speedilie by that hand CHAP. 23. Of the helpe and correction of the spurs and how and when they must be vsed MAister Claudio affirmeth that the spurre ought not be vsed to anie horsse vntill such time as he is become firme and well staied of head For if you doo otherwise it will be a meane to make him more vnstaied and consequentlie the longer before you can settle him And it is apparant that when so euer a colt vnsetled of head dooth feele the spur he will offer to resist and disorder his head much more than anie other horsse settled and perfect in his lessons Yet his meaning is not you should defer to spur him till he be fiue or sixe yeares of age but so soone as you find him brought to be staid and setled which I hope may be doone in foure moneths then you may boldlie giue the spur vnto your horsse which you shall not first doo in anie street or waie but in some deepe plowed ground or sandie place after he hath doone his ordinarie lessons First you must make him feele the one and after the other spur faire and gentlie as he paseth or trotteth the large rings forthwith ceasing so to doo and cherish him laieng your hand vpon his necke and vttering some courteous voice In this sort you may pricke him sometimes on the one and sometimes one the other side after he hath beene warned well in his lessons And hereof you may be assured CHAP. 24. How to helpe your horsse in the rings and at his stop I Haue here to fore discoursed of helping your horse yet did I not particularlie informe you at what times and what places the same helpes ought be vsed which is doone to the end I might proceed in order you the better reteine them in memorie But now hauing accomplished what order and helps are required here will I let you know how and when they shalbe vsed And first you must remember that when so euer either in the large or strait rings in the Caragolo in the figure of S or in the manage in and out which as is before said the Italians call Serpeggiare your horsse dooth put out his but tocke then must you forth with correct him on that side with your rod with your heele and with your spur if you weare any which you must continue till the horsse amendeth his fault The like you must doo if turning of anie hand or in going forward he casteth his hinder part out of order You may also in that case vse this subtiltie first to make proffer to go on one hand then suddenlie put the horsse to turne on the other You may likewise for this fault correct him well if you pase or trot him neere vnto a wall when he turneth putting out his hind part he must of force hurt himselfe vnlesse he holdeth his bodie strait which he will not doo often but for feare therof leaue his fault which he shall doo the better if you ad there vnto the other helpes In gallopping the rings you may helpe the horsse with your bodie by carrieng your legs put forward more than ordinarie And there is nothing that maketh a man to sit so comelie on horssebacke as the gallop for in gallopping he may take time to settle his feete in the stirrops to hold his legs in their due place with his thighs and knees closelie and his whole bodie strait and disposed with either hand bestowed in their places Therefore M. Claudio perhaps contrarie to many other good riders thinketh best that the stirrops should be euen of one length which will be a meane that the rider shall sit with the better grace and more conuenientlie helpe his horsse much maruelling why the right stirrop should be shorter than the other In gallopping you must somewhat yeeld your person towards that side you would haue the horsse turne yet not mooue your legs but when need requireth As for example If you gallop turning on the right hand you must staie your selfe somewhat more on the right than the left stirrop The like order shall you obserue on the contrarie hand holding your bodie a little forward toward that side Also in turning you must put your contrarie shoulder somewhat more forward resting your bodie on that stirrop more than the other for by that meanes you shall swaie your horsse towards that side and be the more readie to helpe him But in his trot or gallop strait foorth you shall not so doo but sit equallie in the middest without leaning vnlesse the better to helpe your horsse you beare your bodie somewhat forwards It is also at sometime permitted you should leane your bodie to the contrarie side from that the horsse is inclined thereto to enforce him to leane the same waie your selfe leaneth Also if vpon that occasion you vse the helpe of the stirrop striking his shoulder therewith on the contrarie side and likewise giue him a twich or two with the false raine on the same side it will be a good meane to draw him that waie But in stopping you must cast your bodie a little backwards suffring the horsse to slide forward as it were alone drawing the reines faire easilie till such time he be come vnto that place you would then hauing staied his furie you may stop him firme and staie him there This I would haue obserued with those horsses that vnderstand how to be handled vpon the ground But if in stopping the horse leaneth more on the one than the other hand then must you leaning backe giue your selfe most towards that side whereto he leaneth not helping him all other waies and so gallop him stop him strait forth till you find his fault amended But note that gallop shall not exceed the length of an ordinarie manage At the end wherof hauing stopped if the horsse stoppeth not strait as he ought put him forward againe and at his stop correct him on that side he yeeldeth not with your stirrop the calfe of your leg your spur your person till he be content to yeeld and stop as you would haue him CHAP. 24. How the stirrops ought to be of euen length WHo so euer rideth with one stirrop longer than the other dooth seeme therein to proceed contrarie to nature hauing made man two legs of one iust length Therfore if you make one stirrop shorter than the other it is not possible you can sit so comelie or iustlie on horsbacke as if they were of equall length or how can you vse your spurs commodiouslie or euenlie For in striking the horsse with the spurs you shall of force spur him higher on the one than the otherside so long as the one stirrop be longer than the other which thing how vnseemelie it is I refer to your iudgement Besides that how can you with your bodie so conuenientlie helpe your horsse in his dooings Sith you doo not sit with your bodie iust in the saddle or rest
the other and other helps necessarie whereof we will intreat hereafter yet will I allow those motions the lesse if they be vsed in the presence of manie strange riders and lookers on bicause you may both stop and manage your horsse otherwise without declining writhing or other vnseemelie gesture of bodie so long as you keepe measure with your hand and heele You must also vse your hand and arme with a certeine iust and comelie motion and cheeflie your right arme ought to be a little bowing though some riders doo make therewith sundrie gestures crosses not vnlike vnto coniurors in the circles yea some doo beare both the arme and all the rest of the bodie with such curiositie and affectation as in deed they seeme to be men made rather of wood than otherwise You may not be one of that number but in all things shew dexteritie without affecting likewise measure with order and seemelie boldnesse Thus your horsse being brought to beare the sadle comelie and you to sit well on his backe you may exercise him dailie in his woonted lessons wherin you shall practise him fifteene times more without running him at all in which lessons I wish that so oft as you trot the large rings you should at the last put him to gallop somewhat furiouslie to the end that in stopping he may gather his bodie and stop as it were on his buttocks I would you should also accustome your horsse to make more speedie turnes than he was woont in the straight rings In all these 15. lessons you may not run your horsse more than once or twise in one morning and that must be in the accustomed place of carriera vnlesse that returning home you hap to find some good ground which hath in the end some prettie fall where you may doo well to gallop him frankelie stop him faire and easilie at the decline of the place so as he may beare his head firmelie stop vpon his heeles Yet neuer forget to bring home your horsse in good breath and without sweating CHAP. 11. How to exercise your horsse the next fifteene daies WHen you see that your horsse is brought to gallop wel in the end of his ring turnes and that of himselfe he goeth swiftlie and as he ought in the straight turnes and that he will run and stop perfectlie which he may well doo in these two moneths and a halfe wherin he hath beene taught I would then you should trot him lesse than ye were woont and put him to gallop dailie more and more as well in the rings as straight forth Also in gallopping I wish ye shuld make much of him and indeuor your selfe to bring him to gallop short round liuelie helping him with a voice fit for that purpose Then would I haue you also to make him gallop in the straight rings yet in no wise to hasten him with rating or beating but with a soft voice meete for that turne incourage him but if he grow slacke in his gallop then must you sollicite him presentlie with the due corrections or if he become hote and make ouer-much hast then gentlie crosse your rod ouer his necke and restreine the reines and Cauezzan a little also if you thinke so good giue him a pretie twich or two with the Cauezzan which must be doone with no furie but with moderation patience In these lessons you shall exercise your horsse fifteene times which maketh vp three moneths complet But you must in no wise force him to do any thing more though I know well he might be drawne in much straiter and shalbe after for I desire he should doo all things iustlie and assuredlie which he will vndoubtedlie doo so soone as he can perfectlie performe all these things before recited CHAP. 12. Certeine particular things to be obserued by the rider and vsed the first moneth he rideth the horsse with the sadle WHen the Rider perceiueth that his colt beginneth to doo his lessons indifferentlie well and that he vnderstandeth the helps before said then being on horssebacke hauing paused setled himselfe he shall put the horsse three pases forward and staieng there make him retire a little which done being againe put forward he shall giue him two or three turnes on either hand From thence you may go on to the place of riding where your horsse hauing finished all his lessons stopped you must