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
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
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
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
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
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
horsseman to follow him rating striking him with a cudgell vpon the crooper and the rider likewise beate him and helpe him with his voice It is also good if after you haue gallopped the large rings you put your horsse forward with furie till you come vnto the place of stopping bicause he being desirous to leaue his labouring in the rings will make hast to the stopping place CHAP. 34. How to correct an horsse that lifteth not his legs and how to make him put one leg ouer the other IF your horsse either in his Pesate or other doings lifteth not his legs as he should doo then must you with your rod beat him on the knees chieflie if he lift them ouer high or put them strait foorth But in the halfe or whole narow turnes you must strike him onlie on the knee on that side you do turne also helpe him with your stirrop on the same side It will helpe much also to ride him in some ground like vnto a boat euer turning the horsse against the hill and helping him as before said If you will haue him put one leg ouer the other which will greatlie helpe a horsse and is a comelie sight then trot him about verie strait first on the one then on the other hand without suffering him to take breath yet helping him as before said and leaning downe to see how he mooueth his shoulders but finding that the leg on that side the horsse turneth not to go vnder the other then must you beate him most therevpon with your stirrop rod. You may obserue the like order in pasing your horsse And the ditch made like vnto a boate will helpe much to bring the horsse to cast one leg before the other which motion the Italians doo call La zampetta or gambetta CHAP. 35. How to teach your horsse the Gambetta and what that is THe Zampetta or as M. Claudio calleth it Lagambetta is when the horsse dooth put forward one leg before the other either in his manage vpon halfe turnes the Coruette or at the stop standing firme which leg would be somewhat lifted vp from the ground whensoeuer the rider dooth so require A horsse being perfect in this lifting and putting forward of his leg dooth become himselfe the better not onelie in his turnes vpon the ground and the other somewhat aboue ground which the Italians doo call Volte raddoppiate a mezzo aere but also in the manage turnes and when he is cast about swiftlie narrowe and as it were without rest or time You may teach your horsse the Gambetta in an hollow ground made like vnto a boate or muskell shell hauing little hils on either side so that the plaine ground betwixt the hils be not larger than three or foure spans you must thervnto put the helps beforesaid But you may teach him better in the stable by striking him with a rod vpon the inside of that leg which you would haue him lift or put forward adding there vnto your voice as Vp vp which you must continue till the horsse lifteth his leg But so soone as he so dooth remooue your rod and giue him some bread or grasse in signe he dooth content you This order you must dailie obserue till you see the horsse willing to lift and put the one leg forward whensoeuer you mooue him thereto with your voice onlie which he will doo so soone as you come towards him The like you must after cause him to doo with the other leg When you will haue your horsse hold vp his leg not letting it fall till you will haue him then hold your rod still at his leg so long as you would haue him to doo it But if he set it downe before you would then with the same voice and rod faile not to correct him without remoouing the rod till he hath stood as long as you desire and in such sort as you would haue him for after that correction he will at your onelie voice lift and put forward first one then the other leg as you would your selfe wish and so hold them aboue the ground a good while You may likewise in riding your horsse helpe him to doo the Gambetta if you strike him on the leg with your toe or stirrop CHAP. 36. How to teach your horsse to kneele downe and that he shall suffer his Maister onelie to ride him FOr so much as Maister Claudio hath in the beginning of this booke commended an horsse that will kneele downe when so euer his rider would haue him either when he mounteth or dismounteth I thinke good to informe you what meane he would haue you vse to bring the horsse thereto First you must doo vnto the horsse in the stable as you did in teaching him the Gambetta sauing that you shall now strike him on the out side of his knee putting therevnto a contrarie voice For as you said before Vp vp so shall you now saie Downe downe But if being vpon the horsse backe you will haue him kneele on both knees then must you strike him with your rod on the right knee and in the same instant strike him with your foote vpon the left leg adding therevnto the voice you vsed to make him kneele When you haue brought the horsse with these corrections to vnderstand how to kneele downe first with the one then with the other leg and then with both at once to cause him stand so still so long as you would haue him you must hold downewards your rod towards his knees saieng Stand firme or Stand still When you will haue him arise vp lift vp your rod from his legs beating him lightlie vpon the bent of his necke and you shall saie thrise Vp vp vp Also if you haue before taught him to leape and yarke then may you suddenlie at his rising put him therevnto by vsing the voice and helpe required in leaping yarking If you will