Xenophon and Ancient Equestrianism

Moray Luke bag at a stable

For a brand who adores the water, it's not just the swimming we are looking forward to during the Olympics this year. For us, despite the controversies in the news regarding it, its equestrianism is a sport of intrigue for us. Whilst modern day equestrian practices have left us with questions, we have to shine light on an Olympic hero who is never given honours,the story of Halla the horse.

  ‘Peace baby’ Halla is one of the most remarkable stories that have come out of the Olympics. The three time Olympic Gold medal winning crossbreed's story of determination despite countless failures is one for the history books. Born in 1945 in the yard of Gustav Vierling, to Helene, a German war horse of unknown origins, she was initially trained for steeplechase but later discovered by the German Olympic Committee for Eventing. Despite her difficult temperament and multiple rider changes, Halla eventually found success with Hans Gunter Winkler. An Olympics powerhouse, Halla won 3 gold medals in show jumping. In 1956 in Stockholm, Winkler and Halla won gold medals in both team and individual show jumping. Four years later, at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, they secured another gold medal in team show jumping. 

Image Credit; HNRZ, Halla the inspiration for this article

Whilst we associate Greece with many military connotations, the Panhellenic games didn’t feature exclusively military inspired events. Whilst Hoplitodromos, Pyx and Packration were staples in the arenas, the Olympic games were about individual’s physical endeavour rather than team sports that came together rather than something that portrayed more battle scenes like the Romans. During the Archaic period we had Xenophon who created the blueprint for modern dressage. We are going to look in to Xenophon and ancient equestrianism.

Before we dive into Xenophon’s life; it's quite shocking that nobody has made a film on this man. Not only was Xenophon a Greek historian, philosopher and soldier but he also studied under Socrates and wrote many works . His most famous works include Anabasis, which archives Xenophon's journey with the Ten Thousand, a large Greek mercenary army, Hellenica which covers the Peloponnsian war and Memorabilia which is about his recollections of Socrates. However in this piece we will discuss Xenophon's works on horsemanship,  ‘On Horsemanship’ and ‘The Cavalry Commander’. ‘On Horsemanship’ and ‘The Cavalry Commander’  are some of the oldest guides in horsemanship. To note scholar Annelies Koolen has conducted fantastic research that has helped us understand Xenophon’s work so shout out to Annalise. 

 ‘On Horsemanship’ and ‘The Cavalry Commander’ tracks how Xenophon, an Athenian, was deeply dissatisfied with the direction Athens was taking. He believed that the cavalry needed significant reform and that military leadership should prioritise skilled soldiers rather than politicians who prioritised personal profit. 

Image Credit; Aphrodisias Museum

During his time in Persia, Xenophon forged friendships with Spartans, including King Agesilaus the second. These relationships provided him with valuable insights into Spartan military discipline and organisation. Xenophon also encountered the Scythians, a nomadic people known for their exceptional horsemanship. The Greeks mingled with these communities, who treated their horses with great care and integrated them into their daily lives and military practices.

Xenophon's experiences in Persia and his interactions with different cultures enriched his understanding of effective military practices. He learned that successful cavalry operations required not only well-trained horses but also skilled and dedicated riders. His observations led him to advocate for rigorous and continuous training for both horses and riders, emphasising the importance of military expertise over political popularity in leadership roles. 

It's (of course) the Renaissance which gave us modern dressage practices but Xenophon is one of the most unheard of figures in history in regards to how much he contributed. I don’t know how to end this piece considering the controversies happening at the time of writing regarding the accusations British equestrians are facing but horses need love and care, and Xenophon is one of the earliest advocates for this.