it in water from a pottle to a quart then strain it and to that water put a pint of Urine and a pint of Muskadine of Aniseeds Licoras Cominseeds Long Pepper in pouder of each an ounce twenty Raisins of the Sun stoned and brused and of Sugercandy two ounces let all these symmer on the fire and not boyl till they be incorporate then take iâ— off and to one halfe therof which is a suffiacient drench put a quarter of a pound of sweet butter and four spoonfuls of sallet-oyle then being luke-warm give the horse a third part of the drench and after it a new laid egge then another third part and after it another egge then lastly all the rest of the drink Then ride him pretty roundly after it for near an houre and let him fast another houre keep warme and feed as at other timer At noon give him a mash and the next day give him the other half For a desperate dry cough Take a pint of burnt Sack Sallet oyle and red wine vinegar of both a quarter of a pint of Fenegrick Turmerick â—ong peper and Licoras of each a spoonfull in powder and give it the horse half at the one nostril and half at another and doe this twice week and ride him after it and let him fast two houres and keep his head and breast warm For the ordinary water you may give him for a fortnight let it have good store of sliced English Licoras steept into it For a cold long setled Take three heads of Garlick and rost them in the embers then mix them with three spoonfulls of Tarre as much powder sugar and halfe a pound of hogges grease then with Aniseeds Licoras Elicampane Fenegreek and Cominseeds make it into paste and give as much at once as a Ducks egge For a dry Cough or wasted Lungs Take Elicampace the flower of Brimstone Licoras Fenell seed Linseed of each an ounce searc't syrop of Elicampane an ounce and of clarified hony a pound work the powders and these together and to a pint of sweet wine put two ounces of these and give it the horse morning and evening ride him after it and let him fast an hour after riding give no cold water but with exercise A Cordiall powder for any ordinary cold and to prepare a horse before travell to refresh him in travell and to preserve him from mischief after travel Take of English Licoras Elicampane roots of each an ounce of Sugercandy an ounce and a halfe beat them to fine powder and searce them Keep the powder in a box and when you have occasion to use it if it be for a cold then give half an ounce in a pint of Sack if it be in travell then give it in sweet wine or strong Ale but if in Ale then take a quart and give it both before travell and in your Inne or at home immediately after travell To break a festred cold to dry up glanders and to heal the ulcer or canker in the nose Take a pint of verdjuice and put to it so much strong mustard made with wine Vinegar as will make it strong and keen thereof then take an ounce of roche Allom in powder and when you give this to the horse as you fil the horn so with a knife or spoon put some of the Allom into the horn and so give it the horse part at both nostrils but especialy that nostrill which runneth most then ride him a little after it and set up warm and give no cold water without exercise Thus do divers mornings For the Glanders Take Cominseeds Grains and Fenegreek in powder of each halfe an ounce of Diahexaple a quarter of an ounce beat this in a mortar with a quarter of a pint of verdjuice three spoonfuls of Sallet oyl and two spoonâ—tl of Aquavitae then put al together to a quart of old Ale with a good slice of sweet butter and set it on the fire till it be ready to boyl then being luke warm give it the horse part at the mouth and part at both nostrils then ride him pretty roundly for an hour and set up warm let him fast an hour and if you perceive sickness to grow give him a pint of new milk To stay the glanders for a time being incurable Take the green bark of Elder and beat it in a mortar and strain it till you have a pint thereof then put that juice to a pint of old Ale and warm it on the fire with a good lump of sweet butter and a nounce of sugarcandy and so give the horse ride him after it let him fast an hour and keep warm Do thus divers mornings For decayed or stopped Lungs which we call Broken wind Take halfe a pint of Coltsfoot water or the syrop of Coltsfoot but in the syrop it will best dissolve and put into it a dram of Balsamum Sulphuris and give it the Horse in the morning fasting then ride him a little after it be sure to keep warm and give no cold water without exercise Do thus every other morning giving it one morning at the mouth and another at the nostrils till you find amendment A scouring when others will not work Take of sweet Butter a quarter of a pound half so much Castle Sope and halfe an ounce of Aloes beat them together then add of Hempseed two spoonfulls of rosin half a spoonfull of sugarcandy an ounce all bruised â—ine work it into a paste and give it the horse in balls immediatly after his heat or when you have warmed him and stirred up the grease and foulness within him OUTWARD SORRANCES The Signes of outward Sorrances OUtward Sorrances