BROWNE his fiftie yeares practice Or an exact Discourse concerning Snafflle-riding for Trotting and Ambling of all manner of Horses whatsoeuer from one degree to another till they be perfit both for the Trot and Amble A Subiect neuer as yet pubished by any heretofore By WILLIAM BROVVNE Gent. Printed by NICCHOLAS OKES and 〈…〉 TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND MOST NOBLE THOMAS Lord WINDESOR of Bradenham his Lordships humble seruant William Browne wisheth all increase of VERTVE and HONOR My Honoured LORD WITH much industry and many yeeres experience I haue gathered a few collections which I humbly beseech your Lordship to accept vnder your protection they are notes that will teach a young Rider the certaine and infallible way how to ride and mannage any Colt from the first haltering till he be a perfect riden horse of the Snaffle I acknowledge a great vnfitnesse in my selfe to set forth a booke in Print being an old Northerne man wanting fit language and method for these times and in nothing more vnexperienced then in the way of writing Yet because I know that my owne long practise in this businesse hath taught me many wayes to bring a Colt to this perfection which hath not yet beene divulged abroad by such as haue written in the same kinde I thought it better to send this poore booke forth cloathed with my owne simple language before death shut vp the euening of my dayes then to wrong my selfe or this arte so much as to conceale any thing that may doe other young men good in it And because I know that reading without practise doth but a very little helpe such who are of the meaner apprehensions I haue laboured with my best endeauour to furnish my Booke with pictures of examples both of the chiefe way how to worke the horses and the best instruments to worke withall I am encouraged to present my Booke and seruice to your Lorship because I perceiue that amongst other your recreations you are most addicted to haue good horses for your pleasure and excellent galloping horses for your exercise Moreouer your Lordship hath seene some proofe of my practise and I am so much bound vnto your Lorship for many your noble courtesies and fauours towards me that I would willingly pay a better thankfulnesse then this to your Honour if it rested in my abillity I onely entreate your Lorship to suffer this to rest vnder your Patronage and I will spend the remainder of my poore life in studdying how to be Your Lorships humblest to command in all Seruice WILLIAM BROVVNE BROWNES FIFTY YEARES Practise CHAPTER I. A true and vnfallable way how to Ride and Mannage any Colt from the haltering of him from one degree to another till he be a perfect ridden Horse of the Snaffle of what nature or disposition soeuer he is of YOV must haue first in a readinesse a strong rope about foure Fatham in length made with a running noose at the one end Then cause the Colte to be driuen into some large house where he may haue some sufficient roome to turne himselfe at his pleasure and to make him the more gentle to deale withall Let him haue the company of some old Horse haltered which you must keepe euer betwixt you and him to shadow you in such sort as they vse to stalke at foule vntill such time as with a long pole for the purpose then open the noose wider and lap one side thereof about the pole then with ease you may put the same ouer his head then presently put a good strong halter that well be sure to hold him and let there be tyed to it a chasing rope of foure Fatham long with a turnell in the one end tie the harter end to the turnell then let there be strength enough to hold him then put him forth of the house gently and bring him into the stable and there tye him fast to the manger then within one houre or two you may take him forth into some faire place and be sure you haue strength enough to hold him that he may know that hee is mastered then let one hauing a long repell in his hand trot him about you faire and gently both wayes which being done let him stand still to take his winde and goe faire and gently to him and cherrish him with faire words during that time stroaking your pole ouer him in many places of his body and if he refuse at the first doe not leaue him till he will suffer you to touch him therewith Then leade him into the stable againe and tie him fast as you did before then you must get a sticke of a yard and a halfe long and slit him in the one end some quarter of a yard long then take as much straw as the slit will hold and wrap it about fast and tye it fast with a packe-threed to keepe it in with the which you must stroake him gently first vpon the necke and brest and then to his body and so to his legges and so by degrees ouer all the parts of him till he will suffer you gently to touch him in any part of his body and legges then you may with the sticke in one hand and a good long wispe in the other first touch him with the sticke and then after with the wispe in the other hand and so you may make him let you touch him with the wispe by often touching him about the head that he will suffer you to touch him in any place about his head both about his cares and his mouth that when you come to bridle him he will suffer you gently to put the mouthing-brake into his mouth Then go and finde out some euen and firme ground as neere the stable as you can then get a pile or stoupe stake and driue it fast into the ground and that it may be one yard and a halfe aboue the ground let the ground where you meane to practise him be euen and firme that hee may take fast foote-hold then tye your chasing rope to the haiter I meane to the turnel and bring him forth and make a good large noose in the end of the chasing rope then bring him to the stoupe and put the noose ouer the stoupe then let some one take the rope in the middest to hold it vp from his feete and another with a good long pole in his hand to put him about the ring and when you beginne to put him about let it be on the left hand for that will make Him leade with his right legge which he must doe both in his pace trot and gallop you must put him at the first very gently about till he know something what to doe then you may trot him but in any case doe not change him on the right hand till you see that he doth set his right leg before and when you perceiue he doth it in his trot then you may venter to change him But where you put him once about on
