On Horsemanship [4]
food and drink, etc., come through help of man."
The groom should have standing orders to take his charge through crowds, and to make him familiar with all sorts of sights and noises; and if the colt shows sign of apprehension at them,[9] he must teach him--not by cruel, but by gentle handling--that they are not really formidable.
[9] Or, "is disposed to shy."
On this topic, then, of training,[10] the rules here given will, I think, suffice for any private individual.
[10] Or, "In reference to horsebreaking, the above remarks will perhaps be found sufficient for the practical guidance of an amateur."
III
To meet the case in which the object is to buy a horse already fit for riding, we will set down certain memoranda,[1] which, if applied intelligently, may save the purchaser from being cheated.
[1] "Which the purchaser should lay to heart, if he does not wish to be cheated."
First, then, let there be no mistake about the age. If the horse has lost his mark teeth,[2] not only will the purchaser's hopes be blighted, but he may find himself saddled for ever with a sorry bargain.[3]
[2] Or, "the milk teeth," i.e. is more than five years old. See Morgan, p. 126.
[3] Lit. "a horse that has lost his milk teeth cannot be said to gladden his owner's mind with hopes, and is not so easily disposed of."
Given that the fact of youth is well established, let there be no mistake about another matter: how does he take the bit into his mouth and the headstall[4] over his ears? There need be little ambiguity on this score, if the purchaser will see the bit inserted and again removed, under his eyes. Next, let it be carefully noted how the horse stands being mounted. Many horses are extremely loath to admit the approach of anything which, if once accepted, clearly means to them enforced exertion.
[4] {koruphaia}, part of the {khalinos} gear.
Another point to ascertain is whether the horse, when mounted, can be induced to leave other horses, or when being ridden past a group of horses standing, will not bolt off to join the company. Some horses again, as the result of bad training, will run away from the exercising-ground and make for the stable. A hard mouth may be detected by the exercise called the {pede} or volte,[5] and still more so by varying the direction of the volte to right or left. Many horses will not attempt to run away except for the concurrence of a bad mouth along with an avenue of escape home.[6]
[5] See Sturz, s.v.; Pollux, i. 219. Al. "the longe," but the passage below (vii. 14) is suggestive rather of the volte.
[6] Al. "will only attempt to bolt where the passage out towards home combines, as it were, with a bad mouth." {e . . . ekphora} = "the exit from the manege or riding school."
Another point which it is necessary to learn is, whether when let go at full speed the horse can be pulled up[7] sharp and is willing to wheel round in obedience to the rein.
[7] {analambanetai}, "come to the poise" (Morgan). For {apostrephesthai} see ix.6; tech. "caracole."
It is also well to ascertain by experience if the horse you propose to purchase will show equal docility in response to the whip. Every one knows what a useless thing a servant is, or a body of troops, that will not obey. A disobedient horse is not only useless, but may easily play the part of an arrant traitor.
And since it is assumed that the horse to be purchased is intended for war, we must widen our test to include everything which war itself can bring to the proof: such as leaping ditches, scrambling over walls, scaling up and springing off high banks. We must test his paces by galloping him up and down steep pitches and sharp inclines and along a slant. For each and all of these will serve as a touchstone to gauge the endurance of his spirit and the soundness of his body.
I am far from saying, indeed, that because an animal fails to perform all these parts to perfection, he must straightway be rejected; since many a horse will fall short at first, not from
The groom should have standing orders to take his charge through crowds, and to make him familiar with all sorts of sights and noises; and if the colt shows sign of apprehension at them,[9] he must teach him--not by cruel, but by gentle handling--that they are not really formidable.
[9] Or, "is disposed to shy."
On this topic, then, of training,[10] the rules here given will, I think, suffice for any private individual.
[10] Or, "In reference to horsebreaking, the above remarks will perhaps be found sufficient for the practical guidance of an amateur."
III
To meet the case in which the object is to buy a horse already fit for riding, we will set down certain memoranda,[1] which, if applied intelligently, may save the purchaser from being cheated.
[1] "Which the purchaser should lay to heart, if he does not wish to be cheated."
First, then, let there be no mistake about the age. If the horse has lost his mark teeth,[2] not only will the purchaser's hopes be blighted, but he may find himself saddled for ever with a sorry bargain.[3]
[2] Or, "the milk teeth," i.e. is more than five years old. See Morgan, p. 126.
[3] Lit. "a horse that has lost his milk teeth cannot be said to gladden his owner's mind with hopes, and is not so easily disposed of."
Given that the fact of youth is well established, let there be no mistake about another matter: how does he take the bit into his mouth and the headstall[4] over his ears? There need be little ambiguity on this score, if the purchaser will see the bit inserted and again removed, under his eyes. Next, let it be carefully noted how the horse stands being mounted. Many horses are extremely loath to admit the approach of anything which, if once accepted, clearly means to them enforced exertion.
[4] {koruphaia}, part of the {khalinos} gear.
Another point to ascertain is whether the horse, when mounted, can be induced to leave other horses, or when being ridden past a group of horses standing, will not bolt off to join the company. Some horses again, as the result of bad training, will run away from the exercising-ground and make for the stable. A hard mouth may be detected by the exercise called the {pede} or volte,[5] and still more so by varying the direction of the volte to right or left. Many horses will not attempt to run away except for the concurrence of a bad mouth along with an avenue of escape home.[6]
[5] See Sturz, s.v.; Pollux, i. 219. Al. "the longe," but the passage below (vii. 14) is suggestive rather of the volte.
[6] Al. "will only attempt to bolt where the passage out towards home combines, as it were, with a bad mouth." {e . . . ekphora} = "the exit from the manege or riding school."
Another point which it is necessary to learn is, whether when let go at full speed the horse can be pulled up[7] sharp and is willing to wheel round in obedience to the rein.
[7] {analambanetai}, "come to the poise" (Morgan). For {apostrephesthai} see ix.6; tech. "caracole."
It is also well to ascertain by experience if the horse you propose to purchase will show equal docility in response to the whip. Every one knows what a useless thing a servant is, or a body of troops, that will not obey. A disobedient horse is not only useless, but may easily play the part of an arrant traitor.
And since it is assumed that the horse to be purchased is intended for war, we must widen our test to include everything which war itself can bring to the proof: such as leaping ditches, scrambling over walls, scaling up and springing off high banks. We must test his paces by galloping him up and down steep pitches and sharp inclines and along a slant. For each and all of these will serve as a touchstone to gauge the endurance of his spirit and the soundness of his body.
I am far from saying, indeed, that because an animal fails to perform all these parts to perfection, he must straightway be rejected; since many a horse will fall short at first, not from