him to Cover your Mare you must about a week before take him out of the Stable and let him run in the freshest and tenderest grass you have the which will not only encrease but make his seed of the aptest and quickest temper for to generate a lively Colt and he will be the willinger to cover the Mare by reason of his Airy temperament of Body when feeding on Hay or other dry Meat would render him dull and short-winded as likewise his being acquainted with the Mare will be a great incitement to him CHAP. XXV For the molting of Grease after a Race or other Excessive Riding THE means to know the certainty of his grease being molten is to observe as soon as he is in the Stable whether his Breast beats or pants more than usual after any Journey or Race as likewise his sides under his giâ—â—s and his Flank heaving quick and faâ—â—ing softly all which if you perceive then is his grease melted and will turn to crudy humours if not brought away in time the speediest way for which is to take one pint of Spanish Wine and an ounce of Diascordium brewed in the same and give it to him presently to drink and so continue doing four or five Mornings after before he has eaten either Hay or Provender then you must diet him with Mashes of Oats and Barly boiled and a considerable quantity of ground Malt and let him drink water indifferent warm but if he refuse his Meat you must give him half a pint of White-wine into which you must put two ounces of Honey and let them boil till the Honey is melted and let him take it pretty warm the which will cause him to void much Urine and by that means give him ease Upon his taking of this you must ride him a Mile or more but it must not be above a hand gallop then returning home you must rub him down and keep him as warm as possible when in this manner you have spent three days give him another the like quantity of Honey and White-wine then take especial notice of his Dung if it be small and he seem to dung with pain then he is bound in his Belly and the Grease is not removed to effect which you must give him three pints or two quarts of Beer the stalest you can get and a slice of Houshold-bread both being boiled and mingled together to which you must add four ounces of Honey and the like quantity of fresh Butter then in the Morning before he hath eaten any thing give it him luke-warm then ride him about a Mile then give him the same again at night and ride him as before but you must observe to give it him but every other day the which will loosen his Belly and by degrees waste the grease about four hours after he hath taken his dose boil him three quarts of Oats and give them to him and mingling that water the Oats were boiled in with some other to cool it let him drink of it you may with his Oats boil Fenugreek seeds about three quarters of a pound and let him eat them mingled but if he refuse to eat them you may mingle them with a little fine Bran then last of all give him an ounce of Aloes boiled till they are dissolved in a quart of Ale or a pint of White-wine and so it will purge away the ill humors and in three Weeks or less restore him to his former health and soundness of Body CHAP. XXVI How to make a Horse Vomit and by so doing to void the foulness of his Stomach or any Infection he hath taken in TAke Polypodium Roots the greater pare them and wash them very clean and then steep them in Oil of Spike and fasten them to the bit of his Bridle after which put it on and ride him abroad with the same in his mouth for the space of half an hour or somewhat more but it must be softly not above a trot at the most and then if any ill humour or flegmatick substance lodge in his Stomach this will draw it up by causing him to vomit extremely as likewise to Cough and Sneeze the which will much cleanse his Head from Rheums that lodge there and expel the vapours that offend the Brain so that though it make him sick for the present yet when that is over he will find himself more brisk and lively than before having voided all the filth and slime that are the originals of all Diseases that happen at any time to any Horse after you have taken off the Bridle and removed the Roots give him a pint of the best French Wine mingled with three ounces of Honey let it be indifferent warm and then keep him as much from cold as is possible two hours after you may give him a warm Mash of Oats and Barley CHAP. XXVII The Discovery of several Tricks and Cheats used by Jockeys 1. FIrst then to make a dull Jade both kick wince and fling without either Whip or Spur they use this device in the fore part of a Saddle made for that purpose they have an Iron Plate through which is drilled three holes through which with a spring come three sharp wyers the which as long as the Rider sits upright do not prick the Horse but when he leans forward and presses the Bow of the Saddle they torment him so that he capers and dances though never so dull which the ignorant Buyer often supposes to proceed from the height of his Mettle which the Jockey spares not to avouch with Oaths 2. The Second is if any Gentleman have set up a Horse in a Stable at Livery the Jockey either by bribing the Hostler or privately by taking an opportunity in his absence will with a hair take up the vein on the inside of the Horses Leg or by cramping him in the Fet-lock with a small Wyer neither of which can be observed without a curious search either of which will cause the Horse after a quarter of an hours Riding to halt downright Lame then is the owner sent for whose coming the Jockey