make your horsse so coie as not to suffer anie other than your selfe to ride him then let euerie other man that rideth him rate him beate him and intreate him the worst he can deuise besides that let them labour him extreamlie and when they dismount beate him threaten him the most that can be deuised In the meane space you must make your selfe well acquainted with the horsse in the stable and then so soone as others hauing rigorouslie vsed him doo dismount you must come vnto him with a cheerefull countenance giuing him pleasant things to eate and put them aside that haue offended him You shall likewise please him much to cherish him with your hands when you weare sweete gloues wiping his face and chieflie his nosthrils with perfumes sweet handkerchiefs for neatnesse sweetnes be two things wherein a horsse dooth singularlie take pleasure Hauing thus doone you shall mount vpon his backe first staieng a while then making much of him both before behind put him forward pasing then alight not suffering any man but your selfe to lead him into the stable giue him some pleasant thing to eate when he is dressed But note that whatsoeuer hath beene said of kneeling downe and not suffring others than the maister of the horsse to ride him must be vsed onelie vpon horsses of great spirit vnderstanding and aptnesse therevnto FINIS The Persian manner of teaching a horsse obedience Why horsses do commōlie turne more willinglie on the left than on the right hand What is to be doone if a horsse leane more on the one side than on the other c. The profit of trotting the rings The manifold vse of the rings A description of this Caragolo or Lumaca see pag. 12. A description of this double S see pag. 16. A description of this manage see pag. 19. The vse of the rod the heele and the voice The vse of the forsaid corrections The vse of correction when necessarie The commodities of retiring c. Signes of a good horsse A caueat touching the curbing of a colt c. Of sitting in the sadle and pad The length of the stirrops The surest hold on horsebacke How your horsse must stand c. How the horsse shuld stand at his stop c. The motions of the horsses bodie mind appeare by his eies Aduertisements touching the trotting of the Caragolo A caueat to auoid toiling of your horsse and the reason whie The commoditie vse of turning vpon the ground The maner how to put your horsse to the Coruette or Pesate Faults in your horsse deseruing correction The vse of the spurs How the Coruette and the Pesate doo differ Whervpon the Coruette hath his name The commoditie discommoditie comming by the Coruette Maneggio di contra tempo Maneggio di mezzo e di tutto tempo Helpes in horssemanship reduced to nine in number Of varieng the voice in diuerse respects A caueat touching the voice when you ride before a prince a noble personage c. Two contrarie effects in holding the rod c. M. Astley in his discourse of horssemanship 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 chapters Of helping your horsse by water Notes of a good rider At what time a colt is to be spurred How and when the foresaid helpes are to be vsed The stirrops should be of euen length Corrections diuerse waies for not stopping c. The opinion of some that the right stirrop should be shorter than the left c. The left stirrop to be longer than the right Volte ingannate rubate The motion of the legs and person misliked and why Orders to be obserued in the turnes Terra terra and A mezzo aere How and wherein the Coruette and Pesate doo differ Meanes to make horsses venterous and hardie Properties required in a horsse for seruice in warre Corrections for horsses Not to strike the horsse on the head Sharpe corrections for a restie horsse Corrections if the horsse rereth c. The fault in an horse called in Italian La credenza Sharp correction for an angrie horsse What is iustlie the hardnes of the mouth read M. Astley his booke of riding cap. 1. pag. 8. Notes of angrie horsses To keepe a horsse from running awaie A deceit of the rider to make his horsse run c. Where and how to teach your horsse the Gambetta Bucephalus the horsse of Alexander Magnus had this propertie Two things wherein a horsse delighteth
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
impatience you shall do well to arme him with a shaffron and in the stable vse him vnto the sounds of trumpets drums and ratling of armor which being first doone the rest will feare him the lesse Aboue all things you must accustome an horsse of seruice to hunting where manie other horsses are assembled and where is great noise and shooting as hornes drums and harque busses Also accustome him to fiers waters swimming and to behold men both armed and disarmed aliue and dead and passe among them You may also ride him among coches carts and other carriages and all things vsed in the warre It is also to good purpose if you put your horsse sometimes to indure hunger and thirst cold and heate and suffer him to stand the whole daie with some burthen on his backe Moreouer it were good to ride sometimes in the night to accustome an horsse vnto the noise of armes and warlike instruments which shall make him the more couragious bold and assured Faile not likewise to let him eate all sorts of meat to drinke wine and be bridled and sadled willinglie and to let you mount dismount at your pleasure But aboue the rest make him to loue your person and as it were be in loue with you A horsse for the warre ought to be a swift and sure runner a good eater light vpon the hand strong nimble and valiant without fault or imperfection CHAP. 29. How to correct a restie horsse that rereth and yarketh behind ARestie horsse is he that refuseth or resisteth to obeie his rider either in not going forward or