the rider a surer seat and a stronger adhesion between the shoulders
and the body.[22]

[22] Or if with L. D. [{kai to somati}], transl. "adhesion to the
    horse's shoulders."

A "double spine,"[23] again, is at once softer to sit on than a
single, and more pleasing to the eye. So, too, a fairly deep side
somewhat rounded towards the belly[24] will render the animal at once
easier to sit and stronger, and as a general rule better able to
digest his food.[25]

[23] Reading after Courier {rakhis ge men}. See Virg. "Georg." iii.
    87, "at duplex agitur per lumbos spina." "In a horse that is in
    good case, the back is broad, and the spine does not stick up like
    a ridge, but forms a kind of furrow on the back" (John Martyn); "a
    full back," as we say.

[24] Or, "in proportion to." See Courier ("Du Commandement de la
    Cavalerie at de l'Equitation": deux livres de Xenophon, traduits
    par un officier d'artillerie a cheval), note ad loc. p. 83.

[25] i.e. "and keep in good condition."

The broader and shorter the loins the more easily will the horse raise
his forequarters and bring up his hindquarters under him. Given these
points, moreover, the belly will appear as small as possible, a
portion of the body which if large is partly a disfigurement and
partly tends to make the horse less strong and capable of carrying
weight.[26]

[26] Al. "more feeble at once and ponderous in his gait."

The quarters should be broad and fleshy in correspondence with the
sides and chest, and if they are also firm and solid throughout they
will be all the lighter for the racecourse, and will render the horse
in every way more fleet.

To come to the thighs (and buttocks):[27] if the horse have these
separated by a broad line of demarcation[28] he will be able to plant
his hind-legs under him with a good gap between;[29] and in so doing
will assume a posture[30] and a gait in action at once prouder and
more firmly balanced, and in every way appear to the best advantage.

[27] Lit. "the thighs beneath the tail."

[28] Reading {plateia to gramme diorismenous ekhe}, sc. the perineum.
    Al. Courier (after Apsyrtus), op. cit. p. 14, {plateis te kai me
    diestrammenous}, "broad and not turned outwards."

[29] Or, "he will be sure to spread well behind," etc.

[30] {ton upobasin}, tech. of the crouching posture assumed by the
    horse for mounting or "in doing the demi-passade" (so Morgan, op.
    cit. p. 126).

The human subject would seem to point to this conclusion. When a man
wants to lift anything from off the ground he essays to do so by
bringing the legs apart and not by bringing them together.

A horse ought not to have large testicles, though that is not a point
to be determined in the colt.

And now, as regards the lower parts, the hocks,[31] or shanks and
fetlocks and hoofs, we have only to repeat what has been said already
about those of the fore-legs.

[31] {ton katothen astragelon, e knemon}, lit. "the under (or hinder?)
    knuckle-bones (hocks?) or shins"; i.e. anatomically speaking, the
    os calcis, astragalus, tarsals, and metatarsal large and small.

I will here note some indications by which one may forecast the
probable size of the grown animal. The colt with the longest shanks at
the moment of being foaled will grow into the biggest horse; the fact
being--and it holds of all the domestic quadrupeds[32]--that with
advance of time the legs hardly increase at all, while the rest of the
body grows uniformly up to these, until it has attained its proper
symmetry.

[32] Cf. Aristot. "de Part. Anim." iv. 10; "H. A." ii. 1; Plin. "N.
    H." xi. 108.

Such is the type[33] of colt and such the tests to be applied, with
every prospect of getting a sound-footed, strong, and fleshy animal
fine of form and large of stature. If changes in some instances
develop during growth, that need not prevent us from applying our
tests in confidence. It far more often happens that an ugly-looking
colt will turn out serviceable,[34] than that a foal of the above
description will turn out ugly or defective.

[33] Lit. "by testing the shape of the colt in this way it seems to us
    the purchaser will get," etc.

[34] For the vulg. {eukhroastoi}, a doubtful word = "well coloured,"
    i.e. "sleek and healthy," L. & S. would read {eukhrooi} (cf. "Pol.
    Lac." v. 8). L. Dind. conj. {enrostoi}, "robust"; Schneid.
    {eukhrestoi}, "serviceable."