offer him to turne and therewith leane forward with your bodie to see whether he bringeth ouer his contrarie leg as he ought to doo for both in pasing trotting galloping the outward leg in the turne should as it were couer the other which is next that side whereon the horsse turneth which the Italians doo call Incaualare Also in turning you must take heed that the horsse doo beare his bodie euen and make his turne iust in one tracke which he will doo if the rider sitteth staiedlie and aptlie and handleth the horsse heedefullie alwaies helping him when neede requireth of which helps we will hereafter speake at large Thus when you haue ridden your horsse staied him againe making him retire then go forward three pases as he was woont you must once more looke downe on either side to see whether he standeth iust vpon his legs and beareth his head well And if you find he stand not iust but putteth one leg before the other resting his bodie more on one side than on the other you shall faire and softlie with your rod beat him on that leg that standeth out of order to the end he may remooue it into the right place for in deed the horsse ought to stand iust vpon all foure legs so soone as he is stopped and staied This correction you may also vse in the stable when so euer you see the horsse putteth one leg more forward than the other or standeth more firmelie vpon one than the other which seldome chaunceth if he be pastorned as he should be You may not thinke that to looke downewards to behold the iustnesse of your horsses legs and bodie dooth serue to small purpose for it also is a meane to let you vnderstand if your horsse in dooing his lessons hath hurt his legs his feete or his mouth Besides that you may the more easilie perfectlie know the motions of his bodie and mind which doo cheeflie appeare by his eies For if you see his eies looke fierie that is a signe that choler aboundeth in him if discoloured then is he discouraged and faint of courage if they be wet with teares then he complaineth of wearines or some other such cause So that knowing his greefe you may easilie prouide the cure thereof as by your discretion shalbe thoughtfit Thus after you haue made two or three strait turnes on either hand pasing your horsse or otherwise as he can best doo with that iustnes that is required you shall euer depart from thence to the place of riding trotting him liuelie and roundlie keeping your bridle
may doo in this maner You must go into some strait waie that hath a wall or banke on either side and the ground somewhat declining Then comming from the higher end downewards you must put your horsse forward pasing two or three elns where making proffer to staie you must with your voice incourage him to aduance before accompanieng him with the due helps thereto belonging holding your bodie a little backeward and the reines both of the bit and Cauezzan somewhat straiter yet so iust that if the horsse would force forward to shun the aduancing or for that he vnderstand not what he should doo yet he could not You may also put your hands a little forward and so raise the horsse before which will be a meane that he may with more ease lift vp the fore part of his bodie yet must this helpe be vsed with great discretion And thus you must doo at the end of euerie three elns till he dooth aduance before or at the least seemeth desirous so to doo But if he happen to aduance ouer hie and force forward more than he ought cheefelie if he sprall with his legs then must you foorth with correct him with your rod by beating him vpon the knees Or if he commit anie other disorder as casting downe his head or leape ouerthwart yet force not thereof at all but after you haue corrected him for the same returne to make him aduance and you shall be sure he will in one morning or percase in lesse than the third part of one houre fall from one aduancing to make manie Pesate which dooing you must presentlie make much of him Other meanes there are to bring your horsse to make the Pesate as in the strait path of a ring or in a plaine waie yet still obseruing the same order also in some right vp furrowe halfe an elne wide For certeine daies you may exercise your horsse in the Pesate without forgetting his other ordinarie lessons But so soone as he is perfect in them both vpon the pase and trot to the end he should not become ouer-busie in that motion as manie yoong horsses are you must vse him commonlie to be brought into some long carriera where pasing him two third parts thereof put him to trot the rest swiftlie till comming neere the end you may a little drawe the raines and putting thereto your voice strike him gentlie vpon one of his shoulders so causing him to Coruette and therein if need require helpe him otherwise I would not vnlesse great necessitie so requireth that in these Coruette you should vse the helpe of your spurres Neuertheles if the horsse be naturallie heauie hard of head and cold then is it meete you should strike him towards the flanke with the iust stroke of the spurres thereby to raise him and remooue his heauines stubbornes and dulnes But at what times the spur is to be vsed I haue not yet spoken but reserue to intreat thereof hereafter Now sith that manie yoong horsses doo easilie learne the Coruette and hauing learned them vse them willinglie imagining that so soone as they haue made a few Coruette they are not to doo anie thing else or being corrected with the spur continue still to make more Coruette euen against the riders will and when they ought not and in places vnfit dooing them manie times higher than they should therefore vse your spurres verie seldome and likewise spare to emploie the calues of your legs For it is an euill sight that for this purpose you should set them so busilie a worke cheeflie in coruetting stopping at which times you should shew rather to sit firmelie and liuelie which were to more purpose both to become the horsse and your owne person For in all places with the onelie helpes of your rod your voice and a little raising your bridle hand the horsse will aduance thicke and doo what you would haue him And albeit the helps of the voice and spurre ought to be vsed at the beginning when the horsse learneth yet M. Claudio thinketh both the one and the other may afterwards be discontinued For besides the reasons alledged it is no seemelie thing in the presence of lookers on to vse so manie artificiall motions and affectations as diuers dailie doo It shall therefore suffice that when your horsse can make his Coruette well you vse onelie a little helpe of the bridle hand accompanieng the same by holding your right hand somwhat high putting thereto such a soft sharpe and speedie voice as that motion requireth But if the horsse would staie to make his Coruette where you would not haue him the remedie is to put him forward with the due correction of the voice the rod and the spurre besides that it is necessarie to put downe your hand angerlie vpon the horsse necke and so trot him the whole length of a carriera in the end stopping him with two or three Coruette and then before you make much of him returne him to trot in the same waie and there againe put him to make a few Coruette iustlie by which few I meane the number ought not exceed three because more were vaine and superfluous Which order you shall euer obserue in stopping and all manages which require to be doone with Coruette which if your horsse will doo with his forelegs comelie yet not ouer hie from the ground so as the one doo not tarrie for the other you shall leaue and make much of him Likewise if in his former lessons he gallop and stop well with the helps thereto belonging and increasing the gallop cheefelie in the end that is to saie the third part of the gallop ought to be as it were running and at the stop you shall faire and easilie interteine him leaning your bodie somewhat backward and holding your legs in their place stretched out and firme helping the horsse with your voice and rod by striking him faire and softlie vpon that shoulder for by so dooing he will bow his howghes and stop vpon the heeles as he ought to doo But if he commeth to his stop with his legs cast right foorth vnwillinglie his correction ought be the more and cheeflie vpon the shoulders yet not so great as to make the horsse angrie but let him know that you correct him onelie bicause he should doo what you would haue him Maister Claudio saith that sithence the Coruette are as it were the children of the Pesate so soon as the one is learned the other will foorthwith follow And betwixt them there is no other difference than that the Pesate must be performed with more speed in good time and often handling the matter so as the horsse may alwaies at the first go faster forward in his coruetting In this motion you may vse the calues of your legs and likewise the euen stroke of your spurs yet lightlie and sometimes one spur and sometimes the other as ye shall see occasion which order you may obserue in the
the point of the rod within one handfull of his eie or els let it fall downewards somewhat towards his right shoulder yet neuer suffring your hand to remoue far from the true place therof And if you will manage your horsse on the right hand you shall put your rod downe towards the left shoulder yet neuer remoouing one hand far from the other For in deed ouer much mouing of the right hand and lifting vp the rod sauoureth too much of affectation yet at this daie it is of diuerse men much vsed CHAP. 19. Of the helpe of the bridle hand THe horsse is helped by the bridle hand when in his dooings he putteth downe his nose more than becommeth him or else if he hangeth too hard on the hand or trotteth heauilie for in all those cases you must giue him certeine chockes with the bit more or lesse as occasion doth require The like may be doone when at the stop or end of anie lesson you find the horsse beare his head lower than he ought But if he leaneth therewith more on the one than the other hand then must you with the two last fingers of the right hand holding the contrarie reine giue him a chocke or two or more as you doo find the horsse deserueth to be corrected You may also helpe your horsse with your bridle hand in the midst of his manage and likewise his turnes by giuing soft or hard chocks as occasion shall require This correction will also serue to make your horsse retire and hold him direct and light vpon the hand Neither will it be amisse but rather a good helpe if in leapes of all sortes likewise turnes opening your hand to raise the horsse you put the same forward towards the bending place of his