when you take him forth the next morning then bring him into the same ground you had him before then put him into his swift trot a little to settle his mouth to your hand then put him into his easie gallop and fetch a large compasse and make as large a double ring as you can see that you bring him about of either hand for the larger he doth gallop the better may you set his legs and giue him his true stroake and if at any time he do fall out of his stroake then presently put him into his trot but halfe a dozen trots and then put him into his gallop againe and hee will presently fall into his true stroake againe and euer haue a speciall care that you keepe him large enough for when hee doth grow perfect in his gallop hee will desire to come in too fast and if you gallop him any long time be sure to giue him winde in due time and giue him an easie hancke when you thinke he hath done well then light of him and make much of him and walke him vp and downe a little then take his backe againe and put him to his gallop And when he is setled in his right stroake then looke downe and see whether his right legge lead or no and if hee leade on the left legge and not on the right then the next morning take with you one of the slips you had to make him trot and when you begin to gallop him begin on the right hand and first put the slip one his left set-locke and take it in your left hand and if in his gallop hee lead with his left legge then you may marke when hee doth set his left legge before then you may euen in that very time when hee doth set his legge forth giue him a little twich with your hand and helpe him with your rod of the right shoulder and presently hee will set the right legge before and so you may continue that helpe till he will lead with his right leg before both of the right hand and of the left and so when you haue brought him to his perfect stroake of his gallop from the hand to the middle of his speede and that hee will performe it readily and willingly then you may put him to gallop roundly of either hand in and out as you please as shall come into your minde when you are galloping And when you haue brought him to his voluntary gallop and that he willingly giue you leaue to hancke and loose at your pleasure then you may bein good hope that you haue won his mouth for euer and then you may take him the next morning into some vnplow'd fallow field that is redge and furrow and there begin to gallop him and doe not goe euen ouer them at the beginning for that will breake his stroake mightily but sloope him ouer side-way till he haue gotten his true stroake and that hee will strike his furrow euen and iust and that hee will set his forefoote â—ust in the furrow for that you must bring him 〈◊〉 if euer you bring him to goe ouer a field with a 〈…〉 for if hee set ouer the furrow 〈…〉 his backe and be a great deale 〈…〉 to him then to set his fore-foote euen 〈…〉 â—ow And when you haue galloped him ouer so slooping a quarter of a mile then you may turne him backe againe and sloope him as much of the other hand and when hee will strike his furrow euen of either hand then you may put him ouer the lands euen forward and when you haue made him perfect in all these wayes then I thinke you haue finisht his gallop for the field all manner of wayes But louing Sonne there is another round galloping lesson that I haue practised much with three horses all at once which I will by Gods leaue teach you the manner thereof and about some thirty yeeres agone I and two of my eldest sonnes of three fine yong horses did gallop it on Malton Hill and it was highly commended for it was neuer done in that place before Now good louing sonne I pray you if you please to practise it that you will giue it the name of Brownes Round for that I thinke I was the first that euer did practise it of the Snaffle CHAP. 7. NOW louing Sonne that I haue here set downe all the skill and knowledge that I haue gotten in fifty yeares practise from the first haltering a Colt from on degree to another till he be brought to gallop this round heretofore set downe Now I will by Gods helpe set you downe another as true and vnfallible away to pace and amble any horse sufficiently and well of what nature and disposition soeuer he be of and if you will diligently and carefully obserue these rules heretofore set downe by me you shal by Gods helpe hit all and misse none First louing sonne I will begin to let you vnderstand of all the wayes that I haue practised from the first beginning till this day First I did practise to lead him downe the hill and checke him vnder the chin that will make him set to an amble presently but it will make him totter with his end and stampe with his fore-feete and will make him set hard And I haue vsed another way with long shooes with pikes before of three inches long that way will make him catch vp his hinder legges vnseemely as though he had the wild Mares hinch I haue vsed another way that is to wispe them of their hinder feete aboue the fet-locke that way will make him straddle and go wide behind I haue vsed another way that is to worke him in some deepe ploughed ground that way wil giue him sore heates and toyle him and take of his mettle mightily But louing Sonne I haue set downe two waies that I haue practised this thirty yeares and I will neuer vse other whilest I liue neither to my selfe nor to any that I shall teach and these be the two waies First I would haue you take his backe and try him how he is enclined and goe to some rysing ground and there thrust him vp to the height betwixt his trot and his gallop and you shall presently see him fall into a shuffle betwixt an amble and a gallop and if he will doe so then I would haue you vse no other way with him but the hand and the heele if you haue any vnderstanding to know how to helpe him with the hand and heele you may giue him his pace so without any other helpe But if in trying him so he will not make any offer or shew of a pace then giue him ouer and toyle him no more but goe to him in this manner CHAP. 8. THen louing Sonne you may be in good hope that you may prooue a sufficient ambler when you haue brought youâ— horse to that perfection then I would haue you shift your traues from beneath the knee and beneath the hough and
