[2] Lit. "on the left-hand side."

[3] {ton megan daktulon}, Hdt. iii. 8.

[4] i.e. "canine tooth."

[5] Or, "it is a very exceptional horse that will not open his mouth
under the circumstances."

The groom can hardly be too much alive to the following points * * *
if any work is to be done:[6] in fact, so important is it that the
horse should readily take his bit, that, to put it tersely, a horse
that will not take it is good for nothing. Now, if the horse be bitted
not only when he has work to do, but also when he is being taken to
his food and when he is being led home from a ride, it would be no
great marvel if he learnt to take the bit of his own accord, when
first presented to him.

[6] Reading with L. Dind. {khre de ton ippokomon kai ta oiade . . .
paroxunthai, ei ti dei ponein}, or if as Schneid., Sauppe, etc.,
{khre de ton ippon me kata toiade, k.t.l.}, transl. "the horse
must not be irritated in such operations as these," etc.; but
{toiade} = "as follows," if correct, suggests a lacuna in either
case at this point.

It would be good for the groom to know how to give a leg up in the
Persian fashion,[7] so that in case of illness or infirmity of age the
master himself may have a man to help him on to horseback without
trouble, or, if he so wish, be able to oblige a friend with a man to
mount him.[8]