on horsemanship-第8节
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if circumstances permit； give him his morning or his evening meal。 But
the best advice of all is not to get an over…spirited horse for the
purposes of war。
＇7＇ Al。 〃whistling；〃 and see Berenger； ii。 68。 ｛poppusmos｝； a sound
from the lips； ｛klogmos｝； from the cheek。
As to the sluggish type of animal； I need only suggest to do
everything the opposite to what we advise as appropriate in dealing
with an animal of high spirit。
X
But possibly you are not content with a horse serviceable for war。 You
want to find him him a showy； attractive animal； with a certain
grandeur of bearing。 If so； you must abstain from pulling at his mouth
with the bit； or applying the spur and whipmethods commonly adopted
by people with a view to a fine effect； though； as a matter of fact；
they thereby achieve the very opposite of what they are aiming at。
That is to say； by dragging the mouth up they render the horse blind
instead of alive to what is in front of him； and what with spurring
and whipping they distract the creature to the point of absolute
bewilderment and danger。＇1＇ Feats indeed！the feats of horses with a
strong dislike to being riddenup to all sorts of ugly and ungainly
tricks。 On the contrary； let the horse be taught to be ridden on a
loose bridle； and to hold his head high and arch his neck； and you
will practically be making him perform the very acts which he himself
delights or rather exults in； and the best proof of the pleasure which
he takes is； that when he is let loose with other horses； and more
particularly with mares； you will see him rear his head aloft to the
full height； and arch his neck with nervous vigour；＇2＇ pawing the air
with pliant legs＇3＇ and waving his tail on high。 By training him to
adopt the very airs and graces which he naturally assumes when showing
off to best advantage； you have got what you are aiming ata horse
that delights in being ridden； a splendid and showy animal； the joy of
all beholders。
＇1＇ Al。 〃the animals are so scared that； the chances are； they are
thrown into disorder。〃
＇2＇ ｛gorgoumenos｝； with pride and spirit； but with a suggestion of
〃fierceness and rage；〃 as of Job's war…horse。
＇3＇ 〃Mollia crura reponit；〃 Virg。 〃Georg。〃 iii。 76； Hom。 〃Hymn。 ad
Merc。〃
How these desirable results are； in our opinion； to be produced； we
will now endeavour to explain。 In the first place； then； you ought to
have at least two bits。 One of these should be smooth； with discs of a
good size； the other should have heavy and flat discs＇4＇ studded with
sharp spikes； so that when the horse seizes it and dislikes the
roughness he will drop it； then when the smooth is given him instead；
he is delighted with its smoothness； and whatever he has learnt before
upon the rough； he will perform with greater relish on the smooth。 He
may certainly； out of contempt for its very smoothness； perpetually
try to get a purchase on it； and that is why we attach large discs to
the smooth bit； the effect of which is to make him open his mouth； and
drop the mouthpiece。 It is possible to make the rough bit of every
degree of roughness by keeping it slack or taut。
＇4＇ See Morgan； op。 cit。 p。 144 foll。
But； whatever the type of bit may be； let it in any case be flexible。
If it be stiff； at whatever point the horse seizes it he must take it
up bodily against his jaws； just as it does not matter at what point a
man takes hold of a bar of iron；＇5＇ he lifts it as a whole。 The other
flexibly constructed type acts like a chain （only the single point at
which you hold it remains stiff； the rest hangs loose）； and while
perpetually hunting for the portion which escapes him； he lets the
mouthpiece go from his bars。＇6＇ For this reason the rings are hung in
the middle from the two axles；＇7＇ so that while feeling for them with
his tongue and teeth he may neglect to take the bit up against his
jaws。
＇5＇ Or； 〃poker；〃 as we might say； lit。 〃spit。〃
＇6＇ Schneid。 cf。 Eur。 〃Hippol。〃 1223。
＇7＇ See Morgan； note ad loc。 Berenger （i。 261） notes： 〃We have a small
