all of these will serve as a touchstone to gauge the
endurance of his spirit and the soundness of his body.

I am far from saying, indeed, that because an animal fails to perform
all these parts to perfection, he must straightway be rejected; since
many a horse will fall short at first, not from inability, but from want
of experience. With teaching, practice, and habit, almost any horse will
come to perform all these feats beautifully, provided he be sound and
free from vice. Only you must beware of a horse that is naturally of a
nervous temperament. An over-timorous animal will not only prevent the
rider from using the vantage-ground of its back to strike an enemy, but
is as likely as not to bring him to earth himself and plunge him into
the worst of straits.

We must, also, find out of the horse shows any viciousness towards other
horses or towards human beings; also, whether he is skittish; (8) such
defects are apt to cause his owner trouble.

(8) Or, "very ticklish."

As to any reluctance on the horse's part to being bitted or mounted,
dancing and twisting about and the rest, (9) you will get a more exact
idea on this score, if, when he has gone through his work, you will try
and repeat the precise operations which he went through before you began
your ride. Any horse that having done his work shows a readiness to
undergo it all again, affords sufficient evidence thereby of spirit and
endurance.

(9) Reading {talla dineumata}, lit. "and the rest of his twistings and
twirlings about."

To put the matter in a nutshell: given that the horse is sound-footed,
gentle, moderately fast, willing and able to undergo toil, and above all
things (10) obedient--such an animal, we venture to predict, will
give the least trouble and the greatest security to his rider in the
circumstances of war; while, conversely, a beast who either out of
sluggishness needs much driving, or from excess of mettle much coaxing
and maneuvering, will give his rider work enough to occupy both his hands
and a sinking of the heart when dangers thicken.

(10) Al. "thoroughly."

IV

We will now suppose the purchaser has found a horse which he admires;
(1) the purchase is effected, and he has brought him home--how is he to
be housed? It is best that the stable should be placed in a quarter
of the establishment where the master will see the horse as often as
possible. (2) It is a good thing also to have his stall so arranged that
there