which may be any ways noxious to the inward part of the Body And it also preventeth sudden Sickness if you do suspect it Fifthly the opening of the two Plate or Breast-Veins do help the Anticor Sickness of the Heart Morfoundring which is the Foundring in the Body by over-riding whereby the Grease of the Horse is molten it also preventeth Diseases in the Liver Lungs and inward parts grieved and sometimes Hurts in the Shoulder which causeth Lameness before Sixthly we use to touch the two Thigh-Veins before which helpeth Foundring in the fore-Feet Mallenders Splent Screw Ring-bone and such like infirmities in the fore-Foot and such other higher Parts Seventhly we use to take Blood from the four Shackle-Veins before and this is very good for the Crow-scab Ring-bone and such like Diseases Eighthly we use to strike the two Spur-Veins which Cureth the Farcin in the Sides Morfoundring swelling under the Belly which is a Disease called the Feltrick and the like Ninthly we prick the two Toe-Veins which do help Frettizing Foundering Hoof-bound beating of the Horses Feet by Riding upon hard and stony ways and the like Tenthly we open the two Thigh-Veins behind and this doth help the Grief of the Kidneys swelling in the Hinder-Legs Foundring Sellenders Scratches Kybes c. And it also helpeth Diseases in and about the Belly as Pissing of blood Pissing oft after great and extraordinary hard labour and the weakness of the Reins the Back Belly Guts or any other of the inward Parts the Curb Spaven and such Diseases which come of Rankness of Blood Eleventhly we sometimes do open the four Shackle-Veins behind and this is very good against Founderings and other pains in and about the Feet Twelfthly we let Blood in the two Flank or Hanch-Veins and this is most probable for all kind of Feavers the Stones Poverty and the Felter-worm Thirteenthly we draw Blood from the two Tail-Veins which Cureth the Mange in the Tail falling of the Hair or Itch in the Tail And these are for the most part all the Veins that are usually opened So that the full sum or number of Veins which Farriers commonly open are thirty Other Veins there are which are of a smaller proportion and therefore not fit to be opened I will not say that these Veins so opened doth Cure the Diseases absolutely but it doth sometimes asswage the Malignancy of the Malady sometimes it preventeth Diseases and sometimes again it prepareth the Body the better to receive such Physical Drinks which do inwardly Cure them and such Salves Oyls Unguents which do dry and heal up outward Infirmities c. How many Bones a Horse hath and where they are Situated All the Bones which every Horse hath whereby to make up an Organical Body are these viz. He hath in his Head thirty nine or fourty Teeth The Bones in his Head do Comprehend the Crocks and Handles of the Scull albeit they be composed of parts and parcels of other Bones also the two flat Handles which from the Pallat and the Fork or Throat hath five the Chine hath fifty two the Breast one the Ribs hath thirty six the fore-Legs and fore-Feet hath fourty four and the hinder-Legs and Feet fourty so as the whole structure of the Body of a Horse whereby to perfect a full Building of Bones consisteth of about two hundred fifty seven or two hundred fifty nine if they be rightly computed which do represent themselves altogether at what time the perfect Anatomy of a Horse is laid open Of the Elements The Elements are four and they give Life and Nutriment unto Man and all other living Creatures They are these Fire Air Water and Earth Their Nature The Nature of Fire is to be hot and dry Air to be hot and moist Water to be cold and moist and Earth to be cold and dry Signes of the Zodiack Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius Capricornus Aquarius Pisces These do all Govern the twelve Months of the year and are placed above the Zodiack Names of the Planets Saturn Jupiter Mars Sol Venus Mercury and Lunâ—a The Government of the Signes Aries governs the Head Taurus the Neck Gemini the Shoulders and Armes Cancer the Stomach and Breast Leo the Heart Virgo the Belly and Guts Libra the Reins and Buttocks Scorpio the Privy Parts Sagittarius the Thighs Capricornus the Knees Aquarius the Legs and Pisces the Feet The best time to let a Horse Blood in If there be no extraordinary cause as in Case of desperate Sickness or so then Jan. the third and fifteenth Feb. the fourth and ninth Mar. the seventeenth and eighteenth April the tenth and sixteenth May the first and thirteenth June the fifteenth and twentieth But for July and August by reason that the Canicular days be then predominant Blood-letting is not so good but only in urgent Case of Necessity In Septemb. the eleventh and twenty eighth Octob. the eighth and twenty third Novemb. the fifth and Seeds Gather Seeds and Fruits when they be fully ripe and they also last but one whole year Rind or Bark Gather the Rind or Bark of any Simple when the Herb is ripe dry them and they will last many years The Office of the Farrier What Points Consist the Office of the Farrier IT Consists in four things viz. Science Experience Knowledge and Handy Work But I shall let pass the first three and speak to Handy-Work and that is To Heat an Iron well to Turn a Shoo well to make and Point a Nail well to Pare the Hoof well to Cauterize well to let Blood well to be light and well-Handied Bold and Hardy and Dressing of a Horse well of such Accidents as may happen unto him The Principal Members of a Horse Some hold that there be four and make the Stones or Gignitors one but I say there are but three The Liver the Heart and The Brain and if he be offended in any of these he will die but if any other Member besides these be hurt he may live and therefore the Stones or Gignitors cannot be one of the Principal Members for you cannot touch any of those three but you kill him out-right or desperately endanger him Now the Stones may receive hurt and if I despair of Curing them I can cut them out without peril of his life Of the Sinews and of the number of them There are two Sinews or Tendons which are white and begin at the end of the Nose and extend themselves along the Neck and along the Back and make their extent to the four Legs and take their ligaments in the fore-Feet There are in every Horse twenty nine or thirty great and small The two great Sinews which I named before It. Two Branches which are main Sinews that proceed from the Brain and run down the Cheeks to the Teeth It. There are from the Shoulders to the first Joynt of the Armes or fore-Legs downwards two great Sinews It. From the Knees to the Pasterns are four
Stallion of like shape but somewhat broader and taller and temper their Natures thus Put unto the hot Horse the cool Mare and to the hot Mare the cool Horse If you will Elect a Horse for Service and Warlike Employment then these are best The Neapolitan the Sardinian the Courser the Almaine the French the Jennet or the Turkâ— Or if any of these Bastardized in themselves or with a fair well Shaped and Mettl'd English Mare For Swiftness If you will Elect for Swiftness then The Arabian the Barbary which is a Horse of Africa The Spanish the Grecian which is the Turky Horse Or any of these Bastardized in themselves with our English Mares For Travel If you will choose for long Travel and Service Then the English the Hungarian the Swedeland the Poland the Irish For Draught If you will choose for Draught and Service Then the Flanders the Friesland or any of the Netherlands either Bastardized in themselves or with our English Rases and these are excellent for Coach for Cart for Pack or any Burthen If you will choose for Ease then the Irish To know whether your Mares be with Foal or not If you pour a spoonful of cold Vinegar or Water into her Ear if she shake only her Head it is a sign she is with Foal but if she shake her Head Body and all then it is a sign she is not with Foal Or if she scoures her Coat grow smooth and shining and that she grows Fat it is a sign that she holds To make the Mare Conceive Male Foals To make your Mare Conceive Male Foals is to keep your Stallion proud and your Mare poor that his Lust mastering hers he may only be predominate and chief in the Action Of the Office of the Keeper Of the Horse in general his Choice for every several Vse his Ordering Diet and best Preservation for Health both in Travel and in Rest. Of the Nature of Horses in general HE is Valiant Strong and Nimble and above all other Beasts most apt and able to endure the extreamest Labours the moist quality of his Composition being such that neither extream heat doth dry up his strength nor the violence of Cold freeze the warm temper of his moving spirits for he withstandeth all defects of Sickness with an uncontrouled constancy He is most Gentle and Loving to Man apt to be taught and not forgetful when an Impression is fixed in his Brain he is watchful above all other Beasts and will endure his Labour with the most empty Stomach he is naturally given to much cleanliness he is of an excellent Scent and therefore not so much as to offend any man with his evil Savours Your Choice of a Horse for the Wars Choose him of a tall stature with a comely Head and out-swelling Forehead a large sparkling Eye the white thereof covered with the Eye-brows a small thin Ear short and pricking if it be long well carried and ever moving a deep Neck a large Crest broad Breast bending Ribs broad and streight Chine round and full Buttocks a Tail high and broad neither too thick nor too thin a full swelling Thigh a broad flat and lean Leg short Pasterned strong Joynted Colours of a Horse The best Colours are brown Bay Daple-gray Roand Bright-Bay Black with a white near Foot behind white sore-Foot before white Star Chesnut or Sorrel with any of those marks or Dun with a black List Horses for a Princes Seat If you will choose a Horse for a Princes Seat or for any Supream Magistrate or any great Lady then choose the finest shape that is Nimble with an easie Pace and Gentle to get up familiar and quiet in the company of other Horses and let his colour be Milk-white with red Frains or without or else Dapple-grey with a white Mane and white Tail Horses for Travel If you choose a Horse for Travel choose him for Strength viz. His Joynts strong his Pastornes short and streight without bending in his going hollow and tough Hoofs let him be of a temperate Nature neither too furious nor too dull Hunting Horses If you choose a Horse for Hunting let his Shape be generally strong and well knit together making equal Proportions for as unequal Shapes shew weakness so equal Shapes shew strength and durance your unequal Shapes are a great Head and a little Neck a big Body and a thin Buttock a large Limb to a little Foot c. Let him have a large and lean Head wide Nostrils open Chauld a big VVheasand and the VVind-pipe streight Running Horses If you choose him for Running let him have all the finest Shapes that may be Let him be nimble quick and siery apt to flie with the least motion long Shapes are sufferable for though they shew weakness yet they assure sudden speed Coach-Horses If you choose him for the Coach which is called the swift Draught let his â—hape be tall broad and well furnish'd not gross with much flesh but with