are discerned when any member or part in an horse is disfigured or evill affected by the loss of true shape disability in motion the increase or decrease of number and quantity the disproportion of place or the separating of things knit and united And these accidents have divers names as Imposthumes Ulcers or wounds when they are in fleshy parts Excretions or Fractures on and in the bones Ruptures in the veins convulsions in the sinews and Excoriations upon the skin The first is known by outward swellings rotten or bloody sores the next by utter disability in the member or else plain halting The next by Wens and Knots both soft and hard the next by gordgings and haltings and the last by scurf and leprosie Now forasmuch as the greatest part of Sotrances and especially those which are most hid and obscure are found our by halting I will shew you the severall manner of haltings and what they signifie If the horse halt before and lift not up his leg but in a manner traileth it after the other it sheweth a new hurt on the top of the shoulder If he cast his leg outward or go Bakerlike and not bend the knee it is either an old hurt on the top of the shoulder or if new then it is a shoulder-plat or rending betwixt the shoulder and the body if
with new milk from the Cow For Scratches held incurable First let him blood in the shackle veins the spur veins and the â—ore toe veins onely letting it be three days between the bleeding of the one Toe and the other then with an hair-cloth rub the sores til they be raw and bleed then take a quart of old urine and a quart of strong brine and put to them halfe a pound of Allum and boyl it to a quart With this hot wash the sores wel then take the sperm of Froggs in March and put it into an earthen pot and in a week it will look like oyl then take both the oyl and the round things which you shal see in the sperm and spreading it on a cloath bind it to the soars and do this divers times For any Splent Spaven Curb Ringbone or Excression First clip away the hair as far as the excression goeth and a little more then take a piece of Allumd Leather made as big as the place you have bared and fitted to the â—ame proportion then take a little Shooe-makers Wax and spread it round about the very edge or verge of the same leaving all the inward part empty and not touched with the Wax Then take the herb Speargrass or Spearwort which hath the vertue to raise blisters and bruising it lay some thereof upon the Leather in the empty place and bind it fast thereon suffering it so to lye 〈◊〉 if it be in the Spring or Summer time when the herb hath its full strength near half a day but if it be in winter then it is not a miss to renew the strength of the herb if you add to it a drop or two of the oyl of Origanum and let it lie half a day fully and be sure to tie up the horses head for fear of biting it away When you take away the herb rub the place well and anoynt it with Train-oyl warm or else lay on a Diminium plaister Another for a foul Splint Take Nerve oyl one ounce Cantharides the weight of sixpence and as much of the oyle of Vipers boyl them lightly then with this anoint the Splint cross the hair and heat it in with a hot Iron then tie up the horses head to the Rack for 24 hours then squeeze out the corruption and do this twice oâ— thrice For a Splint and to dry up windgalls First heat the Sorrance with an hot pressing Iron then vent it in severall places with your Fleam then take a spoonfull of salt half a spoonfull of nerve oyl a peny weight of verdigrease and the white of an egg beat all to a salve and dipping flax hurds therein apply it to the grief For Pains Mâ—les and Rats-tails First take away all the scabs and make the sore raw then with strong mustard made with wine vinegar anoint them all over and do this every night The next morning take half a pound of green Copperas and boyl it in a pottle of running water with an handfull of sage and so much hyssop a quarter of a pound of Allume and as much strong mustard and with this bath the sore twice or thrice a day For Malander or Selander Take the oyl of bay an ounce half so much sugar and a good quantity of the oyl oâ— froth which cometh from green broom stalks being laid in the fire mix it wel and with this anoynt the soars and it kills and dryes them up For the Swift-cut and to heal all wounds Take a pint of white Wine and put to it two or three spoonfulls of honey and stirr them and boyl them to a salve then take it from the fire and put to it halfe so much Turpentine as there was honey and stirre all together With this salve somwhat hot anoint the soars twice or thrice a day and it is a most speedy healer For any Maunge or Scab in a clean fed Horse First let blood then take a quart of old Urine or Vinegar and break into it a quarter of a pound of good Tobacco then set it on a fire of embers and not boyl and so let it stew all night with this water wash the infected places whether it be in the Mane or otherwise and it helpeth For any Maungie or universall Leprosie in a foul surfeited Horse First let blood in the neck-vein and take