Kikkuli: Harnessing the Horse 1345 BC
Approximately 1340 BC, Kikkuli, chef-ecuyer to the Hittite king Suppililiuma, created the first recorded training and caring schedule for horses. Many of this master horse trainer's methods are still considered effective and useful today. In 1340 BC, this training program was the secret behind the might of the Hittites who became a power rivaling Egypt. Suppililiuma wanted to enlarge his kingdom, so he bought a large number of horses and the services of a famous Mitannian master horse trainer. Kikkuli’s training methods resulted in excellent chariot horses for the Hittite army. His methods are documented on four clay tablets in cuneiform script, known as The KikkuliText. Kikkuli used interval training, a concept familair to most atletes today, to get his horses fit. He emphasised the need for gradual prgression from the walk to the trot to the canter, before the horse is subjected to to the weight bearing stress of a rider or chariot driver. The KikkuliText describes a detailed seven month training regime. Rest days were scheduled, but workouts sometimes numbered up to three a day. Kikkuli's interval training contained three stages - the first two for developing muscles and stamina and a strong cardio-muscular system, and the third for increasing neuromuscular conditioning. Runners will recognise this as "fartlek" training. His workouts included brief recovery periods that lowered the heart rate. Swimming was also included in intervals of three to five sessions, with rest periods after each session. Care and Feeding of the Chariot Horse
Day 2. Walk one league, run two furlongs (furlong = 1/8 mile). Feed two handfuls grass, one of clover, and four handfuls barley. Graze all night.Day 3. Walk two and one half leagues (Hittite league = three miles), run two furlongs out. Run three furlongs, walk half a league home. Green grass at midday, followed by watering. Walk one league in evening. Feed grass and straw at night. Day 4. Walk two leagues in morning, one at night. No water all day. Grass at night. Day 5. Walk two leagues, run twenty furlongs out and thirty furlongs home. Put rugs on. After sweating, give one pail of salted water and one pail of malt-water. Take to river and wash down. Swim horses. Take to stable and give further pail of malted water and pail of salted water. Wash and swim again. Feed at night one bushel boiled with chaff. Day 6. Wash five times in morning, graze in afternoon and wash once. Repeat for four days. Day 12. Keep in stable all day. Feed only grain and cut grass. Repeat for 10 days. Day 23. Wash in warm water. Feed grass. Repeat for seven days. Day 31. Same for three days... Day 34. Picketed outside stable all day without feed or water. Race three furlongs in evening, graze all night. Repeat three days. Day 38. Swim morning, then walk two leagues. No day feed or water. Evening, walk nine furlongs. Night feed grass and straw. Repeat for nine days. Fully Conditioned HorseDay 48. Stand up all day. One handful of grass mid-day. Evening, pace half a league. Water and grass at night. Day 49. Walk half a league. Swim. Day 50. Walk three leagues, run two furlongs. Grass at night.
Day 61. Walk seventeen furlongs, morning. Walk seventeen furlongs, run two furlongs, evening. Day 62. Walk seventeen furlongs, run two furlongs. Wash, swim three times. Feed bushel boiled barley with chaff. Grass at night. Day 63. Walk four leagues, run two furlongs. Repeat nine days. Bathe in hot water on fifth evening. Day 73. Two handfuls of barley after morning work, with chaff. Walk half a league, run two furlongs, evening. Day 74. Walk half a league, morning. Pace seventeen furlongs, evening, run three furlongs. Day 75. Walk seventeen furlongs, run three furlongs. Wash, swim five times, feed grass after every other swim. Boiled grain with chaff at night. Translated from the French translation of the original by B. Hrozy
|