having notice of pretends some Business in the Stable and whilst the Gentleman is admiring the sudden mischance befallen his Horse he puts in his verdict saying it was a great deal of pity that so good a Beast should be disabled and by degrees insinuates into the Gentlemans acquaintance desiring him to send for a Farrier who comes and searches his foot but finds no cause of Lameness there whereupon the Gentleman dispairing of his recovery is often pressed by the Jockey to sell him at half the worth or swap him for some dull Jade that he or some of his Comrades have near at hand who having got the Gentlemans Horse by uncramping or letting loose the vein render him as at first 3. The Third Cheat they put upon Travellers is this coming into a Country Inn their first walk is into the Stable where taking a view of the Horses they
as the Horse liveth CHAP. XVIII An Account of the things to be observed for the preservation of a Horses Health and to make him live long THE First of which is mature and good digestion of whatsoever he eateth or drinketh so that it turn to pure blood and nourishment 2. The Second to be considered is spare and moderate feeding in which he must neither eat too fast nor too much 3. The Third must be taken from moderate Labour and seasonable Exercise 4. The Fourth is to observe fit times and seasons for sleeping and waking both which must be moderately taken 5. The Fifth He must not be too much acquainted with Mares nor ride them often for nothing sooner shortens life in any Creature 6. The Sixth not to be over-heat nor his Spirits to be wasted by long and tedious Journeys 7. The Seventh is continually to be in smooth serene and wholesom Air and not to feed in foggy Fens Marshes or damp Meadows 8. The Eighth Observe that you neither exercise nor any ways make him labour hard when he is newly taken from Grass 9. The Ninth To keep him from greedily eating young Grass either Clover or other but especially from Surfeiting on the blades of Corn. 10. The Tenth You must observe that he drink not when he has been hard ridden or laboured so that he is very hot 11. The Eleventh thing to be taken notice of is that you must neither wash nor walk him when you are come to your Journeys end ride him about a moderate pace till he begins to cool and then bring him into the Stable rub him well down and clap on his Cloths and wisp him round being well stored with Litter 12. The Twelfth and last is to give him Meat in due time observe his Scourings Diets and other Physical Medicines as occasion shall require the which in this Book you will find good store with large directions how to use them CHAP. XIX St. Anthony's most Admirable Remedy for any Sprain Swelling or stretching of Sinews or Nerves A better not to be found OF bruised Cummin seeds take three ounces and boil them in a pint of Oil of Camomil then add to them half a pound of yellow Bees-wax and let them boil to the thickness of a Cerecloth then spread it on Sheeps-Leather very hot and apply it to the place so grieved and in twice doing it will perfect the Cure if it be not too far gone if it be you must apply it till it is well CHAP. XX. The speediest and safest way to cure the swift Cut or the Knee-Cut TAke one pint of White wine then add to it two ounces of Virgin-Honey brew them together and boil them till the Honey is melted amongst the Wine and then add more of Turpentine the like quantity then let them boil to the thickness of a Salve and as hot as the Horse can endure it wash the cuts with it once or twice a day and it will quickly heal them but be sure you wash the dirt out of them if there be any in wash it with hot water before you apply the Ointment CHAP. XXI A speedy Remedy for Horse or a Cow that have any way licked up red Poison Worms Spiders or any other venemous Insect or that is ready to burst by eating of too much Clover Turnips or young eared Barley and drinking after it THis is to be known by their speedy swelling and slavering at the Mouth and working at the Fundament the which when you perceive that they are ready to burst which is a common thing about Harvest time be sure to have recess to this Medicine take four ounces of Spanish Sope or if that be not to be gotten our English Cake-Sope and scrape it into a Mortar then put to it two ounces of Dialphera then beat them small as you can together and make it into Balls as big as Pigeons Eggs and take one of them and dissolve it in hot Beer and if it will not quickly dissolve crumble it in then with a drenching horn or any such necessary implement pour it down the throat of the Beast so swelled be it either a Horse Ox or Cow and it will immediately abate the swelling by urine and scouring which it will force in abundance CHAP. XXII An approved Remedy for the mad Staggers or Lunacy THE Symptoms whereby you shall know whether your Horse be troubled with this Disease are his dulness and heaviness foaming at mouth dimness of sight often staring and having a blue skin over his sight restless and often reeling and the like the which or any of them being observed you must instantly take care to have your Horse let blood in the Neck in the great Blood-veins on the left side or if you think convenient on both sides and in the third Bar of the Palate of his mouth and prick him in the Nose just upon the Gristles above the Nostrils which bleeding will instantly abate the grievous pain of his Head then take a handful of Rue or Herb of Grace three or four cloves of Garlick an ounce of fine Salt Aqua vitae two spoonfuls of White-wine