a way good store then curry off all the scurf and take verdjuce and vinegar a pint cow-piss a pint train oyle a pint old urine a pint put to them an handful of wild Tansie an handful of Bay salt a quarter of a pound of brimstone as much Alome two ounces of verdigrease and four ounces of Bolarmonie boyl all well together With this very hot wash the horse well and if you put to it the quantity of a pint of blood you take away it is not amiss do this twice or thrice For a Canker foul Ulcer Leprosie and to make hair grow Take a quart of Tar and on the fire put to it half a pound of Bores grease an ounce of Copperat a quarter of a pound of Saltpeter two ounces of wax a quart of honey a quarter of a pound of Rozme two ounces of verdigrease a quart of Lynseed oyl and seeth them till half be consumed then strain it keep it in a close pot Then when you will use it take of it warm and apply it to the soar it doth both heal draw and make hair grow For a Fistula or Pol-evill Take Euforbium with Mastick mix them together then seeth them well with French Sope and make a tent and put it into the Fistula and it will consume the evill moisture For a foul Farcy Take Tar and fresh Hogs grease of each half a pound Hemlock an handfull Arsesmart three handfull and as many Nettles boyl these in a pottle of old Urine and apply it very hot to the swelling but touch it not with your hand for it is too sharp Lastly take a pint of white wine vinegar a quarter of an ounce of verdigrease and a little bundle of Hyssop beat them in a mortar and boyl it to an half pint then with Balls of flax put it luke-warm into both his ears and stich the tips together then tye his head up to the Rack for two hours Do thus twice For a most desperate Farcy Take the herb called Clay-clayes which is a weed growing by the water side having a great broad round leaf and is green on the upper side and white on the neather Rew of each a like quantity beat them and strain them then to a pint of that juice put of Housleek a handful half a pint of Aquavitae and two good spoonfull of pepper beaten and fearc'd Of this liquor take a pint and give it the horse to drink then with round balls of flax dipt in the same stop up both his ears then with the strained bruisings of all the herbs rub the soars and stop the holes if there be any hollowness do thus
a little calmly then put him into a gentle Gallop and exercise him moderately as you did before then walk him a little space after offer him more water If he drink then gallop him 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 drank sufficient then bring him home gently without a wet hair or any sweat about him When you come to the stable-door before which your Groom shall ever throw all his foâ—l litter continually there alight and by whistling and stretching the horse upon the straw and raising up the straw under him see if you can make him piss which if at first he do not yet with a little custom he will soon be brought unto it and it is an wholsom action both for the horses health and the sweet keeping of the Stable This done bring him into his stall and tie him up to the Rack then with wisps rub his â—egs well then unloose his breast-cloth and rub his head neck and breast with a dry clotâ— then take off the saddle and hang it by theâ— his Body-cloth and rub over all his body and limbs especially his back where the saddlâ— stood Then cloath him up first with a linneâ— sheet then over it a good strong Housing cloth and above it his woollen Body-cloth which in the winter it is not amiss to havâ— lin'd with some thin Cotton or Plad or otheâ— woollen stuffe but in the summer the Kersiâ— it self is sufficient When these are girt about him stop hiâ— Circingle round with reasonable big soft wispâ— and thick for with them he will lie at beâ— ease because the small hard wisps are eveâ— hurtfull After he is cloathed pick his feet and stop them up with cow-dung and then throw intâ— his Rack a little Bundle of hay so much as aâ— halfpeny bottel in a dear Inne well chosen dusted and hard bound together And the he shall tear out as he standeth on the bridlâ— When he hath stood on his bridle an hoâ— and better you shall then come to him anâ— first draw his bridle rub his head face anâ— nape of the neck with a clean rubber made â—â— new rough hempen cloth for this is excelleâ—â— for the head and dissolveth all gross aâ—â— filthy humours Then with a clean clotâ— make the Manger as clean as may be and iâ— he have scattered any hay take it up and throw it back into the Rack Then you shall take a quart of sweet dry old and clean drest Oats of which the heaviest are the best as those which we call Poland-oats or Cut-oats For those which are unsweet breed infirmity those which are moist cause swelling in the body those which are new breed worms and they which are half drest deceive the stomack and bring the horse to ruine As for the black Oats though they are tolerable in the time of necessity yet they make foul dung and hinder a mans knowledg in the state of the horses body This quart of Oats you shall ree and dress wondrous clean