Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1885 — Breaking Wild Horses an Old Art. [ARTICLE]

Breaking Wild Horses an Old Art.

A recently published volume on £he Russian art, by Mr. Maskell, shows that the great horse-tamer, Rarey, and his immediate successors, have merely revived a lost art. He describes a remarkable vase in a St. Petersburg museum, the frieze of which, composed of detached figures, represents the methods of breaking the wild horses of the steppes, as practiced by the Scythians two thousand years ago. “Most curious it is,” he says, “to see here the lasiooing and taming of wild horses as it is practiced at the present day by the Guachos of South America; and not only, so but in the minuteness of the details we observe characteristic parts of the method of horse-breaking which but a few years ago was introduced into England by Mr. Rarey, and excited so much wonder and curiosity. In the center of one side two wild horses are peaceably grazing on the plain, still in the enjoyment of their liberty. Next they are lassoed by the Scythians, and finally brought to the ground. In the center of the front of the vase is represented the method employed by Rarey. A Scythian is engaged in strapping up one of the forelegs of a horse, which he will presently bring on its knees by another cord, and, by wearing out its patience, show that he is tae master (these cords were originally fine wires of silver, which were ound beside the vase when it was first discovered, but have since been lost). To the right of the lastmentioned group stands a horse already broken in, and saddled and bridled, His master is engaged attaching hobbles to his forelegs so that he may leaves him partly at liberty while he joins the others in their work. The children of Israel now number about 6,377,000 the world over.