necke so as your thumbs be neerest therevnto consequentlie the little finger furthest off neerest vnto your sadle yet may not your hand be from your sadle farther off at anie time than two fingers vnlesse it be at some extraordinarie times and occasions For then it is not amisse to raise your hand much higher farther from your bodie as it were putting it as far as the middest of the horsses necke And in this maner by little and little vnfolding your hand from turne to turne from leape to leape you shall helpe the horsse more or lesse as need requireth But such helps must be performed in verie due time and measure Therefore in vsing them you shalbe heedfull and diligent This is I thinke the true counselling of M. Claudio touching the helpe of the hand whereof M. Astley hath largelie discoursed more at large and verie skilfullie set downe not onlie the helps of the hand according to this author but also vnto the opinions of Xenophon and Gryson added his owne knowledge and experience For which respect I haue indeuoured my selfe to saie the lesse CHAP. 20. Of the calues of the legs the stirrops and the helpe by water THe helpe of the calues is onelie to be vsed vnto horsses of great life spirit courage in all sortes of turning by putting the calfe of your leg to the contrarie side of the horsse As if you will haue him to leane or yeeld towards the left hand then must you laie your leg close to the rightside of the horsse and likewise if he should go on the right hand then put your leg to the left side But M. Claudio holdeth this kind of helpe to be of no great importance neither doth he make much accompt of the stirrop yet being at sometimes vsed it is to good purpose That helpe serueth to touch the horsse vnder the shoulder to the end he should hold his neck and nose as you would haue him The water is exceeding good to bring your horsse to gather his legs become light if you vse to trot him therin The water fit for this purpose should be so deepe as the horsse may feele it to touch his bellie the bottome where of must be sound earth or rather perfect good grauell CHAP. 21. Helpes of the ground AN apt place for riding and a ground fit for that purpose are things verie profitable necessarie to make your horsse go well and speedilie A plowed land a ground rising a ground declining are places fit to giue the horsse breath and lightnesse The ground declining is also exceeding apt to bring your horsse to stop well make his Coruette and doo all things required in the managcs both with and without time The ground like vnto the backe of a knife serueth well for the manage turnes aboue the ground The plaine ground hauing on either end prettie small hils helpeth the horsse to make the halfe turne and also to yarke therewithall The ground that is round and high in the midst is fit to bring your horsse to lightnes and make him go well on that hand whereofhe is hard It will also bring him to go more iust in the rings lift his legs and put one leg ouer the other The ground like vnto a boat not being aboue three or foure spannes wide serueth well to make a horsse to turne to cast his legs and put one ouer the other in good order The ground adioining to some wall or pale is good to make the horsse go iust and strait The same is also fit to amend him if in his manage turnes he disordereth his hinder parts The ground most fit for the carriera would be plaine without stones or other staies not soft nor ouer hard and if at either end it be declining it will be by so much the better CHAP. 22. The helpe of the mans bodie BIcause this helpe shall hereafter be spoken of among the corrections I saie onelie that the bodie helpeth much and thereby the rider is esteemed of the looker on to be a man skilfull and cunning in that profession if he vse that helpe in good order and times conuenient For whosoeuer seeth a rider leaning somewhatforward when his horsse trotteth or gallopeth will being of anie knowledge foorthwith conceiue he so dooth the more aptlie to helpe the horsse to be firme of head and not raise himselfe higher than he should but beare his bodie euen by reason he feeleth his burden counterpeised Likewise when the horsse commeth to stop the rider shall greatlie helpe him by casting his bodie backewards which will cause him to stop lowe behind euen as it were vpon his buttocks Also if the rider dooth leane towards the one side it is to be thought that he would haue the horsse to yeeld that waie If the rider in passing his horsse strait sitteth short on the one side and leaneth hard vpon the other stirrop it is to be thought that he so dooth purposelie to bring the horsse to hold his necke and head that waie Whensoeuer in turning the rider yeeldeth his bodie more on the one than the other side it is to be thought that the same will helpe him to go more easilie and
your selfe equallie vpon the stirrops iustlie counterpeised which is the thing that makes you seeme faire firme in the sadle by not leaning more on the one than the other hand and such a seate will best become you in all sorts of turnes either on the ground aboue with yarkes and euerie other motion And albeit it is the opinion of some that to breake lances it behooueth a man at armes to haue his right stirrop shorter than the other by two fingers yet doo I not conceiue the reason thereof sith both in running at the ring or course of the field an horsseman ought to sit euen without leaning more on the one than the other side or turning anie of his shoulders for thereby he shall shew the more cunning and gaine aduantage in the length of the lance which is some helpe at the incounter Moreouer although it seemeth that leaning more on the one than the other stirrop and that thrusting forward of the one shoulder dooth make the man stronger both to meet the aduersarie receiue his reinconter yet is it certeine that thereby he is the more apt to commit the errors beforesaid by sitting loose in and vneuen in his stirrops Furthermore sith euerie man standeth most stronglie vpon the ground when he resteth vpon both his feete so doo I thinke that an horsseman staieng his bodie vpon both stirrops equallie shall be better prepared both to assaile and receiue the incounter of his aduersarie than if he should doo otherwise For these reasons Maister Claudio resolueth that the stirrops should be of equall length whereby the rider may as he thinketh sit more comelie and assuredlie Neuerthelesse it is as beforesaid permitted that the rider should at occasions to helpe the horsse in his lessons rest more on the one than the other stirrop but not otherwise It is not also to be disallowed though to fight in combate or turnie the left stirrop be made longer somewhat than the other bicause the rider is to emploie his right arme and turne on the right side in respect whereof the left stirrop would be the longer CHAP. 25. In what sort to helpe your horsse in euerie manage WHensoeuer you will manage your horsse without rest you must trot or gallop till you come to the place of turning where making as it were a seeming to stop you must raise him and therewith suddenlie put him forward one pase leaning your bodie and casting your bridle hand a little forward then by moouing your leg you shall warne him to returne an other pase and in the turning easilie you shall put him forward at the halfe turne Terra terra helping him with your voice your heele spurre And if you will haue him to turne on the right hand helpe him on the left side and on the left side with the right spurre remember to helpe him much or little as you see occasion require Remember also if at the halfe of his turne he commeth about hard as it were hanging on the contrarie hand from that he turneth that then you must forbeare to strike him with the contrarie spurre that is to saie without the turne and strike him with your spurre within on that hand you doo turne The like order you shall obserue both in gallopping and the franke manage But if you find your horsse commeth ouer fast about to his halfe turne not setting himselfe iust in the same path from whence he came for to make the turne iust he must bring his head where his hinder feet were then so soone as you haue giuen him the spur on the outside you must presentlie answere the same with an other on the inside both which must be neere vnto the girths vnlesse you find occasion to giue them neerer vnto the flanks which is when the horsse dooth turne with his buttocks more on the one than the other side But if he turne ouermuch bending on his legs behind ouer low with his buttocks then must you foorthwith thrust him forwards striking him neere vnto his girthes with both spurs together accompanieng that helpe with the rod vpon the horsses flanke and likewise your voice if need dooth so require The stroke of the rod dooth also helpe much in turning if the same be giuen when need requires vpon the contrarie shoulder of the horse but if no such neede be it shall suffice if you put your rod ouer the horsse so as the same may hang on the left shoulder to make him turne towards the right hand and likewise on the right side when you would haue him turne on the left hand But you shall helpe him much more and with better grace if when the horsse slideth vpon his heeles you sit somewhat with your bodie leaning backward and suddenlie putting him forward turne the point of your contrarie shoulder towards that hand you would haue the horsse to turne As if you would haue him come on the right hand then must you put forward your left shoulder or if you would haue him turne on the left hand then put your right shoulder somewhat forward In turning you must also remember that your bridle hand may not be farre remoued from the bending of the horsses necke euer holding it right against the middest of the pommell If you ride a horsse that is alreadie made and perfect then to make him turne on the left hand you must turne your bridle hand yet not mouing it from the place so as your thumbe be downewards and your little finger which is betwixt the reines be vppermost and turning on the right hand you shall turne your fist contrariwise so as all the other fingers be vpward but the thumbe not so high as the ring and little fingers This motion of the hand is not easilie expressed and therefore M. Claudio remitteth it to the discretion of the rider so that he keepe his hand firme in the due place prescribed But if your horsse be not brought vnto perfection but weareth his Cauezzan or false reine then these points of cunning are not required bicause you are to emploie all necessarie helps to the end the horsse may hold his head strait go iust with his necke chieflie when he turneth euer helping as need requireth As if you turne on the left hand then faire and easilie you shall according to necessitie drawe the right false reine or if you turne on the right hand then must the left false reine be holden and drawne strait and the other as you thinke good These halfe turnes in the manages without rest I wish to be iust and with good grace for so being M. Claudio saith they are the most seemelie and necessarie motions the horsse can make And if the horsse can doo these turnes exactlie well you may easilie make him also to doo them as it were mocking which for want of english words to expresse the same I will vse the Italian calling them Volte ingannate rubate The waie to manage your horsse
