The origin and influence of the thoroughbred horse . ythree in number, rise between their ears. The bridle consistedof a headstall, a strap divided into three parts joining the bit,the straps over the forehead, under the cheeks, and behind theears. Three richly embroidered straps (Fig. 68), passing roundthe body of the horse, keep the harness and chariot pole in theirl^lace, and were attached to a highly decorated breast-band. Tothe yoke was suspended an elegant ornament in the form of hayardi, Nineveh and its Remains (ed. 1867), pp. Ibid. pp. 362-3. 13—2 196 THE HORSES OF PREHISTORIC
The origin and influence of the thoroughbred horse . ythree in number, rise between their ears. The bridle consistedof a headstall, a strap divided into three parts joining the bit,the straps over the forehead, under the cheeks, and behind theears. Three richly embroidered straps (Fig. 68), passing roundthe body of the horse, keep the harness and chariot pole in theirl^lace, and were attached to a highly decorated breast-band. Tothe yoke was suspended an elegant ornament in the form of hayardi, Nineveh and its Remains (ed. 1867), pp. Ibid. pp. 362-3. 13—2 196 THE HORSES OF PREHISTORIC [CH. the head of an animal, and a ring which generally enclosed awinged bull. The horses manes were allowed to fall looselyon the neck, or were plaited, and their tails were tied in themiddle with a ribbon adorned with tassels \ The fact thatthe Assyrian horses seem always to have been controlled bybits and not merely by nose-bands will be of importance at afurther stage in our investigations. To judge from the sculptures alone, cavalry must have. Fig. 63. Head of a Horse from the chariot of Assur-baui-pal. formed an important part of the Assyrian armies, a conclusionfully confirmed by the Old Testament, where the Assyrianhorsemen are frequently mentioned. Thus Ezekiel^ describesthe Assyrians as clothed in blue, captains and rulers, all ofthem desirable young men, horsemen riding upon , Holofernes^, the general of Nabuchodonosor, is stated tohave had no fewer than twelve thousand archers on the monuments the rider is represented as seated on the ^ Layard, op. cit., pp. 237-8. xxiii. 6. 3 Judith ii. 15. in] AND HISTORIC TIMES 197 back (Fig. 64) of the horse, which is only adorned with a clotheven when led behind the chariot of the king. Layard thoughtthat the horses of the Assyrian bas-reliefs were evidentlydrawn from the finest models, and the Assyrian sculptor hasnot altooether been unsuccessful in their delineation. Thehead is small and well shaped,
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