Vinegar one after they are bruised together strain them and pour the Liquid substance equally divided into his ears then with black Wool stop them close so that no Air can get in or tie them that he may not shake out the wool then fume his Nostrils through the little end of a Funnel with the peelings of Garlick and Mastick well dried and beaten and rowled up in little Balls or sprink led upon a chafing dish of Charcoals and so do three times a day at least and it will expel the infectious vapours that disturbed the Brain then give him a dram of single Poppy-Seeds beaten into Powder the which you must blow up his Nostrils and about two ounces of poppy-Poppy-water to drink which will cast him into a sound sleep after let his diet be mashed Oats and ground and give him cold water to drink and after twenty four hours you may unbind or unsere his ears and take out the wool and in a short time he will chear up and look lively again Probatum est CHAP. XXIII How to stop the Glaunders for a day or two whilst you have Sold or Swapped away your Horse who is troubled with the same FIrst of Verjuice take four ounces three spoonfuls of Olive Oil two of Aqua vitae and put half into one Nostril and the rest into the other with a Siringe when it is Luke-warm then ride your Horse full speed for half a mile or more only when you observe him begin to cough ride gently and put him into a warm Stable cover him with Cloths and give him a Mash but if he be ill disposed upon the turning of the Glaunders give him new Milk as warm as possible and they will infallibly stop CHAP. XXIV How to order your Stallion as to his Diet when he is to cover your Mare AT any time when you design
agree with the nature of the Horse upon which put his Saddle girting the foremost Girth very hard but the other slack then under it thrust two wisps of clean straw which may stretch it to an equal straightness with the first then putting a thick Breast-cloth on you may mount but if you please you may first spurt some Beer or Ale into his mouth which will make him champ and feel his Bit the sooner and be sure that you Stable be made clean before you bring your Horse in again the Dung and foul Litter being laid at the door and it well stored with fresh for if the Horse stand not upon good store of Litter and have it likewise to lie cry in he will not thrive well nor seem half so pleasant as he will with it for which purpose of all the straw Wheat-straw is the best and must be used on this occasion unless it cannot be got and then the next to it is Oat-straw for both Rye and Barley-straws do much annoy your Horse by reason the one doth cause him to be much troubled with the heart-burn and the other to loosen him and make him scour extremely Being thus upon his back you must ride him easily for the space of half an hour for if you gallop or strain him presently you do him much injury by reason that it stretches his Sinews too much on the sudden which is apt to ingender cold humours in the Joints and Nerves so that the Horse will be stiff after it if not carefully if not quickly remedied by bathing his Legs with Oil of Swallows or Earth-worms but after by gentle riding they are made pliable you may gallop him easily but let it be by any means upon plain and firm ground or if you live near any steep Hills whose ascent is smooth and firm let it be up them then walk him down in your hand a foot pace or a small amble that so he may cool by degrees the best time to begin to exercise is before the Sun rise or as soon as it is risen at the farthest then after his breathing when he begins to be cool lead him to some pleasant Spring or River and there let him drink his fill Then gallop him again but not too hard when you have done so for about the space of a quarter of an hour bring him again to the Brook or River and let him drink if he so pleases but if not then give him a gentle course or two to raise thirst in him the which no doubt will do it for take this as a general Rule that before and after water you be sure to breath him gently After he hath drank three times and been breathed the like number you may bring him home and coming to the Stable-door where the Dung and the foul Litter is laid let him stand upon it after you are alighted from his back for some time and by softly tapping or hitting his hinder Legs with your switch or whip make him stretch them as far as he can backwards and by pleasant whistling provoke him to Urine which if he refuse to do once or twice yet at last he will do it freely and thereby you will preserve your Stable from filth and noisomness which otherways would much offend the Horse He being come into the Stable rub his Fore-Legs with wisps of clean Straw putting all your strength thereto but first be sure to tie his Head up close to the Rack in his Bridle then his Breast or Fore-cloth being taken off rub his Head Breast and Neck After that unloose his Body-Cloth and rub him well in every part but especially in the Saddle-place his Saddle being hung up in his sight and after he hath been well rubbed with dry Cloths cover him up again with a linen coverer and upon that put his woollen Cloth or more if the Weather be cold if warm they will be sufficient but be sure to observe they are dry when you put them on After you have girted them close upon him stop in little wisps of light straw quite round him between the Cloths and the Girts let them by no means be knotty or hard lest they hinder him of his sleep and make him lie uneasie by hurting his sides when he is thus