Xenophon, The Art of Horsemanship

3rd review

I’m totally amazed with this book. As I said before its modernity is astonishing and once again I have a clear example of this, which I’m just going to write about!

In Chapter II and III, Xenophon shares some thoughts about the methods of breaking a horse and what to be observed in buying a horse already broken, and is fascinating to see how some advices are still up-to-date in a time when natural horsemanship and ethologic equitation are the “must”!

Some very interesting quotes about breaking the horse:

“colts must not only love men, but even long for them”

“the horse should be stroked in the places which he most likes to have handled”

“the groom should also be directed to lead him through crowds, and to make him familiar with all sorts of sights and all sort of noises.”

“Whenever the colt is frightened /…/ he should be taught, not by irritating but by soothing him, that there is nothing to fear”

and about how the broken horse should be:

“the question of age should not pass unnoticed; for if he no longer has the markers, the prospect is not a glad one”, editor writes that the “makers” are the milk-teeth.

“the way in which he lets you put the bit into his mouth, and the head-piece about his ears, should not escape you”

“whether, when mounted, he is willing to leave other horses, or whether, when ridden near horses that are standing still, he runs away towards them”

“you must know whether, when let out at full speed, he will come to the poise and be willing to turn around”