the bigness of his Bones let him have a strong Neck a broad Breast a large Chine sound clean Limbs and tough Hoofs And for this purpose your large English Geldings are best your Flemish Mares next and your strong Stone-Horses tolerable Pâ—ck-Horses If you choose a Horse for Portage that is for the Pack or Hampers Let him have a strong Body and Limb but not tall with a broad Back out-Ribs full Shoulders and thick VVithers for if it be thin in that Part you shall hardly keep his Back from Galling and be sure he take a large stride for he that taketh the largest stride goes at the most ease and rids his Ground the fastest Cart or Plough Lastly if you will choose a Horse for Cart or Plough which is the slow draught choose him that is of an ordinary height for Horses in the Cart unequally sorted never draw at ease but the tall hang up the low Horse Let him be big large Bodied and strong Limb'd by Nature rather inclin'd to crave the VVhip then to draw more then is needful And for this purpose Mares are most profitable if you have cheap keeping for them for they will not only do your work but bring you yearly increase be sure you take them well-forehanded that is good Head Neck Breast and Shoulders for the rest it is not so regardful only let her Body be large for the more room a Foal hath in her Dams Belly the sairer are his Members And be sure you never put your Draught-Beasts to the Saddle for that alters their Pace and hurts them in their Labour How to Order these several Horses And first of the Horse for the Wars During his time of teaching which is out of the VVars you shall keep him high let his Food be good Hay and clean Oats or two parts Oats and one part Beans or Pease well dried and hard half a Peck at a Morning Noon and at Evening is sufficient In his days of rest Dress him betwixt five and six in the Morning and
Rein of two Fathom or more and to the other Rings two other shorter Reins then having Saddled the Horse and put on his Bit bring him to the Post and put the Reins of the Bit over the fore-part of the Saddle Bolsters and all and Fix them at a constant streightness on the top of the Pomel so that the Horse may have a feeling both of the Bit and Curb Then if you will have him turn to the right hand take the short Rein on the left side of the Cavezan and bringing it under the fore-Bolster of the Saddle up to the Pomel and there Fix it at such a streightness that the Horse may rather look from then to the Post on the right side Then let some Groom or skilful Attendant hold the right-side Rein of the Cavezan at the Post governing the fore-parts of his Body to come about at large Then your self taking the long Rein into your hand and keeping his hinder parts inward with your Rod on his outward Shoulder and sometimes on his outward Thigh make him move about the Post keeping his inward parts as a Center and making his fore-parts move in a larger Circumference Thus you shall Exercise him a pretty space on one hand till he grow to some Perfectness then Changing the Reins of the Cavezan make him do the like to the other hand And thus apply him divers Mornings and cherishing him in his Exercise according to his deservings till you have brought him to that readiness that he will upon the moving of your Rod couch his hinder Parts in towards the Post and lapping the outward fore-leg over the inward Trot about the Post swiftly distinctly and in as strait a Compass as you can desire or is convenient for the motion of the Horse And from Trotting you may bring him to Flying and Wheeling about with that swiftness that both the fore-legs rising and moving together the hinder Parts may follow in one and the same instant When you have made him thus perfect in your hand you shall then Mount his Back and making some skilful Groom govern the long Rein and another the short by the Motion of your Hand upon the Bit and soft Rein of the Cavezan keeping the Horses Head from the Post and by the help of the Calve of your Leg laid on his Side and your Rod turned toward his outward Thigh to keep his hinder parts into the Post labour and exercise him till you have brought him to that Perfection which you desire Then take away the long Rein and only exercise him with the help of the short Rein of the Cavezan and no other After take both the Reins of the Cavezan into your hands and exercise him from the Post making him as ready in any place where you please to Ride him as he was at the Post The other streight Turn Now for the other streight Flying Turn which is to keep his Face fixt on the Post as on his Enemy and to move about only with his hinder parts you shall take the same helps of the long Rein and the short Reins of the Cavezan and govern them as before shewed only you shall not give the short Rein to the Post-ward so much liberty as before but keep his Head closer to the Post and following his hinder parts with the long Rein by the help of your Rod make him bring his hinder parts round about the Post and observe that as before he did Iap one foot over another so now he must lap the hinder Legs one over another In this Exercise exercise him as the former then after a perfectness mount his Back and labour him as before shewed Then lastly leaving the Post and all other helps only apply him in such open and free places as you shall think couvenient for upon the finishing of this Work your Horse is made compleat and can perform all things that can be required either for the Service in the Wars for the High-way or any other Galloping Pleasure How to Help an ill Rein and Cure a Run-away Jade Many Horses are so evil beholding to Nature for giving them short Necks and worse set-on Heads and so little beholding to Art to amend them which causes many a good Horse to be left Cureless of those two gross insufferable faults which are either a deformed carriage of the Head like a Pig on a Broach or else a furious Running away got by a spoiled Mouth or an evil habit The Help If it be a young Horse at his first Riding then to his Trench if an old then to his Snaffle for I speak not of the Bit but a pair of Reins half as long again as any ordinary Reins and Loops to fasten and unfasten at the Eye of the Snaffle as other Reins have Now when you see that the Horse will not yield to your Hand but the more you draw the more he thrusts out his Nose or the more violently he runs away then undo the Buttons of the Reins from the Eye of the Snaffle and draw them through the Eyes and bring them to the Buckles of the formost Girt and there button them fast then Riding the Horse in that manner labour him with the gentle Motions of your Hand coming and going by degrees and sometimes accompanied with your Spur to gather up his Body and to feel your Command and in a short time he will bring his Head where you will place it And for Running away if you draw one Rein you turn him about in despite of all Fury and if you draw both you break his Chaps or bring them to his Bosom In the end finding himself not able to Resist he will be willing to obey Another Help for uncâ—nstant Carriage There is another soul Error in many Horses which these Reins also Cure as this When your Horse is either so wythie cragg'd as the Northern Man calls it or so loose and unsteady Necked that which way soever you draw your Hand his Head and Neck will follow it sometimes beating against your Knees sometimes dashing against your Bosom and indeed generally so loose and uncertain that a man knows not when he hath steady hold of him A Vice wonderful incident to Running Horses especially the furious ones In this Case you shall take these long Reins and as before you drew them to the Buckles of the Girts so now Martingal-wise draw from the Eyes of the Snaffle betwixt his fore-Legs to the Girts and there fasten them Thus Ride him with a constant Hand firm and somewhat hard Correcting him both with the Spurs and Rod and somtimes with hard Twitches in his Mouth when he errs and with a few weeks labour his Head will come to a constant carriage provided that you labour him as well upon his Gallop as his Trot and leave him not till you finde him fully reclaimed The Office of the Feeder An Introduction to the Work touching the Limitation of time for Preparing the Running Horse I will not dispute the
his Back where the Saddle stood Then Cloath him up first with a Linnen-sheet and then over that a good strong Housing-Cloth and above it his Woollen Body-cloth which in the Winter it is not amiss to have loyned with some Cotton but in the Summer the Kersie is sufficient When these are Girt about him stop his Circingle with small Wisps very loose for they will be the softer His Feet stopped with Cows dung After he is Cloathed stop his Feet with Cows dung then throw into the Rack a little bundle of Hay hard bound together and well dusted and let him eat it standing upon his Bridle When he hath stood an houre upon his Bridle take it off and Rub his Head and Neck very well with a Rubber of Hempen Cloth for this is good to dissolve all gross and thick Humors from the Head Then after you have made clean the Manger take a quart of sweet dry old and clean dress'd Oats for those that are unsweet breed infirmities Those that are moist cause swelling in the Body Those that are New breed Wormes And they which are half-dress'd deceive the Stomach and bring the Horse to ruine Though the black Oat is tolerable yet it makes foul dung and hinder a Mans knowledge in the state of his Body This quart of Oats you shall dress in such a Sieve as will let a light Oat pass thorough it and if he eat them with a good stomach let him have another and let him rest till eleven of the Clock Then Rub his Head and Neck as before and dress him another quart of Oats then leave him till one of the Clock with the Windows close for the darker you keep him the better and will cause him to lie down and take his rest which otherwise he would not therefore you are to Arm the Stable with Canvass both for darkness warmth and that the filth may not come near him Then at one of the Clock use him as you did before and give him another quart of Oats in the same manner making of him clean by taking away his dung and give him a little Knob of Hay and leave him till the Evening At the Evening come to the Stable and having made all things clean bridle as in the Morning take off his Cloaths and dress him as before Then Cloath Saddle bring him forth and urge him to empty Mount rack him abroad but not to the Hills if you can find any other plain Ground and Air him in all Points as you did in the Morning When you have Watered and spent the Evening in Ayring till within Night for nothing is more wholesom and consumeth foulness more then early and late Ayrings Rack him home to the Stable door and there alight and do as you did in the Morning both within doors and without and so let him Rest till Nine at Night then at Night come to him and Rub down his Legs well with Wisps and his Face and Neck with a clean Cloth and turning up his Cloaths Rub all his hinder parts then give him a quart of Oats in the same manner as you did before and after that a little bundle of Hay then Toss up his Litter and make his bed soft and leave him till the next Morning Then the next Morning do every thing to him without the least Omission as