him on to horseback without
trouble, or, if he so wish, be able to oblige a friend with a man to
mount him. (8)

(7) Cf. "Anab." IV. iv. 4; "Hipparch," i. 17; "Cyrop." VII. i. 38.

(8) An {anaboleus}. Cf. Plut. "C. Gracch." 7.

The one best precept--the golden rule--in dealing with a horse is never
to approach him angrily. Anger is so devoid of forethought that it will
often drive a man to do things which in a calmer mood he will regret.
(9) Thus, when a horse is shy of any object and refuses to approach it,
you must teach him that there is nothing to be alarmed at, particularly
if he be a plucky animal; (10) or, failing that, touch the formidable
object yourself, and then gently lead the horse up to it. The opposite
plan of forcing the frightened creature by blows only intensifies its
fear, the horse mentally associating the pain he suffers at such a
moment with the object of suspicion, which he naturally regards as its
cause.

(9) Cf. "Hell." v. iii. 7 for this maxim.

(10) Al. "if possibly by help of another and plucky animal."

If, when the groom brings up the horse to his master to mount, he knows
how to make him lower his back, (11) to facilitate mounting, we have no
fault to find. Still, we consider that the horseman should practise and
be able to mount, even if the horse does not so lend himself; (12) since
on another occasion another type of horse may fall to the rider's lot,
(13) nor can the same rider be always served by the same equerry. (14)

(11) {upobibazesthai}. See above, i. 14; Pollux, i. 213; Morgan ad
loc. "Stirrups were unknown till long after the Christian era
began."

(12) Or, "apart from these good graces on the animal's part."

(13) As a member of the cavalry.

(14) Reading {allo}. Al. reading {allos} with L. D., "and the same
horse will at one time humour you in one way and again in
another." Cf. viii. 13, x. 12, for {uperetein} of the horse.

VII

The master, let us suppose, has received his horse and is ready to
mount. (1) We will now prescribe certain rules to be observed in the
interests not only of the horseman but of the animal which he bestrides.
First, then, he should take the leading rein, which hangs from the
chin-strap or nose-band, (2) conveniently in his left hand, held slack
so as not to jerk the horse's mouth, whether he means to mount by
hoisting himself up, catching hold of the mane behind the ears, or
to vault on to horseback by help