without one
moments respite, He then plunges
it into water enough to swim, and
Immediately after this it will eat as
IL nothing had happened its purity of
blood and stanchness are considered
incontrovertible. After making full
allowances for oriental Congregations
these stories, extending far back In
the twilight OF tradition. Indicate that
they had n clearly defined breeding
plan and purpose
Eject May he Marked.
Now the effect of the pure blood of
the horse of the desert upon tho strains
of Europe is very marked and most
interesting. The first infusion of the
blood Of the Arab horse in Europe oc-
Cured upon gigantic scale In the
year 732. when the Arabian mobiles
overran southern Europe. and when
the fnenfentous and hateful battle was
fought Iii France which decided wheth-
er our civilization should be Moham-
medan or Christian. The Arabs suf-
fered overwhelming and disastrous de-
feat. 1t Is estimated by the best his
tnriAnS- that = 3, eAa of their fighting
men were in the field on that memora-
BILE September day. OF course. they
We're mostly mounted, and i'm the rout
and slaughter that followed their
horses were captured and remained in
the land.
The development of the horse has
been an expression Of the direct ex-
perience OF the various stages OF
growth and development through
which mankind has passed Prior TO
this the age of chivalry in England
called for a heavy or cart type or
horse. The knight, his rider. was coat
ed In heavy rrstiis and the horse nm
self was covered with it, The horse