on horsemanship(骑马术)-第7节
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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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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＇ ｛ekpedan｝ = exsilire in altum （Sturz； and so Berenger）； 〃to leap
over ditches； and upon high places and down from them。〃
And here； if any reader should accuse us of repeating ourselves； on the
ground that we are only stating now what we said before on the same
topics；＇2＇ we say that this is not mere repetition。 In the former case； we
confined ourselves to advising the purchaser before he concluded his
bargain to test whether the horse could do those particular things；＇3＇ what
we are now maintaining is that the owner ought to teach his own horse；
and we will explain how this teaching is to be done。
＇2＇ Or； 〃treating of a topic already handled。〃
＇3＇ i。e。 possessed a certain ability at the date of purchase。
With a horse entirely ignorant of leaping； the best way is to take him
by the leading rein； which hangs loose； and to get across the trench
yourself first； and then to pull tight on the leading…rein； to induce him to
leap across。 If he refuses； some one with a whip or switch should apply it
smartly。 The result will be that the horse will clear at a bound； not the
distance merely； but a far larger space than requisite； and for the future
there will be no need for an actual blow； the mere sight of some one
coming up behind will suffice to make him leap。 As soon as he is
accustomed to leap in this way you may mount him and put him first at
smaller and then at larger trenches。 At the moment of the spring be ready
to apply the spur； and so too； when training him to leap up and leap down；
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you should touch him with the spur at the critical instant。 In the effort to
perform any of these actions with the whole body； the horse will certainly
perform them with more safety to himself and to his rider than he will； if
his hind…quarters lag； in taking a ditch or fence； or in making an upward
spring or downward jump。＇4＇
＇4＇ Lit。 〃in making these jumps； springs； and leaps across or up or
down。〃
To face a steep incline； you must first teach him on soft ground； and
finally； when he is accustomed to that； he will much prefer the downward
to the upward slope for a fast pace。 And as to the apprehension； which
some people entertain； that a horse may dislocate the shoulder in galloping
down an incline； it should encourage them to learn that the Persians and
Odrysians all run races down precipitous slopes；＇5＇ and their horses are
every bit as sound as our own。＇6＇
＇5＇ Cf。 〃Anab。〃 IV。 viii。 28； and so the Georgians to this day
（Chardin ap。 Courier； op。 cit。 p。 70； n。 1）。
＇6＇ Lit。 〃as are those of the Hellenes。〃
Nor must we omit another topic： how the rider is to accomodate
himself to these several movements。＇7＇ Thus； when the horse breaks off
into a gallop； the rider ought to bend forward； since the horse will be less
likely to slip from under； and so to pitch his rider off。 So again in pulling
him up short＇8＇ the rider should lean back； and thus escape a shock。 In
leaping a ditch or tearing up a steep incline； it is no bad plan to let go the
reins and take hold of the mane； so that the animal may not feel the
burthen of the bit in addition to that of the ground。 In going down a steep
incline the rider must throw himself right back and hold in the horse with
the bit； to prevent himself being hurled headforemost down the slope
himself if not his horse。
＇7＇ Or； 〃to each set of occurrences。〃
＇8＇ Al。 〃when the horse is being brought to a poise〃 （Morgan）； and see
Hermann ap。 Schneid。； ｛analambanein｝ = retinere equum； anhalten；
pariren。 i。e。 〃rein in〃 of the 〃Parade。〃
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It is a correct principle to vary these exercises； which should be gone
through sometimes in one place and sometimes in another； and should
sometimes be shorter and sometimes longer in duration。 The horse will
take much more kindly to them if you do not confine him to one place and
one routine。
Since it is a matter of prime necessity that the rider should keep his
seat； while galloping full speed on every sort of ground； and at the same
time be able to use his weapons with effect on horseback； nothing could be
better； where the country suits and there are wild animals； than to practise
horsemanship in combination with the chase。 But when these resources
fail； a good exercise may be supplied in the combined efforts of two
horsemen。＇9＇ One of them will play the part of fugitive； retreating helter…
skelter over every sort of ground； with lance reversed and plying the butt
end。 The other pursues； with buttons on his javelins and his lance similarly
handled。＇10＇ Whenever he comes within javelin range he lets fly at the
retreating foeman with his blunted missiles； or whenever within spear
thrust he deals the overtaken combatant a blow。 In coming to close
quarters； it is a good plan first to drag the foeman towards oneself； and
then on a sudden to thrust him off； that is a device to bring him to the
ground。＇11＇ The correct plan for the man so dragged is to press his horse
forward： by which action the man who is being dragged is more likely to
unhorse his assailant than to be brought to the ground himself。
＇9＇ ｛ippota｝。 A poetic word； 〃cavaliers。〃
＇10＇ Or； 〃manipulated。〃
＇11＇ Or； 〃that may be spoken off as the 'purl trick'〃； 〃it will
unhorse him if anything。〃
If it ever happens that you have an enemy's camp in front； and cavalry
skirmishing is the order of the day （at one time charging the enemy right
up to the hostile battle…line； and again beating a retreat）； under these
circumstances it is well to bear in mind that so long as the skirmisher is
close to his own party；＇12＇ valour and discretion alike dictate to wheel and
charge in the vanguard might and main； but when he finds himself in close
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proximity to th
