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Xenophon On Horsemanship
Xenophon On Horsemanship
On Horsemanship is the English title usually given to !"#$ %&&'()*, peri hippik+s, one of the two treatises on
horsemanship by the Athenian historian and soldier Xenophon (c. 430 354 BC). Other common titles for this
work are De equis alendis and The Art of Horsemanship. The other work by Xenophon on horsemanship is
,&&-#.'(/*, hipparchikos, usually known as Hipparchicus, or The cavalry commander. The title De re
equestri may refer to either of the two.
On horsemanship deals with the selection, care and training of horses in general. Military training and the
duties of the cavalry commander are dealt with in the Hipparchicus.
Contents
1 History
2 Early editions
3 Translations
4 Contents of On horsemanship
4.1 Part I: Selecting a Young Horse
4.2 Part II: Breaking the Colt
4.3 Part III: Selecting an Older Horse
4.4 Part IV: Caring for the Horse
4.5 Part V: Grooming the Horse
4.6 Part VI: Grooming and Bridling the Horse Correctly and Safely
4.7 Part VII: Mounting, Rider's Position, and Training
4.8 Part VIII: Advanced Training
4.9 Part IX: Riding the Spirited and Dull Horse
4.10 Part X: Creating a Showy Horse and Advice on Bitting
4.11 Part XI: Creating a Parade Horse
4.12 Part XII: The Equipment for Battle
5 See also
6 External links
7 References
History
Written in about 350 BC, the treatises of Xenophon were considered the earliest extant works on
horsemanship in any literature until the publication by Bed!ich Hrozn" in 1931 of a Hittite text, that by
Kikkuli of the Mitanni Kingdom,[1] which dates from about 1360 BC. A treatise on horsemanship by Pliny the
Elder is believed lost, as was that by Simon of Athens, which is twice mentioned by Xenophon in On
horsemanship.[2] Some fragments of Simon's treatise survive, however;[3] they were published by Ruehl[4] in
1912.[5]
Early editions
The first printed edition of On horsemanship is that in the complete edition of Xenophon of 1516 from the
Giunti press:[6]
Begin. 0-1" 2"3"45'3 2"3 5671" 567 8'896: ;"3<=:35<* >?#<? !-'1"'-* 8'89'- 7! ... Hc in hoc
libro continentur. X. Cyri pedias libri VIII. Anabaseos libri VII.; ... apomnemoneumaton; ...
venatoria; ... de re equestri; ... de equis alendis; lacedmonum resp.; ... atheniensium resp.; ...
conomica; ... hieron.; ... symposium; ... de grcorum gestis libri VII. [With dedication by E.
Boninus] (editio princeps) Florenti: In dibus P. Junt, 1516
The earliest printing in Greek in England may be:[7]
;. @<A<* &"#' ,&&'(7*. ,&&-#.'(<*. >?37A"5'(<*. Accessere veterum testimonia de X. (Edited
by H. Aldrich.)B( C"-5#<? D3 EF<3'G, G.HA [Oxford: Clarendon Press 1693]
Translations
The earliest translation into English is that by John Astley:
The Art of Riding, set foorth in a breefe treatise, with a due interpretation of certeine places
alledged out of Xenophon, and Gryson, very expert and excellent horsemen; wherein also the true
vse of the hand by the said Grysons rules and precepts is speciallie touched ; and how the author of
this present worke hath put the same in practise; also what profit men may reape thereby; without
the knowledge whereof, all the residue of the art of riding is but vaine. Lastlie, is added a short
discourse of the chaine or cauezzan, the trench, and the martingale: written by a gentleman of great
skill and long experience in the said art London: Henrie Denham 1584
Others include:
Berenger, Richard The history and art of horsemanship London: T. Davies and T. Cadell 1771
pp.219234 Full text (http://books.google.com/books?id=54MPAAAAIAAJ)
(various translators) The whole works of Xenophon London: Jones & Co. 1832 pp.717728 Full text
(http://books.google.com/books?id=XfIERBH4_Z4C)
Morgan, Morris H. (trans.) The Art of Horsemanship by Xenophon Boston: Little, Brown 1893
pp.1368 Full text (http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/90216)
Nyland, Ann (trans.) The art of horsemanship: Xenophon and other classical writers [S.l.]: Create
Space, 2010 ISBN9781450554831
Contents of On horsemanship
Part I: Selecting a Young Horse
Xenophon details what is to be examined when
inspecting a horse to buy as a war-mount. He is
especially careful to stress the importance of
soundness. His recommendations include:
A hoof of thick horn, and a frog that is
held off the ground.
