HORSES IN WARFARE

And I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen …

—Ezk. 38:4

2281 Russian Cavalry

The world’s horse population is estimated at 72,600,000, of which at least one-half are in Russia.

Although other nations have discontinued it, Russia has continued to be noted for her cavalry. Even before World War II, Russian agents scoured the earth for battle horses and bought them. During the Second World War, Russian Cossacks met and defeated German mechanized forces. In the Korean War, 5000 mounted Communist troops were able to cross the Yalu River without being detected by UN reconnaissance planes.

Horses are still the fastest and surest means of transporting men, light and heavy artillery, and field equipments over mountainous terrain.

2282 Heaviest Horse

The world’s heaviest horse was “Brooklyn Supreme” who weighed 3,200 lbs. and was 6 feet, 6 inches tall. This purebred Belgium stallion lived for 20 years and died in 1984 in Iowa.

2283 Monument To A Horse

In Chickamauga National Park, at Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a unique monument—a memorial to a horse. At the time of the Civil War during the Battle of Chickamauga, a young cavalry officer on the Union side was killed early in the charge. His body fell off the horse.

But the brave animal, instead of seeking to escape the fury of the battle, continued with his companions and charging with them for the entire morning. Towards noon, when the fighting had subsided somewhat, the riderless horse was hit by a stray bullet and died shortly after. The friends of his dead master who had witnessed the gallant and almost human bravery of the horse buried the remains and marked the spot as best they could.

Many years after, the State of Wisconsin, from which both horse and rider had come, erected this fine monument which is known as “Wisconsin’s Riderless Horse.”

—Selected

2284 Poor (Armored) Horse

A horse and its knight remained in steel armor—day and night—for seven long years. Enguerrand de Saint Cloud of France did this as a sign of protest against the hanging of his godfather as a sorcerer in 1315. He vowed that neither he nor his horse would doff the heavy coat of mail until the victim’s name was exonerated.

After seven years, King Philippe V finally declared the executed man innocent, and man and beast removed their most restrictive and ponderous suits. The gallant knight is to be acclaimed for his stamina, but the poor animal did not know why life had suddenly become so unbearable!

—Adapted

2285 For Taming A Horse: A Kingdom

A pilgrim once won a kingdom for taming a horse.

In 1580 a wild horse strayed into the territory of the immensely wealthy Bhuyias in India. The best horse handlers were unable to “bust” this absolutely ungovernable stallion. Finally, the Bhuyias offered their whole country to anyone who could break the animal by putting it under saddle and bridle.

For a long time, the throne went begging. One day a pious pilgrim who was passing that part of the country heard of the offer and decided to take it up. He won and was elected ruler of that part of the country. Even today, his descendants still rule over a vast estate of 800 square miles with 200,000 people—won by a single feat of bronco-busting.

2286 Why Bring Rifke?

After the usual haggling, the coachman agreed to drive the Rabbi to Minsk. “But I warn you,” said the driver, “it’s a hard road and I can’t hurry my horse. Rifke—that’s my horse—has been with me so long she’s like one of the family.”

They had proceeded only a few miles when the driver stopped. “See that hill?” he said to the Rabbi. “Rifke could never make it with both of us. You’ll have to get out and walk while I guide her.”

It was a long hill and the Rabbi was barely seated when the driver stopped again. “There’s another bad hill ahead,” he said. “But this time to spare Rifke I’ll get out and walk.”

After a short interval, the driver said, “I told you it was a hard road, and the hill we’re coming to is the worst of the lot. This time both of us will have to walk. Rifke is getting tired out.”

Finally they reached Minsk, having walked at least three-quarters of the distance. Ruefully the Rabbi paid the amount agreed upon. And then he said, “I had to come to Minsk for the sake of my congregation. You had to come to Minsk for the sake of money. But, for God’s sake why did we bring Rifke?”

—Selected

2287 Confucius’ Dilemma

Confucius went out in his cart one day. He came to a place where several boys were building out of bricks a walled city which blocked his way.

With a loud voice, he exclaimed, “A big carriage is coming, why don’t you pave the way?”

One of the boys stood up and raising his shoulders in defense, said: “I know only of carts going around city walls, but I have never heard of city-walls being torn down for a cart to pass.” Confucius was startled.

—Chinese Classical Literature

See also: Animals ; Russia ; Weapons ; Jer. 4:13; Ezk. 38:15; Dan. 11:40; Zech. 12:4; Rev. 19:18.