II

The right method of breaking a colt needs no description at our
hands.[1] As a matter of state organisation,[2] cavalry duties usually
devolve upon those who are not stinted in means, and who have a
considerable share in the government;[3] and it seems far better for a
young man to give heed to his own health of body and to horsemanship,
or, if he already knows how to ride with skill, to practising
manouvres, than that he should set up as a trainer of horses.[4] The
older man has his town property and his friends, and the hundred-and-
one concerns of state or of war, on which to employ his time and
energies rather than on horsebreaking. It is plain then that any one
holding my views[5] on the subject will put a young horse out to be
broken. But in so doing he ought to draw up articles, just as a father
does when he apprentices his son to some art or handicraft, stating
what sort of knowledge the young creature is to be sent back possessed
of. These will serve as indications[6] to the trainer what points he
must pay special heed to if he is to earn his fee. At the same time
pains should be taken on the owner's part to see that the colt is
gentle, tractable, and affectionate,[7] when delivered to the
professional trainer. That is a condition of things which for the most
part may be brought about at home and by the groom--if he knows how to
let the animal connect[8] hunger and thirst and the annoyance of flies
with solitude, whilst associating food and drink and escape from
sources of irritation with the presence of man. As the result of this
treatment, necessarily the young horse will acquire--not fondness
merely, but an absolute craving for human beings. A good deal can be
done by touching, stroking, patting those parts of the body which the
creature likes to have so handled. These are the hairiest parts, or
where, if there is anything annoying him, the horse can least of all
apply relief himself.

[1] Or, "The training of the colt is a topic which, as it seems to us,
    may fairly be omitted, since those appointed for cavalry service
    in these states are persons who," etc. For reading see Courier,
    "Notes," p. 84.

[2] "Organisation in the several states."

[3] Or, "As a matter of fact it is the wealthiest members of the
    state, and those who have the largest stake in civic life, that
    are appointed to cavalry duties." See "Hippparch," i. 9.

[4] Cf. "Econ." iii. 10.

[5] {ego}. Hitherto the author has used the plural {emin} with which
    he started.

[6] Reading {upodeigmata}, "finger-post signs," as it were, or "draft
    in outline"; al. {upomnemata} = "memoranda."

[7] "Gentle, and accustomed to the hand, and fond of man."

[8] Lit. "if he knows how to provide that hunger and thirst, etc.,
    should be felt by the colt in solitude, whilst food and drink,
    etc., come through help of man."

The groom should have standing orders to take his charge through
crowds, and to make him familiar with all sorts of sights and noises;
and if the colt shows sign of apprehension at them,[9] he must teach
him--not by cruel, but by gentle handling--that they are not really
formidable.

[9] Or, "is disposed to shy."

On this topic, then, of training,[10] the rules here given will, I
think, suffice for any private individual.

[10] Or, "In reference to horsebreaking, the above remarks will
    perhaps be found sufficient for the practical guidance of an
    amateur."

III

To meet the case in which the object is to buy a horse already fit for
riding, we will set down certain memoranda,[1] which, if applied
intelligently, may save the purchaser from being cheated.

[1] "Which the purchaser should lay to heart, if he does not wish to
    be cheated."

First, then, let there be no mistake about the age. If the horse has
lost his mark teeth,[2] not only will the purchaser's hopes be
blighted, but he may find himself saddled for ever with a sorry
bargain.[3]

[2] Or, "the milk teeth," i.e. is more than five years old. See
    Morgan, p. 126.

[3] Lit. "a horse that has lost his milk teeth cannot be said to
    gladden his owner's mind with hopes, and is not so easily disposed
    of."

Given that the fact of youth is well established, let there be no
mistake about another matter: how does he take the bit into his mouth
and the headstall[4] over his ears? There need be little ambiguity on
this score, if the purchaser will see the bit inserted and again
removed, under his eyes. Next, let it be carefully noted how the horse
stands being mounted. Many horses are extremely loath to admit the
approach of anything which, if once accepted, clearly means to them
enforced exertion.