the right hand put him three times on the left for if you doe not make him leade with his right legge before at the beginning it will be a great hinderance to you when you come to gallop him Now when you haue practised a little that hee doth know what hee doth then take him into the Stable againe and if he worke to your hand towardly make much of him and giue him some reward that hee will eate either hay or Oates that hee may vnderstand that hee doth that you would haue him Then lead him into the stable againe and be exercising him as you did before till you haue made him so gentle that he will suffer you to touch him in any place with the wispe in your hand That being done then beginne with his feete in this manner take any fursingle that is strong and put the end through the buckle to make a little noose to put his neere fore-legge in then get vp his foote as gentle as you can and when you haue it vp presently slip the noose ouer his foot and let it rest betwixt his hoofe and his fet-locke Then with a good strength pull his foote vp and hold it a pretty while then let it downe againe and make much of him then take it vp againe and euer giue him this word lift and so exercise him till hee will lift when you bid him Then take a good stiffe sticke in your hand and euer when you bid him lift pull vp the sursingle and strike him beneath the knee with your sticke And with a little exercise when you knocke him on the legge hee will take vp his legge and then you may bring him to your hand that when you offer him your hand hee will presently take vp his foote if you bid him lift and so you must practise him in all his legges that when you bring him in from riding you may easily picke the grauell out of his feete and will be the gentlier to shooe Now when you haue brought all these things to good perfection then I would haue you to take a good stirrop Leather and make it full of holes to take vp and let out at your pleasure then take vp his neere fore-foote and buckle it vp so fast as he cannot let it downe then take a sticke and stirre him vp and downe that he may feele that he doth lacke the vse of one of his legges Then haue a saddle in a readinesse and let one be at his head then come and offer him the saddle gently and rubbe it vp and downe his sides and let him see it then set it on his backe and gird the girthes slacke at the first least he take a distaste at them then take away the knee band and let him settle himselfe and stirre him vp and downe that he may feele the saddle on his backe This being done then make the mouthing brake fit which must be done in this manner The benefit of this fashion brake is to this effect being made all of one peece the roules being loose about it doth make your Colte worke with a merry mouth and will not gall his lippes as the snafflle will do that is of two peeces Louing sonne I would haue you be very circumspect in this point for it is one of the chiefest grounds belonging to a snaffle man for if you caÌ„not obtaine to that knowledge to make your Colts mouth firme and true in all points it will be a great hinderance to your practise for it is a secret that I haue been this 50 yeares plodding about and now I thanke God I haue attained to it CHAP. 2. LOving sonne I will beginne to let you know how many wayes I haue practised this secret of mouthing a Colte First in my beginning I was taught to gird a strong sursingle about his flanke behind then put the bridle raynes into the sursingle so strait as in your discretion shall fit then let him striue mightely and lye downe for anger This way will bring in his head but sinke it downe cleane betwixt his legges and make him mouth false To let you vnderstand what is a true mouth and what is a false mouth A true mouth is this your Colt must let his vpper chap fall euen with his nether chap and let his tongue rest vnder his snaffle and worke with his mouth pleasantly and yeelde to your hand willingly that is a true mouth And the false mouth is that he doth wry his vpper chap cleane awry from his nether chap and get his tongue aboue the snaffle this is a false mouth and what horse soeuer is thus â—outhed â— will assure you he will neuer beare light of your hand but will tyre your armes Now the second way I did vse to gird a sursingle before and put two wisps vnder â—he sursingle and so rayne him vp and turne him loose into â—â—me Court and so let him striue with himselfe that was better then the other but neither of them good for that way did make a false mouth also and set the rayne too low But louing soâ—ne I haue two wayes I would haue you practise if you will follow my directions The first is this to put your mouthing-brake vpon your Colts head and at the first tye it easely to the racke so that he may ease to put downe his head and let him stand so a pretty while then loose it and put the reynes ouer his head and take one of your armes and lay it ouer the Colts necke and the other hand to be on the neere side then take the one reyne in the right hand and the other in your left hand and let your right hand not stirre a whit but let the other hand worke his mouth with your left hand with easie and gentle motions and by a little and a little you shall so winne his mouth that he will yeeld to your hand willingly and euer when hee doth yeelde to your hand then slacke your hand and so hee will perceiue your intention presently and worke to your content You must euer marke as hee doth yeeld to your hands to worke his head vp still and in no case let it sincke and euer bee looking to his mouth that he mouth true I would haue you practise this way of mouthing your Colt for many a fine mouthed horse I haue made in this manner but I would haue you vtterly renounce all manner of wayes to set your Colt vpon any manner of rest for I haue had to much triall of that to my great griefe CHAP. 3. BVT louing Sonne I will let you see another fashion of mouthing your Colt that dâ—th passe them all that is in this manner following First put your mouthing Brake on his head then marke this Picture Then let him stay there and as often as you worke him vp ease him and let his head downe and so in short time he wil clyme so easily to your hand as you would desire and cary exceeding light
