THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 3 



whether he was first used for draught or riding. It is 

 probable that the animal was employed for both pur- 

 poses in very early times, and in various parts of the 

 world; but though many of the ancients possessed 

 great mastery over their horses, and performed with 

 them admirable feats of skill and agility, it is never- 

 theless surprising by what slow steps the arts and 

 inventions, connected with horsemanship, have reached 

 their present degree of perfection. The polished 

 Greeks, as well as the ruder nations of northern 

 Africa, for a long while rode without either saddle 

 or bridle, guiding their horses with the voice or the 

 hand, or with a light switch. They touched the 

 animal on the right or left of the face to make him 

 turn in the opposite direction ; they stopped him by 

 touching his muzzle, and urged him forward with the 

 heel. The horses must have been excellently trained, 

 to be governed by such slight means, in the violence 

 of their course, or in the tumult of battle ; but the 

 attention, docility, and memory of this animal are 

 such, that it is hard to say to what a degree of 

 obedience he may not be brought. 



Bridles and bits were at length introduced ; but 

 many centuries elapsed before any thing that can pro- 

 perly be called a saddle was used. Instead of these, 

 cloths, single or padded, and skins of wild beasts, 



