Silence a horse by binding the tail

That a horse may not neigh. Horses neigh, some as a threat, others when they have taken only the smell from the females. Both their voice and their silence are useful. When they charge they are taught to shout together into fear with the fellow-soldiers; when they lie in ambush, to hide together with them. But this artificial thing is blunted still more either by the season of the year or by erotic nature.

Aristomenes the Messenian took Lacedaemonians who were lying in ambush when their horses neighed, himself leading a mare. And again he himself set his ambush without danger, his horses having been forced to be silent by a station of Spartan mares. The Messenian's stratagem remains remembered. So whether a man would go through a place infested with brigands, or would sit a cavalry ambush under the enemy, let him do what will be shown. This is not only a work and invention of old Greek generals: the Parthians also lead their own horses silent into the fights in this way.

With a well-twisted sinew the tail of the horse is bound tight above the hair, so that the bond sinks far into the surface. By the tension of the binding the horse, being in pain, keeps the same spirit and speed, but holds back only the voice, even if the compelling occasion is love.