of the hand and that is a principall to make his tongue rest vnder the Snaffle for that he can in no case get it vp aboue the Snaffle Then when he is well setled and doth go gently then take your knee-band and put it on his neere fore-legge and let one leade him fast by the head and let another put him forward and goe round about the ring of three leggs that he may be perfect in going The next day when you backe him I would haue you keepe him forth a good space and exercise him well of the left hand and be sure he leâ—â—e with the right legge before CHAP. 4. LOuing Sonne the cause why I would haue you to practise your Colt on the firme hard ground is for that I would haue you vtterly renounce all deepe grounds for I haue had too much triall of it to my great griefe and â—â—scredit the discommodity that doth come thereof is this If you bring your Colt in any deepe ground to chase him about you if he be a high metled Colt and being fat at the heart and full of his body questionlesse he will go very fiercely about you and so in a short time he will be of a great heat before you haue brought him so weary that you may take his backe The inconuenience is this First you put him in great danger of breaking his winde Secondly the danger of the great heate is hee after two or three of these heates will presently fall into one disease or other which will â—ither prooue to be mortall or to get some tent in his body that will proue to an extreame cold that will prooue either to the Glaunders or else the cough of the Lunges which either of them in short time will end their liues Now to come to the chasing about the stoope againe when you take him forth the next day I would haue you make all things fit that you shall occupy about him First make a good strong plat of the longest haire of his Tayle then take a small peece of Leather or Corde and tye it fast to the plat then put it betweene his hinder leggs and bring it off the out side of his body and tye it fast to his mayne and so let it rest both day and night this will keep him that he cannot stirre his tayle This I would haue you doe at the beginning then the next put your knee-band about his legge then put the muâ—roule on and the chayne in his mouth then put on his bridle then the saddle then get helpe enough one good strong man to be at his head when you do take his backe and another to put him forward when you are on Then tye your chasing rope to the halter and bring him foorth to the place where you meane to take his backe then put him about the ring faire and easily at the first till he be setled then you may put him on faster vppon his swift trot and often giue him his winde and goe to his head and make much of him Then take your knee-band and put it on then let one take him by the head and lead him and the other put him once round about the ring then stay him and cherrish him then come to him and offer your foote to the stirrop and if he will suffer you to put your foot into the stirrop the make much of him and if hee refuse to suffer you then leade him faster about the ring then you did before vntill he be willing to suffer you to put your foote into the stirrop Which if he do as there is no doubt but he will then let it rest in a pritty while and take it foorth againe and make very much of him then take the knee-band of his legge and lead him round about the ring and cherrish him that he may haue vnderstanding that he doth please you then put on his knee-band againe and leade him about the ring then put your foote into the stirrop and rise vp and leane ouer the saddle and put your arme ouer where your legge should be and leane ouer a pritty while and if he suffer you to do all this cherrish him then light and take off the knee-band and lead him about the ring againe to giue him ease and then put on the knee-band againe and lead him about the ring then come to him as you did before and put your foote into the stirrop and bid him at his head hold fast then rayse your selfe vp as you did before and leane ouer him a pritty while then venture on Gods name to put ouer your leg and bid him hold very fast at his head you must sit very gently and stir not but sit still a pretty while then light and cherish him then take off the Knee-band and lead him about the ring loose then put on the Knee-band againe then put your foot gently and get vp very leasurely and sit a pretty while then let him that hath a rod in his hand put him on gently and if he goe gently but twenty paces then light for good and all and make very much of him and take off the Knee-band and haue a few Oates in a Scuttle and let him eare of them to giue him comfort against the next time this being done lead him home to the stable and let him rest two or three houres but iâ— any case giue him no maunger meat but in the racke for one weeke or more but what you giue him out of your hand for that will keepe him in obedience Then take him out againe to the practising place and your company with you then begin to put him about as you did before at the first very gently till he hath got the reake of his wind then you may put him forth into a swift trot and then put him into an easie hand gallop that he may learne to deale his feet and euer haue a care that he lead with his right leg and also haue a care often to giue him his winde this being done then let one goe to his head and put on his knee band and lead him about the ring then you may come to him as before and offer to take his back gently and get vp leasurely and sit still a pretty while and settle your selfe then let him with the long rod in his hand put him on and let him goe round about the ring and if he goe gently then make much of him then take off the Knee-band and let him haue his legs and goe once or twice about the ring and if he doe it gently then make very much of him and lead him into the Stable In any case giue him but a very little at once if he worke towardly for that will encourage him much I would not haue him in any case to know what did belong to a plunge or any kinde of Iades tricke but to haue a care to haue him as cleane ridden as possible may be and if
