The Art of Horsemanship

"The Art of Horsemanship" by Xenophon is the first ever book of its kind on selecting, training and riding horses. Eloquently written by an articulate ancient Greek horseman, "The Art of Horsemanship" is 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, "The Art of Horsemanship" is a good place to start. For those of us who have the twin passions of horses and history, this book is fascinating to read. Xenophon speaks like trainers today who are "training 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.