204 VARRO ON FARMING [bk. 



6 The stock they come from is of great importance, 

 for the breeds are many. So it comes about that 

 famous horses are called after their districts, as in 

 Greece, the Thessalian horses from Thessaly; in 

 Italy the Apulian from Apulia, and the Rosean 

 from Rosea. It is a sign that a horse will be a 

 good one if he strives with his fellows in the herd 

 for supremacy in running, etc., or if, when the 

 herd has to ford a river, he is among the first ^ to 

 advance, and does not keep looking back at the 

 others. The buying of horses is much the same as 

 that of asses and oxen, change of ownership being 

 effected with the same forms as those contained in 

 the Manilian Actions. 



7 The best food for horses is grass when they are 

 on the meadows, and hay when they are in stables 

 or stalls. After they have foaled, barley should be 

 added to the food of the mares, and water given 

 them twice a day. In breeding horses the male 

 should first be put to the mare some time between 



for sick men. Blood was let from veins. It was therefore an 

 advantage if they were visible and so readily found. 

 ^ In prirnis. Cf Georg., iii, 76: 



Continuo pecoHs gerierosi pullus in arvis 

 Altius ingreditur, et mollia crura reponit: 

 Primus et ire viam etjluvios tentare minaces 

 Audety et ignoto sese committere. 



Columella (vi, 28) says that the colt should be "bright and 

 full of fun, unafraid, not frightened by unaccustomed sights 

 and sounds. He should run in advance of the herd and some- 

 times romp and race with his companions and beat them, or 

 jump a ditch, or cross a bridge or river without hesitation." 



