c. p. 315 The Head-ache Giddiness loss of Cudd diseases in the Eyes Agues in Lambs or Sheep Rheums Catarrhs diseases in the Eyes or Teeth Boyls Aposthumes and Vlcers their respective cures p. 317 Saint Anthonies Fire Rot or Plague Diseases of the Lungs Scab or Itch Cough Swallowing Spiders or any venom and Belly swelling their respective cures p. 320 Lame Claws Maggots and Lice broken or bruised joints c. how to order p. 322 A Treatise of Swine The Marks whereby to know a good breed and how to procure it p. 323 When the Sow ought to be covered the time of Spaying and Gelding and how with little charge to make Swine fat p. 324 Sickness in Swine how to know it and the cure for Head-Ach Swine-pox and the distemper called the eating Yarrow p. 326 Diseases in the Eyes of Swine Agues Fevers Measels Rhumes and Catarrhs their respective Remedies p. 328 Plague or diseases in the Milt Imposthumes or swellings in the Throat Neck swelling their cure as also an excellent Remedy to prevent vomiting p. 329 Colds or Coughs Belly-Ach Lameness Diseases in the Gall and Flux their Cure c. p. 331 To kill Lice prevent Thirst and an excellent Receipt for an Oyntment to be used in case of fractured bones dislocated or swelled Joynts c. p. 333 THE Introduction SEeing divers have undertaken to treat about Horses c. those most excellent of Animal Creatures I have not thought it amiss from long experience to lay down as I well hope to the satisfaction of the skilful reader such perfect Rules and Methods to order and mannage Horses in all their useful capacities as have been hitherto but lightly touched by such as have made essays in the like nature for as the Horse may worthiliest challenge place as the noblest and goodliest the necessariest and trustiest Beast that we use in our service and since he serveth to so many ends notwithstanding much may have been spoken on that Subject yet it is not doubted but in that as on all other Subjects where so large a Field is given to treat something material may be omitted by those who have travailed therein that may occur to the memory and deliberate judgment of those that come after them For as all Arts are bettered by long Experience and improved by time and industry this amongst the rest worthy the Studies and Labour of the most industrious must needs admit of variety and afford new matter of discovery Therefore Reader I shall no longer trespass upon your Patience but to satisfie your expectation open the Cabinet wherein are contained such rarities as are worthy the notice of the most Experienced and Learned upon Earth and since Horses serve for sundry purposes as Pleasure Profit and War in Racing Traveling Hunting servile labour Charging in the Field and the like I shall first declare how they ought to be bred and at first chose as most fit and promising to the uses they are designed for and so proceed to each particular relating to mannagement Ordering Cure c. THE Compleat Horseman OR Gentlemans Delight The first consideration in relation to Pasture for Horses c. THe first thing to be considered in Breeding is the commodiousness of the Ground wherein the Horses Mares and Colts are to run which must in no wise be too rank of Grass nor over sparing but a firm sweet Soil situate in a wholsome Air somewhat ascending inclosed with Quicksets and spreading Trees the better to shelter your Beasts from the wind or heat of the Sun Nor let your Mares Colts or Horses continue long in one Pasture but put them into fresh Pasture and let the vicissitude be so often as occasion requires or as you find them uneasie which will appear ether by their carelesness in feeding attempting to leap the Hedges Ditches or making continually towards the Gate and looking through it or over it The Summer Pastures must be shady as aforesaid and those you intend to winter them in accommodated with a Hovel Hay-rick Barn Stable or some convenient house to shelter them from the stormy blasts especially the Colts who are by nature tender the first year Directions and Rules about the choice of Horses THe next thing to be considered is the choice of Stallions and Mares First let your Stallion have hoofs hard and sound round and hollow to keep the feet from the Ground his Legs even and straight his knees round flexible and small his Thighs large and well brawned his Breast great and broad his neck soft and broad bending Arch-wise his Main thick and for the most part falling on the right side his Head small and lean for a great head betokens a dull and heavy Jade his Mouth ever moist his Eyes great and bloody or rather fiery standing as it were out of his head which is a sign of quickness and liveliness his Ears short and standing upright his Nostrils wide his Shoulders large and straight the sides turning inwards the ridge bone over the shoulders being somewhat high his Sides deep and well knit behind his Loyns broad his Belly gaunt his Buttocks full of flesh his Tail long brisly and curled these being the tokens of a good Stallion and indeed of a good Horse for all services the contrary properties denoting badness And now I shall proceed to the description of a good Mare for breeding first observe she be not subject to diseases nor above three or four years old let her have a fair forehead lively eyes standing ears a large womb a bright colour and well metled gentle and easie to be handled for wild Mares are too apt to destroy their Colts in their bellies and when foaled will not easily brook the weaning of them How to oblige a Mare that is unwilling to take the Horse to be covered when and in what manner she ought to be covered and how afterwards to be used IF your Mare be backward to take the Horse which will appear by her biting and kicking at him then turn to her a stone Horse of small stature who by his nimble running about her and playing with her will soon wooe or oblige her to gentleness so that she will suffer her self to be covered which willingness perceived take away the said Horse and the next morning about Sunrising put to her your Stallion having been well provendered but suffered to drink little put him to her in a close fenced ground where she will in a short time permit him to cover her the which when he has twice or thrice done let her graze but keep her from water taking the Horse from her whom you must rub down and well provender till Evening at what time turn him loose to your Mare again and let him cover her as often as he pleaseth unless you perceive him too robust or furious that thereby he may suâ—tain injury The Mare thus covered unless she be greatly desirous of his company a third time you need not put him to her
as Waterings hot Rheumes Haws Pin and Web Pearls blood-shotten and the like The opening the Palate-veins cures or pervents the Lampass or inward sickness as Stavars Anticor Yellows Drowsiness Surfeits Tirings and many times cureth the Strangles Quinsie Swelling of the kernels Pustles Inflammation or Glaunders especially if you cause him to drink the blood mixed with a little Bay-salt The next veins opened help the Yellows Farcins Stavars Mangies Agues Feavours Surfeits Scabs Glaunders and the like and often prevent sickness in your Horse or Mare The opening the palate or breast veins prevent or help the Anticor Moore-foundering occasioned by molten grease contracted in the body by hard riding it likewise preventeth diseases in the Liver Lungs and other internal parts is convenient to be done upon any hurt or sprain in the Shoulder to prevent Lameness The opening the two thigh veins helpeth foundering in the forefeet Splint Screw-ringbone Mallender or the like infirmity To bleed the four Shackle veins before is good against the Crown-scab Quitter-bone and the like distemper incident to the feet of a Horse or Mare To bleed the Spur-veins is excellent good for the Moore-founder Farcine in the side swelling under the belly or the like The Toe-veins being opened do help Frettizing foundering Hoof-bound or any grief occasioned by the Horses beating his Hoofs upon hard stony way Bleeding the two thigh-veins behind easeth the grief of the kidnies swelling in the hinder legs Foundering Scratches pissing of Blood occasioned by overstraining or the weakness of the Reins Back or Belly and infirmity in the Guts as likewise the Curb Spavin and such other distempers or griefs as proceed from rankness or impurity of Blood To open the Shackle veins behind is exceeding good to prevent foundering or any pain the Horse is subject to have in his feet To open the Flank-veins is exceeding good in case of a Feavour Swelling in the Stones Poverty or the Felt-worm And lastly to bleed the Tail-vein often prevents the Mange Scabs Itch and falling off of the Hair So that the number of veins that are usually opened upon divers occasions are Thirty the opening of which greatly contribute to the health of the Horse or Mare not only by preventing distempers as has been before said but frequently without any other application by taking away the effects cause the grief to cease or at least prepare the body of the Horse the better to receive such effectual medicines as will work his cure and dispose outward wounds bruises and the like to such a temper that they heal without much difficulty What seasons are best to let blood in IF the Horse be in great danger you need not expect the critical times but let him blood presently but if otherwise observe these following days viz. the third and fifteenth of January The fourth and ninth of February The seventeenth and eighteenth of March. The tenth and sixteenth of April The first and thirteenth of May The fifteenth and twentieth of June In July and August forbear letting blood unless upon some urgent occasion In September bleed him on the eleventh and twenty-eighth day In October on the eight and twenty third In November on the fifth and sixteenth In December on the fourteenth and twenty sixth these days being by all the experienced Farriers holden the best for sundry regards but especially in respect to the signs which are these and thus govern viz. Aries the head Taurus the neck Gemini the shoulders Cancer the stomach Leo the heart Virgo the guts and belly Libra the reins and buttocks Scorpio the privities Sagittarius the thighs Capricorn the knees Aquarius the legs and Pisces the feet from which note that it is not at all safe to let blood in that part where the sign is predominant Of the bones of a Horse and how placed IN the body of a Horse the Bones are these viz. 40 teeth his head Bones comprehending the crooks and handles of his Scull although they are compiled of part and parcel of other Bones likewise two flat handles which from the Palate and Fork or Throat have five his breast-bone and fifty two bones in his Chine his Ribs short and long are thirty six his fore legs and fore feet are composed of 44 Bones and the hinderlegs and feet of 40 so that the whole structure of his body as to Bones is computed to consist of 157. or as some say one hundred fifty nine Of the four Humours Sympathising with the four Humours incident to all Creatures IT is not the least part of the Farriers Office to consider and well understand the nature and qualities of the four Elementary Humours that go to the composition of all creatures And first as the four Elements viz. Fire Air Water and Earth give life and Nutriment to all living creatures So the four Humours viz. Choler Blood Phlegm and Melancholy are the principal Agitators in the bodies of all Creatures and as it were compose them or at least preserve them for without either no creature can subsist Choler by reason of its heat being alluded to Fire Blood by reason of its heat and moisture to Air Phlegm by reason of its coldness and moisture to Water and Melancholy by reason of its cold and dryness to Earth as for Choler its seat is in and near the Liver which by reason of its heat and dryness accords with the blood which has its fountain in the Liver and from thence disperses it self throughout the whole body nourishing and preserving it in all parts Phlegm has its chief seat in and about the Brain that seat of life altogether affecting Cold. Melancholy occupieth the Spleen being the gross and excremental part of blood and choler descending from the Liver As for the Offices or dispositions of these humours they are four viz. Choler causeth concoction and voiding of Excrements Blood nourishes the body Phlegm gives motion to the joynts And Melancholy disposeth to appetite creating a good stomach How to know by the Colour of a Horse to which of the four aforesaid Humors he is most inclinable and how thereupon to order him for the prevention or curing such distempers as he is most subject to TO know the better to prepare your Medicines necessary to be given upon sundry occasions it is first necessary that you know which of the four aforesaid humours is most predominant in your Horse which cannot better be discerned than by his Colour or complexion note then if he be cole-black without any white a bright Sorrel or an Iron-gray unchangeable that will neither turn to a Flea-bitten White or Daple gray then is he most subject to Choler by reason of the great heat in him often incident to inflammation of the Liver Yellows and Pestilential Feavours and in that case you must to prevent these distempers give him medicines to purge Choler but let them not be of a quality too much operating lest they impair his strength to that degree that he never after recover it
