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advance of time the legs hardly increase at all; while the rest of the
body grows uniformly up to these; until it has attained its proper
symmetry。
'32' Cf。 Aristot。 〃de Part。 Anim。〃 iv。 10; 〃H。 A。〃 ii。 1; Plin。 〃N。
H。〃 xi。 108。
Such is the type'33' of colt and such the tests to be applied; with
every prospect of getting a sound…footed; strong; and fleshy animal
fine of form and large of stature。 If changes in some instances
develop during growth; that need not prevent us from applying our
tests in confidence。 It far more often happens that an ugly…looking
colt will turn out serviceable;'34' than that a foal of the above
description will turn out ugly or defective。
'33' Lit。 〃by testing the shape of the colt in this way it seems to us
the purchaser will get;〃 etc。
'34' For the vulg。 {eukhroastoi}; a doubtful word = 〃well coloured;〃
i。e。 〃sleek and healthy;〃 L。 & S。 would read {eukhrooi} (cf。 〃Pol。
Lac。〃 v。 8)。 L。 Dind。 conj。 {enrostoi}; 〃robust〃; Schneid。
{eukhrestoi}; 〃serviceable。〃
II
The right method of breaking a colt needs no description at our
hands。'1' As a matter of state organisation;'2' cavalry duties usually
devolve upon those who are not stinted in means; and who have a
considerable share in the government;'3' and it seems far better for a
young man to give heed to his own health of body and to horsemanship;
or; if he already knows how to ride with skill; to practising
manouvres; than that he should set up as a trainer of horses。'4' The
older man has his town property and his friends; and the hundred…and…
one concerns of state or of war; on which to employ his time and
energies rather than on horsebreaking。 It is plain then that any one
holding my views'5' on the subject will put a young horse out to be
broken。 But in so doing he ought to draw up articles; just as a father
does when he apprentices his son to some art or handicraft; stating
what sort of knowledge the young creature is to be sent back possessed
of。 These will serve as indications'6' to the trainer what points he
must pay special heed to if he is to earn his fee。 At the same time
pains should be taken on the owner's part to see that the colt is
gentle; tractable; and affectionate;'7' when delivered to the
professional trainer。 That is a condition of things which for the most
part may be brought about at home and by the groomif he knows how to
let the animal connect'8' hunger and thirst and the annoyance of flies
with solitude; whilst associating food and drink and escape from
sources of irritation with the presence of man。 As the result of this
treatment; necessarily the young horse will acquirenot fondness
merely; but an absolute craving for human beings。 A good deal can be
done by touching; stroking; patting those parts of the body which the
creature likes to have so handled。 These are the hairiest parts; or
where; if there is anything annoying him; the horse can least of all
apply relief himself。
'1' Or; 〃The training of the colt is a topic which; as it seems to us;
may fairly be omitted; since those appointed for cavalry service
in these states are persons who;〃 etc。 For reading see Courier;
〃Notes;〃 p。 84。
'2' 〃Organisation in the several states。〃
'3' Or; 〃As a matter of fact it is the wealthiest members of the
state; and those who have the largest stake in civic life; that
are appointed to cavalry duties。〃 See 〃Hippparch;〃 i。 9。
'4' Cf。 〃Econ。〃 iii。 10。
'5' {ego}。 Hitherto the author has used the plural {emin} with which
he started。
'6' Reading {upodeigmata}; 〃finger…post signs;〃 as it were; or 〃draft
in outline〃; al。 {upomnemata} = 〃memoranda。〃
'7' 〃Gentle; and accustomed to the hand; and fond of man。〃
'8' Lit。 〃if he knows how to provide that hunger and thirst; etc。;
should be felt by the colt in solitude; whilst food and drink;
etc。; come through help of man。〃
The groom should have standing orders to take his charge through
crowds; and to make him familiar with all sorts of sights and noises;
and if the colt shows sign of apprehension at them;'9' he must teach
himnot by cruel; but by gentle handlingthat they are not really
formidable。
'9' Or; 〃is disposed to shy。〃
On this topic; then; of training;'10' the rules here given will; I
think; suffice for any private individual。
'10' Or; 〃In reference to horsebreaking; the above remarks will
perhaps be found sufficient for the practical guidance of an
amateur。〃
III
To meet the case in which the object is to buy a horse already fit for
riding; we will set down certain memoranda;'1' which; if applied
intelligently; may save the purchaser from being cheated。
'1' 〃Which the purchaser should lay to heart; if he does not wish to
be cheated。〃
First; then; let there be no mistake about the age。 If the horse has
lost his mark teeth;'2' not only will the purchaser's hopes be
blighted; but he may find himself saddled for ever with a sorry
bargain。'3'
'2' Or; 〃the milk teeth;〃 i。e。 is more than five years old。 See
Morgan; p。 126。
'3' Lit。 〃a horse that has lost his milk teeth cannot be said to
gladden his owner's mind with hopes; and is not so easily disposed
of。〃
Given that the fact of youth is well established; let there be no
mistake about another matter: how does he take the bit into his mouth
and the headstall'4' over his ears? There need be little ambiguity on
this score; if the purchaser will see the bit inserted and again
removed; under his eyes。 Next; let it be carefully noted how the horse
stands being mounted。 Many horses are extremely loath to admit the
approach of anything which; if once accepted; clearly means to them
enforced exertion。
'4' {koruphaia}; part of the {khalinos} gear。
Another point to ascertain is whether the horse; when mounted; can be
induced to leave other horses; or when being ridden past a group of
horses standing; will not bolt off to join the company。 Some horses
again; as the result of bad training; will run away from the
exercising…ground and make for the stable。 A hard mouth may be
detected by the exercise called the {pede} or volte;'5' and still more
so by varying the direction of the volte to right or left。 Many horses
will not attempt to run away except for the concurrence of a bad mouth
along with an aven