hath formerly been declared and thus keep him for the first Fortnight which will so take away his foulness and harden his flesh that the next Fortnight you may adventure to give him some Heats Object But to Answer an Objection that may be urged touching the quantity of Provender which is prescribed Being but a quart at a Meal seeing there be many Horses that will eat a larger Proportion and to scant them to this little were to starve or at the best to breed weakness Answ I set not down this as an infallible Rule but a President that may be imitated yet altered at Pleasure For I have left you this Caveat that if he eat this with a good Stomach you may give him another leaving the Proportion to the Feeders Discretion Four Considerations in giving of Heats First That two Heats in the Week is a sufficient proportion for any Horse of what Condition or state of Body whatsoever That one Heat should ever be given on that day in the Week on which he is to run his Match as thus Your Match-day is a Monday your Heating-days are then Mondays and Fridays and the Monday to be ever the sharper Heat but because it is the day of his Match and there are three days betwixt it and the other Heat If the day be Tuesday then the Heating-days are Tuesdays and Saturdays if Wednesday then Wednesdays and Saturdays by reason of the Lords day if on Thursday then Thursdays and Mondays and so of the rest You shall give no Heat but in case of Necessity in Rain or foul Weather but rather to defer houres and change times for it is unwholesom and dangerous And therefore in case of Showers and uncertain Weather you shall have for the Horse a loyned Hood with loyned Eares and the Nape of the Neck loyned to keep out Rain for nothing is more dangerous then cold wet falling into the Ears and upon the Nape of the Neck and Fillets 4. And lastly observe to give the Heats the Weather being seasonable as early in the Morning as you can that is by the Spring of day but by no means in the dark for it is to the Horse both unwholesom and unpleasant to the Man a great Testimony of folly and to both an Act of danger and precipitation The second Fortnights Feeding You shall do all things as in the first Fortnight only before you put on his Bridle give him a Quart of Oats then Bridle him up and dress him as before shewed then Cloath Saddle Air Water Exercise and bring him home as before shewed only you shall not put Hay into his Rack but give it him out of your hand handful after handful and so leave him on his Bridle for an hour then rub him and after other Ceremonies Sift him a Quart of Oats and set them by then take a Loas of Bread that is three days old and made in this manner The First Bread Take three Pecks of clean Beans and one Peck of Wheat mix them together and grind them and bolt it pretty sine and Knead it up with good store of Barm and Lightning but with as little water as may be labour it in the Trough very well and break it and so cover it warm that so it may swell then Knead it over again and make it up in big Loaves and so bake it well and let it soak soundly and when they are drawn turn the bottom upwards that so they may cool At three days old give it him for new Bread is hurtful when you give it him chip it very well and cut some of it into small Pieces and put them into his Quart
he be harsh and cholerick the Horse will be put by his Patience and become Rebellious and fall to biting and striking For the old Proverb is Patience once wronged will turn into Fury He must continually toy dally and play with him be always talking and speaking pleasing words unto him He must lead him abroad in the Sun-shine and then run scope and shew him all the delight he can he must duely Curry Comb and Dress him wipe dust pick and clense him feed pamper and cherish him and be always doing somewhat about him either about his heels or taking up his Feet or rapping him upon the Soles And he must keep him so well dress'd that he may almost see his Face upon his Coat he must keep his Feet stopped and daily Anointed his Heels free from Scratches and other Sorrances and to have so vigilant an eye upon him to oversee all his Actions as well feeding as drinking that so no inward infirmity may seize upon him but that he may be able to discover it and being discovered may seek for to Cure it To Saddle and Bridle a Colt When your Horse is made Gentle take a sweet Watering Trench wash'd and Anointed with Honey and Salt put it into his Mouth and so place it that it may hang about his Tush then offer him the Saddle but with that carefulness that you do not affright him therewith suffering him to smell at it to be rubbed with it and then to feel it then in the end to Fix it on and Girt it fast and at what part and motion he seems most coy with that make him most familiar then being thus Sadled and Bridled lead him forth to water then bring him in and after he hath stood a little Reined upon the Trench an hour or more take away the Bridle and Saddle and let him go to his Meat till the Evening then lead him forth as before and when he is set up Gently take off his Saddle and dress him and cloath him up for all Night The way to make him endure the Saddle the better is by making it familiar unto him by clapping the Saddle with your Hand as it stands upon his Back to shake it and sway upon it to dangle the Stirrops by his Sides and to rub them on his Sides and make much of him and be familiar with all things about him as straining the Crooper fastning and loosening the Girts or taking up and letting out of the Stirrops Of Mouthing When he will Trot with the Saddle obediently then you shall wash a trench of a full Mouth and put it into his Mouth and throw the Reins over the sore-part of the Saddle so that the Horse may have a full feeling of it then put on a Martingal and you shall buckle it at such length that he may no more then feel it when he Jirketh up his Head then take a broad piece of Leather and put it about the Horses Neck and make the two ends of it fast by Platting or otherwise at the Withers and mid-part before his Weasand about two handfuls below the Throple betwixt the Leather and his Neck let the Mattingal pass so that when at any time he shall offer to duck or throw down his Head the Cavezan being placed upon the tender Gristle of his Nose may correct and punish him which will make him bring down his Head and fashion him to an absolute Rein. Then Trot him abroad and if you find the Reins or Martingal grow slack straiten them for where there is no feeling there is no Vertue Of Backing When you have Exercised your Horse thus divers Mornings Noons or Evenings and find him Obedient then take him into some Ploughed Ground the lighter the better and after you have made him Trot a good Pace about you in your hand and thereby taken from him all his wantonness look and see whether your tackling be firm and good and every thing in his true and due place you may then having one to stay his Head and govern the Chasing Rain take his Back yet not suddenly but by degrees and with divers heavings and half-raisings which if he endure patiently then settle your self but if he shrink or dislike then forbear to mount and chase him about again and then offer to mount and do thus till he be willing to receive you Then when you are setled and have received your Stirrops and Cherisht him put your Toes forward and he that stays his Head ler him lead him forward half a dozen Paces then Cherish him then lead him a little further and Cherish him and shake and move your self in the Saddle then let him stay his Head and remove his Hand a little from the Cavezan and as you thrust forwards your Toes let him move him forward with his Rein till you have made the Horse apprehend your own Motion of Body and Foot which must go equally together and with spirit also so that he will go forward without the other Assistance and stay upon the restraint of your own hand then Cherish him and give him Grass and Bread to eat alight from his Back then mount and unmount twice or thrice together ever mixing them with Cherishings Thus Exercise him till you have made him perfect in going forward and standing still at your pleasure Helps at first Backing When this is effected you may lay by the long Rein and the Band about the Neck and only use the Trenches and Cavezan and the Martingal and let a Groom lead the way before you on another Horse and go only streight forward and stand still when you please which will soon be effected by Trotting him after another Horse and bring him home sometimes after the Horse and sometimes equally with him and sometimes before so that he may six upon no certainty but your own pleasure And be sure to have regard to the well-carriage of his Neck and Head and as the Martingal slackneth so to streighten it What Lessons for what Horse When this Work is finished then Teach your Horse these Lessons As if he be for Hunting Running Travel Hackney or the like then the chiefest things you are to apply your self to are to preserve a good Mouth to Trot freely and comly to Amble surely and easily to Gallop strongly and swiftly to Obey the Hand in stopping gently and Retiring willingly and to turn on the other Hand readily and nimbly But if you intend him for the great Saddle or the use of the Wars then although the Lessons be the same yet they are to be done in a more punctual manner So that if any Horse can be brought to the best the easier must needs follow with little industry And it is a Rule in Horseman-ship That no Lesson which belong to the Wars can be hurâ—ful or do injury to any Horse whatsoever that is kept for any other purpose Whence it cometh that any Horse for the Wars may be trained for a Runner or Hunter at pleasure but
