52 XENOPHON ON HORSEMANSHIP. 



proper time to set down how to treat either 

 one in the most correct fashion. In the first 

 place you are to know that mettle is to a 

 horse what temper is to a man. Exactly, 

 therefore, as a man who neither says nor does 

 anything harsh would be least likely to rouse 

 the temper of his neighbour, so one who 

 avoids fretting a high-mettled horse would be 

 the last to exasperate him. At the very out- 

 set, then, in mounting, care should be taken to 

 mount without annoying him. After mount- 

 ing, the rider should sit quiet more than the 

 ordinary time, and then move him forward 

 by the most gentle signs possible. Next, 

 beginning very slowly, induce him in turn to 

 quicker paces in such a way that the horse 

 may reach full speed almost without know- 

 ing it. Every abrupt sign that you make 

 him — sudden sights, sounds, or impressions 

 — all disturb a high-mettled horse just as 

 they do a man. [Abruptness, you must re- 

 member, always confuses a horse.^^j if you 

 want to collect a high-mettled horse when he 

 is dashing along faster than is convenient, 

 you should not draw rein abruptly, but 

 should win him over gently with the bit, 



