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movement＇5＇ （a position in mounting which will present a graceful
spectacle also from behind）；＇6＇ at the same time with the leg well
bent； and taking care not to place his knee on the horse's back； he
must pass his leg clean over to the off side； and so having brought
his foot well round； plant himself firmly on his seat。＇7＇
＇1＇ Reading ｛otan 。 。 。 paradexetai 。 。 。 os anabesomenos｝。 Or；
reading ｛otan paradexetai ton ippea （sc。 o。 ippos） ws
anabesomenon｝； transl。 〃the horse has been brought round ready for
mounting。〃
＇2＇ So Courier； 〃la muserolle。〃 It might be merely a stitched leather
strap or made of a chain in part； which rattled； as
｛khrusokhalinon patagon psalion｝ （Aristoph。 〃Peace；〃 155） implies。
〃Curb〃 would be misleading。
＇3＇ 〃Near the withers。〃
＇4＇ Or； 〃as soon as he has got the springing poise preliminary to
mounting。〃
＇5＇ 〃Give himself simultaneously a lift。〃 Reading ｛ekteinon｝； or if
｛enteinon｝； 〃keeping his right arm stiff。〃
＇6＇ Or； 〃a style of mounting which will obviate an ungainly attitude
behind。〃
＇7＇ Lit。 〃lower his buttocks on to the horse's back。〃
To meet the case in which the horseman may chance to be leading his
horse with the left hand and carrying his spear in the right； it would
be good； we think； for every one to practise vaulting on to his seat
from the right side also。 In fact； he has nothing else to learn except
to do with his right limbs what he has previously done with the left；
and vice versa。 And the reason we approve of this method of mounting
is＇8＇ that it enables the soldier at one and the same instant to get
astride of his horse and to find himself prepared at all points；
supposing he should have to enter the lists of battle on a sudden。
＇8＇ Lit。 〃One reason for the praise which we bestow on this method of
mounting is that at the very instant of gaining his seat the
soldier finds himself fully prepared to engage the enemy on a
sudden； if occasion need。〃
But now； supposing the rider fairly seated； whether bareback or on a
saddle…cloth； a good seat is not that of a man seated on a chair； but
rather the pose of a man standing upright with his legs apart。 In this
way he will be able to hold on to the horse more firmly by his thighs；
and this erect attitude will enable him to hurl a javelin or to strike
a blow from horseback； if occasion calls； with more vigorous effect。
The leg and foot should hang loosely from the knee； by keeping the leg
stiff； the rider is apt to have it broken in collision with some
obstacle； whereas a flexible leg＇9＇ will yield to the impact； and at
the same time not shift the thigh from its position。 The rider should
also accustom the whole of his body above the hips to be as supple as
possible； for thus he will enlarge his scope of action； and in case of
a tug or shove be less liable to be unseated。 Next； when the rider is
seated； he must； in the first place； teach his horse to stand quiet；
until he has drawn his skirts from under him； if need be；＇10＇ and got
the reins an equal length and grasped his spear in the handiest
fashion； and； in the next place； he should keep his left arm close to
his side。 This position will give the rider absolute ease and
freedom；＇11＇ and his hand the firmest hold。
＇9＇ i。e。 〃below the knee〃； 〃shin and calf。〃
＇10＇ Lit。 〃pulled up〃 （and arranged the folds of his mantle）。
＇11＇ ｛eustalestatos｝； 〃the most business…like deportment。〃
As to reins； we recommend those which are well balanced； without being
weak or slippery or thick； so that when necessary； the hand which
holds them can also grasp a spear。
As soon as the rider gives the signal to the horse to start；＇12＇ he
should begin at a walking pace； which will tend to allay his
excitement。 If the horse is inclined to droop his head； the reins
should be held pretty high； or somewhat low； if he is disposed to
carry his head high。 This will set off the horse's bearing to the best
advantage。 Presently； as he falls into a natural trot；＇13＇ he will
gradually relax his limbs without the slightest suffering； and so come
more agreeably to the gallop。＇14＇ Since； too； the preference is given
to starting on the left foot； it will best conduce to that lead if；
while the horse is still trotting； the signal to gallop should be
given at the instant of making a step with his right foot。＇15＇ As he
is on the point of lifting his left foot he will start upon it； and
while turning left will simultaneously make the first bound of the
gallop；＇16＇ since； as a matter of instinct； a horse； on being turned
to the right； leads off with his right limbs； and to the left with his
left。
＇12＇ 〃Forwards！〃
＇13＇ Or； 〃the true trot。〃
＇14＇ ｛epirrabdophorein｝； 〃a fast pace in response to a wave of the
whip。〃
＇15＇ See Berenger； i。 p。 249； also the 〃Cavalry Drill Book；〃 Part I。
Equitation； S。 22； 〃The Canter。〃
＇16＇ ｛tes episkeliseos｝； 〃he will make the forward stride of the
gallop in the act of turning to the left。〃 See Morgan ad loc。
As an exercise； we recommend what is called the volte；＇17＇ since it
habituates the animal to turn to either hand； while a variation in the
order of the turn is good as involving an equalisation of both sides
of the mouth； in first one； and then the other half of the
exercise。＇18＇ But of the two we commend the oval form of the volte
rather than the circular； for the horse； being already sated with the
straight course； will be all the more ready to turn； and will be
practised at once in the straight course and in wheeling。 At the
curve； he should be held up；＇19＇ because it is neither easy nor indeed
safe when the horse is at full speed to turn sharp； especially if the
ground is broken＇20＇ or slippery。
＇17＇ ｛pede｝； figure of eight。
＇18＇ Or； 〃on first one and then the other half of the manege。〃
＇19＇ ｛upolambanein｝。 See 〃Hipparch；〃 iii。 14； 〃Hunting；〃 iii。 10； vi。
22； of a dog。
＇20＇ ｛apokroton｝； al。 ｛epikroton｝； 〃beaten； hard…trodden ground。〃
But in collecting him； the rider should as little as possible sway the
horse obliquely with the bit； and as little as possible incline his
own body； or； he may rest assured； a trifle will suffice to stretch
him and his horse full length upon the ground。 The moment the horse
has his eyes fixed on the straight course after making a turn； is the
time to urge him to full speed。 In battle； obviou