in a Sive that is much less then a Riddle and though bigger then a Reeing-sive such an one as will let a light Oat go through but keep a full one from scattering and so give them to the horse and if he eat them with a good stomack you may give him another and so let him rest till it be eleven a clock Then come to the Stable and having rubbed his head neck and face dress him another quart of Oats as before and give it the horse then closing up the windows and lights leave him till one a clock And here you are to understand that the darker you keep your horse in your absence the better it is and it will occasion him to lye down and take his rest when otherwise he would not and therefore we commonly use to arm the Stables wherein these horses stand round about a lost and over the Rack with Canvas both for darkness warmth and that no filth may come near the horse At one a clock come to him and dress him another quart of oats and give them as before after you have rubbed his head and nape of the neck then putting away his dung and making the stable clean give him a knob of Hay and so leave him till evening At evening come to the Stable and having made all things clean bridle as in the morning take off his cloaths and dresse him aâ— before Then cloath saddle bring him forth urge him to empty mount rack him abroad but not to the hills if you can finde any other plain ground as meadow pasture or the like especially if it lye along by a River but in this case you can be no chuser but must take the most convenient making a vertue of necessity Here air him in all points in the evening as you did in the morning Galloping both before and after water Then Rack him up and down and in your racking observe even from the Stable-dore in all your passages especially when you would have him to empty to let him smel upon every old and new dung you meet withall for this will clear his body and repair his stomack When you have watred and spent the evening in airing till within night for nothing is more wholsom or sooner consumeth foulness then early and late airings You shall then rack him home to the stable-door there alight and do as you did in the morning both within doors and without and so leave him on his bridle for an hour and more Then come again and as you did in the forenoon so do now Rub well draw his bridle cleanse the Manger put up his scattered hay sift him a quart of Oats and so let him rest til nine a clock at night At nine a clock come to him and first rub down his legs with wisps or with a clean cloth or with your bare hands which is best of all then with a clean cloth rub his face head chaps nape of the neck and foreparts then turn up his cloathes and rub over all his hinder parts then put down his clothes and sift him a quart of Oats and give them him then put into his Rack a little bundle of hay toss up his litter and make his bed soft and so leave him till the next morning The next morning as the morning before come to the horse early and do every thing without the omission of any one particle as hath been formerly declared and thus you shall keep your horse constantly for the first fornight in which by this double daily exercise you shall so harden his flesh and consume his foulness that the next fortnight if you be a temperate man you may adventure to give him some heats But here give me leave to digress a little for satisfaction sake and to answer objections that may be urged touching the quantity of Provender which I prescribe being but a
from the knees and cambrels downwards either with clarified Doggs grease which is the best or Trotters oyl which is the next or else the best Hoâ—s grease which is sufficient and to work iâ— in with the labour of his hands and not with fire for what he gets not in the first night will be got in the next morning and what is not got in the next morning will bee got in when he comes to uncloath at the end of the course so that you shall need to use the oyntment but once but the Friscase or Rubbing as oft as you find opportunity Observation for water Our Feeder shall observe that albeit I give no direction for watering the horse after the heats yet he may in any of the later fortnights finding his horse clean and his grease consumed somwhat late at night as about six a clock give him water in reasonable quantity being made luke warm and fasting an hour after it Also if through the unseasonableness of the weather you cannot water abroad then you shall at your watering hours water in the house with warm water as aforesaid Nor need you in this case heat all your water but making a little very hot put it into a greater and so make all luke-warm If you throw an handfull of Wheat-meal Bran or Oat-meal finely powdred but Oat-meal is the best into the water it is very wholsome Observation for the ground to run on Our Feeder shall observe That if the ground whereon he is to run his match be dangerous and apt for mischievous accidents as strains over-reaches sinew bruises and the like that then he is not bound to give all his heats thereon but having made the Horse acquainted with