sure there is foulness And lastly to the Estate of Body that he may rather Augment then decrease Vigour so shall his Work be prosperous and his Actions without Controulment To conclude two Months I allow for Preparation and according to that time have laid my directions Mine humble suit is out of a sincere Opinion to Truth and Justice so to allow or disallow to refrain or imitate The first Ordering of the Running Horse according to the several Estates of their Bodies This Office of the Feeder albeit in general it belong to all Horse-men yet in particular it is most appropriate to the Feeder of the Running-Horse because other general Horses have a general way of Feeding these are Artificial and Prescript from full of Curiosity and Circumspection from which whosoever errs he shall sooner bring his Horse to destruction then perfection You are to have regard to three Estates of a Horses Body The first is if he be very Fat Foul or either taken from Grass or Soil The second if he be extream Lean and poor either through over-Riding disorder or other infirmity And the third if he be in good and well-liking estate having had good usage and moderate exercise If he be in the first Estate of Body you shall take longer time for his Feed as two Months at the least for he will ask much labour in Airing great carefulness in hearing and discretion in Scouring and rather a strict then liberal hand in feeding If he be in the second Estate of Body which is poor then take a longer time and let his Airings be moderate as not before and after Sun rather to encrease Appetite then harden Flesh and let him have a bountiful hand in Feeding but not so much as to cloy him If he be in the third Estate of Body which is a mean betwixt the other extreams then a Month of six Weeks or a Fort-night or less may be time sufficient to dyet him for his Match Now as this Estate participates with both the former so it would borrow from them a share in all their Orderings that is to be neither too early nor too late in Airings laborious but not painful Heatings nourishing in Scouring and constant in a moderate way of Feeding To have an Eye to the particular Estate of a Horses Body Now as you regard these general Estates of Bodies so you must have an eye to certain particular estates of Bodies As if an Horse be Fat and Foul yet of a free and spending Nature apt quickly to consume and lose his Flesh this Horse must not have so strict a Hand neither can he endure so violent Exercise as he that is of an hardy disposition and will feed and be fat upon all Meats and all Exercises Again if your Horse be in extream Poverty through disorder and misusage yet is by Nature very hard and apt both soon to recover his Flesh and long to hold it then over this Horse you shall by no means hold so liberai a hand nor forbear that Exercise which is of a tender Nature a weak Stomach and a free Spirit provided always you have regard to his Limbs and the Imperfections of Lameness The first Fortnights feeding of an Horse for Match that is fat foul or either newly taken from Grass or Soil If you Match a Horse that is fat and foul either by running at Grass or standing at Soil or any other means of Rest or too high feeding you shall after his Body be emptied and the Grass avoided which will be within three or four days for the first Fortnight at leust rise early in the Morning before day or at the spring of day according to the time of the year and having put on his Bridle washt in Beer and tied him up to the Rack take away his dung and other foulness of the Stabie then dress him well as in The Office of the Keeper When that Work is finished take a fair large Body-cloth of thick House-Wives Kersie if it be in Winter or of Cotton or other light stuff if it be in Summer and fold it round about his Body then clap on the Saddle and Girt the foremost Girt pretty streight but the other somewhat slack and Wisp it on each side his Heart that both the Girts may be of equal streightness Then put before his Breast a Breast-cloth suitable to the Body-cloth and let it cover both his Shoulders then take a little Beer into your Mouth and squirt it into the Horses Mouth and so draw him out of the Stable and take his Back leaving a Groom behind you to trim up the Stable to carry out your dung and to truss up the Litter For you are to understand that he is to stand upon good store of dry Litter both Night and Day and it must be Wheat-straw or Oat-straw for Barley-straw and Rye-straw are very unwholesom and dangerous the one doth Heart-burn the other causeth Scouring When you are Mounted Rack the Horse a Foot-pace for you must neither Amble nor Trot for they both hurt speed at least a mile or two or more upon smooth and sound Ground and as near as you can to the steepest Hills you can find there Gallop him gently up those Hills and rack and walk him softly down that he may cool as much one way as he warmeth another And when you have thus exercised him a pretty space and seeing the Sun begin to Rise or else Risen Rack down either to some fresh River or clear Pond and there let him drink at his pleasure After he hath drunk bring him gently out of the water and so Ride him a little space with all gentleness and not according to the ignorance of some Grooms ruâ—h him presently into a Gallop for that brings with it two Mischiefs either it teaches the Horse to run away with you so soon as he is watered or else refuse to drink fearing the violence of his Exercise which follows upon it When you have used him a little calmly put him into a Gallop gently and exercise him moderately as you did before then walk him a little space after offer him more water if he drink then Galhim again after calm usage if he refuse then Gallop him to occasion thirst And thus always give him Exercise both before and after water When he hath drunk sufficient bring him home gently without a wet Hair or any sweat about him When you come to the Stable Door provoke him to Piss if you can by stirring up his Litter under him which if he do not a little custom will make him do it and it is a wholesom Action both for his Health and the sweet keeping of the Stable This done bring him to the Stall and Tie him up to the Rack and Rub him well with Wisps then loose his Breast-Cloth and Rub his Head and Neck with a dry Cloth then take off the Saddle and hang it by then take his Body-Cloth and Rub him all over with it especially
of Oats you had formerly Sifted About eleven of the Clock give him the same quantity of Oats and let him rest till the Afternoon At one of the Clock in the Afternoon if you intend not to give him a Heat that day Feed him with Bread and Oates as you did in the Forenoon and so consequently every Meal following for that day But if you intend the next day to give him a Heat to which I now bend mine aim you shall only then give him a quart of Oats clean Sifted but no Hay and so let him rest till Evening At four of the Clock give him a quart of clean Sifted Oats and after they are eaten Bridle him up Dress Cloath Saddle Air Water Exercise bring home and order as before shewed only give him no Hay at all After he hath stood an hour upon his Bridle give him a quart of Oates and after they are eaten put on his Head a sweet Muzzle and let him rest till Nine at Night The Vse of the Muzzle The Use of the Muzzle being rightly made is to keep the Horse from eating up his Litter from gnawing upon Boards and Mud-walls and indeed to keep him from eating any thing but what he receiveth from your own hands they are made sometimes of Leather and stampt full of holes or else close but they are unsavoury and unwholesom Nay indeed all Leather is unpleasant Besides they are too close and too hot for him The best Summer Muzzle and indeed best at all times is the Ner-Muzzle made of strong Pack-thread and knit very thick and close in the bottom and so enlarged wider and wider upwards to the middle of the Horses Head then bound upon the top with Tape and on the nether side a Loop and on the farther side a long String to fasten it to the Horfes Head The best Winter Muzzle and indeed tolerable at any time is made of double Canvass with a round Button and a square Latice Window of small Tape before both his Nostrils down to the very bottom of the Muzzle and upward more then a handful and must also have a Loop and a String to fasten about his Head At Nine of the Clock at Night give him a quart of clean Oats and when they are eaten put on his Muzzle and toss up his Litter and so leave him The next day early give him a quart of clean Oates rubbed between your hands with some Beer or Ale and when he hath eaten them Dress him and Saddle him as before and being ready to depart give him a new laid Egg or two and wash his Mouth after it with Beer or Ale and so lead him away and at the door provoke him to empty then Mount and Rack him gently to the Course ever and anon making him smell another Horses dung When you are come within a Mile of the starting Post alight and take off his Body-Cloth and Breast-Cloth and Girt on the Saddle again then sending away your Grooms both with those Cloaths and other dry Cloaths to rub with let him stay at the end of the Course till you come then your self Rack your Horse gently up to the starting Post and beyond making him smell to that Post which you call the weighing Post that he may take notice of the beginning and ending of the Course There start your Horse roundly and sharply at near a three quarters speed and according to his Strength of Body Ability of Wind and Chearfulness of Spirit run him the whole Course through But by no means do any thing in extremity or above his Wind but when you find him a little yield then give him a little ease so that all he doth may be done with Pleasure and not with Anguish For this manner of training will make him take delight in his labour and so encrease it The contrary will breed discomsort and make Exercise irksom Also during the time you thus course him you shall Note upon what Ground he runneth best and whether up the Hill or down the Hill whether on the smooth or on the rough on the wet or on the dry or on the level or the Earth somewhat Rising and according as you find his Nature so manage him for your own advantage When you have Finished the Heats and a little slightly Galloped him up and down to Rate his Wind and chear his Spirits you shall then the Groom being ready Ride into some warm Place and with your Glassing Knife or scraping Knife made either of some broken Sword blade or some old broken Sythe or for want of that a thin piece of old hard Oaken wood fashioned like a long broad Knife with a sharp edge scrape off the Sweat of your Horse in every part Buttocks excepted till there will none arise ever and anon moving him up and down Then with dry Cloaths Rub him all over Buttocks excepted then take off his Saddle and having Glassed his Back and rub'd it near dry put on his Body-Cloth and Breast-Cloth and set on his Saddle again and Girt it then Mount and Gallop him gently and ever and anon Rubbing his Head Neck and Body as you sit then walk him about the Fields to cool him And when you find he drieth apace then Rack him homewards sometimes Racking and sometimes Galloping and by no means bring him to the Stable till you find him throughly dry When you are come to the Stable-door entice him to empty then set him up and Tie him to the Rack and as having prepared it before give him this Scouring made in this manner The first Scouring Take a Pint of the Syrup of Roses or a pint of strong Honyed-water and dissolve into it of Cassa Agarick and Myrrhe of each an ounce and Jumble them well together in a Viol-Glass Then being Mul'd and made warm at the Fire and the Horse newly come from his Heat as before shewed give him this Scouring for it is a strong one and avoideth all manner of Molten Grease and Foulness Ordering him after his Scouring When you have given it him rub his Legs well then take off his Saddle and if his Body be dry run slightly over it with a Curry-Comb and after that the French Brush and lastly rub him all over with dry Cloaths very well and Cloath him up very warm and if the Weather be very cold to throw over him a loose Blanket He must fast full two Houres after his Scouring not departing out of the Stable and keep him stirring therein for it will work the better After he hath Fasted on the Bridle two houres then take a Handful of Wheat-Ears and coming to him handle the Roots of his Ears then put your Hand under his Cloaths next to his Heart upon his Flanks and on the nether part of his things and if you finde any new Sweat arise or any Coldness arise or if you see his Body beat or his Breast move fast then forbear to give him any thing for it shews there is much soulness