cloathed cleanse his feet by pulling out the gravel or earth that they may have got into them and with warm Cow-dung stop the same up close after that is done put about half a small armful of Hay that is very sweet and good into his rack bound up as hard as possibly you can bind it but first let it be cleared from Dust or Seeds as well as may be and take not off his Bridle till he has eat it or most of it for it being bound up hard will make him pull it with more than ordinary eagerness and then consequently he must eat it with a good stomach but let him not stand above one hour and a half in his Bridle but having taken it off rub well his Face the ridge of his Neck and each part of his Head with a rough Cloth made of Flax or Hemp but the latter is the best because if it be new the smell of it is very wholesome and being apt to make him sneeze will thereby cleanse his Head of gross and crude humours lodged therein This being done cleanse the Manger of all the scattered Hay or other things offensive that may be in it then take about two double handfuls of the best old Oats that are free from Chaff or Seeds be sure they be the largest and fullest you can get for the goodness of Oats is known by their weight such as many do call Polonian Oats or some more vulgarly cut Oats for these of necessity are wholesomest and best for if you give your Horse those that are musty or wet they will cause several little risings in the Horses Body or more properly termed swellings and such as be not old breed little worms in the Belly and cause pain it is very hurtful for to give your Horse any Oats that are not throughly dressed for they will not only cheat him in his feeding but make him slight them nor are black ones to be allowed of unless in time of necessity and then they are not wholesom Therefore be sure when you give him his portion of Oats which must not exceed a quart at a time you must sift them so that all the light Oats and Husks may fall away and whatsoever else you imagine offensive as Dust or Seeds Straw or other Grain after which put them into the Manger and observe whether he eat them heartily or not if he do you may supply him with the like quantity again ordering them as the former so depart and leave him to himself till about ten or eleven of the Clock at which time you coming again to him rub his Head Face and Neck with the Hempen Cloth before recited then give him another like quantity of Oats
or somewhat more order them also in the like manner before you give them to him after which leave him for the space of two hours and let him remain during that time in as much darkness as your Stable is capable of and not only then but always in your absence for the more obscure and dark he is kept the better will he eat his meat and the better will he take his rest for note a Horse will seldom lie down in a Stable that is very light unless he be much wearied either with standing or Travel to cause the more darkness many are used to line their Stables or at least the Stall where the Horse designed for Race stands with Sacking or Canvas not only to make it dark but to keep him the warmer by sheltring him from wind and dust After the end of the said two hours which is about one of the Clock you must visit him again and give him another the like quantity of Oats ordered as the former and rub his head neck and face as before which done give him a small bundle of Hay hard twisted together and let him alone to eat that by himself and so let him continue till four of the Clock if the days be long but if short not past three Then according to the time come to him again and the Stable being well cleansed wet the Bit of his Bridle in Beer and so fasten the Reins of it to the Rack as soon as you have put it on which being done take off his cloths and dress him according to what you were taught in the morning he being well dressed bring him forth and put his Saddle upon his Cloths as formerly and endeavour to make him piss upon his Dung and old Litter cast without the Stable then as soon as you please you may mount him and ride him as in the morning only let this difference be generally observed that you ride him not up any hills that are steep in the evening but upon the plainest and firmest ground you can find or if you will for change sometimes in smooth green Meadows that are dry or by running waters if they lie convenient or that there be any near you and let him take all the Air he can and often suffer him to gaze upon the Stream but suffer him not to stand still but keep him in a continual motion either Galloping or short Pacing which many give the term of racking if he at any time as you lead him in or out of his Stable offer to smell to any Horse-dung though not his own hinder him not for that will cause him to evacuate and fit him the better for his meat When he is well watred and well aired at the cool of the day or if it be within night it matters not bring him home for note there is nothing better to rid him of gross and foul hmours than to be abroad with him early and late and when he is come to the Stable observe that nothing according to former ordering of him be omitted but all done with care and diligence the which I hope by this time you have so well taken notice of that I need not to repeat it over again let his diet be likewise the same and let him stand at it by himself two hours or more according to the Season of the Year in his cloths in Winter you may let him stand till nine before he has his Bait for all night in Summer later if