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HORSES
PAST AND
PRESENT
BY
SIR WALTER
GILBEY,
Bart.
ILLUSTRATED
VINTON & Co.,
Ltd.
9, NEW BRIDGE STREET, LONDON, E.C.
----------------
HORSES PAST
AND PRESENT.
First
among animals which man has domesticated, or brought
under control to do him service, stands the horse. The
beauty of his form, his strength, speed and retentive
memory, alike commend him to admiration; the place he
holds, whether in relation to our military strength, our
commercial and agricultural pursuits, or our pleasures,
is unique. Whether as servant or companion of man the
horse stands alone among animals.
There can
be no doubt but that the horse was broken to man’s
service at an early period of the world’s history. The
art of taming him was first practised by the peoples of
Asia and Africa, who earliest attained to a degree of
civilisation; but whether he was first ridden or driven
is a question which has often been debated with
no definite result. The earliest references to the use
of horses occur in the Old Testament, where numerous
passages make mention of chariots and horsemen in
connection with all warlike operations........... |
