On Horsemanship is the English title usually given to Περὶ ἱππικῆς, peri hippikēs, one of the two treatises on horsemanship by the Athenian historian and soldier Xenophon (c. 430–354 BC). Other common titles for this work are De equis alendis and The Art of Horsemanship. The other work by Xenophon on horsemanship is Ἱππαρχικὸς, hipparchikos, usually known as Hipparchicus, or The cavalry commander. The title De re equestri may refer to either of the two. On horsemanship deals with the selection, care and training of horses in general. Military training and the duties of the cavalry commander are dealt with in the Hipparchicus.
History Written in about 355 BC, the treatises of Xenophon were considered the earliest extant works on horsemanship in any literature until the publication by Bedřich Hrozný in 1931 of a Hittite text, that by Kikkuli of the Mitanni Kingdom, which dates from about 1360 BC. A treatise on horsemanship by Pliny the Elder is believed lost, as was that by Simon of Athens, which is twice mentioned by Xenophon in On Horsemanship. Some fragments of Simon's treatise survive, however; they were published by Ruehl in 1912.
Early editions The first printed edition of On Horsemanship is that in the complete edition of Xenophon of 1516 from the Giunti press:
Begin. Ταδε ̓ενεστιν ̓εν τͅηδε τͅη βιβλͅω· Ξενοφωντος Κυρου Παιδειας βιβλια ηʹ ... Hæc in hoc libro continentur. X. Cyri pedias libri VIII. Anabaseos libri VII.; ... apomnemoneumaton; ... venatoria; ... de re equestri; ... de equis alendis; lacedæmonum resp.; ... atheniensium resp.; ... œconomica; ... hieron.; ... symposium; ... de græcorum gestis libri VII. [With dedication by E. Boninus] (editio princeps) Florentiæ: In ædibus P. Juntæ, 1516 The earliest printing in Greek in England may be:
Ξ. Λογος περι Ἱππικης. Ἱππαρχικος. Κυνηγετικος. Accessere veterum testimonia de X. (Edited by H. Aldrich.)Ἐκ Θεατρου ἐν Ὀξονιᾳ, ᾳχζγ [Oxford: Clarendon Press 1693]
Translations Richard Berenger (1771). The history and art of horsemanship. London: T. Davies and T. Cadell, pages 219–234. Maurice Ashley Cooper et al. (1832). The whole works of Xenophon. London: Jones & Co., pages 717–728. Morris H. Morgan (1893). The Art of Horsemanship by Xenophon. Boston: Little, Brown, pages 13–68.
Contents of On horsemanship
Part I: Selecting a Young Horse Xenophon details what is to be examined when inspecting a horse to buy as a war-mount. He is especially careful to stress the importance of soundness. His recommendations include:
A hoof of thick horn, and a frog that is held off the ground. Pasterns that are not too straight and upright, as these will jar the rider and are more likely to become sore, nor too long and low, as they will strike the ground when galloping and will be cut on rocks. Thick cannon bones Good bend in the knees, as the horse is less likely to stumble or to break down Thick and muscular forearms Broad chest, for both beauty and because the legs will be less likely to interfere A neck that is high-set and carried upward. Xenophon believed this would allow the horse to better see what was in front of him, and also make him less able to overpower the rider, because it would be more difficult to put his head down. A bony head with a small jawbone, a soft mouth, and prominent eyes for good vision Large nostrils, for good respiration and a fiercer appearance A large crest and small ears Tall withers, to help hold the rider on, and to give a good attachment between the shoulder and the body Double "loins" are more comfortable to sit on, as well as prettier A deep, rounded side, which allows the rider to stay on more easily, and allows the horse to better digest his food Broad, short loins, allowing the horse to raise the forehand and engage the hindend (Xenophon describes the ability to collect), and are stronger than long loins. The hindquarters should be muscular and firm, for speed The gaskins and buttocks should be well separated, so the horse stands wide behind, allowing him to be more balanced, and to give a prouder bearing He should not have large testicles (also knowing how the young horse reacts when being ridden, and also the signs it knows and the signs that it was trained with,) Xenophon then directs the reader to look at a young colt's cannons to predict his height. Many of Xenophon's suggestions are still applied today when selecting a sport horse.
Part II: Breaking the Colt Xenophon first makes a point to say that the reader should not waste his time nor endanger his health by personally breaking colts. Before the horse is delivered to the trainer, the owner should know that he has a good temperament and gentle nature. The horse should trust people, knowing that they are the providers of food and water. If this is done correctly, the young colt should grow to love people. The groom should stroke or scratch the colt, so that he enjoys human company, and should take the young horse through crowds to accustom him to different sights and noises. If the colt is frightened, the groom should reassure him, rather than punish him, and teach the animal that there is nothing to fear.
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