turning on which hand you would haue him The beginning of this stubborne condition is easilie perceiued For whensoeuer you find your horsse to go as it were in two minds seeming he doubteth whether he should go or not then shall you foorthwith vse some sharpe correction of voice and if he be restie accompanie the same with some sure stroakes of the rod vpon his shoulders and loines But beware in anie wise to strike the horsse vpon the head and cheeflie betwixt his eares for so he may be easilie slaine To strike him on the head may also bring other inconueniences as hurt of the eies and make an horsse so striken for euer after to be fearfull of the sword and cowardlie Besides the correction of the voice the rod and spur you may cause two footmen that haue some skill to stand with goads in their hands when the horsse refuseth to go forward then to rate him terriblie and pricke him behind till he doo go as you would haue him then cease But during all this time the rider shall sit quietlie and saie nothing and so soone as the horsse goeth forward or amendeth his fault make much of him An other waie to correct your horsse for this fault is that when he goeth arsward and refuseth to doo as you would then to pull him still backe till he be wearie and then let a footeman come behind with a long pike hauing a wispe burning at the end thereof and therewith pricke your horsse till he go forward which doing you must make greatlie of him But vnlesse the horsse be more than ordinarilie restie I would not wish you to touch him with fire or tie chords to his stones or cats to his taile as some men doo bicause so cruell corrections doo deforme the horsses skin and make him desperate besides that such helps are ouer base and vnfit to be vsed by gentlemen Remember also that if an horsse hauing this fault dooth weare an hard bit you must take it awaie and in steede thereof put on a canon or scatch You must likewise foresee whether your horsse hath this fault through want of sight for if his eies be not good then will he be fearefull to go forward in respect thereof in which case you may not proceed with such rigour but rather by all faire meanes and much making of giue him courage to looke well vpon the thing he feareth M. Claudio therefore dooth counsell riders to walke their horsses abroad as well in the night as the daie and bring them in streets and other places where is much noise and other things to be feared as smiths shops pewterers brasiers and such like places If your horsse reareth you must foorthwith looke what is the occasion therof to the end you may prouide a remedie As if you beare too hard an hand you must hold it more temperatlie But if the fault be in the horsse then beat him surelie ouerthwart his shoulders which correction is also necessarie when the horsse dooth make his Coruette more high than you would haue him or in dooing them cast his legs strait foorth It is also necessarie that at such time as the horsse dooth go about to reare you beare a light hand vpon the bridle and haue the curbe more slacke than ordinarie But if your horsse be ouer light and apt to yarke behind then shall you correct him well if at euerie yarke you giue him a chocke with the bridle accompaning the same with a stripe of the rod ouerth wart his bodie and shoulders Note also that the crooper of such horsses should be verie slacke and likewise the quiseill If the horsse dooth yarke when he is spurred then must you continue to spur him the more till he leaueth that fault yet so as the same be doone in due time first with the one and next with the other spur mixing thereto a chocke of the bit with the corrections of the rod voice Till such time as the horsse be brought to leaue this falt it were also good to haue a strong bit sometimes put him forward a great waie in a swift gallop and therewith tire him CHAP. 30. How to correct an horsse that wrieth his mouth or that is not willing to turne on either hand indifferentlie SOme horsse will drawe vp or wryth the one lip more than the other the cause thereof may be either that the bit dooth hurt him or resteth not in the true place or else may proceed of some euill custome Touching hurting the horsse mouth or euill placing the bit the remedie is easie But if the fault proceedeth of euill custome you must then correct the horsse sometime with your heele sometime with your stirrop sometime with the rod sometime with the spur and sometime with drawing in the contrarie side of the bit which corrections you must vse more or lesse according to the obstinacie of the horsse and till such time as you see him to leaue the fault which dooing you must cease from correction and make much of him Also to carrie the musroll strait will helpe well in this case If your horsse refuse to turne of anie hand which fault the Italians doo call La credenza or beareth his necke more on the one side than the other then would I wish you to put a string vnto the cheefe eie of the bit and tie the