for that they at two or three years old at the most take them up for want of ground to feed them in How to know what Colt will make a true shaped Horse To help Mares that are difficult in foaling To order Colts upon weaning Separating and gelding of Colts c. AT six months old the shape may be discerned that he will be of at six years old if he be not wronged or spoiled in keeping and bringing up the defects are also to be seen at the same time The shin-bone being long and large from the Pastern to the knee denotes the Colt to prove a tall Horse And what space is found in a Colt new foaled between the Withers and knee double that space will appear when he is full grown Observe the activeness lively spirits and striving for mastery over their fellows amongst Colts for such denote they will prove well mettalled and serviceable Horses when dulness foreshews the contrary If a Mare be distressed in her foaling the ready way to make her bring forth is to stop both her Nostrils with your hand that so she may be the better obliged to strain her self or if that fail take Madder to the quantity of a Pigeons Egg boil it in a pint of ALE and give it her warm If her Secundine after foaling come not away take a handfull or two of young fennel boil it in running-water or spring-water if you can get it half a pint of which mix with as much Malmsie and a fourth quantity of Olive Oyle and put it blood warm into the Nostrils of your Mare and hold them close or in defect of this give her green Wheat or Rye to eat but the former medicine is best and will answer the end for which it was given Observe that your Mare in no wise eat her Cleansing for it is not only unwholsome but a great obstructer of her producing milk When a Colt is weaned put him out of the hearing of his Dam as aforesaid and the sooner to make him forget her give him Savin and Butter which will effect it Put him not to hard pasture till the second or third year after his weaning Separate your Mare and Stone Colts at a year at furthest for the Stone Colts being high fed and of much mettal will attempt to cover the Mare Colts at the end of a year which if permitted proves the spoiling of them both Nor is it amiss but altogether convenient to separate each years breed by putting them into divers pastures To geld Stone-Colts the convenientest time is and with the least danger at nine days old if the Stones come down if not let some days more pass ere you attempt it In this case the time of the Moon and the signs are to be observed The best time is when the Moon is in the Wain and the sign in Virgo or Aries And the best time in the year is the Spring and Fall but although these are the safest and convenientest times yet this work may be done by a skillful hand at any time as well on full grown Horses as young Colts And thus much I have thought fit to lay down for the instruction of the Breeder which is the chiefest Office relating to a Horse for if he be spoiled in the breeding all labour cost and care bestowed upon him will prove fruitless for he will never be a compleat Horse The Compleat Horseman's TRUE DIRECTORY Or the Rules and Methods for managing Horses at all points after they are brought up and fitted for the Saddle by the care and industry of the Breeder as in the foregoing Treatise of his Office is expressed A Horse of never so good a breed and carefully brought up to the Saddle falling into the hands of an unskillful mannager is like an unstrung instrument or a Ship without a Rudder Therefore I have not thought it at all unnecessary but altogether convenient to reveal this part or mystery of Horsemanship that every man without being beholding to others for advice or putting himself to the charge of a Horse-breaker may mannage his own Beast to such advantages as he sees fit or best approves of which I shall lay down in these following Rules Experienced Rules for Saddling and Mouthing c. YOur Horse taken up and with feeding by hand and handling made somewhat familiar hang the Saddle and Bridle always near him and often offer to put them on till at last he will suffer you to do it then girt him about though not too hard but rather put small wisps of Hay between his body and the girths for his ease and let your Bridle be as easie as may be though strong and well put on to prevent his headstrongness if he attempt it Then in a fair day carry him abroad into a plain field or other convenient place and make him trot round you sometimes cherishing him with your voice and at other times striking him with your switch as you see occasion Hang with your weight upon the Saddle shake the Stirrups strike them against his sides and strain the Crupper with all such matters as will happen in riding till he is familiar and seems well to brook them Your Horse by this means being plyable to the Saddle take off the slight loose and easie Bridle Gird the Saddle hard then washing his mouth with ALE you shall put into it a full mouth'd Trench formerly used and drawing the Reins over his head lay them upon the Saddle drawing them now and then that he may have a feeling of the Trench which will induce him to Champ and play with the same and thereby make him more familiar with it after which having your Martingal in a readiness fasten it from the Chaul-band to the Girths but with some slackness unless your Horse is apt to toss up his head upon starting wantonness or a col◠〈◊〉 he has got This done fasten a broad pecie of Leather about his neck at his withers and before the middle of his weasand about six inches beneath his Throple between which and his neck let the Martingal be drawn to prevent his ducking down his head for by that means the Cavezan being placed upon the Gristle of his nose being the tenderest part about him will when he throws down his head hurt him at that rate that he will soon leave of that ill custom of ducking or thrusting his head between his legs and make him carry it Archwise bending like a Swans neck which will add much to his comeliness and thus use him for eight or ten days before you back him Rules to be observed upon the first backing your Horse YOur Horse being become patient of the Saddle and Trench lead him in a Morning or Evening into some ploughed or other loose ground and after divers turns essay to mount him often till you find him patient of your burthen Then having one to hold his head advance by degrees shaking and moving your toes and body with equal motion so
length of the side Ropes must be just 36. inches or if the Horse be of a long reach an inch may be added but no more and so equal in length they must be that the difference of a straws breadth must not be perceived the hose must be placed on the small of the foreleg and upon the hinderleg just above the fetlock made of Girth-web lined with Flannel Cotton or some such soft matter fastened with Neats-leather Tabs made supple by tallowing of an even length in which divers holes must be punched at an even distance to pass through the nooses which are to be on the side ropes so that by buckling them with strong buckles the said ropes may be drawn up or let out at pleasure the Tabs not to exceed 10 inches nor the holes in them four inches This done let your back bands whose use is to hold up the side Cords if you Tramel all your Horses legs be made of Girth web lined with Flannel or the like to prevent galling but if you Tramel but two of his legs Filleting or strong Tape will serve but you must be careful that it maintains the side cords in an even line without either twitching it up or suffering it to fall for these are gross defects and great hindrances for rising shortens the side cord and falling makes it apt to intangle the Horse This being the manner of making the right Tramel I shall now proceed to give my Reader a description of its perfect use as thus bring your Horse into an even place not too hard or stony and there putting on his hose on the near legs before and behind fasten to them the side cords as aforesaid the Horse standing as even as possible not straining forward nor crimpling inward but to his just and due proportion lay the side ropes fastned by Girth-web or Tape to the Saddle then laying your hand on the Bridle oblige him by straining his head gently to move forward or if you perceive it requisite let another assist you in forcing him forward whiles you compel him to Amble about the ground for that purpose chosen as leisurely as possibly using him with all gentleness and often cherishing him with your voice till he feel the Tramel and begin to understand what he is to perform And although he stumble or fall now and then at his being brought to the Tramel yet in a while he will grow perfect if you be not too harsh towards him But when he falls rather cherish him by permitting him to rise at his leisure than seem harsh towards him for by that means he will find out his own failings and amend them and soon understand the motion he is designed for and in your hand Amble to your liking though it is not amiss if at first when he begins to learn that you permit the side ropes to be longer than the measure before specified to prevent the suddain twiches till he is used to the Tramel but when he begins to be perfect be sure they be of a constant length lest the over length render him a slow Ambler or the under length cause him to halt or shuffle What time the Tramel may be altered and when it is most convenient to mount his back to journey c. YOur Horse being brought perfectly to Amble by hand you may change the half Tramel removing it from one side and placing it on the other and as you see occasion put on the whole Tramel till he run swiftly without the motion of snappering or stumbling after which try him upon uneven and uncertain ways up down hill over clumpers and false footing that so he may in his Amble answer all Roads for divers Horses there are that will Amble smoothly and decently upon even ground but when they happen upon rough and stony ways fall into a hard trot shuffling or an ill favoured pace out of which it is very difficult to force them The Horse being thus tryed and no difficulty appearing mount his back or set another to do it whilst your self by staying his head keep him from any ill conveniency and take a narrow view how he treads his steps after which your self mounting him and often cherishing him may oblige him to mend his pace till he move with as much agility as you can desire yet forget not between whiles to put on sometimes the half Tramel and at other times the whole Tramel often shifting them from one side to the other lest your Horse should forget his pace and in so doing twice or thrice a day you will bring him in a Month or six weeks to the heighth of perfection Thus far having proceeded you may without any Tramel ride him upon the road for three or four miles not picking or chusing your way but taking the uneven with the even and if you perceive him to baulk his Amble then having the half Tramel about you put it on which will soon put him in mind of what he is to perform but if you perceive any impediment that caused him to forsake his Amble remove it and then try him again without the Tramel for there is nothing belonging to Horsemanship that is not requisite to be used on this occasion or to be left off as occasion requires viz. the chain Headstrain Cavezan Musroul Martingal Bit c. And thus much touching what relates to instruction for Ambling shall suffice it not being in the least to be questioned but if these rules are observed the Reader will have his desire As to Trotting and Galloping they are paces so ordinary and so easie to be attained that I need not much inlarge on them as for the Trot it is of two kinds viz. the Lofty or Prancing Trot and the common or Running Trot. To oblige your Horse to the first of these you must perfect him at the Post as is before recited after which putting on a strong Curb-Bit by bearing him up shortning your rein by twisting it about your Bridle hand oblige him to bend his neck Arch-wise not any ways inclining it to one side or the other but foreright and by using him to it he will at length keep his head and neck in the same posture when you ride him with a Snaffle after which fasten a strong strap to his Girth under his belly and bringing it between his forelegs fasten it pretty strait to the Curb or Chain of the Bridle and then mounting your Horse hold the reins with a steddy hand and cause your Horse to move forward sometimes striking him upon the hinder thighs with your rod and at other times cherishing him at what time feeling his head straitned between the under and upper rein he will lift his forefeet high treading short in a proud prancing manner which by often usage will make him perfect in it when the under rein is taken away As for the other Trot the grace of it being when it is swift and smooth the only way is at the first breaking
