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has his eyes fixed on the straight course after making a turn； is the
time to urge him to full speed。 In 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
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。〃
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； 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。〃
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；