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least trouble and the greatest security to his rider in the circumstances of
war； while； conversely； a beast who either out of sluggishness needs much
driving； or from excess of mettle much coaxing and manouvring； will give
his rider work enough to occupy both his hands and a sinking of the heart
when dangers thicken。
＇10＇ Al。 〃thoroughly。〃
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On Horsemanship
IV
We will now suppose the purchaser has found a horse which he
admires；＇1＇ the purchase is effected； and he has brought him homehow is
he to be housed？ It is best that the stable should be placed in a quarter of
the establishment where the master will see the horse as often as
possible。＇2＇ It is a good thing also to have his stall so arranged that there
will be as little risk of the horse's food being stolen from the manger； as of
the master's from his larder or store… closet。 To neglect a detail of this kind
is surely to neglect oneself； since in the hour of danger； it is certain； the
owner has to consign himself； life and limb； to the safe keeping of his
horse。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃To proceed： when you have bought a horse which you admire
and have brought him home。〃
＇2＇ i。e。 〃where he will be brought as frequently as possible under the
master's eye。〃 Cf。 〃Econ。〃 xii。 20。
Nor is it only to avoid the risk of food being stolen that a secure horse…
box is desirable； but for the further reason that if the horse takes to
scattering his food； the action is at once detected； and any one who
observes that happening may take it as a sign and symptom either of too
much blood；＇3＇ which calls for veterinary aid； or of over…fatigue； for
which rest is the cure； or else that an attack of indigestion＇4＇ or some other
malady is coming on。 And just as with human beings； so with the horse； all
diseases are more curable at their commencement＇5＇ than after they have
become chronic； or been wrongly treated。＇6＇
＇3＇ 〃A plethoric condition of the blood。〃
＇4＇ ｛krithiasis｝。 Lit。 〃barley surfeit〃； 〃une fourbure。〃 See Aristot。
〃H。 A。〃 viii。 24。 4。
＇5＇ i。e。 〃in the early acute stages。〃
＇6＇ Al。 〃and the mischief has spread。〃
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On Horsemanship
But if food and exercise with a view to strengthening the horse's body
are matters of prime consideration； no less important is it to pay attention
to the feet。 A stable with a damp and smooth floor will spoil the best hoof
which nature can give。＇7＇ To prevent the floor being damp； it should be
sloped with channels； and to avoid smoothness； paved with cobble stones
sunk side by side in the ground and similar in size to the horse's hoofs。＇8＇
A stable floor of this sort is calculated to strengthen the horse's feet by the
mere pressure on the part in standing。 In the next place it will be the
groom's business to lead out the horse somewhere to comb and curry him；
and after his morning's feed to unhalter him from the manger；＇9＇ so that he
may come to his evening meal with greater relish。 To secure the best type
of stable…yard； and with a view to strengthening the horse's feet； I would
suggest to take and throw down loosely＇10＇ four or five waggon loads of
pebbles； each as large as can be grasped in the hand； and about a pound in
weight； the whole to be fenced round with a skirting of iron to prevent
scattering。 The mere standing on these will come to precisely the same
thing as if for a certain portion of the day the horse were； off and on；
stepping along a stony road； whilst being curried or when fidgeted by flies
he will be forced to use his hoofs just as much as if he were walking。 Nor
is it the hoofs merely； but a surface so strewn with stones will tend to
harden the frog of the foot also。
＇7＇ Lit。 〃A damp and smooth floor may be the ruin of a naturally good
hoof。〃 It will be understood that the Greeks did not shoe their horses。
＇8＇ See Courier； p。 54； for an interesting experiment tried by himself
at Bari。
＇9＇ Cf。 〃Hipparch；〃 i。 16。
＇10＇ Or； 〃spread so as to form a surface。〃
But if care is needed to make the hoofs hard； similar pains should be
taken to make the mouth and jaws soft； and the same means and
appliances which will render a man's flesh and skin soft； will serve to
soften and supple a horse's mouth。＇11＇
＇11＇ Or； 〃may be used with like effect on a horse's mouth；〃 i。e。
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On Horsemanship
bathing； friction； oil。 See Pollux； i。 201。
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On Horsemanship
V
It is the duty of a horseman； as we think； to have his groom trained
thoroughly in all that concerns the treatment of the horse。 In the first place；
then； the groom should know that he is never to knot the halter＇1＇ at the
point where the headstall is attached to the horse's head。 By constantly
rubbing his head against the manger； if the halter does not sit quite loose
about his ears； the horse will be constantly injuring himself；＇2＇ and with
sores so set up； it is inevitable that he should show peevishness； while
being bitted or rubbed down。 ＇1＇ Lit。 〃by which the horse is tied to the
manger〃； 〃licol d'ecurie。〃
＇2＇ Al。 〃in nine cases out of ten he rubs his head 。 。 。 and ten to
one will make a sore。〃
It is desirable that the groom should be ordered to carry out the dung
and litter of the horse to some one place each day。 By so doing； he will
discharge the duty with least trouble to himself；＇3＇ and at the same time be
doing the horse a kindness。
＇3＇ Al。 〃get rid of the refuse in the easiest way。〃
The groom should also be instructed to attach the muzzle to the horse's
mouth； both when taking him out to be groomed and to the rolling…
ground。＇4＇ In fact he should always muzzle him whenever he takes him
anywhere without the bit。 The muzzle； while it is no hindrance to
respiration； prevents biting； and when attached it serves to rob the horse of
opportunity for vice。＇5＇
＇4＇ Cf。 〃Econ。〃 xi。 18； Aristoph。 〃Clouds；〃 32。
＇5＇ Or； 〃prevents the horse from carrying out vicious designs。〃
Again； care should be taken to tie the horse up with the halter above
his head。 A horse's natural instinct； in trying to rid himself of anything that
irritates the face； is to toss up his head； and by this upward movement； if
so tied； he only slackens the chain instead of snapping it。 In rubbing the
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On Horsemanship
horse down； the groom should begin with the head and mane； as until the
upper parts are clean； it is vain to cleanse the lower； then； as regards the
rest of the body； first brush up the hair； by help of all the ordinary
implements for cleansing； and then beat out the dust； following the lie of
the hair。 The hair on the spine （and dorsal region） ought not to be touched
with any instrument whatever； the hand alone should be used to rub and
smooth it； and in the direction of its natural growth； so as to preserve from
injury that part of the horse's back on which the rider sits。
The head should be drenched with water simply； for； being bony； if
you try to cleanse it with iron or wooden instruments injury may be caused。
So； too； the forelock should be merely wetted； the long hairs of which it is
composed； without hindering the animal's vision； serve to scare away from
the eyes anything that might trouble them。 Providence； we must
suppose；＇6＇ bestowed these hairs upon the horse； instead of the large ears
which are given to the ass and the mule as a protection to the eyes。＇7＇ The
tail； again； and mane should be washed； the object being to help the hairs
to growthose in the tail so as to allow the cr