On Horsemanship by Xenophon
page 36 of 54 (66%)
page 36 of 54 (66%)
|
(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 |
|