you please then coming to visit him you must give him near three pints of Oats sifted dress him in every part give him a small bundle of Hay in his Rack and after having raised his Litter leave him till the enssuing morning When betimes you must abroad with him again and use him as you have been taught so that in the space of two weeks you may bring him to such a pass as he will be fit to ride or take any moderate heat but beware how you strain him too much for it will do him a great injury thus having after the exactest manner instructed you as to the first fortnights keeping I shall next proceed to give you Rules and Methods for giving him Courses or as some term them Heats c. CHAP. III. Orders most carefully to be observed in the Coursing or Heating your Horse TO begin with which I must inform you that you must not give above two Courses in a Week for if you do you will spend him too much although he be never so lustly and thereby weaken him and make him unfit for your Race The next thing to be observed is that one of the times must be upon the day you design he shall run the Match the two days must be as equally distant from each other as you can divide the Week therefore you ought to make your Match accordingly Mondays and Fridays or Tuesdays and Saturdays are the fittest if you can so model the affair for those days have the most distance between them if your Match be designed on the Monday let that and Friday be his heating days But if on Tuesday or Wednesday then Saturday must be the other that must serve to both because it is unseemly to do it on the Sunday and so you may observe of whatsoever day it shall fall out to be that you keep as near as you can an equal distance of time between his Courses or Heats But again you must be sure to observe in what weather you ride him at such times for if it be wet that is if it either Rain Snow or Hail you must not give him any heat till such time it be fair unless necessity urge it as when it rains most part of the Week or so and then you must chuse the time when it holds up best and let him be covered very warm not only his Body but his Head Neck Ears Breast and Shoulders for his Head you must provide a covering made with little bags to put his ears in and be sure you keep him abroad as little time as possible for the damp raw Air will at such times indanger much his health But to the last particular that is to be taken notice of in this Chapter be sure if the weather be fair and serene get him dressed and abroad with him as soon as day-light appears but not before by reason it is very incommodious in this case both to the Horse and Man and thus much concerning his Courses or Heats which is the most necessary thing to be observed in preparing him for your Match now to the second order of his Keeping and Feeding CHAP. IV. The manner of his second Fortnights Feeding and the care to be observed therein IN this as in the former you must be circumspect to observe the cleaning of his Stall giving fresh Litter and keep it lighted up that his Bed may be always soft and the old with his Dung and Stale cast out at the Stable-door then when you
come to him in the Morning give him a quart or somewhat more of well dressed Oats dressed as you were taught before e'er you put on his Bridle which being eaten dress him in every part with such cloths brushes and combs as you formerly have done which being perfected according to the best of your skill sursingle on his cloths and then set his Saddle upon his back and ride him abroad galloping and racking him moderately and between each time of so doing water him and let his bringing home and Stabling be in each particular observed as in the foregoing fortnight the which you have been so amply taught that I think there is no need of repeating it over again only this take notice of which is not yet laid down when you have brought him into his Stall before you pull off his Bridle take a wisp of the best hay you can get and holding it hard in your hand after it is well dusted let him eat it thence and give him all the occasion you can to pull hard at it and if he devour it with a good Appetite supply him with more and do so three times at least if he will eat it for by so doing you will bring him to be familiar with you and win much upon his good nature when he refuses to eat or that you think he has eaten enough take off his bridle after he has stood in it about an hour then rub him all over and dress him as formerly which ended give his Bait of Oats in quantity and manner as has been often declared but by no means forget to sift them Then having his diet-bread by you pretty stale which must be about three days old at least it being then the wholesomest and most commodious for him to eat and after having eaten it to digest the manner of making it according to the most skilful prescribers is as you shall be shewed in the following Chapter CHAP. V. The first Diet to be given in the ordering your Race-Horse and the way to make it FIrst to make this Diet-bread you must take half a bushel of the best Horse-beans well sifted from any Seeds or Husks or three pecks if your Horse be a great feeder to the latter you must put one peck of the best Wheat you can get to the former quantity proportionably you may grind them divided if you please and so mingle them afterwards but in my opinion they will be best ground together after which dress the meal as fine as you can so that there be few or no husks or bran left in it then take the best Ale-yest you can get by no means let