may be ready to set him vp straight and in any case doe not worke him too long but when you doe finde that hee doth worke to your content giue him ouer with his willingnesse and cleane without any disorder Then when you take him forth the next morning let your man with the old horse be ready and if he doe offer to stirre when you doe get vp then put one the knee-band and that will make him stand gently then when you are mounted take the reynes in your hand and goe gently forward and worke him as you did before and carry him more on the mouth till you haue brought him that he will obey to your hand gently and carry light on the hand and sometimes carry him on the snaffle reynes and that will make him carry light both of the mouth and the nose and when you haue brought his head into that place where you meane to place his reyne then you may put to your martingale and I would haue you make your martingale with a buckle and not with buttons and broad betwixt the vpper side of the breast and the foremost girth then draw the martingale not too straite at the first till he be a little setled therewith Then you may draw it so straight as his head shall stand euen as his head stood against a Wall Then proceede forward and walke him on as you did before still obseruing the rules I did tell you before and euer haue a speciall care that you doe not carry a pressing hand of him for that will dull and harden his mouth and vtterly marre all you go about but be euer working easily and gently first with one raine and then with the other and you shall see that within a short time he will worke so firmely and pleasantly that it will encourage you to worke of his mouth and euer haue a care that hee mouth true And now that you haue set him on the martingale I would haue you to let your musroule raines alone and not meddle with them but cary him all of the mouth and worke him well of the snaffle reynes for I haue tried many a yeare that the false reine maketh a false mouthed horse and now when you haue begunne to worke him of the mouth altogether then let your hand worke his mouth and the martingale and musroule worke his nose so you shall finde in a short time that they will agree both together and then you shall see his necke rise and beginne to shewe a comely reyne For it is one of the chiefest secrets belonging to a perfect Snaffle man I would haue the ring very large for that you may bring your horse about euen so that your horse may come about with his head necke and body iust and euen for in no case his head may not come one way and his body another way for that is naught Now when you are working him in both these rings you may first pace him then trot him first of one hand and then of the other so long as you shall finde his mettle hold and that hee will goe freely and metledly vnder you But be sure you giue him ouer in his willingnesse and cleane without any way of disorder And louing sonne I will tell you one principall rule more that is at the first when you beginne with him vnderstand his nature whether he be of a high spirit and full of mettle or he be dull and of a dogged condition for according to his nature you must worke him for if you worke both conditions of one fashion you will marre more then you will make the high metled Colt must be wrought gently with easie helpes and little correction for if you deale roughly with him you will driue him out of all but for the dull metled Colt you must needs be sharpe with him and often quicken him vp or else he will do nothing Now to proceede I would haue you exercise your horse in this large figure of eight till hee will treade it and trot it willingly and euer when you meane to stop him vpon the hand let it be in the midst thereof betweene the rings and in your exercise you may put him sometimes into his swift trot and prancke him vp and make him goe franckly vnder you still hauing a speciall care hee cary light of the hand and when you put him into his swift trot if at any time he beare hard of the hand then stay him and retire him two or three stepps and that will make him presently to yeeld willingly to your hand and be sure you faile not as often as you feele him presse hard of your hand that you stay him and retire him till he yeelde to your hand and within a short time you shall finde him that assoone as you offer to stay your hand he will presently yeeld and goe gently and lightly of your hand and so I would haue you bring him to that perfectnesse of your hand that he will cary his head so stedfastly and his reynes so round and stately that he will not disorded it at any time and I would haue you haue a care of carrying your hand that is to cary it a lost aboue your saddle pomell and in no case stirre it vp and downe but cary it still and firme CHAP. 6. ALSO Louing sonne there is another principall rule that I do meane to set you downe and I would haue you be very carefull to get the vnderstanding thereof and that is this to know how and when to helpe your horse and how and when to correct your horse and how and when to cherrish your horse which things must be done all either in due time or else they will preuaile nothing for if you helpe him not in the very instant when hee should haue it it is to no purpose nor giue correction at the vnfit time it preuailes nothing at all and if you cherrish when there is no cause it is to no purpose neither Therefore you must worke diligently to get the knowledge thereof for when you are in practising your horse and doth perceiue that he doth stand in neede of helpe then let him haue it euen in due time and that will preuaile which helpe may bee giuen him three wayes with your rod with your heele and with your mouth with giuing a small ierke with doubling your tongue in the roofe of your mouth and you may correct him in all these three manner of wayes That is with your rod in his flanke with the sharpe stroake of your spurre or giuing him some fearefull word with your mouth but you can cherrish him but two wayes that is with clapping him on the necke with your hand and giuing him faire words that will please him and thus in your practise you must obserue all these helpes and doe them in due time for in time being done doth set all right and out of time will set all wrong Therefore I would haue you
