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On Horsemanship
On Horsemanship
By Xenophon
Translation by H。 G。 Dakyns
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On Horsemanship
I
Claiming to have attained some proficiency in horsemanship＇1＇
ourselves； as the result of long experience in the field； our wish is to
explain； for the benefit of our younger friends； what we conceive to be the
most correct method of dealing with horses。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃Since； through the accident of having for a long time
'ridden' ourselves； we believe we have become proficients in
horsemanship； we wish to show to our younger friends how； as we
conceive the matter； they will proceed most correctly in dealing with
horses。〃 ｛ippeuein｝ in the case of Xenophon = serve as a ｛ippeus｝；
whether technically as an Athenian 〃knight〃 or more particularly in
reference to his organisation of a troop of cavalry during 〃the retreat〃
（〃Anab。〃 III。 iii。 8…20）； and； as is commonly believed； while serving
under Agesilaus （〃Hell。〃 III。 iv。 14） in Asia； 396； 395 B。C。
There is； it is true； a treatise on horsemanship written by Simon； the
same who dedicated the bronze horse near the Eleusinion in Athens＇2＇
with a representation of his exploits engraved in relief on the pedestal。＇3＇
But we shall not on that account expunge from our treatise any
conclusions in which we happen to agree with that author； on the contrary
we shall hand them on with still greater pleasure to our friends； in the
belief that we shall only gain in authority from the fact that so great an
expert in horsemanship held similar views to our own； whilst with regard
to matters omitted in his treatise； we shall endeavour to supply them。
＇2＇ L。 Dind。 ＇in Athens＇。 The Eleusinion。 For the position of this
sanctuary of Demeter and Kore see Leake； 〃Top。 of Athens；〃 i。 p。
296 foll。 For Simon see Sauppe； vol。 v。 Praef。 to 〃de R。 E。〃 p。 230； L。
Dind。 Praef。 〃Xen。 Opusc。〃 p。 xx。； Dr。 Morris H。 Morgan； 〃The Art
of Horsemanship by Xenophon；〃 p。 119 foll。 A fragment of the work
referred to； ｛peri eidous kai ekloges ippon｝； exists。 The MS。 is in the
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On Horsemanship
library of Emmanual Coll。 Cant。 It so happens that one of the
hipparchs （？） appealed to by Demosthenes in Arist。 〃Knights；〃 242；
｛andres ippes； paragenesthe nun o kairos； o Simon； o Panaiti； ouk elate
pros to dexion keras｝；
bears the name。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃and carved on the pedestal a representation of his own
performances。〃
As our first topic we shall deal with the question； how a man may best
avoid being cheated in the purchase of a horse。 Take the case of a foal as
yet unbroken： it is plain that our scrutiny must begin with the body； an
animal that has never yet been mounted can but present the vaguest
indications of spirit。 Confining ourselves therefore to the body； the first
point to examine； we maintain； will be the feet。 Just as a house would be
of little use； however beautiful its upper stories； if the underlying
foundations were not what they ought to be； so there is little use to be
extracted from a horse； and in particular a war…horse；＇4＇ if unsound in his
feet； however excellent his other points； since he could not turn a single
one of them to good account。＇5＇
＇4＇ Or； 〃and that a charger； we will suppose。〃 For the simile see
〃Mem。〃 III。 i。 7。
＇5＇ Cf。 Hor。 〃Sat。〃 I。 ii。 86：
regibus hic mos est： ubi equos mercantur； opertos inspiciunt； ne； si
facies； ut saepe； decora molli fulta pede est； emptorem inducat hiantem；
quod pulchrae clunes； breve quod caput； ardua cervix。
and see Virg。 〃Georg。〃 iii。 72 foll。
In testing the feet the first thing to examine will be the horny portion
of the hoof。 For soundness of foot a thick horn is far better than a thin。
Again it is important to notice whether the hoofs are high both before and
behind； or flat to the ground； for a high hoof keeps the 〃frog；〃＇6＇ as it is
called； well off the ground； whereas a low hoof treads equally with the
stoutest and softest part of the foot alike； the gait resembling that of a
bandy…legged man。＇7＇ 〃You may tell a good foot clearly by the ring；〃 says
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On Horsemanship
Simon happily；＇8＇ for the hollow hoof rings like a cymbal against the solid
earth。＇9＇
＇6＇ Lit。 〃the swallow。〃
＇7＇ Al。 〃a knock…kneed person。〃 See Stonehenge； 〃The Horse〃 （ed。
1892）； pp。 3； 9。
＇8＇ Or； 〃and he is right。〃
＇9＇ Cf。 Virg。 〃Georg。〃 iii。 88； Hor。 〃Epod。〃 xvi。 12。
And now that we have begun with the feet； let us ascend from this
point to the rest of the body。 The bones＇10＇ above the hoof and below the
fetlock must not be too straight； like those of a goat； through not being
properly elastic；＇11＇ legs of this type will jar the rider； and are more liable
to become inflamed。 On the other hand； these bones must not be too low；
or else the fetlock will be abraded or lacerated when the horse is galloped
over clods and stones。
＇10＇ i。e。 〃the pasterns （｛mesokunia｝） and the coffin should be
'sloping。'〃
＇11＇ Or； 〃being too inflexible。〃 Lit。 〃giving blow for blow； overuch
like anvil to hammer。〃
The bones of the shanks＇12＇ ought to be thick； being as they are the
columns on which the body rests； thick in themselves； that is； not puffed
out with veins or flesh； or else in riding over hard ground they will
inevitably be surcharged with blood； and varicose conditions be set up；＇13＇
the legs becoming thick and puffy； whilst the skin recedes； and with this
loosening of the skin the back sinew＇14＇ is very apt to start and render the
horse lame。
＇12＇ i。e。 〃the metacarpals and metatarsals。〃
＇13＇ Or； 〃and become varicose； with the result that the shanks swell
whilst the skin recedes from the bone。〃
＇14＇ Or； 〃suspensory ligament〃？ Possibly Xenophon's anatomy is
wrong； and he mistook the back sinew for a bone like the fibula。 The
part in question might intelligibly enough； if not technically； be
termed ｛perone｝； being of the brooch…pin order。
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On Horsemanship
If the young horse in walking bends his knees flexibly； you may safely
conjecture that when he comes to be ridden he will have flexible legs；
since the quality of suppleness invariably increases with age。＇15＇ Supple
knees are highly esteemed and with good reason； rendering as they do the
horse less liable to stumble or break down from fatigue than those of
stiffer build。
＇15＇ Lit。 〃all horses bend their legs more flexibly as time advances。〃
Coming to the thighs below the shoulder…blades；＇16＇ or arms； these if
thick and muscular present a stronger and handsomer appearance； just as
in the case of a human being。 Again； a comparatively broad chest is better
alike for strength and beauty； and better adapted to carry the legs well
asunder； so that they will not overlap and interfere with one another。 Again；
the neck should not be set on dropping forward from the chest； like a
boar's； but； like that of a game…cock rather； it should shoot upwards to the
crest； and be slack＇17＇ along the curvature； whilst the head should be bony
and the jawbone small。 In this way the neck will be well in front of the
rider； and the eye will command what lies before the horse's feet。 A horse；
moreover；