it be sour or dirty about three quarts will do and put to that as much water as will just make the Meal up into Dough which must be kneaded with all your strength in a Trow or some such like thing for that purpose If you are not strong enough to knead it with your hands you may tread it with your feet being sure to leave no knobs in it when it is throughly kneaded cover it from the dust and let it remain the space of an hour then knead it again and after you have so done make your Loaves up about the bigness of six-penny-loaves or bigger if you please and after you have baked them exceeding well in an Oven take them out set them trans-verse to cool that is with their bottoms upwards When you have kept them three days which you must do e'er you give any of them to your Horse for fear of making of him sick which if they do he will refuse to eat it for the future The next thing to be observed is that if the bread be moist or clammy so that it stick to his mouth and he cannot freely swallow it or do seem not to like it you must cut it into thin slices and dry it in the Sun or if the Sun shine not in some Stove or by the Fire but not too hard then take it and mix it with his portion of Oats by smalling it amongst them so that then he will eat it freely and it will do him no harm but be sure to pare away the crust but note that you must never give it him alone but always being crumbled and mixed with his Oats the quantity of Bread you so mix must not exceed three or four slices at a time You having given him one bait in the morning about eleven or twelve a-clock visit him again and after well dressing him give him his bait or portion of diet as before both of Bread and Oats About two of the Clock or somewhat later if you design not to course him the following day and so take the distance of time as has been formerly observed in all his diets only let his motions be curiously observed and each action taken notice of for by that you may know in what liking or estate of body he is and how he thrives upon his diet Again observe that if you design to heat him the day following you must not from the time just before mentioned give him any bread with his Oats but let him eat them by themselves and when he has eat them put him on his Bridle and dress him well in each part the manner of which I hope we need not now declare then his cloth being put on in decent manner clap on his Saddle and ride him abroad in the Air gallop and rack him gently and let him take his watrings as before them bringing him home let him stale and dung at the door if you can get him to do it and being brought into the Stable after rubbing down give him his portion of Oats but no Hay for that is not convenient before a heat Now I have given you a most exact account concerning the ordering and dieting your horse the next thing necessary is to inform you what Muzzles are most convenient for Race-Horses and what is the occasion of their being put on and the danger that there is in some of them First then Muzzles were made to prevent horses from biting and tearing their Racks Mangers and Stalls to keep them from eating Loume or Mud-walls their own Litter or the like which is very dangerous and hurtful to them for it is not requisite they should eat any thing without your knowledge or what you give them But as for these Muzzles there are many kinds some close some broad others with little round holes in them these are commonly made of Leather which often proves very annoiable to your Horse First then any Leather that is alumed is very hurtful to the head by reason of its sharp scent and saltness the next is that which is greased or dressed with course Oil the smell of which often makes your Horses head-ake and causes him to leave his meat be sick and hard bound so that he cannot dung kindly Now there are another kind of Muzzles that are very requisite which are much in use
is not a wholsomer drink can be given to any horse especially after running CHAP. VII The Way and Method of looking to and keeping your Horse after he has taken this Potion WHen the Horse has taken it then immediately rub his Legs and pull off his Saddle and all other his cloths leaving him nothing on then curry him well and after brush him and with a dusting cloth dust him and again with a new hempen cloth or cloth of hair rub his body in every part but in so doing your greatest pains must be about his head neck and breast this being perfected put on his cloths and keep him as warm as possible and put several handfuls of straw under his girts and then let him remain without either meat or drink for the space of two hours during which time you must watch him and seldom let him stand still for fear of getting cold during the time the Potion is in working nay seep or standing still which he will chuse if he be left alone to himself are alike dangerous by reason that the blood and vital Spirits have not their operation so well as in times of motion nor the heat of the body power to force up the humors that lie as it were absconded in the several parts When he has stood in his Bridle and fasted so long as is before-mentioned or if you think convenient somewhat longer then take ears of wheat about one hundred and offer them to him to eat but let them not be bearded in any-wise but e'er you suffer him to take them feel him all over in what condition or estate of body he is and if you find him sweat on a sudden or any cold clamm over-spread his Limbs which many call a cold sweat or if you observe him to pant tremble or fetch