Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

(11. xxviii.] IIis Pozi'cj's of Endurance. 251
pulled clown the lo^Ye^ rails after this, and walked
her Ijack under the top one, a thick oak rail which
Avas several inches higher than her wither. Another,
though ouly fourteen hands two inches, clears
seven yards in her stride over a hurdle. The mare
I rode on the journey, carried me over the raised
watercourses by the Euphrates in the cleverest way
in the world, otf and on without the least hanoino;
or hesitation, and always \\\\\\ a foot ready to bring
down in case of need. As hunters, however, in
England, they would all l)e too small for any but
children to ride, and their want of comparative
heio'ht at the wither would be a serious defect.
Of their galloping 230wers, as compared with those
of English tiioroughbreds, I cannot speak from experience.
I do not, however, suppose that over three
miles, the lono-est Eno-lish race, an Arabian would
have much chance against any l)ut quite inferior
animals. Over five miles it might lie different, but
over twenty I am convinced that none but very
exceptional English horses, would be able to go with
them.
The Arabians seem capable of going on for
surprising distances, under heavy weights, without
tiring ;
and they have the advantage of being able to
stand almost any amount of training Avithout going
"stale."
The thorouo-hbred Anazeh horse will ti-ain
as fine as any English racehorse.
Be this as it may,
there is no doubt that the pure bred Arabian possesses
extraordinary powers of endurance. On a journey
he may be ridden day after day, and fed only upon