On Horsemanship

A sound hoof, Xenophon says, rings against the earth like a cymbal. In choosing a horse, that small note may matter more than a handsome head or powerful frame.

Writing in ancient Greece around 355 BC, Xenophon offers younger horsemen the hard-won counsel of a rider who has spent years in the saddle. He begins with a question every buyer must face: how do you judge an unbroken colt, whose spirit is still a mystery? Look first to the feet, he urges, then follow the evidence through the legs and body; even a magnificent warhorse is of little use if its foundations fail. From careful choice, Xenophon turns to the patience and skill needed to handle and train a horse. What can a close inspection tell you before the first ride?

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