page_title: On Horsemanship
section_title: Part I: Selecting a Young Horse
hierarchical_section_title: On Horsemanship / Contents of On horsemanship / Part I: Selecting a Young Horse
caption_attribution_description: English: Head of a horse from Selene's chariot. Parthenon east pediment, ca. 447–433 BC. Français&#160;: Tête d'un cheval tirant le char de Séléné. Figure O du fronton Est du Parthénon, vers 447-433 av. J.-C.
context_page_description: 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. 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.
context_section_description: 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
  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.
caption: The ideal head of the warhorse
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