an a troop
of horses be kept free of one another, if driven in this fashion from
behind?--whereas a horse accustomed to be led from the side will have
least power of mischief to horse or man, and at the same time be in the
best position to be mounted by the rider at a moment's notice, were it
necessary.

(1) See a passage from Strattis, "Chrys." 2 (Pollux, x. 55), {prosage
ton polon atrema, proslabon ton agogea brakhuteron. oukh oras oti
abolos estin}.

In order to insert the bit correctly the groom should, in the first
place, approach on the near (2) side of the horse, and then throwing
the reins over his head, let them drop loosely on the withers; raise the
headstall in his right hand, and with his left present the bit. If the
horse will take the bit, it is a simple business to adjust the strap of
the headstall; but if he refuses to open his mouth, the groom must hold
the bit against the teeth and at the same time insert the thumb (3)
of his left hand inside the horse's jaws. Most horses will open their
mouths to that operation. But if he still refuses, then the groom must
press the lip against the tush (4); very few horses will refuse the bit,
when that is done to them. (5)

(2) Lit. "on the left-hand side."

(3) {ton megan daktulon}, Hdt. iii. 8.

(4) i.e. "canine tooth."

(5) Or, "it is a very exceptional horse that will not open his mouth
under the circumstances."

The groom can hardly be too much alive to the following points * * * if
any work is to be done: (6) in fact, so important is it that the horse
should readily take his bit, that, to put it tersely, a horse that will
not take it is good for nothing. Now, if the horse be bitted not only
when he has work to do, but also when he is being taken to his food and
when he is being led home from a ride, it would be no great marvel if he
learnt to take the bit of his own accord, when first presented to him.

(6) Reading with L. Dind. {khre de ton ippokomon kai ta oiade...
paroxunthai, ei ti dei ponein}, or if as Schneid., Sauppe, etc.,
{khre de ton ippon me kata toiade, k.t.l.}, transl. "the horse
must not be irritated in such operations as these," etc.; but
{toiade} = "as follows," if correct, suggests a lacuna in either
case at this point.

It would be good for the groom to know how to give a leg up in the
Persian fashion, (7) so that in case of illness or infirmity of age
the master himself may have a man to help