but in no wise walk him in your hand lest the dullness of the motion conspiring with the cold diseases damp his courage and by that means subject him to divers infirmities And thus much for our Keeper Now I shall proceed to give instructions to the Feeder though indeed the Keeper and the Feeder are in a manner one and the same But since much remains in that nature in order to prepare a Horse for Racing Hunting c. I shall lay down Rules and Methods apart such as will not only if rightly observed save great charges but more speedily than what has yet been publickly known fit and prepare Horses for all Noble recreations And First for Racing or Running Horses Rules to be observed in preparing and ordering your Horse designed to Run according to the condition he is in and the temper of his body THe chief thing when you have matched your Horse or are about to match him that is requisite to be observed is the state of his body but especially whether he be Foul Fat or newly taken from Soil or Grass whether through excessive riding or other hard usage he be reduced to leanness or afflicted with any infirmitie or whether he is in a good and likely condition through kindly usage and gentle breathings and according to these observations proportion your time in order to fit and prepare your Horse to perform your desire Two months being the longest time you need desire be he in the worst of the conditions aforesaid if the following instructions be exactly observed the worst of which is his being Foul and Fat c. by reason the Grease must be brought away before he can be fit for this extraordinary exercise six weeks if he be lean for then his feeding and exercise need not be distinct in days but every day both of them put in practice as for a Horse in good case and free from infirmity I hold that a month is sufficient if he be carefully looked after to prepare him These things considered the next is to observe whether your Horse if fat by extraordinary exercise is so tender that he loses his flesh and falls away if so you must be more moderate in your exercise and tender over him but if you find him hardy and of a free spirit then you must keep him up to it and he will prove the better Again if your lean Horse be of a free temper and feeding upon all meats will get his flesh up apace and not lose it by exercise then you need not be so tender over him and the like must be observed by your Horse in the middle state always taking special notice of their Limbs that there harbour no defect for if so your labour will be greatly hazzarded if not altogether lost Having thus far proceeded I shall now lay down Rules for dieting your Horse in preparing for your match and by reason that all the three before mentioned may be said to be contained in the fat Horse I shall first begin with him The manner of the first fortnights diet for a Horse that is fat and foul or upon his being taken from soil or grass and what is necessary therein to be observed YOur fat and foul Horse made so by either standing at soil or running at grass too high feeding or the like If you have matched him or intend so to do when you have brought him into your Stable to prepare him for the Race rising early the first fortnight you must first of all having roused him if he be laid wash his Bridle in Beer or Ale tie it to the rack and cleanse the Stable of the Horses excrements and then exceedingly well dress him For the manner whereof to avoid repetition I refer you to be guided by those Rules I have laid down in the Office of the Keeper in the Chapter of this book unless what is necessary to be added as being in this case necessary though in the general way of dressing not greatly material which principally relate to your Horses cloathing For by reason the Heats in preparing your Horse for this exercise must be more and frequenter than upon any other occasion So therefore must the care be great to prevent his catching cold falling into a surfeit or the like When you have well dressed him in the morning and cleansed him from filth leaving no part about him untouched as aforesaid having a large body-cloth made of strong warm Kersie if the weather be cold or if hot Cotten or other light soft stuff will serve Fold it about his body and putting on his Saddle let his foremost girth be girded close but the other loose thrusting in large soft wisps of Straw near his heart that so the slack girth may by the help of the wisps be made strait as the other then put on a warm breast cloth so that it may cover his shoulders When having spirted about three or four sponfulls of beer into his mouth then leaving one to prepare the Stable against your return lead him forth and after a turn or two in your hand mount his back and rack him gently for the space of a mile or more upon plain and even ground till you can if possible come to some steep Hill ascending gradually up which gallop him moderately and being come to the top or so high as you think convenient Rack or walk him down again that by that means he may cool as much in descending as he heated in ascending and having after this manner pretty well exercised him it being yet early in the morning lead him or ride him a moderate pace to some pleasant River Spring or other sweet running water and suffer him to drink as much as he pleases but if he altogether refuses to drink then moderately exercise him as aforesaid but if he refuse to drink warm him by riding gently to provoke him to thirst When your Horse has drank his fill rack him gently homewards so that he may come into the Stable without a wet hair the stable being fresh littered with Wheat-Straw for Barly or Rye Straw are both nought the one causing heart burning and the other scowring by whistling and stretching your Horse upon the cast out Litter indeavour to make him void urine the which if he at first decline to do yet at last by often usage he understanding what is required of him will do it freel and by so doing preserve the stable clean and render it more healthy this done and your Horse entred the Stable keeping his head in the bridle tye it up to the Rack then with hard wisps rub down his legs with all your strength then taking off his brest-cloth rub his head neck and breast with care and diligence with a dry cloth after which take off his Saddle and hang it up rubbing the place where it sat as likewise all the other parts of his body His body cloth being taken off and when you have sufficiently rubbed him leaving no place
untouched cloath him again first by spreading a Linnen cloth over him and girding it about him upon that a warm housing cloth and over both the Woollen body-cloth which in winter must be lined with Cotten or some other warm stuff but in Summer it matters not whether it be lined or no for the Kersie will then prove sufficient This done wisp him round with soft wisps though large that so when he is disposed to rest he may lie easie From this proceed to pick his feet and having cleared them of the Gravel or dirt stop them with Cowdung and throw into his Rack a small bottle of Hay not exceeding three pound and let it be well dusted the which let him eat and stand upon the Bridle for the space of an hour and half then cleaning the Manger of dust and Hayseeds take about a quart of large white Oats commonly known by the name of Poland Oats or cut Oats these above all others being the wholesomest the rest some being unsweet breed infirmities othersome being moist breed Worms in the belly new Oats occasion swelling and Black-Oats worst of all cause ill digestion and bad humours thereby so discolouring the dung that the state of the Horses body is not thereby to be known The quantity of Oats aforesaid well dryed put into a Riddle or Sieve called a reeing sieve so big as it will permit the small and light Oats to pass through and retain the large and solid ones and by reeing them after they are throughly cleansed give them your Horse to eat in the Manger it being made clean as aforesaid If he eat them heartily and seem desirous of more you may then give him another like quantity so ordered and then permit him to stand or lie down at his pleasure till about Eleven of the Clock At which time coming to visit him rub down his Head Neck Face and Chest and give him about three pints of Oats ordered as before and then making the Stable as close and dark as you can leave him for the space of two hours for the closer the Stable is and the darker the Horse stands the better will he take his rest and digest his food Therefore many hang their Stalls round and over head with Canvas or other thick cloaths Nor is it amiss for it not only darkens the place but prevents any noisome thing from falling into their Provender as Lime Spiders dust and the like The two hours ended accost him again with the like quantity of Oats as before drest and prepared after the same manner rubbing over his Head Face Neck and Breast with a clean cloth and if he hath dunged carry it forth and cast up his Litter which done cast a knop of Hay into his Rack leave him for three hours more if in Summer but if in Winter two hours or two and a half at the expiration of which time visit him again and without giving him any meat wash his Bridle in Beer and put it on taking off his cloaths by degrees and rubbing him all over in the manner as has been formerly shewed then clapping on his Saddle bring him forth and endeavour to make him empty himself upon the old Litter and so mount his back gently Racking him for an hour or thereabout and then if possible give him his breathings along the side of some pleasant River but do not gallop him up any hill for that upon a full stomach will indanger his Wind so that observe to let his evening breathings be in smooth solid ground as you can chuse and heat him both before and after water as in the Morning letting him smell to all the old or new Horse dung you find in the way which will not only provoke him to empty but sharpen his appetite and so continuing him abroad till night approach for early and late Airings are the most proper to diminish the foulness and disperse the gross humours bring him home and having caused him to empty at the Stable door draw his Bridle cleanse the Manger and at all points dress him and rub him down as in the morning and then giving him a like quantity of Oats let him stand upon his Bridle till about nine of the Clock then visit him again when rubbing him down and tossing up his Litter give him another quart of Oats well sifted and a knop of Hay and so let him remain till the next morning at which time use him as you did the morning already specified and thus continue him without adding or diminishing ought for the first fortnight which will put him into so good a temper that in the beginning of the second fortnight his foulness being dispelled you may give him considerable heats without offence but if you perceive his fatness and foulness not to be wasted and gone use him the more moderately for the space of four or five days longer Rules to be observed in giving your Horse heats during the time of his preparation OBserve that two heats in one week are as much as are convenient for any Horse of what state or temper of body soever That one of these heats be given him upon the day he is to run the match is most requisite as thus if your match be to be performed upon a Tuesday then let Tuseday and Saturday in every week be your heating days and observe that on Tuseday you give him the greatest heat for two reasons first because 't is the day whereon he is to run for the wager and for that there are three whole days respite between and so proportion your day to this space and observation of whatever day the match is to be run unless by reason of Rainy Slabby weather for if it rains you must defer to heat him till the Rain be over and the weather clear up and in this case where you are to make a vertue of necessity you may change the hours of your heats as the weather will permit In dull dripping or damp weather when you ride abroad you must put your Horse on a warm Linnen hood with ears and the nape of the neck thickned with a lining to keep out the rain and cold damp as likewise a cloth to keep the wet from falling upon the Fillets of your Horse for nothing will more subject him to infirmity than wet in the ears upon the nape of the neck and on the Fillets The next and last observation relating to heats is that in seasonable weather every morning by day spring you have your Horse abroad but not before and especially on those days you are to give your heats Rules to be observed in the second fortnights keeping c. THe first fortnight thus over the first day of the subsequent fortnight visit your Horse early as before toss up his Litter cleanse his Stable rub him down and dress him at all points as you have been instructed With this difference that before you bridle him you shall give him somewhat upwards of a quart of
