28 XENOPHON ON HORSEMANSHIP. 



the stealing of grain, but also because you 

 can easily tell when the horse refuses his 

 feed. Observing this, you may know either 

 that there is too much blood in him, or that 

 he has been overworked and wants rest, or 

 that barley surfeit" or some other disease is 

 coming on. In the horse, as in the man, all 

 diseases are easier to cure at the start than 

 after they have become chronic and have 

 been wrongly diagnosed. 



The same care which is given to the 

 horse's food and exercise, to make his body 

 grow strong, should also be devoted to keep- 

 ing his feet in condition. Even naturally 

 sound hoofs get spoiled in stalls with moist, 

 smooth floors. The floors should be slop- 

 ing, to avoid moisture, and, to prevent 

 smoothness, stones ^^ should be sunk close to 

 one another, each about the size of the 

 hoofs. The mere standing on such floors 

 strengthens the feet. Further, of course, the 

 groom should lead the horse out somewhere 

 to rub him down, and should loose him 

 from the manger after breakfast, so that he 

 may go to dinner the more readily. This 

 place outside of the stall would be best suited 