his Pasterns and if you finde them lean flat and sinewy and the Inward Bought of his Knee without Seames or Hair-broken then he shews good Shape and Soundness But if on the inside of the Leg you finde hard Knots they are Splinters if on the out-side they are Screws or Excressions if under his Knees be Scabs on the inside it is the swift cut and he will ill endure Galloping if above his Pasterns on the in-side you find Scabs it shews enterfering but if the Scabs be generally over his Legs it is either extream soul keeping or else a Spice of the Maunge if his Flesh be fat round and fleshy he will never endure labour and if on the Inward Bought of his Knees you finde Seams Scabs or Hair-broken it shews a Melander which is a Cancerous Ulcer His Pasterns Look then on his Pastern-Joynt and his Pastern the first must be clear and well Knit together the other must be short strong and upright standing for if the first be big or swell'd take heed of Sinew-strains and Gourdings if the other be long weak or bending the Limbs will be hardly able to carry the Body without tyring His Hoofs For the Hoofs in general they should be black smooth tough rather a little long then round deep hollow and full of Sounding for white Hoofs are tender and carry a Shoo ill a rough gross Seamed Hoof shews old Age or over-Heating A brittle Hoof will carry no Shoo at all an extraordinary round Hoof is ill for foul ways and deep Hunting A flat Hoof that is pumissed shews Foundring and a Hoof that is empty and hollow sounding shews a decayed Inward-part by reason of some wound or dry Founder As for the Crown of the Hoof if the Hair lie smooth and close and the Flesh flat and even then all is perfect but if the Hair be Staring the Skin scabbed and the Flesh rising then look for a Ring-bone or a Crown-scab or a Quitter-bone The Setting on of his Head his Crest and Mane After this stand by his side and first look to the setting on of his Head and see that it stand neither too high nor too low but in a direct line that his Neck be small at the setting on of his Head and Long growing deeper to the Shoulders with an high strong and thin Mane long soft and somewhat curling for these are beautiful Characters whereas to have the Head ill set on is the greatest deformity to have any bigness or swelling in the Nape of the Neck shews the Pole-evil or beginning of a Fistula to have a short thick Neck like a Bull to have it falling at the Withers to have a low weak a thick or falling Crest shews want both of strength and Mettle to have much Hair on the Mane shews intolerable dulness to have it too thin shews fury and to have none or shed shews the Worm in the Mane the Itch or else plain Maunginess His Back Ribs Fillets Belly and Stones Look on the Chine of his Back that it be broad even and streight his Ribs well compassed and bending Outward his Fillets upright strong and short and not above a handful between his last Rib and his Huckle-bone let his Belly be well let down yet hidden within his Ribs and let his Stones be well truss'd up to his Body for all these are Marks of Health and good Perfection whereas to have his Chine narrow he will never carry a Saddle without wounding and to have it bending or Saddle-backed shews weakness To have his Ribs flat there is not liberty for Wind. To have his Fillets hanging long or weak he will never climb an Hill nor carry a Burthen And to have his Belly clung up or gaunt or his Stones hanging down loose or aside they are both Signes of Sickness Tenderness Foundering in the Body and unaptness for labour His Buttocks Then look upon his Buttocks and see that they be round plump full and in an even level with his Body or if long that it be well raised behind and spread forth at the setting on of the Tail for these are comely and beautiful The narrow Pin-buttock the Hog or Swine-Rump and the falling and down-let Buttock are full of Deformity and shew both an Injury in Nature and that they are neither sit or becoming for Pad Foot-Cloth or Pillion His Hinder-Thighs Then look to his Hinder-Thighs or Gaskings if they be well let down even to the middle Joynt thick brawny full and Swelling for that is a great Argument of Strength and Goodness whereas the lank slender Thighs shew disability and weakness His Cambrels Then look upon the middle Joynt behind and if it be nothing but Skin and Bone Veins and Sinews and rather a little bending then too streight then it is perfect as it should be But if it hath Chaps or Sores on the Inward Bought or bending then that is a Sellander If the Joynt be swell'd generally all over then he hath got a Blow or Bruise if the Swelling be particular as in the Pit or hollow Part or on the inside and the Vein full and proud if the Swelling be soft it is a Blood-spaven if hard a Bone-spaven but if the Swelling be just behind before the Knuckle then it is a Curb Hinder-Legs Then look to his hinder-Legs if they be lean clean flat and Sinewy then all is well but if they be fat they will not endure labour If they be Swelled the Grease is molten in them If he be Scabbed above the Pasterns he hath the Scratches if he have Chaps under his Pasterns he hath Rains and none of these but aro noisom His Tail Lastly for the setting on of his Tail where there is a good Buttock the Tail can never stand ill and where there is an evil Buttock there the Tail can never stand well for it ought to stand broad high flat and Couched a little inward Thus I have shewed you the true Shapes and true Deformities you may in your Choice please your own Fancies An uncontroulable Way to know the Age of an Horse There are seven outward Characters by which to know the Age of every Horse As namely his Teeth his Hoofs his Tail his Eyes his Skin his Hair and the Barrs in his Mouth His Teeth If you would know his Age by his Teeth you must understand that an Horse hath in his Head just fourty Teeth that is to say six great Wong Teeth above and six below on one side and as many on the other which maketh twenty four And are called his Grinders then six above and six below in the fore-part of his Mouth which are called Gatherers and make thirty six Then four Tushes one above and one below on one side and are called the Bit Teech which make just fourty Now the first year he hath his Foals Teeth which are only Grinders and Gatherers but no Tushes and they be small white and bright to look on The second year he changeth the four fore-most
Teeth in his Head that is two above and two below in the midst of the Rows of the Gatherers and they are browner and bigger then the other The third year he changeth the Teeth next unto them and leaveth no apparent Foals Teeth before but two above and two below of each side which are all bright and small The fourth year he changeth the Teeth next unto them and leaveth no more Foals Teeth before but one of each side both above and below The fifth year his sore-most Teeth will be all changed but then he hath his Tushes on each-side compleat and the last Foals Teeth which he cast those which come up in their place will be hollow and have a little Black speck in the midst which is called the Mark in the Horses Mouth and continueth till he be past eight years old The sixth year he putteth up his new Tushes near about which you shall see growing a little of new and young Flesh at the bottom of the Tush besides the Tush will be white small short and sharp The seventh year all his Teeth will have their perfect Growth and the Mark in his Mouth will be plainly seen The eighth year all his Teeth will be full smooth and plain the black speck or mark being no more but discerned and his Tushes will be more yellow then ordinary The ninth year his foremost Teeth will be longer broader yellower and fouler then at younger years the mark gone and his Tushes will be bluntish The tenth year the inside of his upper Tushes will be no holes at all to be felt with your Fingers ends which till that Age you shall ever feel besides the Temples of his Head will begin to be crooked and hollow The eleventh year his Teeth will be exceeding long very yellow black and foul only he may then cut even and his Teeth will stand directly opposite one to another The twelfth year his Teeth will be long yellow black and foul but then his upper Teeth will hang over his nether The thirteenth year his Tushes will be worn somewhat close to his Chaps if he be a much ridden Horse otherwise they will be black foul and long like the Tushes of a Boar. His Mouth See that he does not over-hang his upper Teeth over his nether for though it be the Mark of an old Horse yet sometimes a young Horse hath that Infirmity See likewise that he is not too deep burnt of the Lampas and that his Flesh lie smooth with his Barrs for if it be too deep burnt his Hay and Provender will stick therein which will be very troublesom to the Horse His Hoofs If his Hoofs be rugged and as it were Seamed one Seam over another and many Seams if they be dry full and crusty or crumbling it is a sign of very old Age and on the contrary part a smooth moist hollow and well-sounding Hoof is a sign of young years His Tail If you take your Horse with your Finger and your Thumb by the Stern of the Tail close at the setting on by the Buttock feeling there hard and if you feel of each side of the Tail a Joynt stick out more then any other by the bigness of an Hazel-nut then you may presume the Horse is under two years old but if his Joynts be all plain and no such thing to be felt then he is above ten and it may be thirteen His Eyes If his Eyes be round full staring or starting from his Head if the Pits over them be filled smooth and even with his Temples and no wrinkles either about his Brow or under his Eyes then he is young if otherwise you see the contrary Characters it is a sign of old Age. His Skin If you take his Skin in any part of his Body between your Finger and your Thumb and pull it from his Flesh then letting it go again if it suddenly return to the place from whence it came and be smooth and plain without wrinkle then he is young and full of strength but if it stand and not return instantly to its former place then he is very old and wasted His Hair If an Horse that is of any dark Colour shall grow grissle only about his Eye-brows or underneath his Mane or any Horse of a whitish Colour shall grow Meannelled with either black or red Meannels universally over his Body then both are Signes of old Age. His Barrs Lastly if the Barrs in his Mouth be great deep and handle rough and hard then is the Horse old but if they be soft shallow and handle gently and tenderly then is he young and in good ability of Body And thus much be spoken touching the Office of the Buyer The perfect Shape of a Horse altogether First there is required that the Hoof be black smooth dry large round and hollow the Pasterns streight and upright Fet-locks short the Legs streight and flat called also Lath-legged the Knees bony lean and round the Neck long high reared and great towards the Breast the Breast large and round the Ears small sharp long and upright the Fore-head lean and large the Eyes great full and black the Brows well filled and shooting outwards the Jaws wide slender and lean the Nostrils wide and open the Mouth great the Head long and lean like to a Sheep the Mane thin and large the Withers sharp and pointed the Back short even plain and double Chined the Sides and Ribs deep large and bearing out like the Cover of a Trunk and close shut at the Huckle-bone the Belly long and great but hid under the Ribs the Flanks full yet gaunt the Rump round plain and broad with a large space betwixt the Buttocks the Thighs long and large with well-fashioned bones and those fleshy the Hams dry and streight the Trunchion small long well set on and well couched the Train long not too thick and falling to the Ground the Yard and Stones small And lastly the Horse to be well-risen before And to conclude the perfect Shape of a Horse according as a famous Horse-man hath described it is in a few words thus viz. A broad Fore-head a great Eye a lean Head thin slender lean wide Jaws a long high reared Neck reared Withers abroad deep Chest and Body upright Pasterns and narrow Hoof And this is the common allowed and approved Shape of a perfect Horse so that if any of those things be deficient in him he cannot be said to be a Horse of a perfect Shape Wherefore I conclude that if a Horse be of a good Colour well Marked and rightly Shaped and right also by Sire and Mare it will be seldom seen that he would prove ill unless his Nature be alienated and marred either in the Backing and Riding or else that he be otherwise wronged by the means of an unskilful Groom But I may in this Point be taxed to hold a Paradox which helpeth Farcins Yellows Stavers Scabs Mainges Agues Feavers Colds Surseits Glanders or any other Malady