the nature thereof then either to take part of the Course as a mile two or three according to the goodness of the ground and so to run his horse forth and again which we call turning heats provided always that he end his heat at the weighing-post and that he make not his course less but rather more in quantity then that he must run But if for some especiall causes he like no part of the course then he may many times but not ever give his heat upon any other good ground about any spatious and large field where the horse may lay down his body and run at pleasure Observation from Sweat Our feeder shall take especiall regard in al his airings heatings and all manner of exercises whatsoever to the sweating of his horse and the occasions of his sweating as if an horse sweat upon little or no occasion as walking a foot pace standing stil in the stable and the like it is then apparent that the horse iâ— faint foul fed and wanteth exercise If upon good occasion as strong heats great labour and the like he sweat yet his sweat is white froth and like sope-suds then is the horse inwardly soul and wanteth also exercise But if the sweat be black and as it were only water thrown upon him without any frothiness then is the horse clean fed in good lust and good case and you may adventure riding without danger Observation from the Hair Our Feeder shall observe his horses Hair in generall but especially his neck and those parts which are uncovered and if they lie slick smooth and close and hold the beauty of their naturall colour then is the Horse in good case but if they be rough or staring or if they be discoloured then is the horse inwardly cold at the heart and wanteth both cloathes and warm keeping Many other Observations there be but these are most materiall and I hope sufficient for any reasonable understanding THE OFFICE OF THE KEEPER How to keep any Horse for pleasure Hunting or Travel c. I Would have our Keeper of these ordered Horses to rise early in the morning of day or before according to the season of the year and to sift the Horse the quantity of three pints of good old and dry Oats and put to them an hand full or two of spelt Beans hulls and all and so give them to the Horse Of Dressing and Watering After he hath eaten them let him dres him that is to say he shall first curry him all over with the Iron comb from the head to the tail from the top of the shoulder to the knee and from the top of his buttock to the hinder cambrell then dust him all over with a clean dusting cloath or with an horse tail made fast to an handle then curry him all over with the french brush beginning with his forehead temples and cheeks so down his neck shoulders and fore leggs even to the setting on of his Hooves so alongst his sides and under his belly and lastly all about his buttocks and hinder leggs even to the ground then you shall go over again with your duster then over all parts with your wet hands and not leave as neer as you can one loose hair about him nor one wet hair for what your hands did wet your hands must rub dry again you shall also with your wet hands cleanse his sheath his yard his cods and his tuell and indeed not leave any secret place uncleansed as ears nostrils fore-bowels and between his hinder thighs Then you shall take an hair-cloath and with it rub him all over but especially his head face eyes cheeks between his chaps on the top of his fore-head in the nape of the neck down his leggs feetlocks and about his pasterns Lastly you shall take a clean woolen cloath and with it rub him all over beginning with his head and face and so passing through all parts of his body and limbs before spoken of Then take a wet mane-cloath and comb down his mane and tail Then saddle him and ride him out to water warm him both before and after water very moderately and so bring him home dry without sweat then cloath him up after you have rubbed his head body and leggs and let him stand on his bridle more then an hour Ordinary-Keeping After he hath stood an hour give him the former quantity of provender and the same in kind After he hath eaten his provender give him into his rack a pretty bundle of hay and so let him rest till noon At noon give him the former quantity of provender and the same in kind and so let him rest till evening onely renewing his hay if there be occasion At evening dress him as in the morning then ride him forth to water and do as you did in the morning When you come home and have cloathed him up let him stand on his bridle as before then give him the former quantity of provender so let him rest till nine a clock at night at which time give him the former quantity of provender and a pretty bundle of hay and so let him rest till the next morning Also observing ordinary keeping ever after your dressing and at such times as you find best convenience to