Pasterns that are not too straight and
upright, as these will jar the rider and are
more likely to become sore, nor too long
and low, as they will strike the ground
when galloping and will be cut on rocks.
Thick cannon bones
Good bend in the knees, as the horse is
less likely to stumble or to break down
Thick and muscular forearms
Broad chest, for both beauty and
and should also be galloped up and down steep inclines. These tests can be used to determine his spirit and
soundness. However, Xenophon urges the reader not to reject a horse that can not easily perform these tasks,
as this is more likely due to lack of experience than inability, and if the horse is trained he will soon be able to
perform these tasks easily. He does warn, however, that a nervous, skittish, or vicious horse is unacceptable as
a war-mount.
Xenophon concludes that a good war-mount should be sound, gentle, fast, and above all: obedient.
rubbed and curried by hand. The belly should also not be washed, not only because it is annoying to the horse,
but because a clean belly will collect more things on it, and the area will soon be dirty again.
Part VI: Grooming and Bridling the Horse Correctly and Safely
The groom should face backward when grooming the
horse, and stand out of the way of the animal's leg near the
shoulder blade, so as not to be kicked or knocked by the
knee. He should avoid approaching the head or tail straight
on, as the horse can easily overpower him by rearing or
kicking. Therefore, the side is the safest place to stand.
The groom should clean the frog by picking up the hoof
and folding the pastern upward.
When leading the horse, the groom should not lead in
front. To do so would prevent him from protecting
himself, and would allow the horse to do as he pleases.
The horse should also not lead the way, as he may easily
cause trouble or might turn around to face the groom.
Therefore, it is best to lead the horse from the side, as
there he will be most controllable and it is the easiest place
for him to be quickly mounted should the need arise.
To insert the bit into the horse's mouth, the groom should
stand on the near side of the horse, place the reins over the animal's head, and raise the headstall in his right
hand while directing the bit to the horse's mouth with his left. If the horse refuses the bit, the groom should
hold the bit against the horse's teeth with his fingers, and insert his left thumb in the horse's jaws. If the horse
still refuses, the groom should press the animal's lips against his canine tooth, which should make the horse
open his mouth.
Here Xenophon suggests that the horse be bitted not only before he is to be worked, but also before he is fed
and led home from a ride, so that he does not necessarily associate the bit with discomfort and labor.
The groom should know how to give a leg up in the Persian fashion, so that he may help his master, should he
be old, to mount.
Xenophon then states that a horse should never be dealt with angrily. If the horse fears an object, he should be
taught that there is nothing to fear. The object should be touched by the person before the horse is led gently
towards it. Hurting the animal will only increase his fear, and he will associate pain with the object itself.
The rider should be able to mount from the ground, as not all horses know how to lower their back.
simply the sight of someone coming behind him. When the horse is comfortable jumping in this manner, he
may be mounted and ridden first over small, and then over larger, trenches.
When the horse is about to leap over any obstacle, Xenophon recommends applying the spur on takeoff, so
that the horse will use his whole body over the obstacle and make a safer jump. If this is not done, he may lag
with his hind end.
When training a horse to gallop up or down a steep incline, he should first be taught on soft ground. Xenophon
mentions that the reader should not fear that the horse will dislocate a shoulder when running downhill.
Xenophon then turns to the position of the rider. For galloping, the rider should lean slightly forward as the
horse takes off, as the horse will be less likely to slip from under the rider. When pulling the horse up, the
rider should lean back, which will lessen the shock of the sudden change in speed. Xenophon also suggests the
rider loosen the reins and grab the mane when jumping a ditch or climbing an incline, so that he does not pull
the horse in the mouth. Going down a steep incline, the rider should throw himself straight backward and hold
the horse with the bit.
It is recommended that these exercises be varied in the place they are performed and in duration, so the horse
does not become bored.
As an exercise for the rider to improve his seat at the gallop over all terrain, Xenophon suggests hunting on
horseback. If this is not possible, he suggests two riders work together, with one chasing the other. The
horseman chasing should have blunted javelins to throw at the other.
Xenophon ends this section by reiterating the fact that the master should show kindness to the horse, and
punish him only when he is disobedient. The horse will then be more willing, knowing that obedience is
rewarded.
All bits should be flexible so that the horse, as he would in a stiff bit, can
and bridling system
not take hold of it in his jaws and pull. With a loose bit, the horse will
keep a softer mouth as he has nothing to grab, and will drop the bit from
his bars. Xenophon goes on to describe a flexible bit as one with broad and smooth junctions, which bend
easily, and with several parts fitted around the axles that are not closely packed. A stiff bit would be one in
which the parts do not easily slide, but push into each other.
