That is a condition of things which for the most part may be brought about at home and by the groom-if he knows how to let the animal connect[8] hunger and thirst and the annoyance of flies with solitude, whilst associating food and drink and escape from sources of irritation with the presence of man. As the result of this treatment, necessarily the young horse will acquire-not fondness merely, but an absolute craving for human beings. A good deal can be done by touching, stroking, patting those parts of the body which the creature likes to have so handled. These are the hairiest parts, or where, if there is anything annoying him, the horse can least of all apply relief himself.
[1] Or, 'The training of the colt is a topic which, as it seems to us,
may fairly be omitted, since those appointed for cavalry service
in these states are persons who,' etc. For reading see Courier,
'Notes,' p. 84.
[2] 'Organisation in the several states.'
[3] Or, 'As a matter of fact it is the wealthiest members of the
state, and those who have the largest stake in civic life, that
are appointed to cavalry duties.' See 'Hippparch,' i. 9.
[4] Cf. 'Econ.' iii. 10.
[5] {ego}. Hitherto the author has used the plural {emin} with which
he started.
[6] Reading {upodeigmata}, 'finger-post signs,' as it were, or 'draft
in outline'; al. {upomnemata} = 'memoranda.'
[7] 'Gentle, and accustomed to the hand, and fond of man.'
[8] Lit. 'if he knows how to provide that hunger and thirst, etc.,
should be felt by the colt in solitude, whilst 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 inability, but from want of experience. With teaching, practice, and habit, almost any horse will come to perform all these feats beautifully, provided he be sound and free from vice. Only you must beware of a horse that is naturally of a nervous temperament. An over- timorous animal will not only prevent the rider from using the vantage-ground of its back to strike an enemy, but is as likely as not to bring him to earth himself and plunge him into the worst of straits.
We must, also, find out of the horse shows any viciousness towards other horses or towards human beings; also, whether he is skittish;[8] such defects are apt to cause his owner trouble.
[8] Or, 'very ticklish.'
As to any reluctance on the horse's part to being bitted or mounted, dancing and twisting about and the rest, [9] you will get a more exact idea on this score, if, when he has gone through his work, you will try and repeat the precise operations which he went through before you began your ride. Any horse that having done his work shows a readiness to undergo it all again, affords sufficient evidence thereby of spirit and endurance.
[9] Reading {talla dineumata}, lit. 'and the rest of his twistings and
twirlings about.'
To put the matter in a nutshell: given that the horse is sound-footed, gentle, moderately fast, willing and able to undergo toil, and above all things[10] obedient-such an animal, we venture to predict, will give the 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.'
IV
