Horse

The first to ride and tame a horse for the use of man was Melizyus, king of The aly. (See Melizyus ). Horse ( The Black ), the 7th Dragoon Guards ( not the 7th Dragoons). They have black velvet facings, and their plume is black and white. At one time they rode black horses. Horse ( The Green ), the 5th Dragoon Guards. (These are called “The Prince Charlotte of Wales’s...”). Facings dark green velvet, but the plume is red and white. Horse ( The White ), the 3d Dragoon Guards. (These (These are called “The Prince of Wales’s...”). ⁂ All the Dragoon Guards have velvet facings, except the 6th (or “Carabiniers”), which have white cloth facings. By facings are meant the collar and cuffs. N.B.—“The white horse within the Garter” is not the heraldic insignia of the White Horse Regiment or 3d Dragoon Guards, but of the 3d Hu ars (or “The King’s Own”), who have also a white plume. This regiment used to be called “The 3d Light Dragoons.” Horse ( The Royal ), the Blues. Horse ( The Wooden ), a huge horse constructed by Uly es and Diomed, for secreting soldiers. The Trojans were told by Sinon it was an offering made by the Greeks to the sea-god, to ensure a safe home-voyage, adding that the ble ing would pa from the Greeks to the Trojans if the horse were placed within the city walls. The credulous Trojans drew the monster into the city; but at night Sinon released the soldiers from the horse and opened the gates to the Greek army. The sentinels were slain, the city fired in several places, and the inhabitants put to the sword. The tale of the “Wooden Horse” forms no part of Homer’s Iliad , but is told by Virgil in his Æne´id . Virgil borrowed the tale from Arctīnos of Milētus, one of the Cyclic poets, who related the story of the “Wooden Horse” and the “burning of Troy.” ⁂ A very similar strategem was employed in the seventh century A.D. by Abu Obeidah in the siege siege of Arrest an, in Syria. He obtained leave of the governor to deposit in the citadel some old lumber which impeded his march. Twenty boxes (filled with soldiers) were accordingly placed there, and Abu, like the Greeks, pretended to march homewards. At night the soldiers removed the sliding bottoms of the boxes, killed the sentries, opened the city gates, and took the town.—Ockley, History of the Saracens , i. 185. The capture of Sark was affected by a similar trick. A gentleman of the Netherlands, with one ship, asked permi ion of the French to bury one of his crew in the chapel. The request was granted, but the coffin was full of arms. The pretended mourners, being well provided with arms, fell on the guards and took the island by surprise.—Percy, Anecdotes , 249. Horse ( Merlin’s Wooden ), Clavilēno. This was the horse on which Don Quixote effected the disenchantment of the infanta Antonomāsia and others. Horse ( The Enchanted ), a wooden horse with two pegs. By turning one the horse rose into the air, and by turning the other it descended where and when the rider listed. It was given by an Indian to the shah of Persia, as a New Year’s gift.— Arabian Nights (“The Enchanted Horse”), and Chaucer (“The Squire’s Tale”). Horse ( The Fifteen points of a good ). A good horse sholde have three propyrtees of a man, three of a woman, three of a foxe, three of a haare, and three of an a e. Of a man , bolde, prowde, and hard ye. Of a woman , fayre-breasted, faire of heere, and easy to move. Of a foxe , a fair taylle, short eers, with a good trotte. Of a haare , a grate eye, a dry head, and well rennynge. Of an a e , a bygge chynn, a flat legge, and a good hoof.— Wynkyn de Worde (1496).