other end thereof to the girth at such length as your discretion shall thinke good which doone you must continuallie sollicit him to turne on that hand you haue tied the string helping him with your heele your rod and spur on the same side But the best correction for this fault is first to alight and tie the horsse head fast to his girths on that side he refuseth to turne or go so leauing him to stand one whole houre and after with your voice and rod force him to turne on that hand Other corrections there are which for shortnes I omit and the rather bicause some horsses subiect to this fault are therein naturallie so obstinate as they are vnworthie of the riders labour CHAP. 31. How to correct an angrie horsse and tender of mouth that dooth wryth his head from one side to the other I Haue here to fore told you that an horsse being naturallie angrie must be much made of but that not sufficing assure your selfe it proceedeth of euill nature and therefore faile not to affoord him stripes enough rating him with a terrible voice and correcting him by all other meanes due to that errour vnlesse his anger proceedeth of the tendernesse of mouth for then you shall entreat him with more patience And if you find that the horsse mouth is tender vpon the barres or in the curbing place then must you vse a gentle bit and a curbe accordinglie And note that sometimes an horsse putteth downe his head for that some tooth is more long or more sharpe than it should be pricking the gums or the inside of the lip which may also be a cause that manie times he eateth not well and consequentlie becometh leane which must be amended by filing that tooth or otherwise as the ferrer can deuise If an horsse hauing a gentle mouth doo wryth his head he may happilie amend that fault if you put in his mouth a soft bit but if his mouth be hard then must you vse an hard bit correcting him with the spurres the stirrops twitches of the bit sometimes on the one and sometimes on the other side euer accompanieng the said corrections with a voice fit for that purpose holding your hand firme temperatlie and if need be draw the reine of the Cauezzan to the vttermost straitnesse The like you must doo when so euer either in pasing or trotting he dooth beare his head ouer low or putteth it downe suddenlie And if he letteth his head fall more on the one than the other side then must you vse the chock of the bridle twitch of the Cauezzan with one onelie reine and on the contrarie side togither with the other corrections But if the horsse putteth downe his head euenlie on either side then must the correction be giuen with both reines equallie with both heeles and the euen stroke of the spurs or at the least so soone as you haue striken him on the one side you must doo the like on the other CHAP. 32. Of horsses that run awaie and are hot mouthed by meanes of euill riding SVch horsses as haue beene euill ridden and put to run much in their youth will commonlie runne awaie with their riders Which was the respect I haue heretofore told you that verie sildome you should runne your horsses if before they were not made firme of head and mouth and therewithall fullie growne You must also refraine to run your horsse the rather if you know him to be naturallie full of life and euill mouthed for so are all cholerike and angrie horsses as sorell adust and roane and euerie other horsse that hath his snowt reddish or their whole heads so coloured if that colour proceedeth not of age You must likewise refraine to run all slacke and heauie horsses and those that haue weake backs weake legs and euill feet But if the horsse be well made and coloured as he should be and therfore runneth awaie onlie bicause he hath beene euill ridden then must you by little and little and not all at once reduce him to order not by meane of sharpe bits but by vsing manie daies to pase and trot him forward and stop him often vpon the decline of an hill putting him still backe without making him after to go forward but then stand still During these lessons your horse must weare the cannon and Cauezzan adding therevnto if need be a martegall of leather or iron in steed of the Cauezzan If your horsse at any time dooth well in these lessons you must in any wise make much of him and at the stop suffer him to slide a little at the stop as well in his trot as his gallop vnlesse he be a great horsse bendeth his houghes with difficultie for such horsses ought to be stopped short and you must cast your bodie backward more suddenlie than is required in riding other horsses To reduce an horsse from running awaie it will helpe much to stop him before a wall It were also good to bring him into some deepe ditch that were in length almost as long as a carriera and at either end place a footeman holding a cudgill in his hand who finding when the horsse refuseth to stop shall presentlie rate him and if need be beate him vpon the shoulders It were not amisse also for reforming of this fault to set some kind of thing to stop at the end of the ditch so as the horsse should of force staie there but if he be so diuelish as he doubteth not to run against that prouision then let him be incountered with a paire of harquebusses or some burning wispes All these extremities may be vsed but M. Claudio thinketh that horsses so desperatelie disposed are vnwoorthie the stable of Princes or Gentlemen CHAP. 33. How to correct a dull and cowardlie horsse that runneth not willinglie A Cowardlie horsse must be corrected courteously least wanting courage he may be made restie And you must neuer forget to cherish and make much of him when so euer he dooth well But if the horsse be both dull and churlish then must you vse great sharpe corrections yet at occasions make much of him If your horsse will not runne out his carriera being ordinarilie corrected then shall you deceiue him in this sort First you must trot gallop him to fro at large a good while without obseruing anie order at all then put him strait forth where you meane to stop him and being there by little little make the gallop so speedie as in the end you force him to run but at the first when you vse this subtiltie you may not make the horsse to passe in full carriera more than the length of a manage Afterwards vsing the like craft you may increase the course till it be a full carriera But if all this suffice not to raise the horsse to run couragiouslie as he should doo find meanes to run him often in companie of other horses cause an other