excellencie in this art as for his iudgment cunning and cōlines in riding he meriteth the prise of perfection Which appeereth not onlie in his owne person but also in his choise of the esquires riders of hir Highnes stable all men of great knowledge and some of them of such excellencie as may not be matched I could also recite the names of diuers other Gentlmen very skilfull commendable which the rather to auoid enuie I omit Yet may I not forget the praise due to those that be teachers of this art in the citie of London for by their industrie and vertue the number of seruiceable horsses horssemen is dailie increased should be more if other skilfull men would applie themselues to teaching in that maner Thus much I haue thought good to saie as well to excuse my selfe hauing written this worke onlie to satisfie my priuate friends request as to admonish the Readers therof in any wise to accompanie their studie and reading with dailie vse and experience wherof assuredlie great knowledge and excellencie will ensue T. B. CHAP. 1. In what sort to handle a colt being made fit to be ridden FIrst you shall vnderstand that so soone as your horsse hath ben haltered and is made gentle you may mount on his backe following an other horsse if neede be trot him in some waie or other ground sometimes straight foorth and sometimes ouerthwart without order or respect which you shall vse by the space of ten daies euer remembring that in the end you bring him into some furrow or place where he is forced to set his bodie straight and there faire and easilie make him to retire But all this while the rider shall sit in the pad with his legges stretched out not bending them towards the horsses bodie or touching his bellie but as though he stood on the ground yet keeping his thighes and knees iust to the sadle and holding the raines of the Cauezzan at such a length as the horsse may conuenientlie go forwards This order must be obserued and continued till the horsse be well setled and will suffer his rider to mount and dismount at his pleasure which he will quicklie being gently vsed and faire handled It seemeth also in mine opinion a thing most commodious and commendable that the horsse being a colt should bee taught after the Persian manner to kneele downe to his rider to the end he may with the more ease go to and from his backe When the horsse is become somwhat settled and beareth his sadle well M. Claudio willeth he should be pased foorth the length of three yards or there abouts and there staie to cherish him a little with your right hand yet not any whit at all slacke the reine of his headstraine From thence you shall go streight foorth into some field or large waie for a few daies not doo other than in this sort Trot him right out and sometimes make him retire faire and easilie to the end his head may become staid and his necke strengthned Being thus settled and standing a while still you shall offer to pase or trot round about faire and softlie euer remembring that these turnes at the beginning ought to be exceeding large and at leasure least the horsses necke be made weake or pulled on one side which error is often committed by ignorant riders and handlers of horsses at their first backing Hauing thus done diuerse times and diuerse daies you may put your colt to trot the wheeles or rings marked out by some other perfect horsse And I would wish that at the beginning a colt should follow an other horsse for that he will take his waie the more willinglie and the rider shalbe lesse occasioned to writh his necke in turning First he shall make three turnes on the right hand and then three on the left hand in the vpper ring and then returne to the other ring beelow and make therein three turnes which turnes your horsse shall continue so long as by the riders discretion shalbe thought good not forgetting that in the beginning the horsse must be mildlie and gentlie vsed chieflie in trotting these rings Note that commonlie all horsses doo turne more willinglie on the left than on the right hand either bicause that nature dooth so lead them or that the motion from the right to the left hand is most agreeable with the disposition of all creatures or that we commonlie hold the reines in our left hand or that the horssekeeper leading him doth most commonlie hold him on his right hand and turneth to the left and likewise in dressing him in the stable most vsuallie turneth him on that hand Sith then eueric horsse hath this propertie by nature by ordinarie motion and the hand of man it is necessarie that euer or for the most part he should begin end his turnes on the right hand And for as much as euerie motion is more violent towards the end than in the beginning or middest thereof it seemeth that the horsse will end his turnes ouer speedilie on that hand whervnto he is by nature most inclined vnlesse he be discreetlie restreined by the riders hand I would likewise aduise you that when so euer anie horsse either at his first riding or after shall leane more on the one side than on the other or that he holdeth his necke on the one side for some horsses be foled contrarie to that we haue spoken with there nose or necke turned rather to the right side than the left that then you shall vse to turne him from that he is naturallie inclined and so both in the beginning and ending make his turnes As for example if he leaneth or turneth his head towards the left hand then shall you in turning or managing begin and end on the right hand and contrariwise if he leaneth to the right hand then to begin and end on the left hand Now hauing finished the number of turnes in the large rings you shall with some speed more franklie trot your horsse straight foorth the length of a iust manage stopping him betwixt the two small rings where pausing a while cherishing him with your hand returne him in that ring which is on the right hand and then pase him two or three turnes changing your hands as you did in the large rings sauing that in the end you ought to be in the same place where you stopped and began to enter the turne You must also remember that as well in the large as the narrow rings your horsse in the end ought euer to go and turne with more franknes and speed Then hauing staied a while to cherish him you shall cut the narow ring in the midst and from thence trot your horsse to the ordinarie place of dismounting yet before you alight faile not to make much of him and once or twise aduaunce your selfe in the saddle to the end your horsse may stand firme which doone you may gentlie alight but
not presentlie suffer the horsse to depart from the place Thus it appeareth that the conditions and nurture which you teach your horsse at the beginning ought to be good and profitable I desire therefore that aboue all things horsses should at the first bee taught gentlie and with great patience CHAP. 2. Of the largenes of the rings and their vses Sure I am that some riders accustomed vnto two rings will accompt this figure of three large and three small to be a thing most strange and where they commonlie doo vse foure turnes on euerie hand I would haue onelie three or rather but two Notwithstanding if they please to cōsider mine intent they shall find I haue framed this forme of turnes to eschew wearisomnesse both in the rider and in the horsse who cheefelie if he be yoong will lightlie forget what he ought to doo Wherefore in my iudgement these rings though more in number will not so much busie the memorie neither of the horsse nor the rider Besides that you may perceiue how in these three large rings you may conuenientlie handle two horsses at one time which within two rings cannot be so conuenientlie doone I shall not need to set downe anie entrie or going out of these rings or turnes for wheresoeuer you enter you ought also to passe out and in mine opinion euerie horsse in the beginning and after dooth prooue better being vsed to few turnes than manie on one hand I haue set out the three small turnes to be vsed with the same order which you may exercise or not as by your discretion shall be thought meete Touching the profit which proceedeth of trotting the rings I saie that it bringeth the horsse to be well breathed it maketh his shoulders and legges nimble it setleth his head and necke it maketh him to beare light on the hand it giueth him heart and courage it maketh him willing to turne on either hand indifferentlie it correcteth all euill conditions and the horsse becommeth more apt and disposed to the short turnes and euerie other kind of manage The vse of the ring is necessarie for skirmish for battell and for combate either offending or defending It is also a comelie sight in the rider and standeth him in steed for the exercise of the turneie and all other feats of armes Moreouer it is a thing that naturallie horsses doo loue which is prooued in that the yoong foles so soone as they are borne doo presentlie runne about plaieng as it were in circular wise I doo therefore conclude that the ring turnes are things of much importance The forme of the foresaid rings CHAP. 3. How to teach your horsse in the figure like vnto a snaile which Maister Claudio calleth Caragolo or Lumaca AFter you haue vsed your colt vnto the rings aforesaid till he trotteth perfectlie well then shall you put him vpon a cannon made fit for his mouth and stature which doone hauing ridden him twentie daies therewith you must faire and easilie trot him in a large ring and by little and little bring him into a straight compasse first pasing and after trotting him Then when you haue brought him as it were within the compasse of an elne you shall change hand by litle litle inlarging the ring till you come vnto the same widenesse wherein you began and there vpon the same hand you shall put him straight into the other Caragolo wherein being you must vse the same order