The rider, no matter which bit is used, when turning should pull the bit enough to create a response, but not so
much that the horse tosses his head aside. At the instant where the horse raises his neck to the pull, the rider
should give the bit and lighten the pressure as a reward. Therefore, when the horse is enjoying arching his
neck and carrying his head high, the rider should not ask the horse for severe exertion, but be gentle, as if he
wants to give the horse a rest. The horse will then be more likely to take up a rapid pace, as a horse enjoys
moving at a rapid pace, as long as he is not asked to do so excessively.
If the rider signals the horse to gallop off, and holds him back with the bit, the horse will collect himself and
raise his chest and forelegs. This will not be with natural suppleness, however, because the horse is annoyed
by the restraint. However, if horse's fire is kindled (which may be assumed to mean that he has energy and
power), and the rider relaxes the bit, the horse will move forward with pride, a stately bearing, and pliant legs.
He will not only be willing, but will show himself off in the greatest grandeur, spirited and beautiful.
same conditions. The horse should, instead, perform of his own accord in response to set signals by the rider.
To do this, Xenophon says, for example, gallop the horse hard until he begins to prance and show his airs, at
which time the rider should at once dismount and remove the bit. This reward will cause the horse, at a later
time, to show himself off of his own accord.
If the master of such a splendid horse is a general of cavalry, and if his horse's airs and great prancing makes
the slightest move forward (what could possible be interpreted as the passage), so that the cavalry horses may
follow behind him at a walking pace, and the group move forward at a pace neither too fast nor too slow, not
only the general will have a thrilling effect. If it brings out the fire and spirit of the neighing and snorting
animals, the whole company will be a thrilling spectacle.
See also
Kikkuli
Horses in warfare
List of writers on horsemanship
External links
On Horsemanship original text and translation at Perseus (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?
doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0210%3Atext%3DHorse.) ;
On Horsemanship full text in English from Project Gutenberg
(http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=1176) ;
References
1. ^ Sarton, George (1993). Ancient science through the golden age of Greece (http://books.google.com/books?
id=VcoGIKlHuZcC) (facsimile of 1952 ed.). Courier Dover Publications. p. 457. http://books.google.com/books?
id=VcoGIKlHuZcC. Retrieved July 2011.
2. ^ Berenger, Richard (1771). The history and art of horsemanship (http://books.google.com/books?
id=54MPAAAAIAAJ) . London: T. Davies and T. Cadell. http://books.google.com/books?id=54MPAAAAIAAJ. p.2
3. ^ Sestili, Antonio (2006) (in Italian). L'equitazione nella Grecia antica : i trattati equestri di Senofonte e i frammenti
di Simone. Scandicci (Firenze): Firenze Atheneum. ISBN 9788872552933. "Equitation in Ancient Greece: the
equestrian treatise of Xenophon and the fragments of Simon"
4. ^ Ruehl, Franz (1910, 1912). Xenophontis Scripta Minora. Fasciculus prior, Oeconomicum, Convivium, Hieronem,
Agesilaum, Apologiam Socratis continens. Post Ludovicum Dindorf edidit Th. Thalheim; Fasciculus posterior
opuscula politica, equestria, venatica continens ... Edidit F. Ruehl. Accedunt Simonis De re equestri quae supersunt. (2
volumes). Leipzig: Teubner.
5. ^ McCabe, Anne Elena (2007). A Byzantine encyclopaedia of horse medicine: the sources, compilation, and
transmission of the Hippiatrica (1st ed.). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199277551.
6. ^ Bandini, Angelo Maria (1791). De Florentina luntarum typographia eiusque censoribus ex qua Graeci, Latini, Tusci
scriptores ope codicum manuscriptorum a viris clarissimis pristinae integritati restituti in lucem prodierunt; Accedunt
excerpta uberrima praefationum libris singulis praemissarum (http://books.google.com/books?id=M-8UAAAAQAAJ)
. Lucae: Franciscus Bonsignorus. http://books.google.com/books?id=M-8UAAAAQAAJ.
7. ^ Brunet, Jacques-Charles (1820) (in French). Manuel du libraire et de l'amateur de livres
(http://books.google.com/books?id=oE_Go36V51oC) . Paris: L'Auteur. http://books.google.com/books?
id=oE_Go36V51oC. Retrieved July 2011.