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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
himnot by cruel； but by gentle handlingthat 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＇ obedientsuch 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
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。〃
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