EQUUS, in zoology, a genus of quadrupeds belonging to the order of belluae. This genus comprehends the horse, the mule, the ass, the zebra, and the quagga: they have six erect and parallel fore-teeth in the upper jaw, and six somewhat prominent ones in the under jaw; the dog-teeth are solitary, and at a considerable distance from the rest; and the feet consist of an undivided hoof.
1. The caballus, or HORSE, has a long flowing mane, and the tail covered on all parts with long hairs.
The horse, in a domestic state, is a bold and fiery animal; equally intrepid as his master, he faces danger Buffon Histoire Naturelle and death with ardour and magnanimity. He delights in the noise and tumult of arms, and seems to feel the glory of victory: he exults in the chase; his eyes sparkle with emulation in the course. But though bold and intrepid, he is docile and tractable: he knows how to govern
Part of the ceremony whereby the honour of knighthood was conferred amongst the Romans was the giving of a horse; for every equus or knight had a horse kept at the public charge, he received also the stipend of an horseman to serve in the wars, and wore a ring which was given him by the state. The equites composed a large body of men, and constituted the Roman cavalry; for there was always a sufficient number of them in the city, and nothing but a review was requisite to fit them for service.
The knights at last grew too powerful, were a balance for the senate and people, neglected the exercises of war, and betook themselves to civil employments. The equites were liable to be punished by the censors, and to suffer degradation. They were degraded by taking from them the horse which was kept for each of them at the public charge; this was called equum adimere.