122 HORSE-BACK RIDING. 



Foot-racing, the most ancient and natural of sports, 

 was first re-established ; but soon boxing, the pen- 

 tathlon, the cestus, the poncratium, and particularly 

 horse and chariot races had again resumed their 

 former prestige. 



There were three principal classes of horse-races, 

 the first two differing chiefly in the kind of animal 

 employed — one being run with saddle horses, the 

 other with colts. The first ode of Pindar sings the 

 praises of Hiero, King of Syracuse, who was victor 

 in a contest of saddle horses ; and in the 128th 

 Olympiad, when the second form of racing was insti- 

 tuted or re-established, Hepolemus of Lycia carried 

 off the prize. A third kind, called the calpe, con- 

 sisted in running w4th two mares. The contestant 

 mounted one and led the other by the bridle, and 

 just before reaching the end of the course, leaped to 

 the ground, and finished the race by leading both 

 animals to the goal. These three modes of racing 

 had many points of resemblance, however, as well as 

 difference. They were all run without stirrups, the 

 invention of which dates long after this period ; to 

 all, children were admitted as contestants on the same 

 conditions as men, and, finally, it was necessary in all 

 for the riders, before finishing the course, to make the 

 circuit of a goal, set up in a place so cramped and 

 narrow that whoever, in any degree, lacked skill and 

 address, ran great risk of falling from his horse and 

 losing the victory. 



