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from the lips； ｛klogmos｝； from the cheek。
As to the sluggish type of animal； I need only suggest to do everything
the opposite to what we advise as appropriate in dealing with an animal of
high spirit。
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X
But possibly you are not content with a horse serviceable for war。 You
want to find him him a showy； attractive animal； with a certain grandeur of
bearing。 If so； you must abstain from pulling at his mouth with the bit； or
applying the spur and whipmethods commonly adopted by people with a
view to a fine effect； though； as a matter of fact； they thereby achieve the
very opposite of what they are aiming at。 That is to say； by dragging the
mouth up they render the horse blind instead of alive to what is in front of
him； and what with spurring and whipping they distract the creature to the
point of absolute bewilderment and danger。＇1＇ Feats indeed！the feats of
horses with a strong dislike to being riddenup to all sorts of ugly and
ungainly tricks。 On the contrary； let the horse be taught to be ridden on a
loose bridle； and to hold his head high and arch his neck； and you will
practically be making him perform the very acts which he himself delights
or rather exults in； and the best proof of the pleasure which he takes is；
that when he is let loose with other horses； and more particularly with
mares； you will see him rear his head aloft to the full height； and arch his
neck with nervous vigour；＇2＇ pawing the air with pliant legs＇3＇ and
waving his tail on high。 By training him to adopt the very airs and graces
which he naturally assumes when showing off to best advantage； you have
got what you are aiming ata horse that delights in being ridden； a
splendid and showy animal； the joy of all beholders。
＇1＇ Al。 〃the animals are so scared that； the chances are； they are
thrown into disorder。〃
＇2＇ ｛gorgoumenos｝； with pride and spirit； but with a suggestion of
〃fierceness and rage；〃 as of Job's war…horse。
＇3＇ 〃Mollia crura reponit；〃 Virg。 〃Georg。〃 iii。 76； Hom。 〃Hymn。 ad
Merc。〃
How these desirable results are； in our opinion； to be produced； we
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On Horsemanship
will now endeavour to explain。 In the first place； then； you ought to have
at least two bits。 One of these should be smooth； with discs of a good size；
the other should have heavy and flat discs＇4＇ studded with sharp spikes； so
that when the horse seizes it and dislikes the roughness he will drop it；
then when the smooth is given him instead； 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
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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