great Sinews with the same number in the hinder-part It. In the fore-part of the Breast and above it as well within as without are ten Sinews some greater and some smaller It. From the Reins of the Back to the Stones are four great Sinews Lastly one great main Sinew which runneth along to the end of the Tail So as the full number of the Sinews are twenty nine or thirty which are to be discerned But to speak properly a Horse hath but one only Vein which is that which we call the Median or Lives Vein which is in the Liver being the true Fountain Scource and great Tun from whence the Canes Conduit-pipes and little Veines as the smaller Rivers do separate themselves which do run through all the Parts and Members of the whole Body Those Veins that do ascend to the Head and Body are called Veins ascendent and those which do run low as to the Legs and lower Members are called hollow or descendent Veins Of the Vital Blood Those are Veins which are Vessels of quick or running Blood and is that that when the Creature sleepeth his Blood is in continual agitation and never ceaseth Of the Number of the Veins that you are to take Blood from In the Neck in the Weeping-Veins under the Ears and in six other places of and about the Head as in the Pallate-Veins in the Tongue in the Flank-Veins in the Breast and Spur-Veins In the four Members to wit the Legs Thighs Pasterns and Feet also in sundry other Places according as necessity shall require it and in places which may the better kill the Maâ—ady of the said Horse For what use you open the Veins To open the two Temple-Veins easeth the pain in the Head coming of Colds Rheums Feavers Yellows and Stavers Drowsiness Frenzie the sleepy Evil falling Evil or any grief in or about the Eyes or Brain Secondly we open the two Eyes or Weeping-Veins being most sovereign for such Diseases whereunto the Eyes are subject as Watery or Weeping Eyes Blood-shotten Pin and Web Haw or the like Thirdly we open the two Pallat-Veins in the Mouth and those do Cure the Lampass and any inward Sickness in the Body as the Yellows Stavers Anticor Surfeits Drowsiness Tiredness or weariness of the Body or if he hath any Malady in the Throat as the Strangle Quinzy Kernels Pustils either within or without it many times helpeth Inflammations Glanders or the like For the eating or swallowing of his own Blood is most wholesom and Sovereign in such Cases Fourthly we do usually open the two Neck-Veins for some may Object unto me that many times Horses who are of the best Colour best Marks and truest Shapes do nevertheless prove Arrant â—ades I answer I acknowledge all this to be true for I have known Horses who upon their first View have been in extrinsecal shew so hopeful as that they have promised what a man could expect from them which notwithstanding when they have come to the Test they have been a Scandal to their Sex but this is not a thing frequent for in every one of these who have thus miscarried you shall have twenty prove right and answerable to your Minds Rules to be Observed of putting a Horse to Grass and of taking of him up again Before you put your Stable-Horse to Grass eight or nine days before take Blood from him the next day after give him the drink of Diapenâ—e and a day or two after his Drink abate of his Cloaths by degrees before you turn him forth lest by doing them on the sudden he take more cold and after his Cloaths are taken off Curry him not at all but let him stand in his dust for that will keep him warm Neither would I have you put him forth till the midst of May at the soonest for till that time Grass will not have Bite enough and let the day wherein you turn him forth be a warm Sun-shine day and about the hour of ten for Horses pampered in warm Stables and kept close will be subject to take cold Taking of him up Secondly let him be taken up from Grass very dry or else he will be subject to be Scabby and that not later then St. Bartholomew's day which is the twenty fourth of August for then the Season doth begin to let fall cold dews which causeth much harm to your Horse and then beginneth the Heart of Grass to â—ail so as the Grass which he then feedeth upon breedeth no good Nutriment but gross Phlâ—gmatick and cold Humors which putrisieth and corrupteth the Blood and take him up very quietly for fear of melting his Grease for his Fat gotten at Grass is very tender so that every little Motion dissolveth the same whereby the Blood may be enslamed and so be in danger of Sickness if not of death A day or two after you have him in the Stable let him be shod let Blood and drencht as before is shewed you for this preventeth Yellows Stavers and such like Diseases which the Gall and Spleen occasioneth which the Heart and strength of Grass through the Rankness of Blood doth engender in his Body But if you intend to be curious after you have taken him into the Stable before you have either Blooded or Drencht him you may clean him in this manner Of Cleansing or making a Horse clean First therefore if it be a hot Sun-shiny day take him out of the Stable into a place convenient and there trim him then take ordinary soft washing Sope and anoint his Head and every part of him all over therwith and to have a care that none of it get into his Ears or Eyes then wash him very well with warm water all over then wipe him with a warm Linnen-cloth and after rub him dry with woollen Cloaths then Sope him all over again especially his Mane and Tail and wash him very clean with Buck-lee with a Wisp or Woollen Cloth and when you have sufficiently cleansed him dry him as you did before and so lead him into the Stable and Cloath him up with a clean thin soft Cloth And by this kind of trimming and cleansing him you may so alter him that the Owner can scarce know him General Notes concerning some Simples All manner of Marrows and Piths of what kind soever they be must be kept by themselves in a dry cool place and preserved from all Filth or Uncleanness and from the annoyance either of Wind or Fire and so they will last full out a whole year Syrups Powders Pills Electuaries and Ointments You shall keep no Syrops no sweet Electuaries nor Pills nor Powders nor Conserves of Flowers nor any Ointments Sewets or Emplaisters or Conserve of Fruits or Roots will last fully out two years Oyls Of Oyls some will last long some must be new made Oyls extracted out of Wood or Metals will last long Roots Gather Roots in Autumn but take the small Sprigs from them and make them clean and dry Dry small Roots in the Shade
not on his heels yet such kind of Hoofs will dry over-fast unless they be continually stopt and cause him to be Hoof-bound which Lameth him making him to Halt whereunto the Jennets and Barbary-Horses are much subject Broad Frushes Sixthly If the Frush be broad then the Heels be weak and so soft as you may almost bend them together and then he will never tread boldly on the Stones or on hard Ground Narrow Heels Seventhly Narrow Heels be tender and he will at last grow to be Hoof-bound to which defects the Jennets are most commonly subject CHAP. III. Of Pairing the perfect Hoof and fore-Feet First Pair the Scat of the Shooe as even and plain as may be that so it may sit close and not bare more on one place then another and take more of the Toe then the Heel for the Heels must be higher then the Toes because all the weight of the Horses fore-Body lieth upon the Quarters and Heels of the fore-Feet And therefore those Parts must be most maintained and taken off with the Butteris as little as may be for the Heels are naturally weaker then the Toes But in the Pairing of the hinder-Feet is clean contrary as you shall sinde hereafter in its proper place CHAP. IV. Of Shooing the perfect Hoof and fore-Feet and how the Shoo Pairing and Nail should be made Make your Shoo of Spanish Iron with a broad Web fitting it to the Hoof and let the Spunges be thicker and more substantial then any other part of the Shoo yea and also somewhat broad so as the Quarters on both Sides may appear without the Hoofs a straw bredth to guard the Coffin which is the strength of the Hoof and when you come to the piercing thereof pierce it from the Quarter to the hard Toe but not backward towards the Heel and that the holes may be wider on the out-side then on the in-side and that the Circle of the piercing may be more distant from the edge of the Toe then from the edge of the Quarter whereas it beginneth because the Hoof is thicker forward then backward and therefore more hold to be taken Make your Nails of the same Iron as aforesaid the Heads whereof should be square and not fully so broad beneath as above but answerable to the piercing holes so as the Heads of the Nails may enter in and fill the same appearing somewhat above the Shoo and then they will stand sure without shogging and endure longer and that that which pierceth them be of the same Size as the Nails that is to say great above and small beneath which our common Smith little regard for they make the holes as wide on the inside as the outside and their Nails of so great a Shouldering by driving them over-hard upon the Nail-hole as that the Heads or rather Necks of the said Nails cannot enter into the holes For to say the truth a good Nail should have no shouldering at all but be made with a plain and square Neck so as it may justly fill the piercing hole of the Shoo for otherwise the Head of the Nail standing high and the Neck thereof being weak either it breaketh off or else bendeth upon any light occasion so as the Shoo standeth loose from the Hoof and is quickly lost Moreover the shanks of the Nails should be somewhat slat and the Points sharp without hollowness or flaw and stiffer towards the Head above then beneath And when you drive drive at the first with soft strokes and with a light Hammer until the