18 



has seen individuals of them. The custom of riding without bridle or 

 saddle, subsists to this hour, among the poorest and least enlightened 

 tribes of Arabia and Barbary. 



Although it he dillicult to conceive that a high spirited, and more 

 particularly, an obstinate Horse, could be governed and controlled in 

 such a simple way, and even in the tumult and confusion of battle, yet 

 much must be referred to the savage resolution of the riders, and to 

 the superior temper and docility of the Arabian and African Horse : 

 and the fact is confirmed by Ausonius, who not only describes with 

 precision, this wild method of equitation, but assures us that the Em- 

 peror Gratian was renowned for the skill and address with which he 

 practised it. Virgil also speaks of the Numidce infi-aiu, or Numidians 

 who rode without bridles; and Nemesian describes the use of the rider's 

 stick, which, by striking the Horse on either side of the face, directed 

 him the contrary way, and stopped him by a stroke full upon the nose- 

 band or gristle. Were, however, Samuel Chifney still alive, Avith all 

 liis fondness for giving the horse his head, he would hardly recommend 

 this original mode of jockeyship, in a race over the Beacon course. 



NotAvithstanding the continuance of this primitive and rough mode 

 of equitation, amongst many barbarous tribes to so late a period, it is 

 certain that among the most civilized nations of early antiquity, the 

 science of managing the Horse, had attained such a state of maturity, 

 as to rival the utmost skill of modern practice. A full conhmation of 

 this may be found, both in the Iliad and Odyssey, Avhere Homer intro- 

 duces the following simile. " Like a skilful horseman riding four 

 chosen Horses, along a public road to some great city. The whole 

 town assembles to behold him, and gaze upon him with wonder and ap- 

 plause, whilst he leaps at pleasure from the back of one horse, to another 

 and flies along with them." To perform such feats of activity upon 

 horses in their full career, and to have them trained and dressed to a 

 sufficient degTce of perfection, must have required the gradual profession- 

 al labours of centuries. This fully establishes the high antiquity of 

 horsemanship. However indubitable the fact, it cannot be contemplated 

 without surprize, by us moderns, that those feats of horsemanship we 

 so much admire at the Amphitheatre, and the Olympic Pavilion, Avere 



displayed 



