DEATH OF A HORSE

MAN IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THE HORSE. AFTER EOHIPPUS LOST HIS TWO TOES AND GREW UP INTO A BEAUTIFUL, IRRESISTIBLE BULK, A PERMANENT STRUGGLE, UP HILL AND DOWN, LOOMED BETWEEN MAN AND BEAST. BEAST'S BEAUTY COMMANDED RESPECT AND AWE, BUT IT ALSO PORTENDED TRAGEDY AND DEATH. THE GRAND HORSE IS PORTRAYED FROM THE CAVE PAINTINGS IN LASCAUX, FRANCE TO BRONZE STATUES WITH TRIUMPHANT RIDERS IN PUBLIC SQUARES. REVERENCED, YES, BUT ONCE MEN'S LEGS GRIPPED FLESH BEHIND STRONG WITHERS AND FOUND IT EXHILARATING, THE HORSE WAS DOOMED TO BE SERVANT AND SACRIFICIAL VICTIM TO THE MARCH OF CIVILIZATION. WILD AND WOOLLY PONIES WERE DRIVEN BY HUNS ACROSS THE STEPPS; TATOOED RUNNERS WERE WHIPPED BY NATIVE AMERICANS ACROSS THE AMERICAN PLAINS. CAVALRY CONTRIBUTED TO ANCIENT AND MODERN WARS. NEITHER ALEXANDER ON BUCEPHALUS NOR NAPOLEON MOUNTED ON HIS BELOVED MARENGO COULD SAVE THE THOUSANDS OF MANGLED, BLEEDING AND SUFFERING WARRIORS OF THEIR MILITARY CAMPAIGNS AT THE END OF A DAY OF BATTLE. INTO THE SHADE OF NIGHT, SCREAMS OF PAIN FINALLY CEASED AND MOUNDS OF DEAD HORSEFLESH, UNLIKE THE HUMAN BODIES, WOULD BE LEFT TO THE ELEMENTS. THE LAST GREAT CAVALRY CHARGE IN 1917, IN THE SINAI DESERT DURING WORLD WAR I, 1917, TOOK THE AUSTRALIAN HORSE BRIGADE THROUGH SHELLFIRE AND INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS.

MEN AND WOMEN HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED, CELEBRATED, CHERISHED AND EXPLOITED EQUINE INTELLIGENGE, LOYALTY AND ABILITY OVER THE YEARS. A HORSE MAY BE DEPRAVED RENEGADE THAT MUST BE TAMED BY A HORSE WHISPERER OR AS SMART AS A PERFORMER LIKE THE 'INCREDIBLE JIM KEY.' HE MAY BE CROWNED AS A GOD BY A MAD CALIGUA OR WREATHED WITH FLOWERS LIKE SECRETARIAT AFTER A SPECTACULAR RECORD-BREAKING BELMONT STAKES RACE IN 1973. HE MAY BE MOURNED IN DEATH LIKE TWO CHAMPION FLAT RACERS, PHAR LAP, MURDERED IN 1932 OR MAN O' WAR , THE 'BIG RED' OLD MAN. THE SOUL OF THE HORSE, IT SEEMS TO ME, IS PERSONIFIED IN THE RAGS TO RICHES TALE OF 'BLACK BEAUTY'.

THE MAN/HORSE CONNECTION LIKE THAT OF A CENTAUR, IN SPITE OF HEARTBREAK, WILL NOT DIE. THIS NEW YEAR, 2006, BEGAN WITH A DEVOTED 'BLACK BEAUTY' PULLING A CARRIAGE IN NEW YORK'S CENTRAL PARK, A TOKEN OF HIS DUTY TO EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY AND TO MAN. A TRAGIC ACCIDENT ENSUED. IT RESULTED IN THE DRIVER'S SERIOUS INJURY AND IN THE DEATH OF THE HORSE. THE BODY OF ANOTHER FAITHFUL SERVANT WAS MUTILATED AND SMASHED AGAINST MAN'S MECHANICAL INVENTION, A STATION WAGON. UNIKE THE 'HIGHWAYMAN' IN ALFRED NOYES' FAMOUS POEM, THIS TIME IT WAS THE HORSE, "SHOT DOWN LIKE A DOG ON THE HIGHWAY.' SOME TEARS OF REGRET AND RESPECT ARE IN ORDER.