4th review on Xenophont – The art of horsemanship
Lots of interesting notes.
What was expected form a Greek war horse 2000 years ago…
“These are jumping ditches, going over walls, breasting banks, and leaping down form them;”… all this bareback!
Architectural curiosity about stables…
“it is a good thing to have his stall in such a part of the establishment that his master shall very often have an eye on the animal”
Note from the publisher: in a town-house, the stall was situated on one side of the front door.
Hoof care
Xenophon advises letting the horse stand over a stony ground: “Standing on these would be as good for him as travelling a stony road for some part of every day” and “daily washing is bad for the hoofs”
Muzzles
“the horse ought always to be muzzled whenever he is taken anywhere without a bridle”, “The muzzle, without hindering is breathing, allows no biting”
Rolling
Taking the horse to the place where he usually rolls is also the groom’s task… publisher explains: “It was the custom among the Greeks and Romans to give the horse a roll on fine sand after he exercised”… I think my horse must have read this book before me! We always did that!
Is lovely the way all horse care details are described in this book, even the things we currently consider less correct. But it shows how the horse was important and loved those days. Seen as a real gift from Gods!
Lots of interesting notes.
What was expected form a Greek war horse 2000 years ago…
“These are jumping ditches, going over walls, breasting banks, and leaping down form them;”… all this bareback!
Architectural curiosity about stables…
“it is a good thing to have his stall in such a part of the establishment that his master shall very often have an eye on the animal”
Note from the publisher: in a town-house, the stall was situated on one side of the front door.
Hoof care
Xenophon advises letting the horse stand over a stony ground: “Standing on these would be as good for him as travelling a stony road for some part of every day” and “daily washing is bad for the hoofs”
Muzzles
“the horse ought always to be muzzled whenever he is taken anywhere without a bridle”, “The muzzle, without hindering is breathing, allows no biting”
Rolling
Taking the horse to the place where he usually rolls is also the groom’s task… publisher explains: “It was the custom among the Greeks and Romans to give the horse a roll on fine sand after he exercised”… I think my horse must have read this book before me! We always did that!
Is lovely the way all horse care details are described in this book, even the things we currently consider less correct. But it shows how the horse was important and loved those days. Seen as a real gift from Gods!
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