on horsemanship-第7章
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he is delighted with its smoothness； and whatever he has learnt before
upon the rough； he will perform with greater relish on the smooth。 He
may certainly； out of contempt for its very smoothness； perpetually
try to get a purchase on it； and that is why we attach large discs to
the smooth bit； the effect of which is to make him open his mouth； and
drop the mouthpiece。 It is possible to make the rough bit of every
degree of roughness by keeping it slack or taut。
＇4＇ See Morgan； op。 cit。 p。 144 foll。
But； whatever the type of bit may be； let it in any case be flexible。
If it be stiff； at whatever point the horse seizes it he must take it
up bodily against his jaws； just as it does not matter at what point a
man takes hold of a bar of iron；＇5＇ he lifts it as a whole。 The other
flexibly constructed type acts like a chain （only the single point at
which you hold it remains stiff； the rest hangs loose）； and while
perpetually hunting for the portion which escapes him； he lets the
mouthpiece go from his bars。＇6＇ For this reason the rings are hung in
the middle from the two axles；＇7＇ so that while feeling for them with
his tongue and teeth he may neglect to take the bit up against his
jaws。
＇5＇ Or； 〃poker；〃 as we might say； lit。 〃spit。〃
＇6＇ Schneid。 cf。 Eur。 〃Hippol。〃 1223。
＇7＇ See Morgan； note ad loc。 Berenger （i。 261） notes： 〃We have a small
chain in the upset or hollow part of our bits； called a 'Player；'
with which the horse playing with his tongue； and rolling it
about； keeps his mouth moist and fresh； and； as Xenophon hints； it
may serve likewise to fix his attention and prevent him from
writhing his mouth about； or as the French call it； 'faire ses
forces。'〃
To explain what is meant by flexible and stiff as applied to a bit； we
will describe the matter。 A flexible bit is one in which the axles
have their points of junction broad and smooth；＇8＇ so as to bend
easily； and where the several parts fitting round the axles； being
large of aperture and not too closely packed； have greater
flexibility； whereas； if the several parts do not slide to and fro
with ease； and play into each other； that is what we call a stiff bit。
Whatever the kind of bit may be； the rider must carry out precisely
the same rules in using it； as follows； if he wishes to turn out a
horse with the qualities described。 The horse's mouth is not to be
pulled back too harshly so as to make him toss his head aside； nor yet
so gently that he will not feel the pressure。 But the instant he
raises his neck in answer to the pull； give him the bit at once； and
so throughout； as we never cease repeating； at every response to your
wishes； whenever and wherever the animal performs his service well；＇9＇
reward and humour him。 Thus； when the rider perceives that the horse
takes a pleasure in the high arching and supple play of his neck； let
him seize the instant not to impose severe exertion on him； like a
taskmaster； but rather to caress and coax him； as if anxious to give
him a rest。 In this way the horse will be encouraged and fall into a
rapid pace。
＇8＇ i。e。 〃the ends of the axles （at the point of junction） which work
into each other are broad and smooth； so as to play freely at the
join。〃
＇9＇ 〃Behaves compliantly。〃
That a horse takes pleasure in swift movement； may be shown
conclusively。 As soon as he has got his liberty； he sets off at a trot
or gallop； never at a walking pace； so natural and instinctive a
pleasure does this action afford him； if he is not forced to perform
it to excess； since it is true of horse and man alike that nothing is
pleasant if carried to excess。＇10＇
＇10＇ L。 Dind。 cf。 Eur。 〃Med。〃 128； ｛ta de' uperballont oudena kairon｝。
But now suppose he has attained to the grand style when riddenwe
have accustomed him of course in his first exercise to wheel and fall
into a canter simultaneously； assuming then； he has got that lesson
well by heart； if the rider pulls him up with the bit while
simultaneously giving him one of the signals to be off； the horse；
galled on the one hand by the bit； and on the other collecting himself
in obedience to the signal 〃off；〃 will throw forward his chest and
raise his legs aloft with fiery spirit； though not indeed with
suppleness； for the supple play of the limbs ceases as soon as the
horse feels annoyance。 But now； supposing when his fire is thus
enkindled＇11＇ you give him the rein； the effect is instantaneous。
Under the pleasurable sense of freedom； thanks to the relaxation of
the bit； with stately bearing and legs pliantly moving he dashes
forward in his pride； in every respect imitating the airs and graces
of a horse approaching other horses。 Listen to the epithets with which
spectators will describe the type of horse： the noble animal！ and what
willingness to work； what paces；＇12＇ what a spirit and what mettle；
how proudly he bears himself＇13＇a joy at once； and yet a terror to
behold。
＇11＇ Cf。 〃Hell。〃 V。 iv。 46； 〃kindled into new life。〃
