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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: hand he should grip the reins along with a tuft of hair beside the
shoulder-joint,[3] so that he may not in any way wrench the horse's
mouth with the bit while mounting. In the act of taking the spring off
the ground for mounting,[4] he should hoist his body by help of the
left hand, and with the right at full stretch assist the upward
movement[5] (a position in mounting which will present a graceful
spectacle also from behind);[6] at the same time with the leg well
bent, and taking care not to place his knee on the horse's back, he
must pass his leg clean over to the off side; and so having brought
his foot well round, plant himself firmly on his seat.[7]
[1] Reading {otan . . . paradexetai . . . os anabesomenos}. Or,
On Horsemanship |
