As soon as he has grown accustomed to leap in this way, let him be mounted
						and tried first at narrow, and then at wider ditches. Just as he is on the
						point of springing touch him with the spur. Similarly he should be taught to
						leap up and to leap down by a touch of the spur. For if he does all these
						things with his body compactly gathered, it will be safer for the horse as
						well as the rider than if his hind-quarters lag in taking a leap over, or in
						springing upwards or jumping downwards. Going down hill should first be taught on soft
						ground; and in the end, when the horse gets used to this, he will canter
						down more readily than up hill. If some fear that horses may put out their
						shoulders by being ridden down hill, they may take comfort when they
						understand that the Persians and Odrysians all ride races down hill, and yet
						keep their horses just as sound as the Greeks.