quart at a meal seeing there be many horses that will eat a much larger proportion and to scant them to this little were to starve oâ— at the best to breed weakness But if I be understood rightly I set not this down as an infallible Rule but a President that may be imitated yet altered at pleasure For I have left you this Caveat That if your horse eat this with a good stomack you may give him another leaving the proportion to the Feeders discretion because it is impossible in writing to make one measure for all stomacks And for minâ— own part I chose the quart as the most indifferent proportion for albeit many horses will eat more yet I have known some that would hardly eat this And believe it what horse soever shall but eat this and in this manner he shall neither starve lose strength nor be much hungry So now again to the giving of Heats Four considerations in giving of Heats Now touching Heats you are to take to your self these four Considerations 1. That two Heats in the week is a sufficient proportion for any horse of what condition or state of body soever 2. 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 both because it is the day of his Match and there is three days rest betwixt it and the other heat If the day â—e Tuesday then the heating days are Tuesdays and Saturdays if Wednesday then Wednesdays and Saturdays by reason of the Lords day if on Thursdays then Thursdays and Mondays and so of the rest 2. You shall give no heat except in case of extremity in rain or foul weather but rather to defer hours and change times for it is unwholsom and dangerous And therefore in case of showers and incertain weather you shall have for the horse a lined hood with lined ears and the nape of the necâ— lined to keep out rain for nothing â— more dangerous then cold wet falling into the ears and upon the nape of the neck and Fillets 4 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 â— is to the horse both unwholsom and unpleasant to the man a great testimony oâ— folly and to both an act of danger and precipitation The second fortnights feeding Now to come to the second fortnight feeding touching your first approaching to the Stable and all other by respects aâ— cleansing and the like you shall do all things as in the first fortnight onely before yoâ— put on his Bridle give him a quart of oats which as soon as he hath eaten bridle him up and dress him as before shewed then cloath saddle air water exercise and bring him home as before shewed onely you shall not put hay into his rack to tear out but let him eat it out of your hands handfull after handfull and so leave him on his bridle for an hour more then come to him and after rubbing and other ceremonies sist him a quart of oats and set them by then take a loaf of bread that is three days old or thereabout 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 then boult it through a reasonable fine Raunge and knead it up with great â—â—ore of Barm and lightning but with as little water as may be labour it in the Trough painfully knead it break it and after cover it warm and let it lye and swell then knead it over again and mould it up into big loaves like twelvepeny houshold loaves and so bake it well and let it soak soundly after they are drawn turn the bottoms upward and let them cool At three daies old or thereabout you may give this bread but hardly sooner for nothing is worse then new bread yet if necessity compell you that you must sooner give it or that the bread be clammy or dank so as the Horse taketh distast thereat then cut the loaf into thin shivers and lay it abroad in the Sive to dry then crumbling it smal with his oats you may give it safely But to return to my purpose when you have taken a loaf of this bread chip it very well then cut it into thin slyves and put three or four thereof small broken into his oats you had before sifted and so give them to him About eleven a clock come to him and by ceremonies give him the same quantity of bread and oats and so leave him till afternoon At one a clock in the afternoon if you intend not to give him a heat the next day feed him with bread and oats as you did in the fore-noon and so consequently every meal following for that day observing every action and motion as before shewed But if you intend the next day to give him an heat to which I now bend mine aym you shall then only give him a quart of oats clear sifted but no hay and so let him rest till evening At four a clock before you put on his bridle give him a quart of clean sifted oats and when they are eaten bridle him up dress cloath saddle air water exercise bring home and order as before shewed onely give no hay at all After he hath stood an hour on his bridle give him a quart of oats and when they are caten put on his head a sweet muzzel and so let him rest till nine a clock at night Now as touching the use of this Muzzell and which is the best you shall understand that as they are most usefull being good and rightly made so they are dangerous and hurtfull being abused and falsly made The true use of them 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 These Muzzels are somtimes made of leather and stampt full of holes or else close but they are unsavoury and unwholsom for if it be allomed leather the allom is offensive if it be tann'd or liquored leather the Tanners ouze and grease are fully as unpleasant Besides they are too close and too hot and both make an horse sick and cause him to retain his dung longer in his body then otherwise he would do The best Summer Muzzell and indeed the best generally at all times is the Nermuzzell made of Strong pack-threed and knit exceeding thick and close in the bottom and so inlarged wider and wider upward to the middle of the horses head then bound about the top with Tape and on the nearside a loop and on the farre-side a long string to fasten it to the horses head The best Winter-muzzell and indeed