Nail be somewhat entred and in Shooing fine and delicate Horses Grease the Points of the Nails with fost Grease that so they may enter the more easily and drive the two Talon-Nails first Then look whether the Shoo standeth right or not which you shall perceive in beholding the Frush for if the Spunges on both sides be equally distant from the Frush then it standeth right if not then amend it and set the Shoo right and standing right drive in another Nail that done let the Horse set down his Foot again and look round about it to see whether it fitteth the Horses Foot in all places and whether he treadeth even or just on it or not and if you see that the Shoo doth not furnish every part equally but appeareth more on one side then another Then lift up the Horses other Foot that so he may stand steadily upon that Foot and so standing strike him on the Hoof with your Hammer on that side that the Shoo is scant and that shall make the Shoo to come that way The Shoo standing streight and just drive in the rest of all the Nails to the Number of eight that is to say four on one side and four on another so as the Points of the Nails may seem to stand in the out-side of the Hoof even and just one by another as it were in a Circular Line and not out of order like the Teeth of a Saw whereof one is bent one way and another another way That done cut them off and clinch them so as the Clinches may be hidden in the Hoof which by cutting the Hoof with a point of a Knife a little beneath the appearing of the Nail you may easily do Thus done with a Rape pair the Hoof round so as the edge of the Shoo may be seen round about CHAP. V. Of Pairing of the imperfect Hoofs every one according to their Kinds And first of the broad Hoof. A broad Hoof not being as yet grown to be too flat may be holpen and kept from being flat by the skill and diligence of the Farrier in well pairing and shooing it And therefore to pair it well let him take as much of the Toe with his Butteris as he can possibly keeping it always under but let him not touch the Quarters nor the Heels at all unless it be to make the Seat of the Shoo plain and let that be done so superficially as may be so shall the Hoofs remain always strong CHAP. VI. Of Shooing the Broad Hoof. Make a good strong Shoo with a broad Web and broad Spunges and pierced as is before-said fitting it to the Foot being first pared as is abovesaid and from the Talon-Nail towards the Heel let the Shoo appear a straws bredth without the Hoof and set it on in such order and with such Nails as appertaineth unto the perfect Hoof saving that you shall set five Nails on the out-side of his Hoof and four on the in-side because he weareth more without then within CHAP. VII Of Pareing the rough and brittle Hoof. This kind of Hoof is most commonly weaker without then within and because it is for the most part hotter then the other Hoofs be the Heels may be more opened then the other that so they may be the more easily stopt with Cow-dung or other Ointment to keep it moist and also the raggedness on the out-side of the Coffin should be Filed away with a Rape and made
Cured Let him first bleed under the Tail then take of Mares Milk two quarts or the Milk of a red Cow then take a Lump of Arement then take a young Horse about the Age of fonr years and of colour black if it may be if not of some other colour run and chafe him about till he sweat much then with a Spoon or some other Instrument Rake off the Sweat from off his Head Neck Breast Back Sides Ribs Buttocks Legs and in each part or member where you can get off any and so put your Arement and your Sweat into the Milk mixing them well together and by equal Portions give it him three Mornings together till he hath taken it all and let him drink no drink after it in six or seven houres and immediately after his Drink lead him forth into some Pasture where other Horses be to sneeze stale or dung to empty himself which is very wholesom for him so to do before he either eats or drink then set him up warm and well Littered and if the Season do serve give him of the green Blades of Rye if not give him Barley steeped in Milk three days but renewed every day once Then after every of these Drinks if you feel him cold in the Pastern Joynts or that he trippeth or stumbleth as you lead him in your hand do no more to him for he is past Cure Otherwise for nine days together after Morning and Evening give him white Water only unless now and then a sweet Mash and somtimes give him Milk with his white Water if he be not above nine years old this will prolong his life whereby he may do the more service Mr. Grey declares that this Receipt a Knight taught him who recovered sundry Horses with it Swaying in the Back Take of the Fat of the fruit of the Pine-tree two Ounces of Olibanum three Ounces of Rozin four Ounces of Pitch four Ounces of Bole-Armoniack an Ounce and of Sanguis Draconis half an Ounce incorporate all these well together and lay it Plaister-wise all over the Reins of his Back and let it remain till it fall off of it self Another most Excellent Receipt for Swaying a Weakness in the Back These Infirmities are seldom or never perfectly Cured But the best Help for them that I know of is to give him inwardly some strengthning things as common Turpentine made up into Balls with the powder of Bolearmoniack and powder of the dried leaves of Clary and to apply outwardly at the same time all over the Reins of his Back these strengthning Charges viz Oxycrocium and Paracelsus melted together Or Coleworts boiled in Sallet Oyl made thick like a Poultess with the powder of Bolearmoniack and Bean-floure If you desire to see more Variety of Charges though these are very good look into the First Part and there you may find plenty where you may pick and chuse what you best fancy Foundering in the Body to Cure To Cure this Distemper is first to Rake his Fundament and to give him a Glister which you have variety of in my First Part Then take Sack or Ale a quart Cinnamon half an Ounce Licoris and Anniseeds of each two spoonfuls beaten into fine powder with five or six spoonfuls of Honey put them all into the Ale together and warm them till the Honey is molten and give it him luke-warm to drink and Ride him gently after it for the space of an hour and let him fast two houres more and keep him warm Clothed and Littered and let his Hay be sprinkled with Water and his Oats very clean Sifted from dust and give it him by little and little and let his drink be warm Mashes of Malt and Water and when he hath recovered strength let him blood in the Neck-Vein and once a day perfume his Head with Frankincense There is no Drink nor Diet that is comfortable but is good for this Disease The Way of Gathering Drying and Preserving of Simples and their Juices viz. Roots Barks Leaves Herbs Flowers Seeds c. CHAP. I. Of Roots 1. Chuse those that are sound and not rotten nor worm-eaten and let them be such as have their proper taste smell and colour 2. Those that are dry hard and sound are the best and fittest for your use 3. If they prove soft dry them in the Sun or else string them and hang them up by the Fire but the dry and hard ones you may lay any where 4. The small Roots will keep a year or two very well but the larger sort of them will keep four or five but they are best in their prime the first year 5. The best time to gather them is in the Summer before they Run out to seed for then they grow hard and sticky and lose their Vertues 6. Those Roots that you may have all the year as Plantine Fennel or Parsley c. trouble not your self to dry them CHAP. II. Of Barks 1. Barks of such Trees as are frequently with you as the Oak Elm or Ash c. Gather them but when you have present use for them As for the Out-landish you may have ready dried at the Druggist 2. The Barks of Roots as Fennel Parsley c. is only that which remains when the Pith is out which is called a Bark though very improperly CHAP. III. Of Leaves of Herbs or Trees 1. Of Leaves gather such as are fresh and green and full of Juice and in the picking of them be careful to throw away the dead and decayed Leaves which are not fit for any Physical use 2. That Place they most delight to grow in are best for use as Bitony delights to grow in the Shadow and therefore 't is better then that that grows in the Sun because it is its proper place 3. Those Herbs that Run up to Seed and in Flowers their leaves are not so good then as before they were spindled some few only excepted and therefore I advise you If through Ignorance you know them not or through Negligence forget them rather chuse to take the Tops then the Leaves 4. The Sun is better to dry them in then the Shadow 5. The best Way to keep them after they be dried is near the Fire in a Bag made of brown or white Paper 6. 'T is not certainly known how long Herbs will keep but 't is concluded by most they will keep a year very well 7. You may know when they are decayed by the loss of smell colour or both 8. Those that grows upon dry Grounds does usually keep longer then those that grow upon moist and those that are very full of Juice will not continue their Virtue so long as those that are drier because more subject to Putrifaction and Corruption 9. Those that you do thoroughly dry will keep better then those that are ill dried CHAP. IV. Of Flowers 1. The Flower which is the Glory and Beauty of the Plant is of excellent use in Physick if it be gathered when it
is the least of all Weights M. A handful P. A Pugil p. A. part A. Of each alike Note that Twenty Graines Make A Scruple Three Scruples Make A Dram Eight Drams Make An Ounce Twelve Ounces Make A pound FINIS A TABLE Alphabetically set down shewing where the Diseases of a Horse do Grow either inward or outward in any Part of his Body and how you may Know them and what were the Causes that Bred them The Pages Direct You to their Cuâ—es which are found only in the Second Part. A. ACcloyed or Cloyed is no other then Prickt with a Nail in the Shooing vide Prickt page 396 Arristes vide Rat-tails 377 St. Anthonies Fire is a vehement burning disease in the Flesh and is of the Nature of Noli me tangere or Wilde Fire and is named of some The Singles of an horse which is very hard and difficult to Cure 233 and 234 Anticor or Heart-sickness is caused many times by too much seeding without exercise and sometimes by hard and immoderate Riding and careless looking after him afterwards which makes the Blood of this useful Creature a Horse so corrupted and inflamed that unless it find some way to vent it self forth it soon puts a Period and End to his Life This Disease hath its Seat and Residence near the Heart and is known by a Swelling in the middle of his Breast against the Heart from whence it derives its Name 234 Attaint upper is a Swelling of the Master or Back-Sâ—new of the Fore-legs near the Pastorn-Joynt and cometh ordinarily by an Over-reach 235 Attaint Nether is the same with the other coming sometimes by a Wrench and sometimes by a strain All the difference of them is whereas the other is upon the Foot-lock Joynts this is under it and is usually upon the Heel or Frush and is not always visible to the Eye but it may be felt by the heat and burning of it and by its softness which will arise by a Swelling like a Bladder