balls as big as Walnuts Hen-eggs or the like and keep them in close earthen Pots for your use These balls are good to cure any violent Cold or Glaunders to prevent sickness at heart caused by infection or ill digestion to purge away all Molten grease to recover a lost stomach to keep the Horse from fainting with exercise and to fatten a lean Horse to admiration And thus much as to the third fortnights dyet Rules to be observed in the fourth or last fortnights keeping as well in relation to his Dyet as usage IN this last Fortnight you must be more circumspect than in the former and the first thing to be observed is in making his bread a degree finer after this manner To three pecks of fine Wheat well sifted put a peck of Beans cleared from the hulls and grind them together dressing the flower through a Bolter as fine as possible making it up with sweet Ale-yest or Barm and as much Ale as will wet it and make it plyable then add the whites of twenty Eggs or thereabout together with new milk not putting any water into it then knead it again and having make it into reasonable big loaves bake them well and cool them with the under-crust uppermost These loaves baked and cooled after three days cut off the Crust and with Oats well dryed and rubbed between your hands being also winnowed and sifted and a quantity of the best spelt Beans bait your Horse cutting the bread and observing the quantities of each as in the foregoing fortnights In the first week of this fortnight you shall observe the heating days as before but in the last week you must bate one heat not permitting him to take any heat for the space of five days before the match is to be run yet may you give him considerable Airings to keep up his wind observing that you do not by any means give him a scouring but the better to expel the fumes or vapours that may offend him burn in the Stable Storax Albanum or Frankincense upon a Chafing-dish of Charcoal or small coal in the scent of which he will take great delight If at any time in this fortnight you design to moisten his meat as it is every five or six givings convenient then let it be done with Muscadel in which the whites of Eggs have been beaten and it will the better hearten him to perform his course as for Hay give him none unless a small quantity after his heatings which you must give him out of your hand let it be well dusted and exceeding good The second week of the last fortnight unless your Horse be a very foul feeder you need not use the Muzzel till three days before the Match is to be run but if he be a foul feeder and covet to eat his Litter bite the Rack-staves or the like then put it on the beginning of the week and let it continue on at convenient times till the time he is to run Observe to feed your Horse well both before and after Airing the morning before the day you design to run for the wager let his waterings be as formerly but as for his meat let it be scantied a fourth part both before noon and after Before your Evening Airings and after be sure to feed as at noon but be sure stay not abroad till Sunset Let him be this day being the day before the Match well shod cooled and all other things requisite that on the day he is to run nothing may be left to do thereby to trouble or disturb him though some hold that the Horse being dressed and shod with light shoos will be so sensible of what he is to perform the next day that for pride he will neither eat nor sleep but this understanding can only remain in an old Horse-Racing Horse who has been often used to the sport and not in any other therefore in that case 't is my opinion the offices are better deferred till the morning of the day he is to run but if otherwise let them be done over-night as aforesaid The breading of the Tail by many is held both an ornament and a help to the Horse in his running though according to the opinions of the most inquisitive into that affair it rather hinders than furthers his speed by reason that in straining the twists drawing the roots of the hairs put him to pain and create an unusual heaviness which makes him suppose that a weight or something else is fastned to his tail therefore unless it be exceeding long and large it would do better to hang loose On the morning of the day your match is to be performed come to your Horse pretty betimes and having taken off his Muzzel rub his head well as likewise his Neck Shoulders and Legs then take a quantity of Oats Mash them in Muscadel and give them to him to eat the which if he refuse then moisten another quantity with Whites of Eggs but if those will not go down with him then give him Oats well dryed and sifted mixed with a small quantity of Wheat or a shiving or two of your finest Bread well crumbled with them but no Beans let the quantity be very small lest it hinder his running If he be an evil emptier then lead him to such places as he usually empties at and provoke him thereto but if he is not subject long to contain his food but will empty freely then you need not move him out of the Stable to empty but there expect notice when to bring him forth to the Match When you receive the warning wash his Snaffle in Muscadel and having taken away the Muzzel put it on if you perceive any wind to move in your Horses belly by reason of his emptiness give him four or five mouthfuls of the meat last spoken of and then pitching your Saddle and Girths with shoomakers wax put it upon his back gently girding it on that he may scarcely feel it or at least not so as in any wise to straiten him over his Saddle put a white Linnen cloth upon that his ordinary cloaths and over all the better to set him and make him proud of himself you may lay a Counterpain or piece of Arras and so giving him a dose of Muscadel in a small drenching horn proceed to the place intended for starting In the way permit him to smell to any Horse dung new or old to provoke him the better to empty which will be a great advantage to him in his running If he refuse to empty then lead him amongst Rushes Brakes or Sedge and thereby whistling provoke him to it but if that prevail not then take out some of the wisps he is trussed with and break them under him If in your leading him any foam or froth arise in his mouth or elsewhere wipe it away with a clean Linnen-cloth and wash it with dipping it in water which you shall carry with you for that purpose If you are to ride with
those remedies which were needfull till such time as the humours have ingendered divers diseases Thirdly Many Horses will appear to be fat and foggy by the outside when inwardly they are clean and in good order and so on the contrary a Horse that appears lean will often be gross and foul within as is said Now to Remedy this oversight handle your Horse diligently on the Ribs and more particularly on his hindmost short-ribs and observe well that if the flesh feel loose and soft that your fingers dent in without much stress then conclude your Horse to be foul if it prove firm and hard on all other places the hinder Rib excepted then is he more foul and full of Molten grease and evil humours which must be voided by scouring and exercise the latter to dissolve it and the former to bring it away though the Horse to the eye appear poor and ill favoured If you upon search find your Horse to be fat thick and to feeling as it were close between the Chaps or his Jaws appear to be over fleshy bearing out it denotes much foulness in both head and body but if he be thin clean and here and there lumps or kernels are to be felt within his chaps it only denotes cold newly taken by being over-heated standing in the rain or in a damp Stable How to know the State of your Horses body from the privy parts c. IF you observe your Horses stones to hang lank and find the sinews to be limber or hanging long from the body then your Horse is not in good temper but altogether out of order occasioned by grease or other foul humours but on the contrary if they be close knit and drawn near to his body even round and well couched then he is in good and perfect health From his Limbs Observations to be taken IF after a heat or the like you find your Horses Limbs weak or stiff it is a sign that he is tender in his joynts to remedy which anoint them with Dogs grease Hogs grease or Trotter Oyl making it as hot as can be well indured chafing it in with your hand and although you anoint the joynts but once yet after it rub and supple them with your hands divers times and so shall you bring them not only to be plyable but prevent stifness for the future In Watering Observations to be taken IF your Horse be in his feeding Fortnights for Racing give him the first fortnight after Breathings or Heatings no water the other three fortnights you may give it him luke-warm about six in the Morning and six in the evening but no great quantity always observing to let him fast about an hour after it and if you perceive the weather to be rainy flabby or cold then your best way is to water him in the House putting a third part of hot water to two parts of cold into which as you see occasion you may throw wheat-flour or fine wheat-bran or Oatmeal fine and well sifted from the husks From your Horses Sweat Observations to be taken IF you perceive your Horse to sweat with little or no motion then is your Horse filled with gross humours fat and foul but if he sweat with extraordinary motion as heats or the like then observe his sweat if it be white and frothy like a Ladder of Sope then is he internally foul but if the sweat stand in watery Pearls or trickle off like drops of Rain then is your Horse in health and a good State of body From your Horses Hair Observations to be taken IF the Hair of your Horse neck and forehead be smooth and slick not any ways staring distorted or discoloured then is your Horse in good health but if staring rough and distorted shaggy or disordered after an unusual manner then conclude him to be distempered either by a Surfeit Looseness or extraordinary cold and thus far having proceeded as to the feeding and State of a Horses body I shall now pass on to instruct my Reader how to know a good Horse in all his capacities and not to be deceived in buying either by Jocky or any other pretending to Craft or Subtilty in that affair to which for the better instruction and Caution of the unskilfull I shall add the many Artifices and Cheats of the Jockies and other dealers in Horse-flesh as also how to avoid being cheated or drawn in by such wiles as many use to trapan or bubble the ignorant with Advice to the Buyer or certain and unerring Rules whereby to understand the perfections and imperfections of any Horse in a short time if not upon the first sight 'T Is certain there is no greater cheat than buying of Horse-flesh then to avoid the deceit it is not amiss if you observe these following Rules the which if you do you may not only secure your self but as occasion offers deceive the deceiver First Consider to what end you buy or to what use you design your Horse whether for War Hunting Racing Drawing or any other use for to these ends serve different Horses according to Proportion Strength or Beauty therefore if you purchase in these cases the lineaments and proportion of the Horse must above all be taken notice of as likewise inquiry be made into his Breed a strict survey of his colour and a more narrow inspection than ordinary into his paces or going with many more which in their order I shall lay down but first of the three I have mentioned What is to be observed as to the Breed IF you desire a sound serviceable Horse you must have great regard to the Breed for if he be to appearance never so fair and well shaped yet if he was gotten by an old or infirm Stallion or brought forth by a Mare subject to any infirmitie or disease for certain it is that such a Horse promise he never so well will be frequently subject to divers the like distempers Another thing worthy of observation is what Countrey breed the stock descended from the which by these tokens you may guess at The Neapolitan breed is known by a bending or Hawks nose The Spanish breed by dry small neat Limbs The Barbary breed by his fine small head well carried and well set on as also his deep hoof The Dutch breed by the roughness of the legs And the English breed by their being strong set well knit large Neck wide and open Nostrils and Brawny Thighs And so of the breed of divers other Countries Observation of Colours CErtain it is there are good Horses of all Colours though I must confess some Colours are better than othersome both for beauty and the disposition of the Horse and of these in their order For beauty the Daple-gray is accounted the best for extraordinary service most approve of the Bay-Horse as also of the Brown The Black with some Silver hairs for swiftness and courage especially if he have one white-foot or a blazing-star in his forehead As for the
