The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: horse's mouth, both when taking him out to be groomed and to the
rolling-ground.[4] In fact he should always muzzle him whenever he
takes him anywhere without the bit. The muzzle, while it is no
hindrance to respiration, prevents biting; and when attached it serves
to rob the horse of opportunity for vice.[5]
[4] Cf. "Econ." xi. 18; Aristoph. "Clouds," 32.
[5] Or, "prevents the horse from carrying out vicious designs."
Again, care should be taken to tie the horse up with the halter above
his head. A horse's natural instinct, in trying to rid himself of
anything that irritates the face, is to toss up his head, and by this
upward movement, if so tied, he only slackens the chain instead of
 On Horsemanship |