euer when you are in practising of your horse and working him in his lessons to remember in time and out of time and there will be do doubt but all your businesse will come to good effect if you doe alwayes remember and carry it in your minde that in time setteth all right and forward and out of time doth set more wrong in a day then you shall set right in a weeke But now to come to your practise againe I would haue you practise your horse still in the figure of eight till you haue him so perfect in both the rings as is sitting Both vpon his soft trot and his swift trot alwaies carrying light of your hand with his head in the right place and his reyne lofty and staitly then you may begin to set him of a proud trot and to goe statelie which in my opinion is the onelie shewe that any snaffle horse can be for vpon both for the shewe of the Rider and the horse for to goe of a statelie trot a long a streete and to take vp his forefeete comely and round and now and then to beat three or foure low curvets will grace his trot much so as hee be made so perfect as hee will make his changes willingly and perfectly without working on for it is an vnseemely sight for the Rider to worke vpon his horse in the streets And now louing sonne I will heere with Gods helpe set you downe a perfect and vnfalliable way how to teach him without heating or chasing him First I would haue you put on his musroule and martingale and then his bridle then put a sursingle about him then put your martingale to the sursingle as you did when you rode him Then you may carry him something harder of your hand and put him into an euen trot and you shall see him presently begin to goe proudlie before you then as soone as you see him settle himselfe neuer so little to set his feete to your liking then staie him presentlie and make much of him giue him some reward and giue him ouer for that time and feede him well with oates and let him rest one houre at the least and then take him out againe and exercise him as you did before and you shall see presently if you sharpe him vp and shake your rod that hee will fall into a proud trot presently and euer bee sure that assoone as you see him set but fiue or sixe strokes true then presently staie him and make much of him Now you shall see presently at his first setting whether he will haue a loftie trot or a low trot and if he begin with a loftie trot as no doubt if he be a metled horse he will then you neede not vse anie other helps to him but the reines and rod. But if he be of a slow mettle and set his feet thicke and short and low withall then you must vse these helpes as you see here proportioned and then you must put them on and buckle them on euery foot vnder his foot locke and you must buckle them straite as you can that they doe not goe round about his legs then you may bring him to the practising place againe and you shall see him take vp his feet finely to your liking and thus you may practice him still vntill he be so well acquainted with them that he will take vp his feet so lofty and comely as shall be to your liking and when you haue him so perfect going on the one hand then you may change him on the other hand and that will set his body euen that way he came Now when you haue him perfect on either hand and doth set his trot comely and stately and that you haue his mouth at command then you may venture to set a Saddle on him and the next time you take him forth let one that hath some vnderstanding take the reynes of you and the rod in his hand and let him see how you did cary the reynes in your hand and if he can make him set as you did then you may take his backe and take the bridle reines in your hand but let him scarcely feele your hand but let the other man carie him vpon his long reynes as you did before then if he doe performe his trot as he did before then you may cary him all of the reynes and if hee doe performe his trot of your reynes yet let the other man follow you still that if he breake with your hand at any time he may helpe you and so you may exercise him till hee be so perfect as you shall thinke fitting and you may cut his trot shorter and shorter till you haue brought him that he will stand vpon his trot and trot both foreward and backward You may not let the footman goe from you but still carie your long reines after you till you haue him so perfect as you desire Then before you leaue your foot-man I would haue you let him stand still and bid the foot man shake his rod and set him foreward then lay your rod on his left shoulder and close your legges close to his shoulders and carie your hand something hard of his mouth and say to him Vp vp and let the footman helps you with his reines and it is verie like hee will raise himselfe and aduance cleare vp before which if he doe then make much of him and goe foreward still vpon a foot pace but if he will not raise himself with the helps you giue him then deale not roughly with him but goe on forward a little then stay him againe and offer to him as you did before and if he refuse the second time then offer it to him the third time which if he refuse then trouble him no more that waie but walke him once about the Court and set him vp and get a good stout rod of a yeard in length or there about and get a peece of a naile and knocke into the one â—nd thereof then goe to a Grindle stone and grinde it iust of that fashion that the prickle of a goad is then take your horse forth again then let him goe once about the Court without anie man on his backe and trot him proudly then get on his backe and let the foot-man come behinde with the long reines and goe once about againe then let the foot-man set him vp to you and giue him the same helps as before and if hee refuse to aduance and rise before then let the foot-man come vp to him and stand by his shoulder and pricke him in the middest of his brisket and say Vp vp and pricke him hard and you shall see that he will raise himselfe presently without faile which being done make much of him and goe on vpon a foot pace still about the Court then when you come to the place where you did offer him his lesson let the foot-man come and pricke him as before and he will aduance
