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do； but also when he is being taken to his food and when he is being led
home from a ride； it would be no great marvel if he learnt to take the bit of
his own accord； when first presented to him。
＇6＇ Reading with L。 Dind。 ｛khre de ton ippokomon kai ta oiade 。 。 。
paroxunthai； ei ti dei ponein｝； or if as Schneid。； Sauppe； etc。； ｛khre
de ton ippon me kata toiade； k。t。l。｝； transl。 〃the horse must not be
irritated in such operations as these；〃 etc。； but ｛toiade｝ = 〃as
follows；〃 if correct； suggests a lacuna in either case at this point。
It would be good for the groom to know how to give a leg up in the
Persian fashion；＇7＇ so that in case of illness or infirmity of age the master
himself may have a man to help him on to horseback without trouble； or； if
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On Horsemanship
he so wish； be able to oblige a friend with a man to mount him。＇8＇
＇7＇ Cf。 〃Anab。〃 IV。 iv。 4； 〃Hipparch；〃 i。 17； 〃Cyrop。〃 VII。 i。 38。
＇8＇ An ｛anaboleus｝。 Cf。 Plut。 〃C。 Gracch。〃 7。
The one best preceptthe golden rulein dealing with a horse is never
to approach him angrily。 Anger is so devoid of forethought that it will
often drive a man to do things which in a calmer mood he will regret。＇9＇
Thus； when a horse is shy of any object and refuses to approach it； you
must teach him that there is nothing to be alarmed at； particularly if he be
a plucky animal；＇10＇ or； failing that； touch the formidable object yourself；
and then gently lead the horse up to it。 The opposite plan of forcing the
frightened creature by blows only intensifies its fear； the horse mentally
associating the pain he suffers at such a moment with the object of
suspicion； which he naturally regards as its cause。
＇9＇ Cf。 〃Hell。〃 v。 iii。 7 for this maxim。
＇10＇ Al。 〃if possibly by help of another and plucky animal。〃
If； when the groom brings up the horse to his master to mount； he
knows how to make him lower his back；＇11＇ to facilitate mounting； we
have no fault to find。 Still； we consider that the horseman should practise
and be able to mount； even if the horse does not so lend himself；＇12＇ since
on another occasion another type of horse may fall to the rider's lot；＇13＇
nor can the same rider be always served by the same equerry。＇14＇
＇11＇ ｛upobibazesthai｝。 See above； i。 14； Pollux； i。 213； Morgan ad
loc。 〃Stirrups were unknown till long after the Christian era began。〃
＇12＇ Or； 〃apart from these good graces on the animal's part。〃
＇13＇ As a member of the cavalry。
＇14＇ Reading ｛allo｝。 Al。 reading ｛allos｝ with L。 D。； 〃and the same
horse will at one time humour you in one way and again in another。〃
Cf。 viii。 13； x。 12； for ｛uperetein｝ of the horse。
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On Horsemanship
VII
The master； let us suppose； has received his horse and is ready to
mount。＇1＇ We will now prescribe certain rules to be observed in the
interests not only of the horseman but of the animal which he bestrides。
First； then； he should take the leading rein； which hangs from the chin…
strap or nose…band；＇2＇ conveniently in his left hand； held slack so as not to
jerk the horse's mouth； whether he means to mount by hoisting himself up；
catching hold of the mane behind the ears； or to vault on to horseback by
help of his spear。 With the right hand he should grip the reins along with a
tuft of hair beside the shoulder…joint；＇3＇ so that he may not in any way
wrench the horse's mouth with the bit while mounting。 In the act of taking
the spring off the ground for mounting；＇4＇ he should hoist his body by
help of the left hand； and with the right at full stretch assist the upward
movement＇5＇ （a position in mounting which will present a graceful
spectacle also from behind）；＇6＇ at the same time with the leg well bent；
and taking care not to place his knee on the horse's back； he must pass his
leg clean over to the off side； and so having brought his foot well round；
plant himself firmly on his seat。＇7＇
＇1＇ Reading ｛otan 。 。 。 paradexetai 。 。 。 os anabesomenos｝。 Or；
reading ｛otan paradexetai ton ippea （sc。 o。 ippos） ws anabesomenon｝；
transl。 〃the horse has been brought round ready for mounting。〃
＇2＇ So Courier； 〃la muserolle。〃 It might be merely a stitched leather
strap or made of a chain in part； which rattled； as ｛khrusokhalinon
patagon psalion｝ （Aristoph。 〃Peace；〃 155） implies。 〃Curb〃 would be
misleading。
＇3＇ 〃Near the withers。〃
＇4＇ Or； 〃as soon as he has got the springing poise preliminary to
mounting。〃
＇5＇ 〃Give himself simultaneously a lift。〃 Reading ｛ekteinon｝； or if
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On Horsemanship
｛enteinon｝； 〃keeping his right arm stiff。〃
＇6＇ Or； 〃a style of mounting which will obviate an ungainly attitude
behind。〃
＇7＇ Lit。 〃lower his buttocks on to the horse's back。〃
To meet the case in which the horseman may chance to be leading his
horse with the left hand and carrying his spear in the right； it would be
good； we think； for every one to practise vaulting on to his seat from the
right side also。 In fact； he has nothing else to learn except to do with his
right limbs what he has previously done with the left； and vice versa。 And
the reason we approve of this method of mounting is＇8＇ that it enables the
soldier at one and the same instant to get astride of his horse and to find
himself prepared at all points； supposing he should have to enter the lists
of battle on a sudden。
＇8＇ Lit。 〃One reason for the praise which we bestow on this method of
mounting is that at the very instant of gaining his seat the soldier
finds himself fully prepared to engage the enemy on a sudden； if
occasion need。〃
But now； supposing the rider fairly seated； whether bareback or on a
saddle…cloth； a good seat is not that of a man seated on a chair； but rather
the pose of a man standing upright with his