The Art of Horsemanship

The first ever book of it's kind on selecting, training and riding horses, eloquently written by an articulate ancient Greek horseman. A quick read but entertaining and enlightening. This English translation is very fluid and easy to understand. Xenophon covers all the basics of horse husbandry that are still followed 2500 years later. If you are thinking of owning or training a horse, this work is a good place to start.

Before there was dressage there was Xenophon. He was a general and horseman, though it's hard to tell which he was first. It doesn't take a genius to realize that the man knew what he was talking about - otherwise we wouldn't be reading his words MILLENIA after he wrote them. I wonder if his horses felt they were lucky he was their rider - I know I feel lucky that we can still read his ideas.

This is one of the books that I actually took to college with me due to its unusual author. Xenophon wrote this work from the his viewpoint of a cavalry commander several thousand years ago. Even though the work is literally dated his knowledge has never ceased to be of interest to modern riders. Perhaps the first novel ever written on horsemanship it includes training troops, choosing horses, and putting on army displays. Although not the best choice for a person who desires a book to teach them to ride, this book will be a delight for any horseperson desiring to learn about ancient cavalry practices and the origins of the horse in military settings.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THE TWIN PASSIONS OF HORSES AND HISTORY, THIS BOOK WAS FASINATING TO READ. XENOPHON SPEAKS LIKE MANY OF THE TRAINERS TODAY WHO ARE "TRAININ GENTLE". THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF COURSE BECAUSE HIS MAIN THRUST IS A TRUSTWORTHY MOUNT FOR A CAVALRY THAT DID NOT USE SADDLES. HIS AFFECTION FOR THE ANIMALS IS APPARENT FROM THE OPENING PAGE. THIS BOOK WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO ANYONE WHO IS IN LOVE WITH HORSES, OR WOULD LIKE A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ANCIENT USE OF CAVALRY.

Really interesting book This man had a good eye and an outstanding knowledge of horses. This book covers the care, training and ridding in a way that is just as accurate now as it was a couple thousand years ago. One must remember that these guys depended on their horses in order to do battle and to travel, in other words to survive. It must also be remembered that these ridders were not using sturrips as they had not been invented as yet. Great book at any price - but really hard to find - a real good look into practical horsemanship that hasen't changed much in 2,000 years - maybe we have changed but the horse hasen't