THE RACE HORSE.
Of one of these people a touching story is told. The whole stock of a poor Arabian of the desert was a mare, and he consented to sell her to a French merchant for a very large sum of money. At length with only a miserable rag to cover his body he brought his noble courser to the house of the buyer. Having dismounted, he looked first at the gold and then at the mare, and heaving a deep sigh, he exclaimed, “To whom is it that I am going to give thee up? To Frenchmen, who will tie thee close, who will beat thee, who will render thee miserable! Return with me my beauty! my jewel! and rejoice the hearts of my children!” Having said this he sprang on her back, and was out of sight in a moment. Still, for a continuance of great exertion, the English Race Horse is said to be superior to the Arabian, and for fleetness, he will yield to none. A Race Horse will go at the rate of a mile in less than two minutes.
THE CART HORSE.
THE CART HORSE.
Till of late years, Pack-Horses were employed in the northern parts of England, to carry goods and parcels. In their journeys over barren moors, they strictly observed the line of order and regularity they were first taught to keep. The leading horse, always chosen for his steadiness and sagacity, being furnished with bells, gave notice to the rest, which followed the sound, though sometimes at a distance. Some years ago, one of them who had been long used to follow his leader, was from accident or fatigue, put into an inferior rank; when, as if sensible of his disgrace, he by the greatest exertion recovered his usual station, but on arriving at the inn-yard, he dropped down dead!
These horses are not now seen; the old English Road Horse is strong and active, and capable of enduring great hardship; and though the form of the common Cart Horse is heavy, and his motion slow, he is extremely useful, and is employed in a great many ways. In London there have been instances of a single horse drawing, for a short space, so great a weight as three tons.