so as there may be nothing but the clean Beans to these oats and beans you shall break two or three shives of bread clean chipt and give all to the horse and so leave him for two or three hours At evening before you dress him give him the like quantity of oates beans and bread and when he hath eaten them bridle him dress and cloathe him for you shall neither saddle or air him forth because this evening after his heat the horse being foul and the scouring yet working in his body he may not receive any cold water at all After he is drest and hath stood two hours on his bridle then take three pints of clean sifted oats and wash them in strong Ale and give them to the horse for this will inwardly cool him as if he had drunk water After he hath eaten his washt meat and rested upon it a little space you shall at his feeding times which hath been spoken of before with oats and spelt Beans or Oats and bread or all together or each severall and simple of it self according to the appetite and liking of the horse feed him that night in plentifull manner and leave a knob of hay in his rack when ye go to bed The next day very early first feed then dress cloath saddle air water and bring home as at other times onely have a more carefull eye to his emptying and see how his grease and foulness wasteth At his feeding times feed as was last shewed you onely but little hay and keep your heating days and the preparation the day before as was before shewed without omission or addition Thus you shall spend the second fortnight in which your horse having received 4 heats horsman like given him and four scourings there is no doubt but his body will be drawn inwardly clean you shall then the third fortnight order him according to the Rules following The third fortnights feeding This third fortnight you shall make his bread finer then it was formerly as thus The second Bread You shall take two pecks of clean Beans and two pecks of fine Wheat grind them on the black stones searce them through a fine Raunge and knead it up with Barm and great store of lightning working it in all points and baking it in the same sort as was shewed you in the former bread With this bread having the crust cut clean away and being old as before shewed with spelt Beans and clean sifted Oats feed your horse this fortnight as you did the former observe his dressings airings feedings heatings and preparation as in the former fortnight onely with these differences First you shall not give your Heats so violently as before but with a little more pleasure as thus If the first heat have violence the second shall have ease and indeed none to overstrain him or to make his body sore Next you shall not after his heats give him any more of the former scouring but instead thereof instantly upon the end of the heat after the horse is a little cooled and cloathed up and in the same place where you rub him give him a Ball as big as an hens egg of that Confection which is mentioned in the office of the Farrier and goeth by this title The true manner of making those Cordial Balls which cure any violent cold or glanders which c The Fourth and last fortnights feeding The fourth and last fortnight you shall make your bread much finer then either of the former The last and best Bread Take three pecks of fine Wheat and one peck of Beans grind them on the black stones and boult them through the finest boulter you can get then knead it up with sweet Ale Barm and new strong Ale and the Barm beaten together and the whites of twenty or thirty eggs but in any wise no water at all but in stead thereof some small quantity of new milk then work it up bake it and order it as the former With this bread having the crust cut clean away and with Oats well â—unned beaten and rubbed between your hands then new winnowed sifted and drest with the purest spelt Beans and some fine Chiltern Wheat with any simple or any compound feed your horse at his feeding times as in the fortnight last mentioned You shall keep your heating days the first week or fortnight as you did the former fortnight but the last week you shall forbear one heat and not give any five days before the match day onely you shall give him strong and long airings You shall not need this fortnight to give him any scouring at all If this fortnight morning and evening you burn the best Frankinsence in your stable you shall find it exceeding wholsom for the Horse and he will take wonderfull delight therein In this fortnight when you give the Horse any washt meat wash it in the