put them aboue the knee and aboue the hough then goe to some vp-rise as we tearme it in Yorke-shire or some climing ground that doth rise reasonable high there put him vp very softly and vse your hand to guid his legs as you did before of the euen ground and when he is a little acquainted with the ground you may put him faster to it and euer haue a care to keepe him long and true in his place for they be two principall rules and euer when he doth well then faile not to make much of him and giue him some reward and you shall see that within two or three daies hee will worke so finely and comely vp the hill that it will doe you good to ride him but alwaies haue a care to leaue him when he hath done well and in his willingnesse and so when you haue practised him in that manner with the Traues and that you finde him to goe perfectly and well then take off one of them and let him goe with the other on and when you haue him perfect you may take off the other and when you haue taken off the other I would haue you make in a readinesse one paire of hough-bands made as this figure doth shew you and buckle them hard aboue the hough behinde then take his backe and put him vp the road faire and softly and if your hand and heele will serue you to keepe him in his true stroake then you may proceed with him and worke him on but if your hand will not serue to keepe him where he was then I would haue you presently to clap on the single Traue againe and so practice him till he be so perfect as he will go willingly and true And if he doth set ouer further of that side that the Traue is on then he doth of the other then shift the Traue on the other side and that will helpe him of that fault And when you haue brought him that he will goe perfectly and well then take it off again but before you take the traue off you must put him vp to the height of his pace and make him strike it out aâ—â— euer as you see him to grow vpon your hand and come on faster when you come to the end of your road light off his backe and lead him down and make much of him and when you haue him so perfect that hee will strike out to the height of his pace then venture to take it off and say him loose with his hough-bands on In any case remember to giue him but short roads if hee worke to your hand well when you begin to try him loose put him to it very softly and so proceed faster as hee doth grow in perfectnesse And when you haue him that your hand and his legs doe agree altogether then there is no doubt of your proceeding and then you may ease his hough-bands a little till he will goe without them and when you assay him without them put him vp the road very softly as you did with his engins on Now louing Son to let you vnderstand the benefit of the hough-bands is this They doe make him bring in his hinder legs close and low after him and will make him goe comely in his pace and also set forward his hinder legs and now when you haue him working vp the road loose and that he will set true and right then put him on faster as you see him grow in perfectnesse but you must not thrust him vp the road euerie time to the height of his pace but pace him softly three or foure times and the fift time thrust him vp to the verie height for if you should put him vp euerie time to the height of his pace it would dull him and make him wearie And you must not in any case shift his road vntill he be so perfect that when you offer to put him vp to the height of his pace he will flie vp with it so lightly and comely as you desire And louing Sonne I would haue you to be very carefull and circumspect in this point for it is one of the chiefest principalls which belongeth to the pace for there is small art in bringing any horse to the middest of his pace but there is great art and skill to bring a horse to his full pace and that he wil goe with it in any company For louing Sonne I my selfe was but halfe a pacer for the space of twenyeares and had as many horses as I could turne me to with the helpe of two of my Sonnes and was well paid for them and I haue met them within a month after and haue seene them goe of such a hiffe haffe as hath beene neither amble nor trot which hath grieued me much â— and I could neuer mend it vntill I got the skill to worke them vp the hill for louing sonne I will assure you it is not to be done any way so well as that way nor to bring him to his changes that is from the height of his pace to his gallop and from his gallop to his pace againe and to shift from the one to the other truely at your pleasure for I would not giue a pinne for that pace that will not keepe company with any horse that he shall meet with and to make his change at your pleasure that is to goe in his amble in his gallop and in his trot at your pleasure when you will haue him shift from one to another then is hee fit for any company for the horse that is perfect in all these three paces the rider may say Now I will ride of an ambling horse one mile and of a trotting horse another mile and of a galloping horse the third mile And now louing sonne when your horse will make his change from one to another in his first roade then you may take him into another road that is something lower rising then the first and when you haue him perfect in that then you may take him from that to another roade that is something lower then the second and when hee is perfect in that then you may bring him to the euen ground and so perfect him in that and then you haue brought him to goe on all grounds but you may not in any case shift him from the first road to the euen ground at the first for then you marre all but you must bring him downe by degrees to the euen ground and that you haue him perfect on the euen ground you may take him to the highway and ride him the first day one mile and home againe and the next two miles and so as you see him grow in perfectnesse so you may take him further and further till you haue him so perfect that he will goe a dayes iourney And when you doe begin to trauell him out a dayes iourney you must light downe often and ease him so that hee will tall to his pace againe very willingly but
