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on horsemanship-第3章

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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
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