The Cavalry General | Page 5

Xenophon
for
a common horse, or 12 minas (say L50) for a good saddle or race-horse,
up to the extravagant sum of 13 talents (say 3000 guineas) given for
"Bucephalus," see Boeckh, "P. E. A." (Eng. tr.) p. 74. Cf. Isaeus, 55. 22;
88. 17; Lys. "de Maled." 133. 10; Aul. Gell. "Noct. Att." v. 2.
To come to the existing body of knights,[20] it would tend,[21] I think,
to better rearing and more careful treatment of their horses if the senate
issued a formal notice that for the future twice the amount of drill will
be required, and that any horse unable to keep up will be rejected. And
so, too, with regard to vicious horses, I should like to see an edict
promulgated to the effect that all such animals will be rejected. This
threat would stimulate the owners of such brutes to part with them by

sale, and, what is more, to exercise discretion at the time of purchase.
So, too, it would be a good thing if the same threat of rejection were
made to include horses that kick on the exercising-grounds, since it is
impossible to keep such animals in the ranks; and in case of an advance
against a hostile force at any point,[22] they must perforce trail in the
rear, so that, thanks to the vice of the animal which he bestrides, the
trooper himself is rendered useless.
[20] Or, "As regards those who are actually serving in the cavalry." For
a plausible emend. of this passage (S. 13) see Courier ("Notes sur le
texte," p. 54); L. Dind. ad loc.
[21] Lit. "the senate might incite to . . ."
[22] Reading {ean}, or if {kan} with the MSS., trans. "even in case of
an advance against the enemy."
With a view to strengthening the horses' feet: if any one has an easier or
more simple treatment to suggest, by all means let it be adopted; but for
myself, as the result of experience, I maintain that the proper course is
to lay down a loose layer of cobbles from the road, a pound or so in
weight, on which the horse should be put to stand, when taken from the
manger to be groomed.[23] The point is, that the horse will keep
perpetually moving first one foot and then another on the stones, whilst
being rubbed down or simply because he is fidgeted by flies. Let any
one try the experiment, and, I venture to predict, not only will he come
to trust my guidance, but he will see his horse's hoofs grow just as
round and solid as the cobbles.
[23] See below, "Horse." iv. 4. The Greeks did not "shoe" their horses.
Assuming, then, your horses are all that horses ought to be, how is the
trooper to attain a like degree of excellence? To that question I will
now address myself. The art of leaping on to horseback is one which
we would fain persuade the youthful members of the corps to learn
themselves; though, if you choose to give them an instructor,[24] all
the greater credit to yourself. And as to the older men you cannot do
better than accustom them to mount, or rather to be hoisted up by aid of
some one, Persian fashion.[25]
[24] Like Pheidon, in the fragment of Mnesimachus's play "The
Breeder of Horses," ap. Athen. See Courier, ib. p. 55.
[25] See "Anab." IV. iv. 4; "Horsemanship," vi. 12.
With a view to keeping a firm seat on every sort of ground, it may be

perhaps be thought a little irksome to be perpetually marching out,
when there is no war;[26] but all the same, I would have you call your
men together and impress upon them the need to train themselves,
when they ride into the country to their farms, or elsewhere, by leaving
the high road and galloping at a round pace on ground of every
description.[27] This method will be quite as beneficial to them as the
regular march out, and at the same time not produce the same sense of
tedium. You may find it useful also to remind them that the state on her
side is quite willing to expend a sum of nearly forty talents[28] yearly,
so that in the event of war she may not have to look about for cavalry,
but have a thoroughly efficient force to hand for active service. Let
these ideas be once instilled into their minds, and, mark my words,
your trooper will fall with zest to practising horsemanship, so that if
ever the flame of war burst out he may not be forced to enter the lists a
raw recruit, unskilled to fight for fame and fatherland or even life itself.
[26] In the piping days of peace.
[27] See "Econ."
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