SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE HORSE.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 8, 12 April 1849, Page 3

SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE HORSE.

(Continued from our last.) It is not proper that, at the end of a hard ride, or after a long journey, the horse should be turned out on to the plain to pick up what fooil ho may there find. He should he first riihhed down all over with some cloth, or a handful of straw or soft fern ; his feet should he looked at, in order to ascertain that no. stones h ; iva lodged in the under part of the hoof. His feet should also be washed if they are dirty with mud, or very dusty j and he should he given some hard food, such as maize or corn, rather than greenstuff. Dry grass is also better, at such times, than anything green and moist. You have all seen the effects produced Upon men by theif eating the poisonous seeds of the Tutu or Tupaki: a great deal of wet or new grass eaten by a hungry horsu will frequently .have the same effect upon it. It is better that a horse should be well fed with maize, or barley, or o;its on the day previous to that on which he is required to do much work, or to go a long journey, than on the morning of that day, or while upon tho journey. The food which is given to him on tho day before that on which he works, strengthens him ; while that given to him previous to Stirling, or at a stoppage on his journey, only lenders him more spiiited and willing for a short time. It also causes him to become hut while .it his work, and docs not do him that amount of service as nutrition, which it would if he were able to remain still aftor his meal. One thiiiK very necessary to keeping a horso in good condition is the providing him with shelter during a cold night after a journey ; and also with comfoitable litter, on which he may sleep. There are very few diseases to which men are subject, to which the horso is not equally liable. When ft horso is not required for much work, and is kept out in the field, he is able cm the cold night to keep himself warm by constantly moving about; but when lied up he canjiot do this ; mid after getting very hot on a jouiney, if he ho tied up without audi' cient shelter, mil with no litter on which to lie, be will probibly «omi sudor from cold or spasm, in the same way n9 would a man if equally exposed. A horse, then, that has been ridden until it is fatigued, and brought in hot, should be, as I have said, immediately rubbed clean, and liis feet looked to. . He should then have a bed made for him of straw, dry grass, or fern, and put in as well sheltered u place as there may be fitting for the purpose. Especial thought being had that he be not put in a wet place, or where he will be exposed to a cold wind. Very few horses nre naturally of so bad a ►••emper that they may not be rendered olio, ' !iy kind and proper treatment. The Ar hi horse, which I hnvc before told you of is treated with great kindness, when ting, by its owner, and a? it grows older it evincts great ntinrhmi-nt for its owner's family, and to those to whom it has become familiarized. The marc and her foal live in the same tent with the Arabian and his children. The neck nf the mare, a3 sha lies, is often the pillow of the rider; and the children of the owner are frequently playing with and rolling over and i .ihi.ut her and the fo.il—yet no accident ever ' occurs to the children.

When tile Arali.falls from liis mare, ami is unable to rise, she will immediately stand still and neigh until some assistance arrives-. If he lies down to sleep, as fatigue sometimes compels him, in the midsfc of the desert, she stands watchful over him, and neighs and rouses him if cither man or beast approaches. I have written this in order 10 show to you how advisable it is that you should treat your horses with kindness. I know that you are ycry fond of your horses; you should also ho particular that they are kept clean after they have been ridden, and that they are sufficiently warm and sheltered in cold and wet weather. Almost any horse may he taught, when ybung, to come to its master when called ; and i many of the vices of the horse, such as kicking, biting, and back jumping, owe .their cause to the unkind treatment of the horse from those about it. A gentleman who travelled some years ago amongst the people of Arabia, told the'following story about the fondness of these people for their mares, and their sorrow at the thought of parting from them. He met, when he was travelling in that country, an Arab riding a bright brown mare of extraordinary shape and beauty. The Arab evidently wanted to attract the attention of the Englishman to his mare, for he rode backwards and -forwards on the animal before the tout of the Englishman. On being asked if he ■would sell her—"What will you give me," said the Arab. " That depends on her age. I suppose she is past five'?" "Guess again," said he. "Pour?" "Look at her teeth," said the Arab with 'it smile. On examination she was found to be not quite three years old. This, from her size and symmetry,' greatly enhairced her value. The Englishman said, " I will give fifty pounds for her." The Arab looked at the money which the Englishman olTercd, but he would not take it for "his mare. The man was miserably poor—his clothes were mere rags, and his wife and children were starving. The sum which the Englishman offered would in that -poor country have made the Arab rich for life. " I will give you eighty pounds,'.' said the Englishman. " A little more, if you please," said the man, laughing. "A hmidrcd." He shook his head. The offer at last came to two hundred pounds. " Well," said the Arab, " you need not tempt mo further ;itisof no use. You are rich, and a grftit man. Yon have many horses and mules, and I am told that you have loads of silver and gold. Now," added In;,'" you want my mare, but you shall not have her for all that you have got." And a", he pronounced the words he sprang upon hci hack, find w-n out of sight in a moment. To be conlviiictl in our nett.