which you did in the former restraining or drawing in the horsse as afore This doone turning towards the right hand you shall gather into the streightnes of the other Caragolo which order you ought to obserue so long as by your discretion shall be thought fit Then shall you hauing first giuen your horsse breath in the middest of the Caragolo put him foorth and stop him Then pawsing a while in that small ring you shall giue the horsse two or three turnes leaning on that hand which you thinke fittest From thence you shall passe foorth passing in the manage path vntill you come into the other small ring when making proffer to stop you shall put him foorth two pases so first in the one and after in the other interteine him turning him in the one end then in the other of the manage wherein as you pased him so may you trot him eight or ten times But in trotting I wish that so soone as you be come to the ring you should end with a stop and then suddenlie thrusting the horsse forward halfe the waie make an end vpō that hand which seemeth most necessarie there stopping him for good and presentlie dismount This manner of lesson M. Claudio calleth Caragolo or Lumaca because it resembleth the forme of either But for the better conceiuing thereof behold the figure it selfe The profit that commeth by this kind of manage is great and much greater than that proceedeth through vse of the rings aforesaid for it worketh all those effects which they doo and with more facilitie reduceth the horsse to good order in turning and managing Besides that the same is a motion sightlie and pleasing for it cannot be denied that to turne in the beginning large and so by little and little restraining the horsse first pasing next trotting and lastlie galoping easilie or frankelie is a motion verie sightlie and contentfull to the lookers on Also such an artificiall kind of manage sheweth great aptnes nimblenes courage strength obedience in the horsse likewise much skill and order in the rider I may saie more ouer in cōmendation of this manage that by vse thereof onelie a horsse may be made readie and perfect which by vse of the two or the three rings may also be but with much difficultie Who so shall also consider well therof may perceiue that by meane of this Caragolo a horsse is taught to turne vpon the ground which the Italian termeth Raddoppiare terra terra I doo therefore perswade euerie horseman to excercise his horsse more in this than anie other kind of manage as well for the reasons aforesaid as the rather thereby to giue him breath make him obedient and for manie other respects too long to be here expressed CHAP. 4. How to teach your horsse the manage resembled vnto the letter S and the commoditie thereof ANother kind of manage there is which may be likened vnto an S made in this manner First you shall pase and after trot your horsse as it were in the forme of a ring but before you come to close it you must turne on the contrarie hand and pressing forward take a larger compasse from whence you shall come backe through the middest of the marke readie made and from thence inlarging returne vpon the same hand you began till you arriue at the place where you entred which in the end will prooue the iust proportion of the letter S doubled which figure ought to be made somewhat long cheeflie to teach a yoong horsse or
beating him on the contrarie shoulder with the rod and if you would yet encrease his speed then say Via via via in the same instant strike him on the contrarie shoulder and likewise with the contrarie heele Moreouer it seemeth in mine opinion verie conuenient when you trot the ring vpon the right hand that then notwithstanding you keepe the reines iust yet you should raise the right hand some what aboue the left and also a little aloofe from it to the end you may carrie the rod with the point thereof towards the left shoulder Besides that whensoeuer a greater helpe is required you must raise your right hand much higher beating the horsse as it were with the whole rod vpon the same shoulder Then changing hands with the selfe same order you shall turne the rod towards the right shoulder from time to time touching the horsse vpon the same shoulder and deseruing it to vse greater correction True it is that these corrections ought to be vsed rather to enforme the colt how to vnderstand the first lessons than for the correction it selfe For afterwards you shall dailie increase your corrections and become more sharpe and terrible in voice and otherwise as the colt giueth occasion CHAP. 8. How to teach your horsse to retire or go backe and the commoditie thereof BIcause I am hereafter to speake of retiring it seemeth fit to enforme you what profit it carrieth and how to make your horsse doo it When you haue gone forward so farre as we haue before assigned you must assaie faire softlie to draw in the reines of the Cauezzan which must be done with both hands euen together holding them lowe towards the horsses shoulders drawing him backe two pases But if the horsse resisteth then doo not in anie wise inforce him but cause some footeman that hath knowledge to come neere first to cherrish the horsse and then faire and easilie to laie hand vpon the reine of the Cauezzan gentlie putting him backe which your selfe must also doo at the same instant But that not sufficing let the said footeman with a rod lightlie strike him on the knees and forelegs not rating him but speaking gentlie and then he will perhaps with lesse a doo than we haue spoken retire willinglie But though it fortune that all these meanes will not preuaile yet vexe not the horsse in anie wise either with pulling or beating but after you haue trotted him a good space about and stopped him doo thus First offer him to go backe which if he refuse to doo cause him to trotstrait foorth in some euen ground hauing stopped suddenlie offer him to retire and I am sure he will either the first second or third time doo it though not the same daie yet the next daie after But note that if the horsse which hath worne a cannon and a sadle doo hap to haue so great obstinacie or disobedience as he refuseth to go backe you may not then vse so manie faire meanes or respects but shall emploie the corrections due vnto that disobedience as beating on the legs quiching with the Cauezzan sometimes with the one sometimes with the other hand and sometimes with both together and also giue him a chocke or two with the bridle saieng Retire retire or Backe backe And if it so be that all these corrections will not force him to retire then must ye dismount take one reine of the Cauezzan in your hand causing an other footeman to laie hold on the other and betwixt you force the horsse gentlie to go backe and in the same instant strike him vpon the knees accompanieng those stripes with your voice Moreouer if all that you can doo will not bring him to retire yet staie firmelie in the same place and assaie once more patientlie to put the same correction in vre offring the horsse to go backe and if he so doo put him forward againe to the same place and then mount on his backe and you shall find him presentlie content to retire which dooing you must make much of him both by your voice and hand and once more put him backe Marie if he refuse then presentlie alight and doo as you were woont correct him on foot till he becommeth obedient for ye shall be sure within two or three mornings he will doo as you will haue him or perhaps within an houre You must in no wise vse these extreame corrections as chocks with the bit and Cauezzan to anie colt that weareth no bit seeing they are fit for horsses of more continuance vsed to the bridle but I thinke for horsses that beare the bit and become disordered correction would be performed with terror Touching the commodities that proceed of retiring or putting the horsse backe they be more than euerie man conceiueth For retiring maketh the horsse light vpon his stop and nimble in bestowing his legs in all his dooings Beside that if he happen into such a place as he can neither go forward nor turne it standeth him in great steed to retire directlie It helpeth him also in the motion of his shoulders and legs to make him slide on his heeles and stop well And aboue the rest it is of most necessitie to make him firme and staied vpon the bridle also go light vpon the hand All which things with diuerse others how necessarie they are I leaue to the consideration of euerie discreet horsseman CHAP. 9. How the colt after he hath beene ridden two moneths ought to be gallopped IT seemeth that to make your horsse trot well and setled of head M. Claudio thinketh two moneths a time sufficient Notwithstanding hee would haue him continued in his ordinarie lessons thereby to increase his breath by little and little also to vse him to stop retire not forcing much though all this while he be not stopped vpon anie hanging ground bicause it maketh a colt fearefull in stopping also streineth his sinewes ioints and loines But when he knoweth perfectlie how to stop and go backe you must euer after euery stopping make him retire two or three pases foorthwith putting him as much forward and then for a while stand firme And for as much as I suppose that in these two moneths your horsse will go well staied vpon the canon I would wish you to bring him into some place of good ground for a carriera hauing on the one side some wall pale or banke It were also verie conuenient that at the end of the carriera the ground were somewhat declining wherein hauing trotted your horsse two or three times after his ordinarie lessons you shall stop retire and cherish him which done you shall returne backe pasing him somwhat liuelie aduancing your bodie and suddenlie put him foorth vpon his trot and franklie fall into a gallop till you come at the end of the carriera Then hauing there stopped and made him go backe as he was woont you shall returne vpon a short liuelie trot And
