25^ XENOPHON's TREATISE 



avoids freting and teazing an horfe is moft likely to 

 make him quiet, and reconcile him to his duty. 



When fuch an horfe therefore is to be mounted, all 

 polTible care fliould be taken not to alarm or offend 

 him ; and after he is mounted, he (hould be fuffered to 

 fland flill a longer time than ufual, and be directed then 

 to go on by the moft gentle figns. Let him begin at a 

 flow rate, and increafe his pace by fuch fmall degrees, 

 that he may pafs to a quicker motion almoft without 

 perceiving it. 



Horfes which are quick and hoc in their temper 

 like men, are difturbcd by any thing that affeds them 

 fuddenly, and apt to be furprifed by unufual fights and 

 founds. When you wilh therefore to flacken the pace 

 of an eager horfe, which hurries on too faft ; and to pa- 

 cify his fury, fo as to make him go temperately, or 

 even oblige him to flop, you fhould not attempt to do 

 it at once, and with violence, but artfully and by de- 

 grees, gently pulling him in, then yielding the bridle, 

 and playing with his mouth in fuch a manner as if 

 you intended rather to win his Confent, than /or^re his 



obedience. 



In forming an high-fpirited horfe, it fhould be 

 known that, in order to make him gentle and quiet, 

 he fhould be rode ftrait forward, and be put to make 

 fhort Turnings as feldom as polTiblej he fliould like- 

 wife be kept to a flow and calm pace for a long time 

 together j by this prudent and mild treatment, his im- 

 petuofity will moft probably abate, and his temper be 



foftened 