Mark or Feather in his Face set high above his eyes or set on the top of his eyes if he have a Star of white in his forehead or a white streak a snip of white on his nose or lip it denotes goodness in the Horse But if his face be dull heavy cloudy his forehead flat and his head big and fat and have none of the beforesaid marks of goodness then he is nought and although he have those marks yet if his Star or streak stand awry and where the snip is or should be his nose be bald or the like then is he notwithstanding of an evil Breed and defective Fourthly Observe that his eyes are large round black sparkling and that the black of the eye fills the pit of the outward circumference so that little white is visible then it betokens beauty and goodness but if his eyes are uneven look askew wrinkled or small dull heavy and not quick moving it signifies not only defect as to the uncomeliness but also a distempered and imperfect Horse of an evil breed If his eyes be Red Fiery take heed of Moon-eyes which are not much distant from blindness if for the greatest part White or Wall-ey'd then it signifies weakness in the Horse a weak sight and subject to start at every object that swiftly is presented to his view If you perceive white specks in the eyes then it denoteth that he is in danger of having the Pin and Web Pearl or the like infirmity tending to blindness if watery and bloody then subject to hot Rheumes if mattery it is occasioned through excessive riding surfeit festered Rheumes or strains If his eyes appear dead dull or hollow sunk as it were in his head then is he inclining to blindness and will not long continue his perfect sight or is gotten by an old Stallion on an old Mare If his eyes are most white and the black but small so that the white appears much in sight as the balls move it denotes weakness and an evil temper Fifthly Observe his Chaps or Cheeks and if you perceive the bones thin lean and between them a wide space The Throple or wind-pipe big no knots nor kernels near it and the Jaws so great that the neck lyes as it were between them it denotes the Horse to be sound and to have a good and long wind as likewise to be of great courage but on the contrary if his Chaps or Cheeks be seeming fat or thick the space between them closed with tumid flesh and the Wind-pipe small or incumbred with kernels then is the Horse short-winded subject to the Strangles Glaunders and divers other distempers If his Jaws be strait insomuch that his neck bears over or swells above them unless by some distemper occasioned then it signifies foulness pursiness and that the Horse is subject to colds and surfeits If the swelling be long close and feel hard then will he be subject to the Winds or impostume Sixthly Observe his Nostrils the which if they prove wide large open and dry so that upon any snorting or straining of the Horse the inward redness appears his Muzzel small and he deep mouthed his lips equally meeting then is he a Horse of good wind good mettal and of a sound constitution but if the contrary then is he subject to divers distempers and will never prove a good Horse Seventhly Observe his breast the which if it be broad swelling out hard well boned and the like it denoteth strength comeliness and continuance but on the contrary if it be narrow or bending inwards it denoteth the Horse to be apt to stumble of a weak spirit and altogether unfit for the performance of any great labour as likewise much deformity Eighthly Observe from his Elbow to his Knee that his thighs be well brawned clean and solidly fleshed for if strong Ligaments are wanting and the flesh feel soft and spungy then it denotes weakness in your Horse as the other doth strength Ninthly Take especial notice of his knees that they are of due proportion not one higher than the other well joynted sinewed and strongly knit lean even which betokens strength and comeliness when on the other hand if they be Gross Gouty Scared want Hair in some places it denotes weakness stumbling and a disproportioned Jade Tenthly Observe his legs if they appear upon handling lean rather flat than round full of sinews bending inward without seams or hair broken It denotes a sound substantial Horse and one that will indure much labour When marks on the contrary as fleshy legs distorted bending outward or the like denote a weak unserviceable and tyring Horse What has been before spoken of being narrowly observed by the Buyer let him also take particular notice of what as yet remains untouch'd which in their order for his better instructions I shall set down Observations on the Pasterns WHen you buy or would know the well going of a Horse for many years observe the Pastern joynt and Pastern The first of which being clear and well knit together and the last short strong and upright denotes a good firm and substantial tread but if the former appear big or puffy seeming somewhat swelled then is the Horse subject to sinew Strains and Gourdings or if the latter be long weakly knit and bending in and out in the motion it denotes a weak Horse and one soon tired Observations on the Hoof. THe best Hoof is the black smooth and tough Hoof rather inclining to long than round and well hollowed subject much to sounding As for the white Hoof it is tender and will not well bear a shoo The Hoof that is rugged and full of seams or wrinkles denotes Old-Age in the Horse that he came of an old decayed stock or has been addicted to over-heats As for the brittle Hoof it is worst of all for it will carry no shoo If the Hoof be more than ordinary round the Horse will be apt to trip and stumble especially in deep ways or if he be but put to an extraordinary motion If the Hoof be flat and Pumiced it denotes foundering The Hoof that is hollow and empty betokens the inward decay by reason of some founder bruise or wound not throughly searched or cured Take likewise notice of the Crown of the Hoof and if you perceive the flesh flat and the hair smooth then is all in good order in that part but if the Hair be rough rising the flesh swelling full of knops or scabs scared or broken then it denotes a Ring bone Quitter-bone or Crown-scab Things to be observed in the setting on of the Head Crest and Maine c. HAving viewed your Horse narrowly before come to his right-side and there take especial notice that his head be placed neither too high nor too low but that it stand as it were in a direct line evenly carryed and for his Neck let it be small at the setting on of the head long and still growing deeper as it descends towards the shoulders
with a high strong and thin Main long soft and indifferently well curling which denotes the Horse not only of a good breed but are greatly ornamental for if the Head be ill set on though in it self it be well shaped 't is a great blemish to the beauty of the Horse If you perceive any rising or swelling in the nape of the neck it is a symptom of the Pole-evil or a fistula If your Horse have a short thick neck or if it be fat and falling at the Withers if the Crest be low thick falling and weak they are tokens of dullness in the Horse as also does an extraordinary thick Maine little hair on the Maine denotes fury but if it fall off then is it occasioned by the distemper called the Worm in the Maine the Itch or Manginess which there are breeding though perhaps not apparent by any other symptoms What is to be observed in the Back-ribs Fillets Belly and Stones TAke special notice that the chine of the back be broad strait and even the Ribs strong well composed at equal distance bending out Archwise That his Fillets be upright strong and short and that the space between the last Rib and the Huckle-bone exceed not a handful As for his Belly let it fall down indifferently well descending as it were by degrees from his loyns to his foreparts and his Stones carried even and not hanging down or swagging All these denote perfection in a Horse but if the Chine be narrow he is nought for the Saddle and if put to it very much subject to gauling to be Saddle-backed Sway-backed or have the back bending denotes weakness Flat Ribs betoken hide-boundness Hanging long or weak Fillets denote him not capable of clambering or journeying in hilly Countries nor of carrying a burthen If his belly be clung or over gaunt his Stones uneven or dangling they are symptoms of sickness foundering or dullness and unaptness to labour Observations to be made on the Buttocks and Hinder thighs of your Horse OBserve that the Buttocks be plump round level with the body or if long then take notice that they rise well behind spreading decently at the setting on of the Tail both which are marks of beauty as on the contrary a narrow Pin Buttock Hog-rump or falling down are marks of deformity neither fitsor to carry Pad Foot-cloth or Pillion If the Thighs or Gaskings be even and let down well to the middle joynt full of sinews thick and brawny they are signs of Beauty and strength but if they appear Slender or Lank it denotes deformity and weakness in your Horse What is necessary to be observed in the hinder-legs Tail and Cambrels LEt our buyer observe that the hinder legs be clean lean and full of strong sinews somewhat inclining to fatness for if they be fat fleshy and tumid it denotes the Horse not capable of hard labour and that the grease is Molten in them If you perceive any scabs above the Pasterns then it denoteth him to have the scratches or if a chop appear there then is he afflicted with the Rheumes As for the setting on the Tail it is worthy only of this observation that where there is a good Buttock the Tail cannot be evilly set on and where there is a bad Buttock it cannot stand right A Tail well set on ought to stand broad high and flat couching somewhat inwards The observations necessary to be made on the Cambrels of your Horse are these first observe well the middle joynt behind and if there you perceive it replenished with firm smooth skin-bones and sinews a little bending then is that part of the Horse sound and beautiful Secondly If in making a narrow inspection you do perceive Sores Chaps inward bought or bending then it denotes the Horse to be troubled with a Sellander but if all over the joynt you perceive it tumid or swelled it is a sign he has received some blow or bruise yet if it be a particular swelling in the hollow part Pit or proud full on the inside of the vein and the swelling be soft then is it a Blood Spavin or if hard a bone Spavin but if it appear behind before the Knuckle then conclude it to be a Curb And thus far having supplyed the Buyer with infallible directions to prevent all frauds if they be narrowly observed I shall proceed to lay down infallible Rules whereby a Horses age may be known Infallible Rules whereby to know the age of any Horse or Mare THe first thing herein to be observed is his Teeth the which when the Horse has his full number are 40 viz. six great Wang-teeth above and 6 beneath on either side making in all 24 and are properly called his Grinders in the fore part of his mouth he hath 6 above and the like number below also called Gatherers and 4 Tushes two above and two below which in all make 40. the latter 4 are called the Bitt-Teeth Now the observations whereby to know the Horses age are these The first year his Foals or Colts teeth called Grinders or Gatherers only appear and these are small white and smooth The second year he changeth two of his fore teeth one above and the other beneath each in the middle of the Rows of the Gatherers which come up browner and larger than the other The year following he changeth the next to those aforesaid leaving no direct Colts-teeth before unless on either side two above and two below which are small and bright The fourth year no Foals teeth except one on either side are left him he changing what otherwise remained The fifth year he changeth all his foremost teeth having his Tushes compleat and those that come up in the place of the last Foals teeth he casteth will be hollow with small black specks in the midst of them by the continuance of which the Horses age is to be known to the eighth year The sixth year his new Tushes put forth at the bottom of which young flesh will appear the Tushes small white sharp and short The Seventh year his teeth will be all of perfect growth and the Mark in the mouth more visible than ever On the Eighth year all his teeth will be plain smooth full and in their perfect shape at what time the black specks will diminish being not after the expiration of that year to be perceived the Tushes will likewise change colour becoming more yellow The Ninth year the Mark being vanished the fore teeth will be longer and broader than usual and change their colour to a yellowish paleness his Tushes losing much of their sharpness The Tenth year the holes in the inside of his upper Tushes will be filled up which till that time you may with your finger feel like hollow pits and the Temples of the head appear crooked and begin to hollow The Eleventh year will produce his teeth of a great length yellow foul and distorted The Twelfth and last year to know a Horses age by