his breath short with-hold your hand and give not any thing for if you do it will much indanger him these being the Symptoms that the Potions has not done working but that it is striving with the vicious humors and soul indigestures of the Body therefore put on his slip and taking off his Bridle stop all the Lights of the Stable the better to keep it dark and secure your Horse from too much Air and let him take his ease in your abseuce for the space of two hours or more by which time the Potion will have done working and his sickness will pass away Then coming to him again if you find him well you may give him the ears of wheat by four or five at a time till the whole parcel is wasted after that if he will eat any more you may suffer him to have the like quantity again and after them a small bundle of Hay bound up very hard and thrown into his Rack but during the time of his eating it be sure to rub him over as you have been taught but more especially his head Within the hour following give him his quantity of Oats as before mingling with them a pint of husked Beans as clean from husks and dust as can be then take tree slices of bread and the crust being cut away crumble them among the Oats and Beans and so give them to him and after he has eaten them let him stand about two hours and a half or three if you please Then coming to him give him some Bait again of each the same parcel as before then dress him down well and put on his cloth but put not on his Saddle nor back him neither let him have any water that night but keep him within doors for if you do otherwise you will endanger your horse CHAP. VIII The manner of making these Balls and their Virtue with an account of what Diseases they are most powerful to cure TAke the powder of Elicampane-Roots Cummin-seeds and Fenugreek-Seeds of each two ounces beaten and sifted as fine as you can possible to which put two ounces of Sugar-candy brown if you please beat that likewise fine flower of Brimstone the like quantity one ounce of the juice of Liquorice then wetting them with half a pint of White-wine set them over the fire after which take one ounce of the Chymical oil of Aniseeds and three ounces of the Syrup of Colts-foot add to these of Olive-oil Honey and Syrup or melted Sugar all of them being the best you can get one pint and a half that is of each half a pint proportionable then mingle all these Ingredients together and thicken them into paste with fine wheat-flower and so make them up into Balls for your use you must not make them above the bigness before-mentioned or if you please you may make them up as you use them put them or the Paste up into a gally-pot and stop it close and it will keep a long time For the use of them take these instructions for their virtues are very great First then if you use them for any sickness or dulness in your Horse anoint or rub them over with sweet Oil or Butter and so give them to him each Morning as you were taught before and after give him a gentle breathing and let him drink but if the weather be foul take him not out But if for cold or any infirmity in his Stomach you may give them to him till you perceive it is wasted and gone The Virtues of them are for several other things as Glanders Heaviness to purge away any molten grease to recover a lost Stomach Faintings and Heart-Qualms and to make any tolerable Horse fat to admiration but to your Race-Horses you must give for strengthning and cherishing the Spirits But now to the fourth and last fortnight for preparing your Horse which must begin with his last diet CHAP. IX The manner of making his last Diet. IN this you must use three Pecks of Wheat and but one of Beans and let them be ground together upon the black Stones as small as possible they can be then dress it through an exceeding fine dressing-cloth for note that every Bread must be finer than the former Then put to it the fore-mentioned quantity of Ale-Yest but be sure it be not sowre nor the Grounds Then knead it together and make it up into Loaves as formerly but to this above what has been spoken of you must add the Whites of two or three and twenty Eggs and instead of water put milk so much as will make it up They being baked let them stand their usual time and then cut the Crust away or as some call it chip them after which dry a quart of Oats well and after that sift them so that there be no defect left in them to which put your Beans in like manner ordered and at the usual times give them all three mingled together to him As for his Heating and Coursing-days the first week they must be punctually observed but the second you must abate him one that is heat him but once and that must be Mondays hear After he has stood one hour more
