THE-:- HORSE 



**To make him (the horse) go down steep 

 places, we must begin to train him on soft 

 ground; and at length, when he is accus- 

 tomed to this, he will run much more readily 

 down a slope than up it. As to what some 

 people fear, that horses will dislocate their 

 shoulders in being ridden down steep places, 

 let them be under no apprehension, when 

 they are told that the Persians and the Odry- 

 sae all ride as fast as they can down steep 

 hills, and yet have horses not less sound than 

 those of the Greeks." 



In the ascent, the mane, or some part of 

 the horse's equipment that is attached to the 

 neck or shoulder, can be taken hold of with 

 advantage, and the stirrups pressed back to- 

 ward the tail so as to prevent the body of the 

 rider from slipping backward. The reins 

 also should be left loose, in order to allow 

 the horse to have free use of his head and to 

 be able to rush a piece of ground so steep 

 that the forward momentum lost for a mo- 

 ment would cause the horse to slip back- 

 ward. In descending a steep incline, how- 

 ever, the reins should be held taut, the body 

 of the rider thrown well back in the saddle, 

 and his weight put as much as possible into 

 the stirrups. In this way the horse can be 

 steadied, and it will give him more confi- 

 dence in keeping his balance. 



44 