being come to the end of the stop againe in the same order and turning backe you shall put the horsse foorth in his gallop and towards the end of the carriera increase his gallop with some franknes which I wish you should continue to doo two or three mornings euerie daie increasing the number of your galloping courses And bicause it may be that the horsse before he hath passed halfe the carriera will of him selfe force to make more speed than is fit not staieng till you put him forth you shall hold him in with a staid hand till such time as your selfe thinketh good then suddenlie thrust him forward to gallop holding both the reines and Cauezzan firme and well euen towards the end forcing him to go with more speed and liuelinesse then at the due place to stop Which you may doo in thrusting the horsse by little and little forward keeping your bodie somewhat backward and holding your legs straight stretched out drawing the reines and Cauezzan faire and easilie till the horsse stoppeth iust Then hauing stopped and doone all those things before said you shall returne to the other end of the carriera obseruing the like order where hauing staied a while turned settled both your person and horsse you shall put him foorth with more speed than in the former gallop being halfe waie fall into his full carriera and therein continue to the end helping him rather with your voice than otherwise Then the next morning if you please obseruing the same order force him to runne out the whole length of the carriera Thus much I haue thought good to saie not bicause I would haue you vse to run your colt nor that I like you should so doo but to find the will and disposition of the horsse not onelie in his trot but also in his gallop carriera and stop for to run swift and sure and stop firme is an excellent signe of a good horsse CHAP. 10. How to ride a horsse with the sadle and what obseruations are therein to be vsed AFter you haue thus handeled your colt two moneths and ridden him in the pad you may put on a sadle which you shall first in the stable doo faire gentlie letting the stirrups hang close to his bodie Then you shall suffer the sadle in this sort setled to stand vpon the horsse backe the space of one whole houre with the reines turned vp vpon his necke and the curbe hanging by loose The head of the horsse must be turned downewards from the manger and his head tied on either side with the cords of his Cauezzan But before you thus doo remember to annoint the mouth of the bit with vineger and honie in the winter and in summer with wine and salt The next daie you shall tie vp the curbe as it ought to be worne and therein you must take great heed for commonlie the horssekeepers and footemen are vtterlie ignorant how to place the curbe bicause for the most part they make it straiter than it ought to be whereby the horsse being much pinched dooth grow angrie putting downe his head and making manie vnseemelie motions I would therefore aduise you to let your curbe when it is loose hang on the right side and when you will make it fast then without writhing it at all to put it vpon the hooke on the left side in the first or second chaine as you shall thinke most expedient Marrie here I must warne you that in curbing a colt or yoong horsse that knoweth not the bit well or anie other horsse that is cholericke or tender of berd you shall in no wise make the curbe straight but rather ouer loose euer fastening it on the left side Surelie some men being much deceiued in the conceipt would haue the curbe to be shut on the right side supposing thereby to remooue that fault which the Italians doo call La credenza which is a certeine obstinacie of not turning willinglie on either hand which fault may be sometimes remooued by meane of the curbe but not in that sort of transposing it I doo therfore iudge that custome verie vnfit in sundrie respects and cheeflie in that you should be forced to make fast the curbe with your left hand or verie incommodiouslie with the right hand Now your horsse being made readie and in good order as he should be with his curbe you shall ride him to the accustomed place of teaching where after you haue made much of him you shall excercise him in his ordinarie lessons wherewith you must interteine him for fifteene daies together but in no wise put him to runne anie carriera But for so much as to ride in the sadle is a thing more commendable and comelie than in the pad also of much more iudgement and skill I will put you in mind to sit in the saddle with better grace and regard and also with better disposition of bodie than you were woont to sit in the pad yet euer eschuing all curiositie and affectation Which you may doo if before you depart from the place of mounting you settle your selfe iust in the middest of the sadle letting your legs fall in their due order neither putting them too much forward nor too much backward nor too neere nor too farre from the horsse bellie staieng your feete vpon the stirrops as they ought to be turning your toes somewhat towards the horsses shoulder and setling your selfe vpon the stirrops yet not so hard as though your feete were growne out of them Touching the length of the stirrops they ought to be neither ouer-long nor ouer-short for your legs but conuenientlie fit and of euen length but hereof we will speake more at large in another place The surest hold and staie you must haue on horsebacke shall consist not in the stirrops but in your knees thighs which ought to be euer as it were made fast or nailed in the sadle but from the knees downeward let your legs be loose and at free libertie to mooue as occasion shall require But to returne to that I said first let not your legs be ouer-much cast forward or backward neither ouer neere to the horsse bellie nor holding your foote in the stirrop so far towards the horsse necke as you possiblie can nor put your feet so little as onelie to set your toes within the stirrop for the one is like vnto a foole the other seemeth to proceed of affectation as though a man would counterfet S. George but you shall doo best to obserue the meane sith in all actions the vertue resteth in the middest and extremities are euer imperfect The rest of your person must be kept streight at libertie and disposed so that your necke wrieth not either forward or backward or more on the one than on the other side Yet is it not amisse but sufferable to looke downe to see your horsse how he standeth or whether he bringeth orderlie the one leg ouer
euen the reines of the Cauezzan more strait on the one than on the otherside as you find the horsse inclined in that sort trotting him cheerefullie along the waie you shall somtimes with a soft voice incourage him and sometimes with the point of your rod touch him on the crooper of his buttocke and somtimes lightlie strike him ouerthwart the necke vpon his shoulder to the end he should raise him selfe and take his pase with spirit and courage which done you may fall into your ordinarie lessons first on the trot and after on the gallop CHAP. 13. How the rider ought from hence-forth to exercise his horsse in the Caragolo IF you see that your horsse doth gallop well I wish not hauing vsed him therevnto before that you should in anie wise for twentie daies togither vse him vnto the Caragolo for it will greatlie helpe a horsse to make the turnes vpon the ground and likewise bring him vnto the manage without rest During the time you practise your horsse in this lesson you shall vtterlie leaue the rings sauing that you must still trot and gallop sometimes straight forth and then stop as you were woont When so euer you trot the Caragolo you must at the first go faire and softlie and after towards the straight turnes and also in the inlarging trot with more furie which you shall doo the space of fiue or six mornings and all the rest of twentie daies In the end of the swift trot you must put the horsse to gallop at the least once on either hand yet so as you make an end on that hand which your horsse is least willing vnto And now once more that you must alwaies end amids the Caragolo in the narrow and after stop straight in the ring which you see in the figure Then hauing stopped in the order before said you shall there turne in that sort we haue heretofore prescribed euer taking heed that in turning the contrarie leg of the horsse doo come ouer the other as for example If you turne on the right hand see that his left leg may go before and couer the right leg and turning on the left hand the right leg of the horsse must doo the like Hauing thus doone and seeing your horsse head in the end of his turns towards the straight rings of the Caragolo pausing a while you must pase or els trot as your selfe thinketh best into the said ring where stopping the horsse strait you shall make an halfe turne and put him foorth to the other ring so long exercising him as to your discretion shall be thought sufficient CHAP. 14. How and when to teach your horsse to turne vpon the ground Terra terra WHen your horsse can stop well gallop the straight rings the S and the Caragolo I would haue him brought either into new rings or into a Caragolo of much more straightnes than the other wherevnto he was before vsed and there in the end drawe him as strait as possiblie you can first pasing him then trotting and in the end gallopping vsing all necessarie helpes and cheeflie that of the bridle hand which must euer lead the reines with due measure and discretion But if you will exercise your horsse in the small rings you may for certeine mornings onlie trot him and then afterwards increasing the speed of that trot fall into a gallop so long continuing both on the one the other hand till the horsse dooth that you desire Then finding he is brought to such passe you must for fifteene daies continuallie gallop him onelie in the same rings straiter and straiter helping him with the due helps whereof we shall hereafter intreat at large Thus much your horsse will easilie be brought vnto and performe with a good grace if you obserue time changing hands as you ought and at euerie change thrust him foorth one pase And note that within the circuit of the selfe same rings you shall both stop staie and make the horsse retire if in the end of his turnes he hath forced too much forward out of the place of turning but if he hath swarued out of anie hand or gone backward in turning then must ye presentlie put him forward or at least so soone as you haue stopped But now I must warne you that in no wise you should toile your horsse long in this kind of lesson bicause it is laboursome and painfull yet haue I seene manie riders forgetting themselues that ceased not to ride their horsses so long in one selfe place till they were all in sweat and fome scant able to fetch their breaths or stand vpright whereof dooth proceed so manie diseases of the sinewes the legs the loines the head and other members I doo the rather forewarne you wishing you should teach your horsse to turne some while in one and some other while in an other place which he will performe without labour or anie danger at all become so perfect as you would haue him besides that your selfe shall be reputed among other gentlemen of iudgement and discretion So long as you please to practise your horsse to these turnes