The Horse and His Rider: Or, Sketches and Anecdotes of the Noble Quadruped, and of Equestrian NationsSpringfield, Rollo
History
The Horse and His Rider: Or, Sketches and Anecdotes of the Noble Quadruped, and of Equestrian Nations
Springfield, Rollo
Horsemen and horsewomen; Horses; Horses -- Anecdotes
Sir Robert fell subsequently at the storming of Kalunga. Another horse
of his, a favourite black charger, bred at the Cape of Good Hope, and
carried by him to India, was, at the sale of his effects, competed for
by several officers of his division, and finally knocked down to the
privates of the 8th dragoons, who contributed their prize money, to the
amount of £500 sterling, to retain this commemoration of their late
commander. The charger was always led at the head of the regiment on a
march, and at the station of Cawnpore was usually indulged with taking
his ancient post at the colour stand, where the salute of passing
squadrons was given at drill and on reviews. When the regiment was
ordered home, the funds of the privates running low, he was bought for
the same sum by a gentleman, who provided funds and a paddock for him,
where he might end his days in comfort; but when the corps had marched,
and the sound of the trumpet had departed, he refused to eat, and on the
first opportunity, being led out to exercise, he broke from his groom,
and galloping to his ancient station on the parade, after neighing
aloud, dropped down and died.
It is not surprising that an animal endowed in so high a degree as the
horse is with mental and moral faculties, should occasionally be
subject, like man, to derangement of these faculties. The disordered
actions, the fury, the caprices, and the vices which are sometimes shown
by the brute, are in the highest degree analagous to certain forms of
human insanity. The following anecdotes are related by Mr. Youatt, on
the authority of Professor Rodet, of Toulouse:—
A horse, seven years old, was remarkable for an habitual air of
stupidity, and a peculiar wandering expression of countenance. When he
saw any thing he had not been accustomed to, or heard any sudden or
unusual noise, whether it was near or at a distance, or sometimes when
his corn was thrown into the manger without the precaution of speaking
to him or patting him, he was frightened to an almost incredible degree;
he recoiled precipitately, every limb trembled, and he struggled
violently to escape. After several useless efforts to get away, he would
work himself into the very highest degree of rage so that it was
dangerous to approach him. This state of excitement was followed by
dreadful convulsions, which did not cease until he had broken his
halter, or otherwise freed himself from his trammels. He would then
become calm, and suffer himself to be led back to his stable, nor would
any thing more be seen but an almost continual uneasiness, and a
wandering and stupid expression of countenance. He had belonged to a
brutal soldier, who had beaten him shamefully: but before he fell into
that man’s hands he had been perfectly quiet and tractable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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