SOME OF THE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 
627 
EQUITARE, TO RIDE ON HORSEBACK. 
According to Diodorus Siculus, the Thessalians were the first 
to tame and mount horses, long after the invention of chariots. 
That province certainly had horsemen, who, at a very early 
period of antiquity, encountered wild beasts, and in the same 
way advanced to buttle. The appearance of a man on horseback, 
doubtless, gave origin to the term centaur: both were believed 
to be the same animal; nor need we be surprised at this, as the 
Mexicans fell into the same error in regard to the Spaniards. 
Bridles were soon in use. 
“ Fraena Pelethronii Lapithae, gyrosque dedere, 
Impositi dorso.’^ Virg. 
And so were horse-cloths, some very splendid.— Virg. 
** Stabant tercentum nitidi in praesepibus altis. 
Omnibus extemplo Teucris, jubet ordine duci 
Instratos ostro alipedes pictisque tapetis. 
Aurca pectoribus demissa monilia pendent/’ 
Of saddles and stirrups, however, we have no mention; so 
that some agility was required to mount and guide them :— 
Corpora saltu 
Subjiciunt in equos.” 
But then the animals were taught to bend the knee for the 
more ready convenience of the riders — 
“ Inde inclinatus collum, submissos et armos 
De more, inflexis praebebat scandere terga 
Cruribus.” Sinus Ital. 
And less agile persons could mount by a ladder, or on the backs 
of their slaves, or by heaps of stones raised for the purpose. 
The art of riding was in vogue among the Athenians, who had 
expert masters to teach it. From the heroic times the horses 
were shod in a manner not much unlike the present. Little 
bells were tied to their necks, that they might be accustomed 
to the clank of armour and the sound of warlike instruments 
in battle. The Romans were no less addicted to the art; and, 
where animals were not at hand, the exercise of mounting and 
dismounting, whether armed or not, was acquired by means of 
wooden horses, which, indeed, were very common. 
We subjoin the early history of a favourite horse-medicine 
among grooms at the present day. 
