按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
bathing； friction； oil。 See Pollux； i。 201。
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 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 creature the greatest reach possible in brushing away
molesting objects；＇8＇ and those of the neck in order that the rider
may have as free a grip as possible。
＇6＇ Lit。 〃The gods； we must suppose； gave 。 。 。〃
＇7＇ Lit。 〃as defences or protective bulwarks。〃
＇8＇ Insects； etc。
Mane； forelock； and tail are triple gifts bestowed by the gods upon
the horse for the sake of pride and ornament；＇9＇ and here is the
proof： a brood mare； so long as her mane is long and flowing； will not
readily suffer herself to be covered by an ass； hence breeders of
mules take care to clip the mane of the mare with a view to
covering。＇10＇
＇9＇ ｛aglaias eneka｝ （a poetic word）。 Cf。 〃Od。〃 xv。 78； xvii。 310。
＇10＇ For this belief Schneid。 cf Aristot。 〃H。 A。〃 vi。 18； Plin。 viii。
42； Aelian； 〃H。 A。〃 ii。 10； xi。 18； xii。 16； to which Dr。 Morgan
aptly adds Soph。 〃Fr。〃 587 （Tyro）； a beautiful passage； ｛komes de
penthos lagkhano polou diken； k。t。l。｝ （cf。 Plut。 〃Mor。〃 754 A）。
Washing of the legs we are inclined to dispense withno good is done
but rather harm to the hoofs by this daily washing。 So； too； excessive
cleanliness of the belly is to be discouraged； the operation itself is
most annoying to the horse； and the cleaner these parts are made； the
thicker the swarm of troublesome things which collect beneath the
belly。 Besides which； however elaborately you clean these parts； the
horse is no sooner led out than presently he will be just as dirty as
if he had not been cleaned。 Omit these ablutions then； we say； and
similarly for the legs； rubbing and currying by hand is quite
sufficient。
VI
We will now explain how the operation of grooming may be performed
with least danger to oneself and best advantage to the horse。 If the
groom attempts to clean the horse with his face turned the same way as
the horse； he runs the risk of getting a knock in the face from the
animal's knee or hoof。 When cleaning him he should turn his face in
the opposite direction to the horse； and planting himself well out of
the way of his leg； at an angle to his shoulder…blade； proceed to rub
him down。 He will then escape all mischief； and he will be able to
clean the frog by folding back the hoof。 Let him clean the hind…legs
in the same way。
The man who has to do with the horse should know； with regard to this
and all other necessary operations； that he ought to approach as
little as possible from the head or the tail to perform them； for if
the horse attempt to show vice he is master of the man in front and
rear。 But by approaching from the side he will get the greatest hold
over the horse with the least risk of injury to himself。
When the horse has to be led； we do not approve of leading him from in
front； for the simple reason that the person so leading him robs
himself of his power of self…protection； whilst he leaves the horse
freedom to do what he likes。 On the other hand； we take a like
exception to the plan of training the horse to go forward on a long
rein＇1＇ and lead the way； and for this reason： it gives the horse the
opportunity of mischief； in whichever direction he likes；