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！
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。
4
… Page 5…
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； of this build； however spirited； will be least capable of
overmastering the rider；＇18＇ since it is not by arching but by stretching out
his neck and head that a horse endeavours to assert his power。＇19＇
＇16＇ Lit。 〃the thighs below the shoulder…blades〃 are distinguished
from 〃the thighs below the tail。〃 They correspond respectively to our
〃arms〃 （i。e。 forearms） and 〃gaskins；〃 and anatomically speaking =
the radius （os brachii） and the tibia。
＇17＇ 〃Slack towards the flexure〃 （Stonehenge）。
＇18＇ Or； 〃of forcing the rider's hand and bolting。〃
＇19＇ Or； 〃to display violence or run away。〃
It is important also to observe whether the jaws are soft or hard on one
or other side； since as a rule a horse with unequal jaws＇20＇ is liable to
become hard…mouthed on one side。
＇20＇ Or； 〃whose bars are not equally sensitive。〃
Again； a prominent rather than a sunken eye is suggestive of alertness；
5
… Page 6…
On Horsemanship
and a horse of this type will have a wider range of vision。
And so of the nostrils： a wide…dilated nostril is at once better than a
contracted one for respiration； and gives the animal a fiercer aspect。 Note
how； for instance； when one stallion is enraged against another； or when
his spirit chafes in being ridden；＇21＇ the nostrils at once become dilated。
＇21＇ Or； 〃in the racecourse or on the exercising…ground how readily he
distends his nostrils。〃
A comparatively large crest and small ears give a more typical and
horse…like appearance to the head； whilst lofty withers again allow the
rider a surer seat and a stronger adhesion between the shoulders and the
body。＇22＇
＇22＇ Or if with L。 D。 ＇｛kai to somati｝＇； transl。 〃adhesion to the
horse's shoulders。〃
A 〃double spine；〃＇23＇ again； is at once softer to sit on than a single；
and more pleasing to the eye。 So； too； a fairly deep side somewhat rounded
towards the belly＇24＇ will render the animal at once easier to sit and
stronger； and as a general rule better able to digest his food。＇25＇
＇23＇ Reading after Courier ｛rakhis ge men｝。 See Virg。 〃Georg。〃 iii。
87； 〃at duplex agitur per lumbos spina。〃 〃In a horse that is in good
case； the back is broad； and the spine does not stick up like a ridge；
but forms a kind of furrow on the back〃 （John Martyn）； 〃a full back；〃
as we say。
＇24＇ Or； 〃in proportion to。〃 See Courier （〃Du Commandement de la
Cavalerie at de l'Equitation〃： deux livres de Xenophon； traduits par
un officier d'artillerie a cheval）； note ad loc。 p。 83。
＇25＇ i。e。 〃and keep in good condition。〃
The broader and shorter the loins the more easily will the horse raise
his forequarters and bring up his hindquarters under him。 Given these
points； moreover； the belly will appear as small as possible； a portion of
the body which if large is partly a disfigurement and partly tends to make
the horse less strong and capable of carrying weight。＇26＇
＇26＇ Al。 〃more feeble at once and ponderous in his gait。〃
6
… Page 7…
On Horsemanship
The quarters should be broad and fleshy in correspondence with the
sides and chest； and if they are also firm and solid throughout they will be
all the lighter for the racecourse； and will render the horse in every way
more fleet。
To come to the thighs （and buttocks）：＇27＇ if the horse have these
separated by a broad line of demarcation＇28＇ he will be able to plant his
hind…legs under him with a good gap between；＇29＇ and in so doing will
assume a posture＇30＇ and a gait in action at once prouder and more firmly
balanced； and in every way appear to the best advantage。
＇27＇ Lit。 〃the thighs beneath the tail。〃
＇28＇ Reading ｛plateia to gramme diorismenous ekhe｝； sc。 the
perineum。 Al。 Courier （after Apsyrtus）； op。 cit。 p。 14； ｛plateis te kai
me diestrammenous｝； 〃broad and not turned outwards。〃
＇29＇ Or； 〃he will be sure to spread well behind；〃 etc。
＇30＇ ｛ton upobasin｝； tech。 of the crouching posture assumed by the
horse for mounting or 〃in doing the demi…passade〃 （so Morgan； op。
cit。 p。 126）。
The human subject would seem to point to this