his teeth you will observe them long exceeding yellow and that the upper teeth will hang over the under ones and though some are of opinion that his age to the thirteenth year is to be known by the wearing of his Tushes close to his chaps and the blackness of them yet according to the observations that have been made this is no certain Rule for so they frequently are the twelfth year Observations to know his age by his Mouth IF his lips and upper teeth over-hang and seem unseemly uneven unless it be occasioned by a cold surfeit or extraordinary riding it denotes the Horse to be Old Another thing in the mouth worthy of observation is to observe whether he be not too deep burnt of the Lampus and that the bars and flesh lie even and smooth for if the hole be too deep burnt Hay and Provender will stick therein to his great hindrance in feeding Age to be known by the Hoof. A Rugged and seamed Hoof crinkled and drawn as it were in heaps denotes an old Horse as also a crusty crumbling Pumice Hoof when on the contrary a smooth moist hollow and well sounding Hoof betokens a young Horse well in health and condition for Travail Age to be known by the Tail IF you by feeling the Tail close to its setting on perceive the joynt there to rise on either side or stand out to the bigness of a Hazel-nut or thereabouts then it is a sign the Horse is young not exceeding three years old but if no such knop appear but that all the joynts are plain then he is above Ten and may exceed Twelve or Thirteen Age to be known by the Eyes WHen you take a view of your Horses Eyes if you observe they be Round Full Staring and standing out and that the pits be full and even with the Temples then it denotes the Horse to be young but if the Eyes be Sunk Dim Hollow Pitted the Temples wrinkled or crooked then it denotes old age Age to be known by the Skin IF you would know whether your Horse is old or young by the skin you must take it up between your thumb and finger and suddainly letting it fall observe whether it immediately returns smooth to the place which if it does it denotes him young but if not but that it is long in falling and wrinkled then is he old Age to be known by the Hair VIewing your Horse well if you perceive any grizly hairs growing about the Eybrows the Horse being naturally of a dark colour or that the like hairs grow underneath the Main or if your Horse is naturally white and he become Mannelled with Black or Red Mannels in most parts of his body then is he an Old Horse and will not be long fit for service Age to be known by the Barrs IF the Bars of your Horses Mouth feel hard and rough and are great and deep then be assured the Horse is old but if tender shallow and soft he is young These directions well observed will prevent all deceits and render the buyer capable to lay out his mony to the best advantages though indeed there are many Artificial cheats used by Jockies that may deceive the most curious of which amongst many other curious mysteries I shall hereafter treat and now proceed to the office of the skillful Farrier Of the Office of the Farrier and what is chiefly therein to be considered HE that will be accounted an experienced able Farrier must not only be skilled in shooing and dressing but in all the parts of a Horses body thereby to know from whence proceeds the original cause of any distemper how and by what means it was generated and the more effectually to apply such remedies as may remove the distemper and work a perfect cure to do which note these following considerations First That the seat of life is in the Brain Heart and Liver from whence it operates in and disposes every member and for that end those by many are called the three principal members to which some would add a fourth viz. the Stones but that addition by the wisest practitioners has been rejected Secondly The sinews which are these two white sinews or Tendons which begin at the Nose and passing through the neck and back branch into the forelegs and end in the hinderlegs taking their ligaments in all the four feet Two sinews called the Main sinews which descend from the Brain and passing down the cheeks fasten the Jaws Three from the Shoulder to the first joynt of the Arms or fore-legs besides two other great sinews four great sinews from the knees to the Pasterns with the same number in the hinder part above as well within as without the forepart of the breast are ten sinews great and small From the Reins of the back to the Stones are four great sinews or Ligaments and another great sinew which runs to the end of the Tail To conclude a Horse has great and small sinews 29. or as some will have it 30. Thirdly As to the Veins in a Horse through which the blood circulates the whole body they are many yet seeing they all center in the Liver the seat and fountain of blood distributing it into every part divers are of opinion that a Horse has properly but one vein which is called the Median and that when ever the blood is corrupted or that vein is afflicted with wind or any infirmity it dispensing it through all the branches afflicts at once the whole body of the Horse Those branches that ascend to the head and upper parts of the body are called ascendants and those that run down into their legs and nether parts of the body descendants and through these branches whether the beast sleep or wake the blood continues its course as indeed it does in all creatures whose bulk admit a free passage Ebbing and Flowing like the Ocean by the course of the Moon Now the things herein chiefly to be considered are the Branches from whence upon sundry occasions it is most proper to take blood which indeed are many consistant to the distemper for the branch is to be opened as it either affects the blood or is seated in the body of the Horse But the Veins most convenient to be opened are these viz. in the Neck in the weeping veins under the Ears and about the head in six other places as in the Palate-veins in the Tongue in the Flank-veins in the breast and Spur-veins in the four members viz. the Legs Thighs Pasterns and Feet and indeed in most veins according as the distemper is seated by bloodletting being great as in the following chapter will appear To what end Phlebotomy or bloodletting serves THe opening the Temple vein easeth pain in the head caused by cold Rheumes Feavers Drowsiness Stavars yellows Frenzy Sleepy-evil Falling-evil or any grief afflicting the Eyes or Brain The opening of the Weeping veins is exceeding good to prevent blindness and to cure the distempers in the eyes
of a long standing proceeding from some old hurt and will not be removed without difficulty Ninthly If Sores matter moderately then it denotes they cure a pace but if the putrefaction increase more and more it often times denotes inward rottenness Tenthly Observe that Cauterizing with hot Irons always straineth things inlarged dissolveth gatherings or hardness dryeth up mosture draweth to one place dispersed humours and helpeth old griefs by causing them to ripen speedily and avoid the mattery humour they contain in cauterizing take notice also that you burn sometimes under the sore to divert the humour and sometimes above to defend and keep back the humour as for burning it is done two ways the one called Actual and the other Potential The former being done with hot Irons and the latter with hot Oyles Waters and other Causticks and Corrosives c. The five principal things to be observed by a Farrier 1. TO what diseases Horses are inclinable 2. From what cause the Internal or External grievance proceeds 3. By what means the causes do accrue that create the distemper 4. The tokens by which any distemper is to be known 5. How to apply apt remedies for the cure of any distemper Without the knowledge of which no Farrier whatever he pretends can be a Crafts-Master in the art of Farrying which indeed is one of the chiefest and most useful arts yet known Therefore according to my skill and I hope to the satisfaction of the studious in this profession I will indeavour to lay down the remaining part in the best plainest and easiest method imaginable that thereby not only the nurslings of Apollo may profit but the unlearned may draw from thence such instructions as may turn greatly to their advantage How many Diseases are incident to a Horse THe Diseases and Grievances Internal and external incident to a Horse are accounted by most to be no less than sixty and some reckon more The names of which I shall give you as also what they are how they happen and how to know and distinguish them and afterwards how to cure them Of the Sickness called the Antecor THis Antecor or heart sickness is situated near the heart and is known by a swelling in the middle of the Breast and is caused by excessive feeding without any considerable exercise to cause digestion as also by the Horses being over strained in immoderate journeying heating or coursing or after a heat by taking cold for want of diligent looking after and good dressing corrupting the blood thereby and destroying the Horse unless speedy and effectual Remedies are applyed Now to cure this distemper after the swelling appears whereby you must distinguish it from other distempers First let the Horse blood on both sides the neck taking thence a good quantity and give him diapente or the powder of five simples before mentioned in ALE or Beer adding thereto an ounce of brown Sugar-candy pulverized and half an ounce of London Treacle which will remove the infection from the heart after which to allay the swelling take Barrows-grease and Basilicon of each three ounces and having well tempered them anoint it with the said unguent rubbing it hard on with your warm hands till the swelling become soft then with a Lancet open it and having let forth the corruption anoint or wash it with Copperas-water and taint it with a taint dipped in green oyntment to make which I shall hereafter shew you Of the Attaint upper and nether what they are and how to cure them THis grievance is a swelling of the back or master sinew near the Pastern joynt and for the most part cometh by overreaching though sometimes by cold or wet standing To cure which take of Venice Turpentine one ounce and melt it well in half a quartern of Brandy which done anoint the place grieved therewith three or four times as hot as may be or else take Sanguis Draconis three quarters of an ounce of Bolearmoniack an ounce three spoonfuls of Olive Oyl three ounces of Suet and an ounce of of Mastick which being well heated and tempered together with it anoint the place grieved as with the former and this will cure the nether strain or attaint the difference between which is no other than that the one is above the Fetlock joynt and the other beneath both happning in the same place Of the Anbury what it is and how to cure it AN Anbury is a kind of Wen or spungy wart full of blood for the most part growing upon divers parts of the Horses body To take of which tye it hard with a thread or three or four strong twisted hairs till you can pull them no harder and leaving it it will of it self fall off in five or six day then kill the root with powder of Verdigrease and heal it up with suppling Oyntments but if it so happen that it be flat and you cannot tye it up then cut it away with your Incision-knife or burn it with your Cauterizing-Iron and to kill the fire or cure the wound melt Turpentine and Hogs-grease and apply them plaisterwise but if it happen to grow on any sinewy place that it cannot without impairing the sinew be cut or burnt then eat it of with Oyl of Vitriol and heal it up with supplements Of the Palsie and its Cure THe Palsie is occasioned by too much moistness afflicting the Brain as likewise a dizziness occasioned by ascending vapours from the stomach known by the Horses nodding wrying his neck and continual motion of his head dullness at one time more than another and the like to cure which let him blood in the neck and Temple veins anoint his back all over with oyl of Petrolium and with wet hay-bands swadle over his neck even from his ears to his breast and so doing for four mornings together give him every morning a pint of Muscadel mixed with three spoonfuls of powder made of these ingredients viz. three ounces of Storax two ounces of Opponax three ounces of Gentian of Manna and Succory each an ounce and a half of Myrrh one scruple and of Long-Pepper two scruples all beat together finely sierced and well mixed Of the Vives and what they are and how to cure them THese are divers flat kernels hanging like clusters of Grapes under the Ears creeping or spreading thence into the throat where they will strangle him by stopping his wind if not speedily cured they are for the most part caused by cold or pestilential Airs and differ little from the Murrain The cure is Tarr tryed Hogs-grease Baysalt Frankincense of each three ounces melted and well mixed together and every morning as hot as he can indure it applyed to the place grieved stuck on with Linnen rags and bound fast about his head and neck till the inflammation become soft and ripe at what time open it with your knife and let out the water and infectious corruption Then heal it up with an Oyntment made of Verdigrease Hogs-Lard and
