A treatise on the cavalry and saddle horse: with remarks on racing and leaping, Veterinary Library's copy part of the John A. Seaverns Equine Collection.
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- A treatise on the cavalry and saddle horse
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Page 2 of 7. Royal Windsor Horse Show. Centenary commemorations mark the liberation of Beersheba in which General Allenby's troops breached the line of Ottoman defenses between Gaza and Beersheba. Ajax has nearly 22 years of military service. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Bills right , 1st Cav. Army photo by Staff Sgt.
Christopher Calvert, 1st Cav. Hungary horse symbol The saddle horse for equitation Carrying out horse with horsewoman vector Cemetery Ridge, Hancock Ave.
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Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania. For over 85 years stallions have been presented to breeders and horse lovers in Moritzburg. A saddle with the emblem of Munich's police seen on a police horse during a press event at the police headquarters of the Munich cavalry division. Bavaria's Premier Soeder announced in a government statement to set up a cavalry division at every Bavarian large city. So far, however, there are no information regarding the plans and the costs. Taken in France in Army photo by Pfc. Dated in AD. Found in Gedeon Street, Cologne, Germany.
Detail of the bottom. Battle, East Sussex, UK. Xenophon suggests using the volte as an exercise for the horse, as it makes him easy to turn in either direction and makes both sides of the mouth equally responsive. He also describes an ovular pattern, with a wheeling performed on the turns and galloping on the straight sections. However, he notes that on the curve the horse should be slowed, as it is unsafe to make a tight turn at high speeds, especially when the footing is slippery.
When collecting the horse, the rider should try to use as little rein as possible. He should not change the incline of his body, as he is likely to end up falling off. After the horse has been turned, he should immediately be urged to a fast gallop. This is to help him practice charging, which will be useful in battle.
The horse should be allowed a short break, before being suddenly asked to gallop his fastest away from other horses. He should then be halted, turned, and galloped back toward them. The horse should never be dismounted near other horses nor a group of people, but on the exercising ground where he was worked. In this section, Xenophon outlines advanced training exercises for the war-horse, including jumping and cross-country riding. He also instructs the rider on how to perform these exercises, so that both the horse and rider may be well trained, and better able to help each other in difficult situations.
A green horse, that has never jumped, should first be introduced to a ditch on the leading rein, which should be held loose. The master should cross the obstacle first, and then pull the leading rein tight to encourage the horse to follow. If he does not, a whip should be applied smartly. Xenophon mentions that the horse will not only clear the obstacle, but will overjump it, and will thereafter not require a switch to entice him to jump but simply the sight of someone coming behind him.
When the horse is comfortable jumping in this manner, he may be mounted and ridden first over small, and then over larger, trenches. When the horse is about to leap over any obstacle, Xenophon recommends applying the spur on takeoff, so that the horse will use his whole body over the obstacle and make a safer jump.
If this is not done, he may lag with his hind end. When training a horse to gallop up or down a steep incline, he should first be taught on soft ground. Xenophon mentions that the reader should not fear that the horse will dislocate a shoulder when running downhill. Xenophon then turns to the position of the rider. For galloping, the rider should lean slightly forward as the horse takes off, as the horse will be less likely to slip from under the rider. When pulling the horse up, the rider should lean back, which will lessen the shock of the sudden change in speed.
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Xenophon also suggests the rider loosen the reins and grab the mane when jumping a ditch or climbing an incline, so that he does not pull the horse in the mouth. Going down a steep incline, the rider should throw himself straight backward and hold the horse with the bit. It is recommended that these exercises be varied in the place they are performed and in duration, so the horse does not become bored.
As an exercise for the rider to improve his seat at the gallop over all terrain, Xenophon suggests hunting on horseback. If this is not possible, he suggests two riders work together, with one chasing the other. The horseman chasing should have blunted javelins to throw at the other. Xenophon ends this section by reiterating the fact that the master should show kindness to the horse, and punish him only when he is disobedient.
The horse will then be more willing, knowing that obedience is rewarded. Xenophon emphasizes the importance when riding a very spirited horse of annoying the animal as little as possible. After mounting, the rider should sit quietly for a longer period than usual, and only ask the horse to move off with the slightest of aids. He should begin at a slow gait, and only gradually work his way up to faster gaits.
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Sudden signals will only disturb the horse. To pull up the spirited horse, the rider should do so very slowly and quietly, rather than harshly, bringing the bit slowly against him to coax him to slow down. A spirited horse will be happier if he is allowed to gallop on straight rather than continually being asked to turn, and should be allowed to carry out a pace for a long time, as this has a soothing effect and will help him relax. One should not ask for several fast gallops with the intent of tiring the horse, as that will simply anger him. The spirited horse should always be held on check, so that he may not run away with his rider.
He should never be raced against other horses, as that will only make him more difficult to handle. As a rule, a smooth bit is better than a rough bit. If a rough bit is used, it should be used gently enough that it resembles a smooth bit this principle is still a basis used today. A rider must be especially careful to keep a quiet seat on a spirited horse, and to touch him as little as possible, except with the parts of the body needed to keep a firm seat. The master should never approach a spirited horse in excitement, and should avoid bringing things toward the animal that frighten it.
