The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-28
HORSE FIRST FAMED
 ON STEPPES 0F ASIA
Was Animal First Ridden or
 Driven by Man?
STILL NEEDED IN WAR
Only Russia and the United States Breed Enough Horses for Own Use-Animal Can Be Trained
 to Fight

Most people have heard discussions as to whether mankind first drove horses or mounted them, after they had cap tured and reduced from their wild state says the New York World. The poet i Lucreitus. who lived some years before our era, thinks that for an armed man to mount horse and guide 1t to Tight py the bridle was much more ancient way than to harness the animal to chariot. | But so far as human knowledge goes, the horse was always in use-a warlike animal. fast and brave. both In harness and under the saddle.
 l The Southwestern Asiatics took early to driving, at first probably in rude carts; but the Assyrian chariots were strong, light swift, elegant and metal-bound. 1 The Creeks of the Homerio times did not ride much. or have many horses, and mostly drove those they had, as they l had seen their their nearest Asiatic neighbors do.
 1 To the Turks and Mongols, while still | living in their native place. the great steppe of Asia, must be given the credit of first capturing the swift. single hoofed animal also native to their piains' ana learning to mount him for use in hunting and in war When the Turkish tribes first invaded the West, they were horse riding people.
 1 The old historians say that they were so accustomed to being on horse-back that they could not walk without stumo- ling, and "ate, drank and held council in the saddle
 Birthplace of the Horse A great modern authority, Prof Helm, says that, the steppe of Asia was the birthplace of the horse, and the yellow sons of the steppe tanned the amman and succeeding in that. founded their whole life upon it. and when they rode to the West they counld only destroy In many cavalry combats we hear Of more damage being done by the weoight of the horses than by the weapons of the riders Wild horses often fight with their teeth as well as their feet.
 With all the improved facilities for com munication by steam, war horses arc still so necessary that almost all the European countries have state breeding farms to in sure a supply.
 | In France these were instituted by the great minister, Colbert, in the reign of Louis XIV, and were especially fostered by the great Napoleon, who, in his cruel l horses than anySae in ancient or modern l times @s
 By this means Germany has a fine stock of horses, which made her mounted troops, especially the Uhlans, so formid- able in her last war with France l The great strategist and organizer, Von Moltke, estimated that. for active war | fare. there should be two horses for every l five men employed in the field. During the last year of our civil war the quarter-m master generals report shows that the consumption of horses and mules on the Northern side alone, amounted to 1 800 a day
 Great Breeders of Horses l It is conceded by most writers on the subject that the two great nations which 1 breed enough horses within their own borders to meet all the exigencies and destruction of war, without drawing from abroad are the United States and Russia. A naturally brave animal, the horse can be trained to stand the roar of artillery and the shock of battle better than any other. Many seem to delight in it. l Wolves and other animals dread the hoofs and teeth of wild horses; and the domesticated ones often defend them selves successfully from enemies. 1 The following, among hundreds of sim liar incidents. seems to be well authenti- cated:
 Soue years ago a hunter in Wyoming | Territory was camping under the Wind rfver well up in the mountains. He had a horse of fine breed, and he had selected a small bunch of cottonwood trees for his
 camp while, at little distance, under an unusually large tree of the same kind, and apart from all the others, he stabbed his stallion
 It could hardly be called stabling-for the horse was picketed, and the tree form
 ed his shelter.
 One night the hunter was aroused from a sound sleep by neigh from his horse, l which sounded rather like rage than alarm. American horses are often quick to detect the approach of Indians, as we'll l as beasts of prey. and the hunter was | soon upon his feet and looking in the direction of his horse.
 The animal was standing in the full light of a bright moon, and seemed to be | staring at an object in the branches of a tree. As the hunter looked, the branch was violently agitated, and a dreadful yelling scream was heard, and dark object. which was mountain lion, land ed on the back of the horse. The latter sprang into the air. with mad scream little inferior in shrilness and rage to that of his enemy.
 Killed Mountain Lion l He returned to the ground with great concussion. but failed to shake off the mountain lion, so closely did the latter cling to his prey. Blood began to appear on the horses neck and shoulders, and the lion was tearing his was to his jugular to let out the gallant beasts life. | Apparently realizing his full danger. be- fore his master could do anything. the horse sprany into dense taeie of boughs, and the mountain lion was torn from his seat and hurled back with great violence. The stallion passed drought the thicket, and then turned to confront his enemy in the open space never offering to runaway.
 The lion, quickly recovering himself and, mad with the taste of blood, sprang once more into the branches of the big tree, made another leap towards the horse but missed his aim l Then he began a series of circles around the horse, getting nearer and nearer each time, and at last made another lean But the brave horse was ready for him and with the rapidity of thought changed front and his hind feet struck the lion full In the breast.
 The animal rolled over and over. with yels of pain and rage, but came on again This time he came to his death for the horses heels struck him fairly between the eyes, and crushed his skull clean n across. He gave few convulsive strurr- les. and then stiffened in death. while the triumphant stallion stood neiKhine and paving the ground in token of victory.