noRSE-TEAPPiNGS.] M OD EKN VETERI N AE V I'K A CTICE. 



[cHAUiorrt. 



civilisation in the arts could make it. At a 

 later period, we find both tlio bit and tlio 

 bridle introduced into Grecian Bculi)turc3. 

 Neptune made the Komans first to teach 

 " with bits the generous horse to tame." 

 The saddle is a comparatively modern in- 

 vention ; and wo have no notice of the 

 stirrup until about the middle of the 12th 

 century of the Christian era. It, however, 

 was in use a century prior to this period ; for, 

 in the Bayeux tapestry, which was the work 

 of the wife of William the Conqueror, the 

 fi;,'ure of a horse appears, with saddle, bridle, 

 and stirrups. The more ancient heroes made 

 no use of artificial means for the purpose of 

 mounting their steeds. Their agility enabled 

 them to fling themselves upon the backs of 

 their animals with the utmost ease ; but those 

 who fought on horseback with the lance or 

 spear, usually had a loop or a cord depend- 

 inc about two feet from the bottom of 

 the shaft, or a small projection on the 

 shaft itself, by either of which they could 

 assist themselves nito their seats if neces- 

 sary. The horse was sometimes trained to 

 kneel, when his rider was going to mount 

 liim ; and, as ease and effeminacy further im- 

 paired the agility of men, short ladders came 

 into use for the purpose of scaling their 

 horses' backs. Great men had their slaves 

 to assist them both to mount and dismount ; 

 and, subsequently, that all who rode might be 

 accommodated with the means of easily getting 

 upon their horses in situaiuMis where other 

 sorts of assistance could not be procured, the 

 local magistrates of both Greece and Rome 

 had proper stepping-stones set up, at conve- 

 nient distances along the roads. In earlier 

 times, however, it was not as a ridden, but as 

 a war-chariot animal, or as an animal for show, 

 that the horse was principally used. Subse- 

 quently his speed came to be publicly tested in 

 competing for the prize at the Olympic games, 

 founded in honour of Jupiter. Here, in the 

 chariot races, his qualities were put to a severe 

 test. The Olympian festival was instituted 

 776 years before Christ ; and consisted of 

 sacrifices to Jupiter and Hercules, and in the 

 exhibition of contests to their honour. Every 

 fourth year was the period appointed for the 

 recurrence of the celebration, and an olive 

 garlaad was the only prize of victory in the 



different eierciaos. This, however, became a 



distinction greatly envied ; and the interest 

 taken in the contests, coupled with the nanc- 

 tity and splendour of the religious coromoniea, 

 brought together an immense concourse of 

 spectators, and distinguished it beyond all the 

 other iustitutions of a similar kind established 

 in Greece. Not till the twenty-third Olympiad 

 was the horse introduced into the content; 

 and not till the twenty-Iiftli as a chariot-racer. 

 The description of the chariot-racing ia thus 

 given by Mr. Touatt : — 



" The chariots were arranged abreast of each 

 other at the starting-post — for it will appear 

 tliat these gave some important advantages — 

 having been previously decided by lot. An 

 altar was erected on one side, upon which 

 stood a brazen eagle, dedicated to Jupiter, and 

 a dolphin sacred to Neptune. At a signal 

 from the presiding officer, the eagle, by some 

 mechanism, sprang into the air; the dolphin 

 sank under the ground, and away the horses 

 started. The hippodrome, or course, was 

 about one-third of a mile in length ; and at 

 the further end was a pillar, round which the 

 chariots were to be driven, and back again to 

 the starting-place, six times — making rather 

 more than four miles 



" The rounding of this pillar was the Urst test 

 of the skill of the driver and the docility of 

 the horses, and many an accident happened 

 there. This dangerous spot was no sooner 

 passed, than the competitors came at once 

 upon a strange figure, placed to try the courage 

 and nerve of the horses. It was an enormous 

 statue, called Taraxij)pus, the terrifier of tlio 

 horses ; and, according to old writers, well 

 worthy of the name. None of them describe 

 this strange deity ; but all agree that he used 

 sadly to frighten the steeds, and ofu-n t'> 

 endanger their lives, and also the life of t.j 

 driver 



" A little further on was a lofty rock, in the 

 very centre of the course, leaving only a very, 

 narrow defile, in the passing through which the 

 skill of the charioteer was severely tried ; while 

 several men placed on the rock, increased the 

 confusion and the terror of the horses, by the 

 continual braying of their trumpets. 



" As may be well supposed, the number of 

 the competitors was much diminished ere the 

 conclusion of the race. Some ran against the 



