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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 legs apart。 In this way he will
be able to hold on to the horse more firmly by his thighs； and this erect
attitude will enable him to hurl a javelin or to strike a blow from
horseback； if occasion calls； with more vigorous effect。 The leg and foot
should hang loosely from the knee； by keeping the leg stiff； the rider is apt
to have it broken in collision with some obstacle； whereas a flexible leg＇9＇
will yield to the impact； and at the same time not shift the thigh from its
position。 The rider should also accustom the whole of his body above the
hips to be as supple as possible； for thus he will enlarge his scope of action；
and in case of a tug or shove be less liable to be unseated。 Next； when the
rider is seated； he must； in the first place； teach his horse to stand quiet；
until he has drawn his skirts from under him； if need be；＇10＇ and got the
reins an equal length and grasped his spear in the handiest fashion； and； in
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the next place； he should keep his left arm close to his side。 This position
will give the rider absolute ease and freedom；＇11＇ and his hand the firmest
hold。
＇9＇ i。e。 〃below the knee〃； 〃shin and calf。〃
＇10＇ Lit。 〃pulled up〃 （and arranged the folds of his mantle）。
＇11＇ ｛eustalestatos｝； 〃the most business…like deportment。〃
As to reins； we recommend those which are well balanced； without
being weak or slippery or thick； so that when necessary； the hand which
holds them can also grasp a spear。
As soon as the rider gives the signal to the horse to start；＇12＇ he should
begin at a walking pace； which will tend to allay his excitement。 If the
horse is inclined to droop his head； the reins should be held pretty high； or
somewhat low； if he is disposed to carry his head high。 This will set off the
horse's bearing to the best advantage。 Presently； as he falls into a natural
trot；＇13＇ he will gradually relax his limbs without the slightest suffering；
and so come more agreeably to the gallop。＇14＇ Since； too； the preference is
given to starting on the left foot； it will best conduce to that lead if； while
the horse is still trotting； the signal to gallop should be given at the instant
of making a step with his right foot。＇15＇ As he is on the point of lifting his
left foot he will start upon it； and while turning left will simultaneously
make the first bound of the gallop；＇16＇ since； as a matter of instinct； a
horse； on being turned to the right； leads off with his right limbs； and to
the left with his left。
＇12＇ 〃Forwards！〃
＇13＇ Or； 〃the true trot。〃
＇14＇ ｛epirrabdophorein｝； 〃a fast pace in response to a wave of the
whip。〃
＇15＇ See Berenger； i。 p。 249； also the 〃Cavalry Drill Book；〃 Part I。
Equitation； S。 22； 〃The Canter。〃
＇16＇ ｛tes episkeliseos｝； 〃he will make the forward stride of the
gallop in the act of turning to the left。〃 See Morgan ad loc。
As an exercise； we recommend what is called the volte；＇17＇ since it
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On Horsemanship
habituates the animal to turn to either hand； while a variation in the order
of the turn is good as involving an equalisation of both sides of the mouth；
in first one； and then the other half of the exercise。＇18＇ But of the two we
commend the oval form of the volte rather than the circular； for the horse；
being already sated with the straight course； will be all the more ready to
turn； and will be practised at once in the straight course and in wheeling。
At the curve； he should be held up；＇19＇ because it is neither easy nor
indeed safe when the horse is at full speed to turn sharp； especially if the
ground is broken＇20＇ or slippery。
＇17＇ ｛pede｝； figure of eight。
＇18＇ Or； 〃on first one and then the other half of the manege。〃
＇19＇ ｛upolambanein｝。 See 〃Hipparch；〃 iii。 14； 〃Hunting；〃 iii。 10； vi。
22； of a dog。
＇20＇ ｛apokroton｝； al。 ｛epikroton｝； 〃beaten； hard…trodden ground。〃
But in collecting him； the rider should as little as possible sway the
horse obliquely with the bit； and as little as possible incline his own body；
or； he may rest assured； a trifle will suffice to stretch him and his horse full
length upon the ground。 The moment the horse has his eyes fixed on the
straight course after making a turn； is the time to urge him to full speed。 In
battle； obviously； these turns and wheelings are with a view to charging or
retiring； consequently； to practise quickening the pace after wheeling is
desirable。 When the horse seems to have had enough of the manege； it
would be good to give him a slight pause； and then suddenly to put him to
his quickest； away from his fellows first；＇21＇ and now towards them； and
then again to quiet him down in mid…career as short as possible；＇22＇ and
from halt once more to turn him right…about and off again full charge。 It is
easy to predict that the day will come when there will be need of each of
these manouvres。
＇21＇ ｛mentoi｝； 〃of course。〃
＇22＇ Or； 〃within the narrowest compass〃； 〃as finely as possible。〃
When the moment to dismount has come； you should never do so
among other horses； nor near a group of people；＇23＇ nor outside the
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On Horsemanship
exercising…ground； but on the precise spot which is the scene of his
compulsory exertion there let the horse find also relaxation。＇24＇
＇23＇ Or； 〃a knot of bystanders〃； cf。 Thuc。 ii。 21。
＇24＇ Or； as we say； 〃be caressed； and dismissed。〃
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VIII
As there will； doubtless； be times when the horse will need to race
downhill and uphill and on sloping ground； times； also； when he will need
to leap across an obstacle； or； take a flying leap from off a bank；＇1＇ or；
jump down from a height； the rider must teach and train himself and his
horse to meet all emergencies。 In this way the two will have a chance of
saving each the other； and may be expected to increase their usefulness。
＇1＇ ｛e