＇12＇ ｛ipposten｝； 〃a true soldier's horse。〃
＇13＇ ｛sobaron｝； 〃what a push and swagger〃； ｛kai ama edun te kai gorgon
idein｝； 〃a la fois doux et terrible a voir；〃 see Victor
Cherbuliez； 〃Un Cheval de Phidias；〃 p。 148。
Thus far on this topic； these notes may serve perhaps to meet a
special need。
XI
If； however； the wish is to secure a horse adapted to parade and state
processions； a high stepper and a showy＇1＇ animal； these are qualities
not to be found combined in every horse； but to begin with； the animal
must have high spirit and a stalwart body。 Not that； as some think； a
horse with flexible legs will necessarily be able to rear his body。
What we want is a horse with supple loins； and not supple only but
short and strong （I do not mean the loins towards the tail； but by the
belly the region between the ribs and thighs）。 That is the horse who
will be able to plant his hind…legs well under the forearm。 If while
he is so planting his hind…quarters； he is pulled up with the bit； he
lowers his hind…legs on his hocks＇2＇ and raises the forepart of his
body； so that any one in front of him will see the whole length of his
belly to the sheath。＇3＇ At the moment the horse does this； the rider
should give him the rein； so that he may display the noblest feats
which a horse can perform of his own free will； to the satisfaction of
the spectators。
＇1＇ ｛lampros｝。 Cf。 Isae。 xi。 41 （〃On the estate of Hagnias〃）； Lys。
xix。 63 （〃de Bon。 Arist。〃）。
＇2＇ See Berenger； ii。 68。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃testicles。〃
There are； indeed； other methods of teaching these arts。＇4＇ Some do so
by touching the horse with a switch under the hocks； others employ an
attendant to run alongside and strike the horse with a stick under the
gaskins。 For ourselves； however； far the best method of
instruction；＇5＇ as we keep repeating； is to let the horse feel that
whatever he does in obedience to the rider's wishes will be followed
by some rest and relaxation。
＇4＇ Lit。 〃People； it must be admitted； claim to teach these arts in
varous wayssome by 。 。 。 others by bidding 。 。 。〃
＇5＇ Reading ｛didaskalion｝； al。 ｛didaskalion｝； 〃systems。〃 Schneid。 cf。
Herod。 v。 58。
To quote a dictum of Simon； what a horse does under compulsion he does
blindly； and his performance is no more beautiful than would be that
of a ballet…dancer taught by whip and goad。 The performances of horse
or man so treated would seem to be displays of clumsy gestures rather
than of grace and beauty。 What we need is that the horse should of his
own accord exhibit his finest airs and paces at set signals。＇6＇
Supposing； when he is in the riding…field；＇7＇ you push him to a gallop
until he is bathed in sweat； and when he begins to prance and show his
airs to fine effect； you promptly dismount and take off the bit； you
may rely upon it he will of his own accord another time break into the
same prancing action。 Such are the horses on which gods and heroes
ride； as represented by the artist。 The majesty of men themselves is
best discovered in the graceful handling of such animals。＇8＇ A horse
so prancing is indeed a thing of beauty； a wonder and a marvel；
riveting the gaze of all who see him； young alike and graybeards。 They
will never turn their backs； I venture to predict； or weary of their
gazing so long as he continues to display his splendid action。
＇6＇ Or； 〃by aids and signs；〃 as we say。
＇7＇ Or； 〃exercising…ground。〃
＇8＇ Or； 〃and the man who knows how to manage such a creature
gracefully himself at once appears magnificent。〃
If the possessor of so rare a creature should find himself by chance
in the position of a squadron leader or a general of cavalry； he must
not confine his zeal to the development of his personal splendour； but
should study all the more to make the troop or regiment a splendid
spectacle。 Supposing （in accordance with the high praise bestowed upon
the type of animal）＇9＇ the leader is mounted on a horse which with his
high airs and frequent prancing makes but the slightest movement
forwardobviously the rest of the troop must follow at a walking
pace； and one may fairly ask where is the element of splendour in the
spectacle？ But now suppose that you； sir； being at the head of the
procession； rouse your horse and take the lead at a pace neither too
fast nor yet too slow； but in a way to bring out the best qualities in
all the animals； their spirit； fire； grace of mien and bearing ripe
for actionI say； if you take the lead of them in this style； the
collective thud； the general neighing and the snorting of the horses
will combine to render not only you at the head； but your whole
company＇10＇ down to the last man a thrilling spectacle。
＇9＇ Reading as vulg。 ｛os malista epainousi tous toioutous ippous； os｝。
L。 Dind。 omits the words as a gloss。
＇10＇ Reading ｛oi｝ （for ｛osoi｝） ｛sumparepomenoi｝。 See Hartmann； 〃An。
Xen。 Nov。〃 xiv。 p。 343。
One word more。 Supposing a man has shown some skill in purchasing his
horses； and can rear them into strong and serviceable animals；
suppos
