OF HORSEMANSHIP. j c, 



This method was likewife praclifed by the Perjians 

 and, by the above cited line, appears to have been in 

 ufe w^ith the Romans, as well as that of flieering the 

 manes of then- manni or nags : whence Propenius 

 fays, his miftrefs Cynthia was carried in her litter by 

 fhorn horfes : 



■ Et mea detcnjis adveMa eji Cynthia mannis, 

 Varro likewife dircils the mane to be turned to the 

 right fide. They alfo tied it in knots, or plaited it, as 

 the word impUcata aptly expreiTes *. 



No particular reafon is afligned why the mane was 

 always turned on the right fide; it might be owing, per- 

 haps, to the cuftom of mounting on the right, which 

 was frequently, but not always the pravftice ; and in 

 that cafe, the mane hanging on the fide, from which 

 the horfeman got up, offered itfelf to his hand to allift 

 hina in the a(5tion ; while we, without any meaning, 

 always mount on the left, and always turn the mane 

 to the right. The Armenians had another method of 

 trimming their horfes, as well as the Parthians, by 

 which they made them as it were t^oz/^/e-maned ; for 

 the hair being cut away in the middle, the mane was 

 divided, and falling down, cloathed each fide of the 

 neck. A fafliion fometimes ufed at prefent, but ge- 

 nerally among coach-horfes. 



Media was a region eminent for its horfes, and from 

 its fituation and other properties, produced them of 

 equal value with the neighbouring countries. 



* Lib. iv. c. J. 



D 2 Mfeea, 



