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On Horsemanship
proximity to the foe； he must keep his horse well in hand。 This； in all
probability； will enable him to do the greatest mischief to the enemy； and
to receive least damage at his hands。
＇12＇ See 〃Hipparch；〃 viii。 23。
The gods have bestowed on man； indeed； the gift of teaching man his
duty by means of speech and reasoning； but the horse； it is obvious； is not
open to instruction by speech and reasoning。 If you would have a horse
learn to perform his duty； your best plan will be； whenever he does as you
wish； to show him some kindness in return； and when he is disobedient to
chastise him。 This principle； though capable of being stated in a few words；
is one which holds good throughout the whole of horsemanship。 As； for
instance； a horse will more readily take the bit； if each time he accepts it
some good befalls him； or； again； he will leap ditches and spring up
embankments and perform all the other feats incumbent on him； if he be
led to associate obedience to the word of command with relaxation。＇13＇
＇13＇ Lit。 〃if every time he performs the word of command he is led to
expect some relaxation。〃
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On Horsemanship
IX
The topics hitherto considered have been： firstly； how to reduce the
chance of being cheated in the purchase of a colt or full…grown horse；
secondly； how to escape as much as possible the risk of injuring your
purchase by mishandling； and lastly； how to succeed in turning out a horse
possessed of all the qualities demanded by the cavalry soldier for the
purposes of war。
The time has come perhaps to add a few suggestions； in case the rider
should be called upon to deal with an animal either unduly spirited or
again unduly sluggish in disposition。 The first point to recognise is； that
temper of spirit in a horse takes the place of passion or anger in a man； and
just as you may best escape exciting a man's ill…temper by avoiding
harshness of speech and act； so you will best avoid enraging a spirited
horse by not annoying him。 Thus； from the first instant； in the act of
mounting him； you should take pains to minimise the annoyance； and once
on his back you should sit quiet for longer than the ordinary time； and so
urge him forward by the gentlest signs possible； next； beginning at the
slowest pace； gradually work him into a quicker step； but so gradually that
he will find himself at full speed without noticing it。＇1＇ Any sudden signal
will bewilder a spirited horse； just as a man is bewildered by any sudden
sight or sound or other experience。 ＇I say one should be aware that any
unexpected shock will produce disturbance in a horse。＇＇2＇
＇1＇ Or； 〃so that the horse may insensibly fall into a gallop。〃
＇2＇ L。 Dindorf and others bracket； as spurious。
So if you wish to pull up a spirited horse when breaking off into a
quicker pace than requisite； you must not suddenly wrench him； but
quietly and gently bring the bit to bear upon him； coaxing him rather than
compelling him to calm down。 It is the long steady course rather than the
frequent turn which tends to calm a horse。＇3＇ A quiet pace sustained for a
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On Horsemanship
long time has a caressing；＇4＇ soothing effect； the reverse of exciting。 If any
one proposes by a series of fast and oft… repeated gallops to produce a
sense of weariness in the horse； and so to tame him； his expectation will
not be justified by the result； for under such circumstances a spirited horse
will do his best to carry the day by main force；＇5＇ and with a show of
temper； like a passionate man； may contrive to bring on himself and his
rider irreparable mischief。
＇3＇ Or； 〃long stretches rather than a succession of turns and counter
turns；〃 ｛apostrophai｝。
＇4＇ Reading ｛katapsosi｝ with L。 Dind。
＇5＇ ｛agein bia｝； vi agere； vi uti； Sturz； al。 〃go his own gait by
sheer force。〃
A spirited horse should be kept in check； so that he does not dash off at
full speed； and on the same principle； you should absolutely abstain from
setting him to race against another； as a general rule； your fiery…spirited
horse is only too fond of contention。＇6＇
＇6＇ Reading ｛skhedon gar kai phil oi thum｝； or if ｛。 。 。 oi thil kai
th。｝ transl。 〃the more eager and ambitious a horse is； the more
mettlesome he will tend to become。〃
Smooth bits are better and more serviceable than rough； if a rough bit
be inserted at all； it must be made to resemble a smooth one as much as
possible by lightness of hand。
It is a good thing also for the rider to accustom himself to keep a quiet
seat； especially when mounted on a spirited horse； and also to touch him
as little as possible with anything except that part of the body necessary to
secure a firm seat。
Again； it should be known that the conventional 〃chirrup〃＇7＇ to quiet
and 〃cluck〃 to rouse a horse are a sort of precept of the training school；
and supposing any one from the beginning chose to associate soft soothing
actions with the 〃cluck〃 sound； and harsh rousing actions with the
〃chirrup；〃 the horse could be taught to rouse himself at the 〃chirrup〃 and
to calm himself at the 〃cluck〃 sound。 On this principle； at the sound of the
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On Horsemanship
trumpet or the shout of battle the rider should avoid coming up to his
charger in a state of excitement； or； indeed； bringing any disturbing
influence to bear on the animal。 As far as possible； at such a crisis he
should halt and rest him； and； if circumstances permit； give him his
morning or his evening meal。 But the best advice of all is not to get an
over…spirited horse for the purposes of war。
＇7＇ Al。 〃whistling；〃 and see Berenger； ii。 68。 ｛poppusmos｝； a sound
from the lips； ｛klogmos｝； from the cheek。
As to the sluggish type of animal； I need only suggest to do everything
the opposite to what we advise as appropriate in dealing with an animal of
high spirit。
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X
But possibly you are not content with a horse serviceable for war。 You
want to find him him a showy； attractive animal； with a certain grandeur of
bearing。 If so； you must abstain from pulling at his mouth with the bit； or
applying the spur and whipmethods commonly adopted by people with a
view to a fine effect； though； as a matter of fact； they thereby achieve the
very opposite of what they are aiming at。 That is to say； by dragging the
mouth up they render the horse blind instead of alive to what is in front of
him； and what with spurring and whipping they distract the creature to the
point of absolute bewilderment and danger。＇1＇ Feats indeed！the feats of
horses with a strong dislike to being riddenup to all sorts of ugly and
ungainly tricks。 On the contrary； let the horse be taught to be ridden on a
loose bridle； and to hold his head high and arch his neck； and you will
practically be making him perform the very acts which he himself delights
or rather exults in； and the best proof of the pleasure which he takes is；
that when he is let loose with other horses； and more particularly with
mares； you will see him rear his head aloft to the full height； and arch his
neck with nervous vigour；＇2＇ pawing the air with pliant legs＇3＇ and
waving his tail on high。 By training him to adopt the very airs and graces
which he naturally assumes when showing off to best advantage； you have
got what you are aiming ata horse that delights in