 Unfortunately, however, the actual set of circumstances that greeted the young equestrienne upon arrival in Greece, did little to inspire confidence in her leather-corseted bosom. No, the situation she found was most dire, a much-lauded father tearing at his hair, mother weeping, and two brothers asleep upon their cots at midday, both the sorry victims of too much wine the previous eve. Disgusted by the family’s woeful state, Hippeke banged a riding crop against her father’s breastplate left lying neglected in the atrium, in order to attract mighty Xenophon’s attention. Turning about, the veteran warrior merely sighed when he viewed his female issue; no cry of welcome did he utter, no sign of paternal care was forthcoming. “Is this the house of Xenophon?” the young lady asked in mock amazement. “A victor’s camp or that of a madman? Do you not know your own child?” “By Athena, I did not!” the stunned soldier exclaimed. “Come here, Hippeke, embrace this old fool and accept his blessing.” The fair maid gladly followed the general’s directive, planting a large kiss of affection on the distinguished gentleman’s lined forehead. “But what ails you, father? What bad fortune has descended upon our family?” “Come walk with me,” Xenophon began. “We shall speak with candor outside these walls.” So the two made for the comforts afforded a lush garden decorated with white marble statues of Pallas, Apollo, Diana, Mars and Demeter, the mare goddess. “The men are beginning to rebel, darling Hippeke, for the Greek cavalry has become weakened by costly battles and inner rebellion. I make offerings to the gods, supplications to the great goddesses, too, asking them for advice, but in vain. All my contemporaries look to me for guidance in this matter, but I know not what to do…how might one man control a large army, how might this general stage a foray against his own corps?” “By treating your men as would an amazon queen her horse,” the military female answered without hesitation. “Should I make you a report, father, of the practices of those illustrious equestriennes? By applying the same tenets to your troops, Greece may be saved inglorious defeat.” “Would you do this thing? Dare I dream?” the elated Xenophon cried out with joy. “Might you begin immediately, once you have rested and supped?” “My country’s honor knows no appetite,” came the proud lady’s reply. “Wise Demeter will aid me in this project; direct mother to pray this evening to the mare goddess and you will have your result by morn. And father?" she finished. “Yes, dear child?” “Should you find my essay useful, you may pen your name upon it’s title page, if you might but grant me a stable of my choosing.” “Anything,” the relieved commander agreed. “The finest horses in all of Greece, descendants of Poseidon’s own stud, will be yours, should you so desire.” Before long the words Hippeke on Horsemanship appeared upon a scribe’s tablet of wax. Insomuch as we have had a long experience of cavalry, and consequently claim familiarity with the art of equitation, we wish to explain what we believe to be the correct method of dealing with horses. “Very nice,” the scribe commented. “You possess a most learned style, my lady.” “Hmmm…” the authoress pondered. “What were the most important rules the Amazons taught in their riding academies? Hmmm…” For judging an unbroken colt, the only criterion, obviously, is the body, for no clear signs of temper are to be detected in an animal that has not yet had an Amazon upon his back. In examining the body, we say you must first look to the feet. For, just as a house is bound to be worthless if the foundations are unsound, however well the upper parts may look, so a war horse will be quite useless if he has bad feet; for in that case he will be unable to use any of his good points. The bones of the shanks should be thick, since these are the pillars of the steed; but not heavy with veins nor with flesh or the legs will be prone to swelling, apt to give way and lame the horse. The arms, below the shoulders, as in a man, are stronger and better looking if they are thick. A chest of some width is better formed both for appearance and for strength. In a similar fashion, for many hours, laboured Hippeke and her scribe. Treatise upon treatise, fact upon fact, was diligently expounded and recorded until the duo paused after: To wit: the horse that is sure on his feet, fairly speedy, has the will and strength to stand work, and above all else, is obedient, is the horse that will give the least trouble and the greatest measure of safety to his rider in battle. Now, whereas the goddesses have given Amazons the power of instructing one another in their duty by word of mouth, it is obvious that a mistress may teach a horse absolutely nothing by word of mouth. If, however, you reward him when he behaves as you wish, and punish him when he is disobedient, he will best learn to do your bidding and his duty. This rule may be stated in few words, but it applies to the entire art of horsemanship. Then the tract did address the proper appointment of the stableyard and barns; care and general animal husbandry; the correct employment of bit, bridles, muzzles, reins and saddle; mounting and dismounting; dressage; parade training. Yet, Hippeke considered the most important point of the tract this statement: If an Amazon buys her horses well, trains them so they can stand hard work, and uses them properly in the enterprise of warfare, on the parade ground as well as on the battlefield, what is there to hinder her from making horses more valuable than they are when she takes them over, and why should she not be the owner of famous horses, and also become famous herself for her horsemanship, provided no divine goddess prevents? Dawn, gorgeous Aurora, had by that time appeared and the proud lass sent her scribe off with a gold Scythian coin and a tap of her whip, practically racing to Xenophon’s study with glee to present the general with her work. Granted the father took the credit for the eventual success of the daughter’s project, but he did not forget his Hippeke’s request for a stable of her own. And the four-legged steeds of that Greco-Amazon’s stud knew full well that when the crack of her fillet stung their buttocks, or the burn of her spurs grazed their thighs, that they might have been wiser to have listened to their commander-in-chief and not disobeyed his orders on the field. For such was the fate of those men who attempted to desert from the Greek army’s ranks - breaking-in at the hands of that consummate horsewoman - the lovely, stern mistress whom the Amazons gave the title: Xenophonia.   |
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