you may not trouble him with anie other lesson saue onelie in the S which must be made more strait and short than it was woont and therein you may not doo much Touching the commoditie of turning vpon the ground it serueth to manie good ends as well in skirmish as battell in combate and triumph besides that it is a thing of much commendation and pleasing the beholders for after the horsse can thus turne on the ground he may doo it for more pleasure aloft or aboue the ground as we call it with or without iumps and yerks as your selfe best liketh CHAP. 15. Of that motion which the Italians call Coruette or Pesate whereof in our language there is not for ought I know anie proper terme yet deuised MAister Claudio is of opinion that this motion is of lesse necessitie than anie other and that no horsse should be learned to make the Coruette when he is ouer yoong nor till such time as he be perfect in all the lessons aforesaid sith it behooueth that the horsse should be firme of head strong necked raised in his pase and iust in all his dooings which he will be by obseruing the orders before expressed and vsing the helps which shall hereafter be set downe for thereby he is brought to so great perfection as in such a short space may be atteined that is to trot nimblie and lightlie to gallop roundlie and willinglie to stop before hand firmelie and iustlie and make his turnes swiftlie comelie and assuredlie all which are things so necessarie as more they may not Wherefore your horsse being reduced to that forwardnes as to performe the lessons beforesaid I would that after he hath beene a while exercised in turning and stopping dooing them according to your desire firmelie and iustlie that then you should put him to make the Pesate and Coruette which you
with these Volte ingannate is that when he commeth vnto the place of turne readie to stop you must proffer him to turne on the one hand and suddenlie turne him on the other If you like to vse the same order in turning your horsse you may doo it in this maner When you haue set your horsses head strait in the same path and place where he stood with his heeles without putting him any whit forward you must force him to make a whole turne round in the same order you obserued in the halfe turnes so as at euerie end of the manage you shall make one whole turne a halfe vpon one hand And remember that the horsse doo not passe forward to the other end of the manage till you haue ended the turnes but tarie till you will haue him so to doo You may also if so you thinke good hauing giuen your horsse an halfe turne on the right hand presentlie returne him with the like time on the left hand to make an whole turne in the order before prescribed But remember that in these dooings you may not labour your horsse much vnlesse he be of great force and more than ordinarie strength The like order you shall obserue in helping in managing your horsse with rest sauing that you must then turne him at the first or third aduancing This manage may be made with halfe turnes whole turnes mocked but they must be aboue the ground aloft For I haue often told you that I like not the whole turnes that be made ouer high the horsse resting onelie vpon his two hinder feete And if in ending the halfe turne or the whole turne with the halfe you put your horsse to one or two Pesate or as manie Aggroppiati rileuati before you come to the other end of the manage the same will be pleasing to the beholders you shalbe also thought to shew much skill and the horsse more obedience Note that in this manage with rest aboue the ground and high you must at euerie turne for the most part help the horsse with the euen stroke of the spurs yet not hard vnlesse need so requireth CHAP. 26. How to helpe your horsse in his Coruette Pesate and Raddoppiare ALbeit we haue heretofore spoken of turning and likewise of the Pesate and Coruette yet did I not particularlie enforme you of the helpes to them belonging I saie therfore that neither in the Coruette nor the Pesate you must in anie wise mooue your legs to helpe the horsse so busilie as thereby to seeme rather a weauer than a rider for you may helpe him sufficientlie otherwise But you shall hold them strait and forward and your bodie right vp in the sadle and not leaning forward as some curious riders doo raising their buttocks behind and lifting them vp and downe more than the horsse either in his Pesate or his Coruerte dooth Maister Claudio therefore dooth counsell you that without anie imitation of these men you shall in coruetting sit firme in your sadle with your legs in their due place holding a constant hand vpon your bridle Neuerthelesse if your horsse doo beare hard and not make his Coruette lightlie then may you helpe him with the euen stroke of your spurs or first with the one and after with the other and if need so requireth with your bridle hand turning your fist in such wise as heretofore I told you that is at euerie Coruette your ring finger which is vnder may turne vpward and your thumbe at the same instant may fall somewhat downeward towards the bending of your horsse necke It will be also a good grace if in coruetting you hold the end of the reines in your right hand holding it vp from the other hand two spans but you may not during that time vse your rod but in steed thereof betwixt your two hands open the reines and at euerie Coruette shut them suddenlie making thereby a certeine sharpe sound which will somewhat awake stirre and put forward the horsse You may also vse the voice fit for this purpose as is before said Likewise at occasions you shall imploie your rod striking the horsse sometimes on the one and sometimes on the other shoulder lightlie or sharpelie as by your discreation shall be thought meetest You may in like maner with the midle part of your rod strike the horsse vpon the bending of his necke or with the point therof vpon the middest of his buttocks letting the rod fall backwards ouer your shoulder It will moreouer be good to vse the whiske of your rod sometimes before sometimes behind for that shall helpe much to hasten the horsse to aduance and beare his bodie with a seemlie grace and beate the time fast Now you must vnderstand the reason whie M. Claudio misliketh so much the motion of the legs and person bicause saith he it is a thing discommendable in the presence of manie lookers on cheeflie if they be of knowledge to vse so much art or bring into their presence a horsse that cannot without helpe and as it were alone make the Coruette and also the Pesate I wish also that when your horsse turneth you should sit strait and firme with your bodie holding your legs in their place helping the horsse in due time somewhiles with the euen stroake of your spurs sometimes on the one side sometimes on the other It may also happen that the helpe of your legs alone will suffice and that your spur shall be needlesse for that your horsse is of too great life and spirit Therefore that helpe ioined with your bridle hand your voice and your rod shall worke the effect of your desire and make him turne as you would haue him If you will turne your horsse vpon the ground Terra terra we haue heretofore told you how to doo it if halfe aboue the ground which the Italians call Amezzo aere the same helpes shall serue yet somwhat increased But if his turnes be loftie Di tempo in tempo then in turning you must helpe him with a great voice and stronger helps which the horsse will performe at euerie turne whensoeuer it please you if among other helps with the point of the rod you beate him betwixt his buttocks adding therevnto your voice But note this one thing that in what sort soeuer you turne your horsse you must not in any wise transgresse or go out of the place As for example If you turne Terra terra the hinder legs of your horsse may not remooue but the forelegs onelie go about the like order you must obserue in his turnes A mezzo aere In the turne wherein the horsse mooueth as well his hind as his foreparts which the Italians call Raddoppiare a groppette he must of force first mooue his forelegs and next his hinder legs yet ought neither the forelegs presse so far forward nor the hinder legs so much backward as to exceed the bounds of the beaten circle which must not be in widenes
more than the horsses length Yet though the horsse dooth not preciselie keepe the compasse it shall be no great fault for it were a thing almost impossible to measure the motions of an horsse by the geometricall compasse or the watch of a clocke To turne loftilie with or without yarks you shall obserue the same order but therein you must be warie and well aduised to keepe your bodie and chieflie your backe well knit to the end that when the horsse riseth or setteth you yeeld not more on the one than the other side And aboue all things you must keepe your legs firmelie stretched out not touching the horsse with your spurre but with great measure The waie to doo so is to raise your horsse first with his hind parts as it were a iumpe or two then at the second or third iumpe to drawe him to turne aloft euerie fourth turne helpe him with the euen stroke of your spurres with your rod on the contrarie shoulder suddenlie with the point of the rod vpon his crooper adding therevnto the helpe of the bridle hand and bodie if need requireth The like you may doo on the other hand neuer forgetting that in the end of euerie turne of what sort so euer you must vse greater speed It is also a great helpe to make your horsse to turne high and aboue the ground if you vse him to turne in some ground that hath the sides somewhat higher than the middest for therein you turne the horsse for not hurting his legs vpon the hill he will lift his feete with a good grace casting out his legs as he should doo and let them fall againe in the iust time and place therewith also at the halfe turne yarke out behind as you would wish according vnto the helps you put vnto him The same hils will also serue well to teach your horsse to put one leg ouer the other which the Italians doo call La ciambetta But note that this place ought not to be betweene the hils more than three or foure spannes at the most Thus much concerning the Coruette Pesate and turnes both vpon and aboue ground All which things the turnes Terraterra excepted may seeme superfluous in a horsse for seruice yet sith you may haplie desire to know M. Claudio his opinion in them I haue thought good to make this short discourse There with adding the difference betwixt the Coruette and the Pesate as thus The Coruette are those motions which the horsse maketh like vnto the iumps of a crow