ON HORSEMANSHIP
I
Claiming to have attained some proficiency in horsemanship (1)
ourselves, as the result of long experience in the field, our wish is to
explain, for the benefit of our younger friends, what we conceive to be
the most correct method of dealing with horses.
(1) Lit. "Since, through the accident of having for a long time
'ridden' ourselves, we believe we have become proficients in
horsemanship, we wish to show to our younger friends how, as we
conceive the matter, they will proceed most correctly in dealing
with horses." {ippeuein} in the case of Xenophon = serve as a
{ippeus}, whether technically as an Athenian "knight" or more
particularly in reference to his organisation of a troop of
cavalry during "the retreat" ("Anab." III. iii. 8-20), and, as is
commonly believed, while serving under Agesilaus ("Hell." III. iv.
14) in Asia, 396, 395 B.C.
There is, it is true, a treatise on horsemanship written by Simon, the
same who dedicated the bronze horse near the Eleusinion in Athens
(2) with a representation of his exploits engraved in relief on the
pedestal. (3) But we shall not on that account expunge from our treatise
any conclusions in which we happen to agree with that author; on the
contrary we shall hand them on with still greater pleasure to our
friends, in the belief that we shall only gain in authority from the
fact that so great an expert in horsemanship held similar views to our
own; whilst with regard to matters omitted in his treatise, we shall
endeavour to supply them.
(2) L. Dind. (in Athens). The Eleusinion. For the position of this
sanctuary of Demeter and Kore see Leake, "Top. of Athens," i. p.
296 foll. For Simon see Sauppe, vol. v. Praef. to "de R. E." p.
230; L. Dind. Praef. "Xen. Opusc." p. xx.; Dr. Morris H. Morgan,
"The Art of Horsemanship by Xenophon," p. 119 foll. A fragment of
the work referred to, {peri eidous kai ekloges ippon}, exists. The
MS. is in the library of Emmanual Coll. Cant. It so happens that
one of the hipparchs (?) appealed to by Demosthenes in Arist.
"Knights," 242.
{andres ippes, paragenesthe nun o kairos, o Simon, o Panaiti, ouk elate
pros to dexion keras};
bears the name.
(3) Lit. "and carved on the pedestal a representation of his own
performances."
As our first topic we shall deal with the question, how a man may best
avoid being cheated in the purchase of a horse.
Take the case of a foal as yet unbroken: it is plain that our scrutiny
must begin with the body; an animal that has never yet been mounted
can but present the vaguest indications of spirit. Confining ourselves
therefore to the body, the first point to examine, we maintain, will be
the feet. Just as a house would be of little use, however beautiful its
upper stories, if the underlying foundations were not what they ought
to be, so there is little use to be extracted from a horse, and in
particular a war-horse, (4) if unsound in his feet, however excellent
his other points; since he could not turn a single one of them to good
account. (5)
(4) Or, "and that a charger, we will suppose." For the simile see
"Mem." III. i. 7.
(5) Cf. Hor. "Sat." I. ii. 86:
regibus hic mos est: ubi equos mercantur, opertos inspiciunt, ne, si
facies, ut saepe, decora molli fulta pede est, emptorem inducat hiantem,
quod pulchrae clunes, breve quod caput, ardua cervix.
and see Virg. "Georg." iii. 72 foll.