When battle is to begin, it is best for the rider to halt and rest the horse, and if possible to feed him.
However, Xenophon suggests that overly spirited horses not be bought for the purpose of war. Xenophon suggests that dull horses be ridden in a manner in every respect opposite to that used for the spirited horse. In the next section, Xenophon describes how to make a horse showy, with a great and noble bearing. Ahead of his time, he emphasized that the rider should not pull on the bit nor spur or whip the horse, as this type of riding causes the opposite effect, simply distracting and frightening the animal and causing him to dislike being ridden.
Instead, Xenophon urges, the horse must enjoy himself. He should be trained to be ridden on a loose rein, to hold his head high, arch his neck, and paw with his front legs, taking pleasure in being ridden.
A treatise on the cavalry and saddle horse
To do so, Xenophon suggests the rider have two bits: When the horse seizes the harsher one, he will not like the pain, and will drop the bit. The rider may control the severity of the bit by controlling the amount of slack in the rein. Then, when he is ridden in the milder bit, he will be grateful for its smoothness, and will perform all his movements with greater happiness and exuberance.
The large discs on the smooth bit will prevent him from taking hold. All bits should be flexible so that the horse, as he would in a stiff bit, can not take hold of it in his jaws and pull. With a loose bit, the horse will keep a softer mouth as he has nothing to grab, and will drop the bit from his bars.
Xenophon goes on to describe a flexible bit as one with broad and smooth junctions, which bend easily, and with several parts fitted around the axles that are not closely packed. A stiff bit would be one in which the parts do not easily slide, but push into each other. The rider, no matter which bit is used, when turning should pull the bit enough to create a response, but not so much that the horse tosses his head aside. At the instant where the horse raises his neck to the pull, the rider should give the bit and lighten the pressure as a reward.
Therefore, when the horse is enjoying arching his neck and carrying his head high, the rider should not ask the horse for severe exertion, but be gentle, as if he wants to give the horse a rest. The horse will then be more likely to take up a rapid pace, as a horse enjoys moving at a rapid pace, as long as he is not asked to do so excessively. If the rider signals the horse to gallop off, and holds him back with the bit, the horse will collect himself and raise his chest and forelegs.
This will not be with natural suppleness, however, because the horse is annoyed by the restraint. However, if horse's fire is kindled which may be assumed to mean that he has energy and power , and the rider relaxes the bit, the horse will move forward with pride, a stately bearing, and pliant legs. He will not only be willing, but will show himself off in the greatest grandeur, spirited and beautiful. A horse to be used for parade and state processions should have a high spirit and powerful body.
Although some might believe that flexible legs will allow the horse to rear, this is not the case. Instead, the animal must have a supple loin that is short and strong here, Xenophon refers to the area between the ribs and gaskins, which may be assumed to be the flank, rather than the loins. The horse will then be able to place his hindquarters under, and when pulled up with the bit he will lower himself onto his hocks and raise his front end so that his whole belly down to his sheath may be seen. At the moment the horse does this, the rider should relax the rein, so that the horse performs it of his own free will.
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There are several methods of teaching the horse to rear. Some switch the horse under its hocks; others have an attendant run alongside the horse and strike him on the gaskins. However, Xenophon prefers a gentler method, using the horse's desire for a reward should he be obedient. He goes on to say that a horse's performance would be no more beautiful than that of a dancer taught by whips and goads if he were forced under the same conditions.
The horse should, instead, perform of his own accord in response to set signals by the rider. To do this, Xenophon says, for example, gallop the horse hard until he begins to prance and show his airs, at which time the rider should at once dismount and remove the bit. This reward will cause the horse, at a later time, to show himself off of his own accord. If the master of such a splendid horse is a general of cavalry, and if his horse's airs and great prancing makes the slightest move forward what could possible be interpreted as the passage , so that the cavalry horses may follow behind him at a walking pace, and the group move forward at a pace neither too fast nor too slow, not only the general will have a thrilling effect.
If it brings out the fire and spirit of the neighing and snorting animals, the whole company will be a thrilling spectacle. In the final section of his treatise, Xenophon describes the equipment for both the horse and the rider when riding into battle. For the rider, he mentions that the corselet should fit properly, and that the rider should use a Boeotian helmet. The gauntlet was recommended to protect the left hand of the horseman which holds the reins , protecting the shoulder, arm, elbow and armpit.
Its fit is further discussed.
A treatise on the cavalry and saddle horse Stock Photo: - Alamy
The horse's armor was then discussed, with a frontlet, breastplate, and thigh-pieces. The belly of the horse was also recommended to be protected with a saddle cloth. The limbs of the horse should also be protected. Xenophon goes on to discuss his weapons of choice, the machaira and two javelins of cornel-wood , and explains how properly to throw the javelin while mounted.
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