forward and the Pesate are the same not so much remoouing forward but stirring the horsse feet both before behind in the same place like vnto a paire of balance CHAP. 27. What is to be obserued in the Carriera and euerie other manage FOR so much as your horsse ought to runne surelie swiftlie and nimblie increasing his speed you shall sometimes vse him to passe a carriera which ought to be rather ouer long than ouer short chieflie if in the end therof you will raise the horsse to leape with yarkes which must be doone vpon no hard or stonie ground but without impediment or perill and aboue all looke the place be plaine rather ascending than descending yet if at the end it be a little declining your horsse may stop so much the better Note that all horsses generallie doo run more surelie and better vpward than downeward When so euer you will run your horsse remember to go vnto the end of the carriera where settle your selfe a while yet so as the horsse may notstand starke still with his feet but sometimes moouing the one and sometimes the other for that is a comelie sight and sheweth the horsse to be couragious and fierce chieflie if he doo it naturallie beating the ground often with his feet Thus being settled you may put foorth the horsse swiftlie and speedilie yet looke that he run not scoping but rather low with his bellie neere the ground But before you put the horsse forward warne him a little by some sort of making of him gathering vp the reines in your righthand bearing the same some what high to the end of the carrierra You must also carrie your bodie strait and firme with your face vpward and your legs comelie not striking the horsse either with spur or rod more than twise if you find occasion so to doo In the end of the carriera you shall by little little gather the horsse so as he may slide vp his heeles vnto the stop which will be a meane he will ariue with his head the more firme and fit to make the Pesate or leapes as you desire If in gathering vp the horsse not hauing carried your right hand in the course as before then must you take hold of them with the same hand holding the left hand firme yeelding your bodie backwards which will be a grace and a signe of skill Note also that when so euer you passe a carriera or otherwise manage your horse that in the end you turne your face towards those lookers on which be of most honor and reputation CHAP. 28. In what sort you should vse and exercise horsses of seruice for the warre IF so be you desire to haue your horsse made fit for the war you must be sure to keepe him well breathed and run him often times vp and downe among hils vneuen grounds You shall like wise put him to leape ditches and hedges but remember that at the first those leapes be not great but as you find the horsse able and disposed so you may put him vnto larger and hier leaping You must also manie times bring him vnto the turnie and fight with swords against another man armed Which you may first doo disarmed with your sword drawne trotting or gallopping to and fro against another man hauing like wise his sword in hand so as first vsed to this fained fight and noise of armes he may be bold to doo the like in earnest Also to in courage your horsse let the horsse of him that commeth against you retire and seeme affraid as though he would flee for feare You must labour also to make your horsse to loue the lance sword by shewing them to him when you ride and in steed of a rod laie them ouerthwart the horsse necke and betwixt his eares It will not be amisse if in like sort you draw your sword vpon the horsse when he commeth out of the stable and suddenlie as it were for feare retire from him And if then the horsse doo take courage and come towards you put vp your sword and giue him some thing to eat making much of him so shall you find he will become couragious and careles of weapons The sword prepared for this purpose would be without point or edge yet bright and glittering The strokes which offend horsses most are those that be giuen vpon their faces Therefore to the end your horsse may beare them without harme or
to that swiftnes and frankenes that is required according to the force of the horsse remembring in the end to stop him comelie with two or three Pesate made well and with breath enough And surelie if you continue thus to doo you shall make your horsse so perfect that if you please to put him to doo more he will learne it easilie You must also during this moneth vse your horsse much to the turnes Terra terra which I would haue him learne before he be brought to manage to the end that both in them and all other dooings he may come more readilie and iustlie to his halfe turnes But if it fortune that your horsse dooth not euerie thing firmelie and iustlie as you desire yet ought you not be discouraged but presentlie in the same place where he committeth the fault correct him by all meanes due to that fault neither shall you cease so to doo till such time as he amendeth And trulie either the first second or third morning he will be brought to doo according to your owne fansie so that you giue him not ouer at the first This we haue said shall suffice to enforme you how to make your horsse perfect in all his dooings vpon the ground CHAP. 17. How to helpe the horsse with your voice THe helps required in horsmanship are diuers and may be reduced to nine as the voice the rod the bridle the calues of your legs the stirrops the spurres the bodie the ground and the water As touching the voice you must vnderstand it maie varie lowder or softer as the dooings of the horsse and his disposition altereth So that if you should alwaies vse one voice your horsse could neuer conceiue your meaning and consequentlie your helpes become vaine It shall therefore behooue you to vse one voice to a coult at his first handling an other when he beginneth to go well another when he stoppeth another when he gallopeth at leisure an other in his gallop galliard an other in his turnes vpon the ground an other when he turneth hie with yarkes or without an other in his carriera and leaping Likewise whensoeuer you teach him his ordinarie pase or order of going a particular voice ought to be then vsed You must also be prepared to haue a voice for your horsse when he is ouer light behind stubborne or disobedient and one other if he doo obedientlie willinglie and couragiouslie All which M. Claudio dooth labour to expresse in his language yet for that they be in all toongs rather significant sounds than words of expresse meaning I commit them to the riders discretion it shall suffice that the horsse thereby may conceiue your meaning and be forced to obeie in that you would haue him to doo Yet now that this helpe of the voice may not be vsed mnch if you ride in presence of the Prince or other great persons chieflie when the horsse is redie for at such times and in such places it were vnseemelie to open your mouth and vtter voices of diuers sounds and meaning In sted of those voices you shall imploie certeine secreat helps and motions artificiall But the most comelie grace on horssebacke if you ride in so great presence is not to helpe the horsse at all otherwise than to accompanie him with your hand and bodie wherby you shall couertlie declare much cunning without apparant helpes or inforcement CHAP. 18. How to helpe your horsse with the rod. THe helpe of the rod is vsed by one of these meanes by whisking by striking with the whole rod with the point therof onlie with the middest and also with the end vnder the hand or with shewing the rod. Touching the whiske it ought not be vsed till such time as the horsse knoweth well all other helpes of the rod and can manage perfectlie on either hand The rider may vse this kind of helpe in steed of the voice it stirreth vp the spirit of euerie horsse but chieflie of those which are of courage and great life Striking with the whole rod is required when you would haue your horsse go forward liuelie either in his trot his gallop his carriera his halfe or whole turns either vpō the ground or aboue with yarkes or without for then you shall strike him vpon one of his shoulders his flanks buttocks his legs or thighes This stroke of the rod shall helpe much being giuen in due time and the more if the same be accompanied with the other helps and chieflie that of the voice You may also first vse this helpe in pasing your horsse sometimes striking him on the shoulder to the end he should the more raise himselfe And you must strike him first on the one and then the other shoulder whereby he will gather his legs the better go with more life and beare his head the higher The like order you must obserue in his trot and ordinarie gallop But in his carriera you shall beate him either vpon his shoulders or vpon his flanks verie sharplie you may also sometimes vse the whiske In offring him to make Coruette you may likewise helpe the horsse with the rod striking him vpon one of his shoulders at euerie turne and euerie Coruette yet onelie when need so requireth It seemeth not good that the horsse should be continuallie striken vpon when you offer him the Coruette for it may be he will writh his mouth necke the rather towards the left side you shall therefore strike him on that side your owne discretion dooth thinke good If you will raise your horsse to leape at his stop then so soone as you haue striken him on the shoulder incontinent turne your hand strike him also vpon the flanke The like you may at occasions doo in the gallop galliard or turning aboue the ground But if your horsse be light enough before at his stop and leape then without either beating vpon the shoulders or flanks you may make him to yarke by letting the point of your rod to touch the horsse behind in the middest of his buttocks An other waie to helpe your horsse by the rod is when you would haue him staie in one place for then you shall laie it ouerthwart his necke and then he will as he standeth lift first one then the other leg with a certeine grace and comelie countenance And maruell not though this one maner of holding the rod doth worke two contrarie effects for in the one you doo sollicit the horsse to go by beating still beating in crossing his necke but in the other you doo onelie laie the rod crosse but not moue it otherwise Touching the great end of the rod vnder your hand you may therewith make much of your horsse if you scratch him therwith faire and easilie vpon the necke in signe he dooth well Moreouer the shew of the rod is in the turns an helpe vnto the horsse and a grace vnto the man For in turning the horsse on the left hand you must put