if you keepe him alwayes at his pace you will so tyre him in it that hee will haue no desire to keep it and you must as you are trauelling euer when you come to some faire grauell ground for the purpose something rising and of a good length you may put him vp to the height of his pace and so make him change truely to his gallop and so keepe him in his gallop some twelue score or there abouts and then you must helpe him with your hands and bring him backe to his amble againe and so you may exercise him as you trauell on the high way to make him perfect of those two things and for his trot you need not trouble your selfe for he will goe to that of himselfe but you must not in any case put him out of his trot into his gallop but you must bring him out of his trot into his pace againe then you may put him into his gallop and so change him from his pace to his gallop at your pleasure and when you haue brought him that hee will performe all these changes at your pleasure then I thinke you haue made him fit for the hye way and now that you haue brought your horse from one degree to another till hee be perfect on the hye way I will make hold to call you backe againe to your first lesson where you began And good louing son marke this poynt well that is to haue a speciall care of your horse at the first putting on of your single traue that it be of a due length neither too long nor too short let it not be aboue a yard at the most and be very carefull in leading of him with his head vp and as softly as possibly you may make him goe For all the skill that belong to the traue is to giue him a long stroake and to vnderstand how to giue him his helpes in due time I would haue you practice this way till you be very perfect herein and obserue the rules heretofore set downe carefully and when you are perfect in this way and that you finde you grow perfect to lead his legges right and true then I would haue you begin to practise to worke him vp the hill with the traues aboue the knee and aboue the hough and practising so in short time your hand and heele will serue you to worke any horse with the traue on in that place and when you finde your hand serue you so well then you may venter to practise him loose vp the hill with the hough bands of his hinder legs and so to come to worke him loose without any engine for now I thanke God my hand doth serue me so well that I do not traue one amongst seuen But louing sonne there is two lessons more that I will teach you which be the cunningest lessons belong to an ambler and the first is to be done in this manner hereafter mentioned CHAP. 9. FIrst louing sonne I would haue you bring your horse into some large ring of foure or fiue score paces about and put him into as fine and comely an amble as you possible can make him goe in then let him goe two or three times about the ring then put him vp to his fine hand Gallop out of his pace and let him goe other three times about then take him vp from his Gallop and put him to his proud and stately trot that you made him before going loose before you as your Picture doth shew you that as I tearme it is the going of three changes and all in one round compasse and I thinke if you haue brought him to ride all those three changes in that round compasse as often as you please to put him to it you haue done as much to him of the snaffle as arte can affoord CHAP. 10. LOuing sonne the other lesson is this hauing brought your horse to this perfectnesse and that hee is truely paced rightly coloured and finely made and stately and that hee be for an Honorable mans Saddle and that you must set him on a Pad and a Bit you must begin with him in this manner First when you haue him at the length of his pace that must be that hee set his hinder foote ouer his fore-foote three quarters of a yard at the least then you must begin to set him proud of your hand and euer set him forward with your rod heele and mouth and you shall see him presently begin to cut his pace and to goe proudly you must make your roade but short that you doe ride him in that you may giue him rest at euery roades end and you must haue a speciall care that as you cut his pace short that you make him set true or else you marre all For you must bring him from three quarters of a yard ouer so farre short till hee come to set but one foote iust ouer another and must set his pace as true as hee did when he set ouer the furthest and when you haue cut his pace so short you must let him rest there for it is not possible to cut it any shorter and make him set true withall Now when you haue brought him to his shortnesse of his pace I would haue you you perfect him in that stately going till he will willingly when you haue him at the length of his pace if you but take vp your reynes and thrust him forward with your heele and mouth that hee will goe as proudly and as stately as you will desire to haue him and now when you haue brought him to this perfectnesse and that hee must be set vpon a Bit to beare a foot cloth in the streetes it is fit you doe bit him for that you know how to keepe him in his true stroake with your hand and you must bit him in this manner If hee be a short fore-handed horse the cheeke of his Bit must be the longer and if hee be long fore-handed it must be the shorter and when you doe put the Bit into his mouth first you must take as small a hunting snaffle as you can get and put into his mouth first and then you may put one the Bit and let the curbe be at the full length at the first and beare him at the first all of the snaffle that you may helpe him when neede is and so you may by a little at once let him feele the curbe and so you may exercise him till hee be perfect and when he doth â—â—now the curbe you may take it vp shorter as you see cause And so louing sonne when you haue brought him that hee will goe of his proud and stately amble and shift to his proud and stately trot and shift from one to another at your pleasure then I thinke you haue performed as much as is possible to bee done Now louing sonne I will teach you to make your horse beat a curuet in the stable you must begin in this manner You must