On Horsemanship [8]
were it necessary.
[1] See a passage from Strattis, "Chrys." 2 (Pollux, x. 55), {prosage ton polon atrema, proslabon ton agogea brakhuteron. oukh oras oti abolos estin}.
In order to insert the bit correctly the groom should, in the first place, approach on the near[2] side of the horse, and then throwing the reins over his head, let them drop loosely on the withers; raise the headstall in his right hand, and with his left present the bit. If the horse will take the bit, it is a simple business to adjust the strap of the headstall; but if he refuses to open his mouth, the groom must hold the bit against the teeth and at the same time insert the thumb[3] of his left hand inside the horse's jaws. Most horses will open their mouths to that operation. But if he still refuses, then the groom must press the lip against the tush[4]; very few horses will refuse the bit, when that is done to them.[5]
[2] Lit. "on the left-hand side."
[3] {ton megan daktulon}, Hdt. iii. 8.
[4] i.e. "canine tooth."
[5] Or, "it is a very exceptional horse that will not open his mouth under the circumstances."
The groom can hardly be too much alive to the following points * * * if any work is to be done:[6] in fact, so important is it that the horse should readily take his bit, that, to put it tersely, a horse that will not take it is good for nothing. Now, if the horse be bitted not only when he has work to do, but also when he is being taken to his food and when he is being led home from a ride, it would be no great marvel if he learnt to take the bit of his own accord, when first presented to him.
[6] Reading with L. Dind. {khre de ton ippokomon kai ta oiade . . . paroxunthai, ei ti dei ponein}, or if as Schneid., Sauppe, etc., {khre de ton ippon me kata toiade, k.t.l.}, transl. "the horse must not be irritated in such operations as these," etc.; but {toiade} = "as follows," if correct, suggests a lacuna in either case at this point.
It would be good for the groom to know how to give a leg up in the Persian fashion,[7] so that in case of illness or infirmity of age the master himself may have a man to help him on to horseback without trouble, or, if he so wish, be able to oblige a friend with a man to mount him.[8]
[7] Cf. "Anab." IV. iv. 4; "Hipparch," i. 17; "Cyrop." VII. i. 38.
[8] An {anaboleus}. Cf. Plut. "C. Gracch." 7.
The one best precept--the golden rule--in dealing with a horse is never to approach him angrily. Anger is so devoid of forethought that it will often drive a man to do things which in a calmer mood he will regret.[9] Thus, when a horse is shy of any object and refuses to approach it, you must teach him that there is nothing to be alarmed at, particularly if he be a plucky animal;[10] or, failing that, touch the formidable object yourself, and then gently lead the horse up to it. The opposite plan of forcing the frightened creature by blows only intensifies its fear, the horse mentally associating the pain he suffers at such a moment with the object of suspicion, which he naturally regards as its cause.
[9] Cf. "Hell." v. iii. 7 for this maxim.
[10] Al. "if possibly by help of another and plucky animal."
If, when the groom brings up the horse to his master to mount, he knows how to make him lower his back,[11] to facilitate mounting, we have no fault to find. Still, we consider that the horseman should practise and be able to mount, even if the horse does not so lend himself;[12] since on another occasion another type of horse may fall to the rider's lot,[13] nor can the same rider be always served by the same equerry.[14]
[11] {upobibazesthai}. See above, i. 14; Pollux, i. 213; Morgan ad loc. "Stirrups were unknown till long after the Christian era began."
[12] Or, "apart from these good graces on the animal's part."
[13] As a member of the cavalry.
[14] Reading {allo}. Al. reading {allos} with L. D., "and the same horse will at one time humour you in one way and again in another." Cf. viii. 13, x. 12, for {uperetein} of the
[1] See a passage from Strattis, "Chrys." 2 (Pollux, x. 55), {prosage ton polon atrema, proslabon ton agogea brakhuteron. oukh oras oti abolos estin}.
In order to insert the bit correctly the groom should, in the first place, approach on the near[2] side of the horse, and then throwing the reins over his head, let them drop loosely on the withers; raise the headstall in his right hand, and with his left present the bit. If the horse will take the bit, it is a simple business to adjust the strap of the headstall; but if he refuses to open his mouth, the groom must hold the bit against the teeth and at the same time insert the thumb[3] of his left hand inside the horse's jaws. Most horses will open their mouths to that operation. But if he still refuses, then the groom must press the lip against the tush[4]; very few horses will refuse the bit, when that is done to them.[5]
[2] Lit. "on the left-hand side."
[3] {ton megan daktulon}, Hdt. iii. 8.
[4] i.e. "canine tooth."
[5] Or, "it is a very exceptional horse that will not open his mouth under the circumstances."
The groom can hardly be too much alive to the following points * * * if any work is to be done:[6] in fact, so important is it that the horse should readily take his bit, that, to put it tersely, a horse that will not take it is good for nothing. Now, if the horse be bitted not only when he has work to do, but also when he is being taken to his food and when he is being led home from a ride, it would be no great marvel if he learnt to take the bit of his own accord, when first presented to him.
[6] Reading with L. Dind. {khre de ton ippokomon kai ta oiade . . . paroxunthai, ei ti dei ponein}, or if as Schneid., Sauppe, etc., {khre de ton ippon me kata toiade, k.t.l.}, transl. "the horse must not be irritated in such operations as these," etc.; but {toiade} = "as follows," if correct, suggests a lacuna in either case at this point.
It would be good for the groom to know how to give a leg up in the Persian fashion,[7] so that in case of illness or infirmity of age the master himself may have a man to help him on to horseback without trouble, or, if he so wish, be able to oblige a friend with a man to mount him.[8]
[7] Cf. "Anab." IV. iv. 4; "Hipparch," i. 17; "Cyrop." VII. i. 38.
[8] An {anaboleus}. Cf. Plut. "C. Gracch." 7.
The one best precept--the golden rule--in dealing with a horse is never to approach him angrily. Anger is so devoid of forethought that it will often drive a man to do things which in a calmer mood he will regret.[9] Thus, when a horse is shy of any object and refuses to approach it, you must teach him that there is nothing to be alarmed at, particularly if he be a plucky animal;[10] or, failing that, touch the formidable object yourself, and then gently lead the horse up to it. The opposite plan of forcing the frightened creature by blows only intensifies its fear, the horse mentally associating the pain he suffers at such a moment with the object of suspicion, which he naturally regards as its cause.
[9] Cf. "Hell." v. iii. 7 for this maxim.
[10] Al. "if possibly by help of another and plucky animal."
If, when the groom brings up the horse to his master to mount, he knows how to make him lower his back,[11] to facilitate mounting, we have no fault to find. Still, we consider that the horseman should practise and be able to mount, even if the horse does not so lend himself;[12] since on another occasion another type of horse may fall to the rider's lot,[13] nor can the same rider be always served by the same equerry.[14]
[11] {upobibazesthai}. See above, i. 14; Pollux, i. 213; Morgan ad loc. "Stirrups were unknown till long after the Christian era began."
[12] Or, "apart from these good graces on the animal's part."
[13] As a member of the cavalry.
[14] Reading {allo}. Al. reading {allos} with L. D., "and the same horse will at one time humour you in one way and again in another." Cf. viii. 13, x. 12, for {uperetein} of the