chain in the upset or hollow part of our bits； called a 'Player；'
with which the horse playing with his tongue； and rolling it
about； keeps his mouth moist and fresh； and； as Xenophon hints； it
may serve likewise to fix his attention and prevent him from
writhing his mouth about； or as the French call it； 'faire ses
forces。'〃
To explain what is meant by flexible and stiff as applied to a bit； we
will describe the matter。 A flexible bit is one in which the axles
have their points of junction broad and smooth；＇8＇ so as to bend
easily； and where the several parts fitting round the axles； being
large of aperture and not too closely packed； have greater
flexibility； whereas； if the several parts do not slide to and fro
with ease； and play into each other； that is what we call a stiff bit。
Whatever the kind of bit may be； the rider must carry out precisely
the same rules in using it； as follows； if he wishes to turn out a
horse with the qualities described。 The horse's mouth is not to be
pulled back too harshly so as to make him toss his head aside； nor yet
so gently that he will not feel the pressure。 But the instant he
raises his neck in answer to the pull； give him the bit at once； and
so throughout； as we never cease repeating； at every response to your
wishes； whenever and wherever the animal performs his service well；＇9＇
reward and humour him。 Thus； when the rider perceives that the horse
takes a pleasure in the high arching and supple play of his neck； let
him seize the instant not to impose severe exertion on him； like a
taskmaster； but rather to caress and coax him； as if anxious to give
him a rest。 In this way the horse will be encouraged and fall into a
rapid pace。
＇8＇ i。e。 〃the ends of the axles （at the point of junction） which work
into each other are broad and smooth； so as to play freely at the
join。〃
＇9＇ 〃Behaves compliantly。〃
That a horse takes pleasure in swift movement； may be shown
conclusively。 As soon as he has got his liberty； he sets off at a trot
or gallop； never at a walking pace； so natural and instinctive a
pleasure does this action afford him； if he is not forced to perform
it to excess； since it is true of horse and man alike that nothing is
pleasant if carried to excess。＇10＇
＇10＇ L。 Dind。 cf。 Eur。 〃Med。〃 128； ｛ta de' uperballont oudena kairon｝。
But now suppose he has attained to the grand style when riddenwe
have accustomed him of course in his first exercise to wheel and fall
into a canter simultaneously； assuming then； he has got that lesson
well by heart； if the rider pulls him up with the bit while
simultaneously giving him one of the signals to be off； the horse；
galled on the one hand by the bit； and on the other collecting himself
in obedience to the signal 〃off；〃 will throw forward his chest and
raise his legs aloft with fiery spirit； though not indeed with
suppleness； for the supple play of the limbs ceases as soon as the
horse feels annoyance。 But now； supposing when his fire is thus
enkindled＇11＇ you give him the rein； the effect is instantaneous。
Under the pleasurable sense of freedom； thanks to the relaxation of
the bit； with stately bearing and legs pliantly moving he dashes
forward in his pride； in every respect imitating the airs and graces
of a horse approaching other horses。 Listen to the epithets with which
spectators will describe the type of horse： the noble animal！ and what
willingness to work； what paces；＇12＇ what a spirit and what mettle；
how proudly he bears himself＇13＇a joy at once； and yet a terror to
behold。
＇11＇ Cf。 〃Hell。〃 V。 iv。 46； 〃kindled into new life。〃
＇12＇ ｛ipposten｝； 〃a true soldier's horse。〃
＇13＇ ｛sobaron｝； 〃what a push and swagger〃； ｛kai ama edun te kai gorgon
idein｝； 〃a la fois doux et terrible a voir；〃 see Victor
Cherbuliez； 〃Un Cheval de Phidias；〃 p。 148。
Thus far on this topic； these notes may serve perhaps to meet a
special need。
XI
If； however； the wish is to secure a horse adapted to parade and state
processions； a high stepper and a showy＇1＇ animal； these are qualities
not to be found combined in every horse； but to begin with； the animal
must
