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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: [5] Reading {didaskalion}, al. {didaskalion}, "systems." Schneid. cf.
Herod. v. 58.
To quote a dictum of Simon, what a horse does under compulsion he does
blindly, and his performance is no more beautiful than would be that
of a ballet-dancer taught by whip and goad. The performances of horse
or man so treated would seem to be displays of clumsy gestures rather
than of grace and beauty. What we need is that the horse should of his
own accord exhibit his finest airs and paces at set signals.[6]
Supposing, when he is in the riding-field,[7] you push him to a gallop
until he is bathed in sweat, and when he begins to prance and show his
airs to fine effect, you promptly dismount and take off the bit, you
On Horsemanship |
