THE ROMAN HORSE 3 



muscular, they appear stronger and handsomer, as is the case also with 

 a man. The breast also should be broad, as well for beauty as for 

 strength, and because it causes a handsomer action of the fore-legs, 

 which do not then interfere, but are carried wide apart. And again, 

 the neck ought not to be set on like that of a boar, horizontally from 

 the chest, but, like that of a game-cock, should be upright towards 

 the crest, and slack towards the flexure; and the head, being long, 

 should have a small and narrow jawbone, so that the neck shall be 

 in front of the rider, and that the eye shall look down on what is 

 before the feet. A horse thus made will be the least likely to run 

 violently away, even if he be very high spirited, for horses do not 

 attempt to run away by bringing in, but by thrusting out, their heads 

 and necks. It is also very necessary to observe whether the mouth be 

 fine or hard on both sides, or on one or the other. For horses which 

 have not both jaws equally sensitive, are likely to be hard-mouthed on one 

 side or the other. And it is better that a horse should have prominent 

 than hollow eyes, for such a one will see to a greater distance. And 

 widely-opened nostrils are far better for respiration than narrow, and 

 they give the horse a fiercer aspect; for when one stallion is enraged 

 against another, or if he become angry while being ridden, he expands 

 his nostrils to their full width. And the loftier the crest, and smaller 

 the ears, the more horse-like and handsome is the head rendered ; while 

 lofty withers give the rider a surer seat and produce a firmer adhesion 

 between the body and shoulder. A double loin is also softer to sit 

 upon, and pleasanter to look at, than if it be single; and a deep side, 

 rounded toward the belly, renders the horse easier to sit, and stronger, 

 and more easy to keep in condition. The shorter and broader the loin, 

 the more easily will the horse raise his fore-quarters and collect his 

 hind- quarters under him in going. These points, moreover, cause the 

 belly to appear the smaller; which, if it be large, at once injures the 

 appearance of the animal, and renders him weaker and less manageable. 

 The quarters should be broad and fleshy, in order to correspond with 

 the sides and chest; and, should they be entirely firm and solid, they 

 would be the lighter in the gallop, and the horse would be the speedier. 

 But if he should have his buttocks separated under the tail by a broad 

 line, he will bring his hind-legs under him with a wider space between 

 them, and, so doing, he will have a prouder and stronger gait and action, 

 and will in all respects be the better on them." 



Here we have described, in most exact terms, a cobby but spirited and 

 corky horse, with a light and somewhat peculiar carriage of the head and 

 neck, just as we see represented in the Elgin marbles. 



THE ROMAN HORSE 



OP THE ROMAN HORSE we know far less than of that of the Greeks, 

 but the fact of its inferiority to those of the surrounding nations is 

 established, for no sooner were they brought into collision with the 

 cavalry of Macedonia and Epirus than they succumbed. This could 

 only be owing to the quadruped, for the Roman foot-soldier was still 



