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… Page 11…
On Horsemanship
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
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On Horsemanship
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。
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On Horsemanship
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。〃
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On Horsemanship
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
t