Posts Trees and Bushes so that if it be not timely heeded it will turn to the Mange and by that means insect such Horses as accompany him To prevent which and cure the former let him blood in the neck vein and rub him all over with a hard brush or hard wisps then take Staves-acre Elecampain roots Chickweed and leaves of Brambles of each a handful boyl them in Cow piss and add to them the powders of Sublimate-Mercury dryed Briony and Red dock roots Arsnick Resalgar with which wash him all over but especially in the place you perceive him to rub most or for want of these take Hogs-grease Mans-Urine Tobacco leaves or stalks Brimstone Verdigrease Train-Oyl and Allum with which well concocted anoint the body of your Horse The Botts or Worms what they are and how to kill them THese Insects breeding in the body of a Horse are of three sorts distinguished by the names of Botts Truncheons and Mawworms the first for the most part breeding in the great guts near the Fundament the second in the Maw out of which if they be not speedily killed they will eat their passage to the destruction of the Horse the third and last called Maw-worms or plain worms breed in the guts as the first The Botts are small worms with little tails and great heads The Truncheons are thick and short and have hard heads The Mawworms are long and slender of a reddish colourm any of them being as long as a mans finger and these worms are generated from raw gross and Phlegmatick humours occasioned by foul feeding To know whether your Horse be troubled with them or not you must observe whether he kick at his belly with his feet when he stands still turns his head towards his tail looking upon his body Groans Wallows Frisks his tail often or forsakes his meat all which are signs of worms in his body To cure which take a quart of New-milk four ounces of hony which being made warm give it him fasting in the morning and suffer him to fast after it two hours then dissolve an ounce of black sope in a pint of beer and give it him and an hour after ride him hard and the worms will either come away alive or dye in his body or for want of these take Savin stamped to the quantity of a handful and put it in a quart of Beer or a quart of Brine and it will destroy them Of bunches Warts Knots and Wens Cramp or Inflammation and their cure THese grievances come divers ways as by foul feeding Eating unwholsome meat Hard riding too much labour Bruises or the like which putrefie the blood and cause it to turn into evil humours To cure which take the powder of Diapente mix it with Linseed or Olve Oyl and making it into an Oyntment apply it to the place grieved especially for the Cramp or Inflammation Again take Whitewine Oyl and Tarr of each a considerable quantity mingle them together and apply them hot and apply them plaisterwise to the Knots and Warts especially if on the joynts and the cure in six or seven days will be effected Again take Mustardseed Bay-salt and Hogs-grease mix them together adding to them half a pint of Wine Vinegar and it will sink the Wens or Bunches Again take Figgs the roots of Fern and Rochet mingle them with Hogs grease and Vinegar and apply them plaisterwise for any of the aforesaid Sorrances or lastly take an ounce of Galbanum two ounces of Pitch Lime an ounce Bitumen three quarters of an ounce Wax the like quantity all which being well mixed and heated over a fire apply them to the Sorrance plaisterwise A Remedy for the Windeolick or Stone TAke of Whitewine a quart four ounces of Fenegreek of Bayberies and Pepper four ounces of Ginger an ounce Water Cresses a handful and the like quantity of Red-Sage one pound of Sene-green and a handful of Mint all which being well bruised and mixed together boyl them and afterwards straining them add two ounces of Hony and give the liquor to your Horse to drink or for want of these things take Cloves Pepper Cinamon of each of them an ounce beaten or ground into fine powder and putting them into a quart of Cannary suffer it to boyl a while upon a gentle fire then adding to it one spoonful of Hony give it the Horse bloodwarm Cloathing him up and storing him with clean Litter in which having stood or layn the space of four hours give him a knop of Hay and after the fifth hour a Mash or a good draught of white water Of bloodshot Eyes and other diseases or impediments of the sight their cause and cure THis prejudice of sight happens as likewise all other distempers of the Eyes through two causes viz either internal or external the internal cause proceeds from cold rhumes or fiery salt humours that fall upon the sight and the external cause from a blow hurt by Lightening fire or the like To cure which take these directions To clear and take away the bloodshot or setling of blood in the Eyes taketh juice of Sowthistle by some called our Ladys thistle and spirit it into his eyes once or twice a day for divers days together if your Horse be dimsighted or have a thin Film over his eyes take the juice of Cabbage or Colewortstalks boyl it with a small quantity of hony and spirt it into his eyes and in so doing six or seven times it will consume the Film and clear the sight nay take away the Canker in the Eye if it be not too far gone To take away the Pin and Web in the Eye spirt into it the juice of Celendine the which is likewise exceeding good to clear the sight as likewise doth the juice of ordinary Centaury if your Horse be troubled with Moon Eyes put into them Alehoof or ground Ivy juice and it will restore him to a perfect sight If your Horse be troubled with salt fiery humours or Rhumes in his Eyes wash them with the juice of Houseleek and by so doing often it will allay the heat and drive back the Rhume the juices of Germander and Eyebright consume the Pin and Web in the Eyes and greatly restore the sight Alehoof Daisie flowers and Snap-dragons being bruised and strained with a little Rose-water and fine Sugar dissolved in the juice cure all manner of Itching Smarting Inflammation Spots Webs and the like restoring the sight when almost lost The juice of Tree Ivy leaves after they have been sufficiently steeped in water easeth presently and in process of time takes away all smarting and pain of the eyes The juice of Endive clears the sight and so does the distilled water of Groundsel and the juice of Melliot with many other Herbs in general but for brevities sake waving them I shall now come to the particulars more narrowly observing the cures for most of all the Eye distempers To preserve the sight a good expedient TAke Maiden-hair Enface Endive
four or five figgs pared and cut small then suffering it to be luke-warm give it him in a Drenching horn And this medicine you may likewise give him for the Stavers Frenzy Bloody-flux Consumption of the Lungs Shortness of Breath Glaunders or any cold or cough wet or dry and for want of milk you may boyl them in new ALE but milk is better give it him every Morning fasting for a week together Another excellent remedy to the same effect TAke Brimstone flower an ounce sweet butter two ounces temper them together very well then with them anoint the butt ends of two Goose wings and thrust them up his nostrils fastening them in with packthred bound over his pole and thereupon riding him gently he will snort and avoid an extraordinary quantity of matter and filth that offends his head but after you have taken them out be sure you keep him warm in your Stable and feed him with warm Mashes burning under his nose in a chafingdish a little Storax thus you may do to a Horse that is designed for Racing or Hunting when you dare not give him any purgation or internal Drench by reason of the days near approach For a Cold newly taken a most excellent remedy MAke a little hole in the crown of a new-laid Hen-egg at which extract the white and yolk filling the concavity with fresh butter and Tarr of each a like quantity causing your Horse morning and evening to swallow it in the shell by drawing forth his Tongue giving him after it some warm Ale wherein Rosemary has been boyled and in so doing three days successively the cold will vanish for if this cure it not then is it of long continuance To cure which take the following medicine For a long taken Cold Cough Shortness of Breath or Pursiveness an excellent remedy HAving dryed Elecampain roots beat them into powder to the quantity of two ounces adding to them an ounce of Anniseeds bruised and the like weight of Liquorish and Sugarcandy pulverized when putting to them half a quartern of the Syrup of Colts-feet temper them with three or four ounces of fresh butter making the ingredients up into balls and give him three of them as big as Pigeons Eggs fasting riding him afterwards for half an hour letting him come warm into the stable and cloathing him well giving him Oats washed in hot Ale and no cold water for four hours after or for want of this you may give him conserve of Elecampain roots thus made viz. Take the roots and candy them with sugar keeping them from all moisture and so having done take an ounce thereof and add to it being broken small two ounces of Syrup of colts-Colts-foot and as much fine sugar as will make it into a conserve then dissolving it in a pint of new Mallago give it warm to your Horse ordering him after it as aforesaid If your Horse be troubled with a stopping in his head voiding thereby filthy matter take this following advice HAving mingled Coltsfoot with Auripigmentum both of which pulverized not exceeding four drams take as much Turpentine as will make them into paste which done lay them on a Chafingdish of coles in small pieces covering them with a Tunnel and by putting the small end into the nostrils of your Horse suffer the smoak to ascend holding his head to it and in so doing five or six times the congealed matter will dissolve and come away For the Glaunders an excellent Remedy TAke the leaves of a Box-tree green bruise them and add an ounce of Liquorish powder the like quantity of Anniseeds bruised steep them well in Beer or Ale to the quantity of a pint and a half then take four ounces of Treacle and four ounces of Olive Oyl the which all mixed and well heated give him the whole dose in a Drenching-horn and thereupon ride him moderately and at his return put on his cloaths give him a warm Mash and keep the Stable close and in so doing three mornings together the Horse will be rendered well as at first Costiveness the cause and cure THis grievance happeneth when a Horse without great pain cannot void his dung proceeding sometimes from excess of Provender at other times from too much feeding upon dry meat which dryeth up the moisture of his body as Beans Tares Pease and such like not but that they are wholsome and convenient but that by excessive feeding on them the Horses body is over heated which drying his Excrements shuts up the Office of nature and sometimes this grievance happens by tedious fasting and the Horse being dyeted for Hunting or Racing to remedy which take a piece of Castle sope to the weight of two ounces dissolve it in Whitewine on the fire after which having bruised an ounce of Hempseed put it into the liquor sweetning it with an ounce of Brown Sugarcandy and give it him as hot as he can indure it after which walk him up and down for the space of an hour and then bringing him into the stable if you find him sick let him lie down and pour down his throat a pint of warm milk feeding him as at other times and his bowels will be loosened and his Excrements come away Another to help and cure this grievance BOyl a handful of Mallows in running water to the quantity of a quart to which add half a pint of Olive Oyl and half a pound of Butter an ounce of Benedicta Laxativa and making thereof a Glister force it warm up his Fundament holding his Tail close to it to keep it in for the space of half an hour then giving him a sweet Mash leave it to work of it self Of the Cramp or Convulsion in the Nerves or sinews of a Horse its cause and cure THis Malady proceeds from the sinew cut some wound in the Horse or too suddain cooling after an extraordinary heat too much straining or excessive purging and is known by the forcible contraction of the Sinews Veins and Muscles insomuch that the whole strength of man is not many times capable of bending the joynt this grief seizes and by his being lame and well in a moment There is also another Malady proceeding from cold loss of blood windiness in the veins or numbness of the sinews differing from the first in pace only as having its seat and operation in the Back Reins and neck of a Horse known by the distortion or wryness of his neck hollowness of his eyes dryness and clamminess of his mouth rising of his back in the middle and the like To cure which take Primrose leaves Chamomile Cowslip leaves Crowfeet Mallows Fennel and Rosemary leaves with the stalks of Pimpernel steeped and boyled in spring-water for a considerable space then once or twice a day bath him with the liquor hot all over and apply the herbs to the grieved places binding them on with Hay-bands or woollen cloaths anointing them first with Oyl of spike mixed with Petrolium and Nerve Oyl The Camery or Frounce