in his Bridle you may take three pints of Oats and steep them in Beer or Ale for a short time and then give them to him and they will much cherish him and allay his thirst This being done about an hours space after you shall give him the former quantity of Beans Oats and Bread in the same order and manner or if you think it more convenient you may give them several and not mingle them let him by no means want for feeding at night for when you make him his last give him not only his Bait but leave him a bundle of Hay in his Rack bound up very hard Next Morning as soon as day appears you must give him his first diet then rub him well in every part after which put on his cloths and air him that is ride him abroad and use him as formerly permitting him to drink freely both Gallop and Rack him but do not ride him hard When you return dress him and feed him with Oats Beans and Bread as heretofore and some Hay but not so much as you were used to give him As for your heating days they must likewise be observed in all points as formerly nor upon any occasion neglected unlese upon such as has been declared nor must you encrease them nor strain your Horse more than you were wont four heats or courses will be sufficient for the first fortnight and four purges or scouring for the whole time of his being made fit for Racing all which must be observed with diligence and caution according to the forementioned Methods and Instructions but now to the third c. CHAP. X. The third Fortnights Dieting and Ordering your Horse NOw for the manner of Making his Bread it must be as followeth finer than formerly was wont must it be made therefore take but two pecks of Beans and with fine Wheat make it up a Bushel let them be ground together as formerly and dressed exceeding fine so that there be hardly a Husk or a Bran to be seen then with a like quantity of yest as before mingle the meal and add water to it so much as is just sufficient to make it stick close together when it is well kneaded and worked up you must bake it as you have been taught After which it having stood about three days or somewhat more pare away the Crust and give it your Horse that is three slices crumbled amongst a quart of fine dressed Oats and a quart of split Beans your observance shall be in these as in the former two weeks his Dressings Airings times of Feeding and likewise his heating days must be particularly observed And take notice of this That you must not after he has been heated give him any of the Scowring but that being laid aside give him in the room of it Balls about the bigness of a Pullets Egg which are great Cordials and restoratives and you must give him one at a time thus sitting in the Saddle or otherwise if you please hold up his head as high as is convenient and put one of them into his Mouth and oblige him to swallow it but before you give it him you must rub him down or according to your match for you must not heat him for four or five days before you intend to run your Race but you may air him very well and give him gentle breathings that he may in no wise lose his wind but give him none of the forementioned scouring drink One thing more I have considered to quicken his Spirits and make him lively which is to burn Storax Olibanum Frankincense and Benjamin mixed together which drive away all ill scents and airs and there is nothing more wholesom for the brain As likewise when you give your Horse his Oats Beans and Bread wash the two former in neither Ale nor Beer but take a pint of Muscadine and about the Whites of ten Eggs and steep them therein but you need not do this above four times in a week at other times give them to him dry as formerly Beware likewise how to give him any Hay unless immediately after his heats and then holding a small wisp in your hand let him pull it thence by degrees but if his Belly be apt to shrink up you may give him more to keep it streight Again all the last week if your Horse be given to eat his Litter you must keep him muzzled as you have been formerly taught but if he be not subject to the same nor to eat any other foul thing three days before you run him will be a sufficient space to keep him muzzled The day-morning before you intend to run him you must air him gently and when you have brought him home dress him and rub him as formerly and be sure to diet him exceeding well omitting no point neither before nor after his being carried abroad only towards might you may stint him of the third part of his usual Bait but let his last Diet be full Proportion as likewise his dressing another thing is also to be observed which is that you must not keep him out late but let him be in his Stable at Sun-set or before and likewise the day before the Match you shall shooe him poll him and all things else that you shall think convenient for fitting him out in the best wise but beware that it be not unskilfully performed for then you may much injure your Horse or give him some cause to be offended at your curiosity or as many call it Adornment It is reported by some who have had long experience in this way and manner of ordering of Horses that several are so skilful as to understand the meaning of such ornaments and what they are to be put to the next day which makes them conceive such Pride that they will not eat any meat till the time they have run the Race unless it be forced upon them It is true all Authors that treat of Naturalities do affirm that horses are most knowing and subtil Creatures and that they are endued with many noble Qualities and generous Perfections Now for brading their Tails and Manes and tying Ribbons on their fore-head or at their ears I hold altogether unnecessary for so doing does not only offend him but many times hinders him in the performance of his Race by reason that they make him cast his head often to look at them and if he has not been used to them many times make him start out of his way and so lose his ground therefore in my opinion only to comb out his Mane and Tail and if they be too cumbersome you may clip them a little is the best Method in that case Be sure there be nothing left undone that you intend to do to him till the morning he is to run for if there be it may chance to vex him and thereupon some Horses will grow sullen and will not run freely The morning you are to run make him a visit before it