For anyone who has ever fallen in love with a horse, the bond can be powerful and life-changing. These equestrian quotes are the perfect way to express that special relationship, and they can help us understand how horses can bring out the best in people. From inspirational to funny, these quotes are sure to make you fall even harder in love with your valiant steed or mare.
We’ve all heard the saying, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” It is an expression that conveys the difficulty of training horses and other animals. It also speaks to the importance of forming a deep connection with horses and treating them with empathy. The more you love and respect a horse, the better trained it will be.
Another famous equestrian quote is, “You are not a rider until you’ve fallen off seven times.” It is a good reminder to take your time when riding, and to be patient as you learn the ropes. The more you practice, the better you will become, and eventually you’ll be able to ride without falling off.
If you’re looking for a new horse, Xenophon suggests that you consider a young colt with a strong neck and head to resist the urge to put its head down. He also mentions that a horse with broad and smooth junctions that bend easily will not have the tendency to grab the bit in its jaws, as would be the case with a stiff one. He recommends that you use a soft, flexible bit with large discs.
For a war-mount, Xenophon recommends that you test the horse by jumping over walls and ditches as well as galloping up and down steep inclines. A horse that cannot perform these tests should not be rejected, as it may simply be untrained. However, he warns that a skittish and vicious horse is unacceptable.
He also says that a good war-mount should be fast, sound and gentle, with a high spirit. A horse should also be supple, with short and strong loins (Xenophon believes that a long loin will allow the horse to overpower its rider), and with a stout back.
You can test a horse’s spirit and soundness by asking it to gallop up and down steep inclines, jump walls and ditches and plow through fields. Xenophon also explains that a good war-mount should have broad and smooth joints with several parts fitted around the axles, rather than being closely packed together.
These quotes are just a small sample of the vast amount of information that Xenophon provides for a horseman. He describes a wide variety of skills that horsemen need to master, including proper feeding, the use of a bit, and grooming. He also discusses equitation techniques, and how to train a horse to rear. In addition to being an excellent guide for horsemen, his writings have become the basis of many popular idioms that we still use today.