or Blister wherein will be corrupt and vitious matter like to Jelly which will make him complain very much ib. Anbury is a kind of Wenâ— or spungy Wart growing upon any part of a horses Body 279 Apoplexie vide Palsey Ach or Numbness in the Joynts cometh by Cold taken by hard and violent exercise or labour 232 Avives Vives or Fiveâ— see Vives B. Bloody Flux vide Flux bloody 310 Back-swayed vide Swaying in the back Barbes are a common Disease and few horses are without them they are known by two Paps under his Tongue which seldom prove hurtful to him till they be inflamed with corrupt blood proceeding from vitious humours which wilâ— make them raw and grow beyond their usual length and cause them to become very painful to him which will hinder his feeding You must clip them away with the Scissers 301 Blood-spaven is a soft Swelling which groweth through the Hough and is commonly full of blood and is biggest upon the inside and being fed by the Master-Vein makes it greater then the swelling on the outside It runneth down the inside of the Hough down the Leg to the Pastorn This Disease is occasioned from the corruption of the Blood taken by hard Riding when the Horse is young and tender which by overmuch heating makes it so thin and flexible that the humour falling downwards resideth in the Hough which makes the Joynts stiff and causeth him to go with great pain and difficulty This Disease not growing hard makes it more easie to Cure then the Bone-spaven 260 Bone-spaven is a great Crust as hard as a bone if it be let run too long it sticketh or rather groweth on the inside of the Hough under the Joynt near to the great Vein which maketh him to Halt very much it cometh at first like a tender Gristle which by degrees cometh to this hardness It is bred several Ways either by immoderate Riding or hard labour which dissolves the Blood into thin humours and falleth down and maketh its residence in the Hough which causeth the place to swell and so becometh a hard Bone which occasions this name of Bone-spaven it cometh also hereditary from the Sire or Dam which are troubled with the same dâ—sease 261 Blood-running Itch cometh by the Inflammation of the Blood being over-heat by hard Riding or other sore labour It getteth between the skin and the flesh and maketh a Horse to rub scrub and bite himself which if let alone too long will come to a grievous Mange and is very infectious to any Horse that shall be nigh him What cureth the Mange cureth this disease 369 Bots and Wormes in general are of three sorts viz. Bots Trunchions and Maw-wormes Bots are usually found in the great Gut near the Fundament Trunchions are found in the Maw and if they continue there too long they will eat their Passage through which will certainly bring death if not killed The third sort are called plain Wormes which remain in a Horses Body which are of an evil effect also Bots are a small worm with great heads and small tails breeding in the great Gut adjoyning to the Fundament which may be taken away by your hands by picking them away from the Gut where they stick Trunchions are short and thick and have black and hard heads and must be removed by Medicine Maw-wormes are of a reddish colour somewhat long and slender much like unto Earth-wormes about the length of a Mans Finger which also must be taken away by Medicine They proceed all from one cause which is raw gross and phlegmatick matter engendred from foul feeding which causeth all these three sorts of evil creatures to breed The Signes to know when he is troubled with them is He will stamp with his feet kick at his Belly turn his Head towards his tail forsake his meat He will groan tumble wallow and also frisk his tail to and fro 303 Bunches Knots Warts and Wens come somtime by eating of foul meat by bruises by hard riding and sore labor wherby the blood becomes so putrified and foul that it turns into evil humors which occasions these kind of sorrances 278 Blood-shotten Eyes or all diseases of the Eyes come of two causes viz. either inward or outward The inward Causes proceed from evil Humors that resort and flow to the Eyes or by some stroke or blow that is given him thereon 290 to 291 Bleeding at Nose cometh commonly among young horses proceeding from great store of blood or by means that the Vein ending in that place is either opened broken or fretted It is opened many times by reason that the Blood aboundeth too much or that it is too fine or too subtil and so pierceth through the Veins Or it may be broken by some violent strain cut or blow Or it may be fretted or gnawn asunder by sharpness of the blood or by some other evil humours contained therein 306 Botch in the Groyn cometh by reason that a horse being full of humours and
suddenly Or lastly from extream Hunger occasioned by long Fasting The Signes whereof you have had already viz. Numbness and want of Motion If this Disease cometh of Heat You may know it by the hotness of his Breath and the free fetching of his Wind If it proceed from Cold then you may know it by his stuffing and poze in his Head 239 Palsie or Apoplexie is a Disease depriving the whole Body of Sence and which is called a General Palsey and hath no Cure But when he is deprived but of some part and Member of his Body and most commonly it is in his Neck then it is called a particular Palsey The Signes to know it are He will go Groveling and side-ways like a Crab carrying his Neck as if it were broken and goeth crookedly with his Legs beating his Head against the Walls and yet forsaketh not his Meat nor Drink and his Provender seemeth moist and wet It proceeds from foul Feeding in Fenny Grounds which breed gross and tough Humors which joyneth with Crudities and raw Digestion oppress the Brain or it cometh by means of some wound or blow given him upon the Temples 354 Pearl Pin and Web or any unnatural spot or thick Felm over the Eye cometh by some stroke or blow given him or from descent of the Sire or Dam. The Pearl is known by a little round thick white spot like a Pearl from which it hath its Name growing on the Sight of the Eye 288 The Pains is a kind of Ulcerous Scab full of Fretting Matterish Water and breedeth in the Pastorns betwixt the Fetlock and the Heel which cometh for want of clean keeping and good rubbing after the Horse hath been Journeyed by means whereof the Sand and dirt remaining in the Hair fretteth the Skin and Flesh which cometh to a Scab and therefore those Horses that have long Hair and are rough about the Feet as the Friezland and Flanders Horses are are soonest infected with this Disease if they be not the cleanlier kept The Signes be these His Legs will swell with the vehemency and heat that is caused from the venom and filthy water that issueth from the scabs for it is so sharp and scaulding that it will scauld off the Hair and breed scabs so far as it goeth What Cures the Scratches cures these 266 Pestilence Plague Murrain or Garget is all one disease which is very Infectious and Contagious It cometh to a Horse many ways sometimes by over-hard Riding or Labour whereby a Horse is surfeited somtimes by the Contagiousness of the Air and Evil Vapours and Exhalations that springs out of the Earth after great and sudden Floods or coming into Fenny or Marish Ground that hath alwayes been bred in pure and wholesom Air. The Signes to know this Disease are these 'T will come suddenly upon him but after three or four days drooping he will swell under the Roots of his Eares like the Swelling of the Vives and under the Chaul and come up to his Cheeks through the Malignancy thereof and become very hard he will forsake his Meat and be very sleepy hanging down his Head in the Manger his Eyes will be yellowish he will Breath short which will be very hot and offensive and sometimes he will break forth in a Carbuncle or Boyl in his Groine as big as a Goose-Egg and his Stones will hang Limp and Flaging but not always If you cannot recover him but that he dieth bury him very deep that no scent if possible may remain on him to infect the rest 314 Q. Quinsey is no other then a sore Throat which if not carefully taken in time will soon put a period or end to his days It cometh sometimes by Cold and Phlegmatick Humors setling there or for want of Blooding when he is over-run therewith 368 Quarters false vide false Quarters Quick-scab doth putrifie and corrupt the Blood and Flesh and at last breaketh forth into a lothsom and infectious Disease much like unto the Mange or Leprosic It cometh by a Surfeit taken by over-Riding or hard Labour it is called a Quick-scab because it runneth from one Member to another for sometimes it will be in the Neck and at other times in the Breast sometimes in the Main and then another time in the Tail 398 Quitter-bone is a hard Round Swelling upon the Cronet between the heel the Quarter and groweth most commonly on the inside of the Foot It cometh to a Horse many ways sometimes by Gravel underneath the Shoo sometimes by some Bruise Stub Prick of a Nail or the like which being neglected will Impostumate and break out about the Hoof it cometh sometimes also by evil humors which descend down to that place whereof that Quitter-bone springeth 355 R Red-water is that which issueth from any Wound Sore or Ulcer which so long as that remains in them it doth so poison them that till it get out they are not to be Curâ—d 357 Riâ—g-bone cometh two ways Naturally or Accidentally Naturally from the Stallion or Mare Accidentally by some blow of a Horse or any other Accident the Pain whereof breedeth a viscous slimy Humour like a Gristle upon the top of the Cronet and sometimes goeth round about it which resorting to the Bones that are of their own Nature cold and dry waxeth hard and cleaveth to some Bone which in process of time cometh to a Bone the Signs to know it are There will be a hard swelling round about the Cronet of the Hoof which will be higher then any place of it besides his Hair there will stare and be bristly and make him halt 356 Râ—tâ—enness is to have his inward Part viz. His Liver Lights and Lungs so wasted and consumed that he is not to be recovered by Arâ— Rheumatick or waterish Eyes cometh by the Flux of Humors distilâ—ing from the Brain and sometimes by some stripe received The Signes to discover it is The continual watering of the Eye and his close shutting of his Lids together accompanied somtimes with a little swelling 288 Rupture Incording or Burstness is when the Rim or thin Film or Chaul which holdeth up his Entrails be broken or over-strained or stretched that the Guts fall down either into his Cod or Flank which cometh several wayes either by some stripe or blow or by some strain in leaping over a Hedg ditch or Pale or by teaching him to bound when he is too young or by forcing him when he is full to run beyond his strength or by your sudden stoping him upon uneven ground whereby he stradling and slipping his hinder Feet teareth the Rim of his Belly The Signs to know it are these He will forsake his Meat and stand shoring and leaning on that side that he is hurt And if you search on that side with your Hand betwixt his Stone and his Thigh upwards to the Body and somewhat above the Stone you shall find the Gut it self big and hard in the feeling whereas on the other side you shall find