too much fasting by heat or coldness of the breath you may know from which of the two it proceeds then to prevent or cure it take 14 15 or 16 single Pyony seeds or more if your Horse be of a strong constitution bruise them together with a Clove or two of Garlick three or four sprigs of Rue and an ounce of Hemp-seed all which boyl in sharp Whitewine or Verjuice and having strained them well give him the liquid part to drink four mornings successively keeping him thereupon exceeding warm and it will answer the ends for which it was given Pissing Blood its cause and cure THe cause of Pissing blood often proceeds from excessive labour in Travail or bearing more than he is conveniently able by a stone fretting upon the Kidneys by a Vein breaking near the Bladder or travailing him in cold weather or foul ways immediately after he is taken from Grass before he is throughly cleansed by scouring or the humours worked naturally away To take away any of these causes whereby the effects may cease take the roots of knot grass one handful Polipodium of the wall and Comfry of each a handful Wild and Garden Bloodwort and Shepherds Purse of each a handful all which bruised well and the juice strained into Stale Beer the liquid body making three pints boyl it adding afterwards Wood-soot and Spanish Salt of each two ounces and then as warm as he can receive it give it your Horse at three times three following Mornings and let him fast after it two hours or for want of this medicine take the Apples of wild-bryer as many as will weigh two ounces bruise them and put them into a quart of Beer adding an ounce of Irsh-slate beat into powder then making the beer hot strain it and give it him very warm when he is fasting and by so doing a week together the blood will no more issue at his Yard let the cause be what it will if you refrain to let him blood The Palsie or Apoplexie its cause and cure THis distemper is caused by the Horses feeding in unseasonable weather in wet Morish or Marshy Ground where through the unwholsomeness of the Air and foul feeding Crude humours are ingendered which causing raw digestion the Brain is thereby afflicted and at other times it happens through some wound or stroke in the Temples or upon the Pole and of these Palsies or Apoplexies there are two sorts the one general which is incurable or at least very hard to be cured and is known when it afflicts all the limbs The other is particular to some one part and mostly in the neck or Pole which makes him carry his neck a wry going side-ways indenting and crooking his legs and at other times running backward hitting his head frequently against Posts or Walls yet greedy of meat and drink upon the appearing of which symptoms let him blood in the Neck and Temple veins on that side that the bend of his neck is outward bathing his neck and back with Oyl of Petrolium well warmed binding the former immediately thereupon with a wet Hay-band from his ears to his breast Then take Opopanax two ounces Gentian Storax Manna and Succory of each three ounces Myrrh one Scruple and of long Pepper three Drams dry them so that they may be beaten into a powder and putting an ounce thereof into a pint of warm Malago Muscadel or Canary give it him to drink fasting till all the powder is spent and it will perfect the cure of the particular palsie and if not cure yet at least give much relief to the general distemper Pestilence Murraine or Garget in a Horse what they are the symptoms whereby they are known and how to cure them THese three distempers though different in name yet in nature differ but little being dangerous and infectious coming divers ways as by excessive unseasonable riding by Pasturing in Fenny damp unwholsome ground through noisome and infectious air when newly taken out of pleasant and serene air or the like and are known by the Horses swelling under the Tongue and roots of the Ears the heat and noisomness of his breath swelling under the Chaule and in the Cheeks causing him to decline feeding hanging down his head his eyes yellowish a Boyl appearing in his Groine and Lastly known by the unseemly hanging of his Stones upon observing of which symptoms or any of them separate him from your other cattle for the contagion is catching and having brought him into a warm place take Rue Saffron Walnut leaves if you can get them or in their stead Balm Juniper berries and Garlick of each a like quantity Bistwort Snakeweed Angelica and Bay-berries of each an ounce the roots of Elecampain beaten into powder half an ounce to which add an ounce of Salt-peter and boyling them well in three pints of Mallago strain the liquid part and give him a pint at a time very warm for three mornings successively If the aforesaid ingredients cannot be so soon got as necessity requires take Southernwood London-Treacle and Bolearmoniack of each two ounces Cuckow-pintle roots beaten to powder and Gunpowder of each half an ounce Aquavitae half a pint and Ale a quart boyl them together and give him the liquid part at twice and if the distemper abate not give him the same medicine oftner Pursiveness its cause and cure THis disorder in a Horse is known by his shortness of breath panting straining and breathing as it were in pain occasioned frequently by the length and straitness of the windpipe which gives not sufficient vent to the Lungs sometimes by flegmatick humours or too much fatness by hard riding upon a full stomach unseasonable drinking c. and if not well regarded in time is prone to turn to the Glaunders or dulness in travail continually sweating upon the least motion and the like to Remedy which take Bay berries Oyl of Frankincense Fern roots Nightshade Anniseed Liquorish and Sugarcandy of each an ounce bruise and mix them well then put them into a pint of French-wine and add thereto four ounces of Olive Oyl and having boyled them well give the liquid part to the Horse at three times suffering him to stand in the Stable a day and a night after each potion and observe that he take them fasting For want of the aforesaid medicine take Fennegreek and Elecampain roots Brimstone and English hony of each an ounce adding thereto an ounce of Bolearmoniack and give them your Horse boyled in White-wine six or eight mornings each dose being a pint which at every giving must be fresh made as aforesaid The Pains a Sorrance so called what it is its cause and cure THis Sorrance is an ulcerous scab full of fretting watery humours commonly appearing in the Pasterns between the Fetlock and the Heel chiefly occasioned for want of careful looking to in not rubbing down after a dirty journy and is known before the scab breaks out by the swelling of the legs To cure it rub off
things used for the most part are burnt Allum Redcoral Mercury sublim Verdigrese and Copperas of either sort and often compounds as Unguentum Apostolorum Aegyptiacum Croceum c. Another sort of this kind there is called Medicines Putrefactive applied to swelling Tumours and the like to bring them to a head as roasted Sorrel White Lilly Roots Ground Ivy Butterflowers c. Thus far Reader having proceeded I shall close up the Medicinal and Chirurgical part of Farrying in relation to Horses c. with hot and cold simples which a skilful Farrier ought either moist or dry to have always by him Hot Simples what they are ALoes Agarick Allum Aristolochia Asonteo Asarabacca Arsmart Anniseeds Arch-angel Assa fetida Angellica Alexander Alehoof Garden Bassil Balme Bayberries Wild running-Bettony Burrage Brank Ursin Briony Broom Butter-Bur Brimstone Burdock Cellendine Chervil Garden Clarge Clowns-wound-wort Coloquintida Callamus Cummin Garden Chammock Cinamon Cloves Long and round Pepper China Darnel Elecampain Fennel Gentian Garlick Germander Stinking Gladwin Golden Rod Gramel English Gallinga Ginger Glasswort Galls Grains of Paradise Hempseed Galbanum Garden Hyssop Juniper-Berries Hony Saint Johns wort Jack by the Hedg Ivy Rue-Holme Irish Ladies-smock Lavender cotten Lavender Lovage Leeks Mallows Marsh-Mallows Garden Lillies Marrygolds Sweet-Marjoram Wild Marjoram Melilote Spearmint French-dogs Mercury Masterwort Misleto Motherwort Mouse ear Mugwort Mustardseed Neesing Root Nutmeg Ragwort Restharrow Wild Wild Rocket Rosemary Garden Rue Saffron Sage Sanicle Savin Common Saxafrage Burnt Saxafrage Scabens English Scurvy-grass self-Heal Sopewort Smallage Southernwood Sea Starwort Staves-acre Garden Tansie Time Tutsan Turmerick Valerian Wood-Vervaine Diers-weed Fennegreek Scotcheneel and London Treacle Cold simples what they are GRoundsil Hawks-weed Clove-gilli-flowers Knotgrass Hawks-weed Howsleek Kidnywort Lettice Water-Lillies Common Liver-wort Liquorish Medlars Mony-wort Tree-Moss and unripe Mulberries Mace Common Night-shade Navel-wort Orpin Water and Land-plantins Pomgranet Queen of the Meadows Shepherds-purse Common and Wood-sorrels Sowthistle Succory Stone-Crop Strawberry-leaves Starwort Sphinack Wild-Tansies Sloes the Bark and Root of Black Thorn Medow Trefoile both the Vervains Hony-suckles Vineleaves Violets Viper-Bugloss the Leaves Flowers and Seeds of the Willow Vinegar Yarrow Antimonium Alcanet Garden Arach Barberry-Rind Barly Bilberries Blew-bottle Bucks-Horn Plantain Bolearmoniack Comfry Cranes-Bill Dentd'lion All the sorts of common Docks Ducks-meat and Fumitory Divers ways there are to preserve most of these simples in their primal virtue all the year but too tedious here to be inserted some of which likewise are both hot and cold and may indifferently be used in hot and cold distempers to describe them I think it altogether tedious and unnecessary for as much as most of them are vulgarly known and if any of them are not and for that cause some may pretend they know not how to find them a Herbal will give them directions and rectifie their understanding And now I shall proceed to the Shooing and Roweling things worthy to be noted by all that have any thing to do with Horses Hoofs how many sorts there are their perfections and imperfections OF Hoofs there are divers kinds some perfect and others imperfect The imperfect Hoof is when any part is lacking or if it be unseemly spreading broad and being exceeding flat that no shooe will sit compleatly upon it for such Horses for the most part are narrow heel'd on which he for the most part treads rendering himself thereby unable for Travailing subjecting him frequently to cast his shooes and subject to false quarters and this is often caused by the Horses being brought up in moist and Fenny ground To shoo which not being as yet grown to too flat the Farrier with his paring Iron must take off as much of the Toe and sides as it is possible still keeping it round but let him not touch the quarter or the heel unless it be to make the seat of the shoo plain and let that be as lightly as may be still anointing the Hoofs with Hogs-grease and Oyl of Baies and within a while they will become round thick and feasable The shoo wherewith this Hoof must be brought to perfection must be made strong with a broad webb and broad Spunges pierced from the quarters to the hard Toe but not to the Heel the holes wider without than within and the foot diligently pared as aforesaid from the Tallon nail towards the heel suffer the shoo to stand a straws breadth without the Hoof the better to save the Coffin let your nails be made of good Iron the heads square but not so broad above as below that they may not only stand above the shooe but fill the holes putting five nails on the outside and four on the inside because in this case the Horse weareth more within than without The perfect Hoof on the forefeet how to pare shooe c. IF the Hoof be perfect first pare the seat of the Shooe as even and plain as may be that the shooe sitting close may bear no more on the one side than on the other nor take more on the Toe than the Heel for the Heels must be higher than the Toes but by reason all the weight of the Horses fore part presses upon the quarters and heels of the fore feet those parts must be most regarded and as little of the Butteresses taken off as may be for the heels are naturally weaker than the toes but this is meant by the fore-feet only for the paring of the hinder-feet is quite contrary as will hereafter appear For the most exact method of shooing the perfect Hoof observe these following rules viz. Let your shooe be of Spanish Iron or other well tempered Iron the web broad fitting it to the Hoof the Spunges thick and more firm than any other part and somewhat broad that the quarters may stand somewhat beyond the Hoof to preserve the Coffin and pierce it from the quarter to the hard toe but not backwards towards the heel suffer the holes to be wider without than within that the pierced circle may be more distant from the edge of the toe than from the edge of the quarter because the Hoof is thicker forward than backwards thus having fitted the shoo take nails made of the same Iron the Heads square though not fully so broad beneath as above that the nails may fill up the holes and the shooe be kept from stirring suffering them to appear somewhat above the shooe and let the points appear in a just line not one lower than another or in and out like the teeth of a Saw and cut them off so near that when they are clinched by a little raising the Hoof with a Knife they appear to be within it but be sure ere the shooe is fastened with any more than two nails see it stand right by looking on the Frush and suffering the Horse to set his foot to the ground whilst you hold up the other with your hand and if the shooe stand but a little awry you may by striking the Hoof with