whites of eggs or Muskadine for that is more wholsom and less pursie This fortnight give the horse no hay but what he taketh out of your hand after his heats and that in little quantity and clear dusted The last week of this fortnight if the horse be a foule feeder you must use the Muzzell continually but if he be a clean Feeder then three days before the match is sufficient The morning the day before your match feed well both before and after airing and water as at other times before noon and after noon scant his portion of meat a little before and after evening airing feed as at noon and water as at other times but be sure to come home before sun-set Late at night feed as you did in the evening Now I do not set you down what meat to feed withall because you must be ruled according to the Horses stomack and what best he liketh of that give him a pretty pittance whether simple or compounded onely as neer as you can forbear bread and beans This day you shall coule your horse shoo him and do all extraordinary things of ornament about him provided there be nothing to give offence or hinder him in feeding resting emptying or any other naturall or beneficiall action For I have heard some Horsmen say That when they had shod their Horses with light shooes and none other actions of ornament about them the night before the course that their horses have taken such speciall notice thereof that they have refused both to eat lie down or empty But you must understand that those horses must be old and long experienced in this exercise or otherwise find distast at these actions as uneasiness in shooes heat and closness in the muzzell disorderly platting or folding tails and the like or they cannot reach these subtile apprehensions For mine own part touching the nice and strait plaiting up of horses tails in the manner of Sakers or Docks with tape or ribban which is now in generall use howsoever the ornament may appear great to the eye yet I do not much affect it because I know if
bathe all his fore-leggs from the knees and Cambrels downward with cold water for it is wholsome and both comforteth the sinews and prevents scabbs and swellings Keeping in Travell and Sport Thus you shall do concerning his ordinary keeping at home where the Horse hath rest and that you may dispose of hours as you please but if you be either in travel in sport or other occasion so that you cannot observe these particular times then you must divide the main and whole quantity of meaâ— into fewer parts and greater quantities and so give them at the best convenience ever observing to give the least quantity before travel as a third part before mounture and the two other when you come to rest Nor would I have you to distract your mind with any doubt or amazement because I prescribe you five severall times of feeding in one day as if it should either over-charge you or over-feed your horse questionless there is no such matter when you look into the true proportion for it cannot be denied that whosoever is worthy of a good horse or good means to keep a good horse cannot allow him less then one peck a day nay the Carrier Carter Poulter and Packhorse will allow half a peck at waterings and this allowance which I set down comes to no more for fifteen pints of oats and one pint of spelt beans upheaped makes two gallons and that is one peck Winchester measure Now to give it at twice it fills the stomack more makes the digestion worsâ— and the appetite weak whereas to give less but more oft the stomack is ever craving the digestion always ready and the appetite never wanting so that health without disorder can never be a stranger therefore once again thus for ordinary keeping Of giving Heats Hunting and Travell But if you intend to give an heat as to hunt gallop travell or the like which I would wish you to do once twice or thrice a week according to the ability of your horse then observe all your former observations onely the night before give him little or no hay at all In the morning before his heat very early and before his dressing give him three or four handfull of clean sifted oats washt either in strong Beer or Ale Then dress him saddle him and give him his hear he having first emptied himself well Ordering after Labour After his heat , or end of labour rub him carefully and bring him dry into the stable then after he is cloathed up let him stand on his bridle at least two hours then give him a little bundle of hay to teare out upon his bridle and an hour after feed him as hath been before shewed onely with his first oats give him an handfull or better of hemp-seed well dusted and mixt At night warm him a little water and give it him luke-warm with a little fine pounded Oatmeal thrown upon it then an hour after give him his provender and a pretty bundle of hay and so let him rest till the next morning The next morning do all things as in his ordinary keeping Some especiall Precepts If he be a choice horse let him stand on litter both night and day yet change oft and keep the planchers clean If he be otherwise then use your own discretion If you intend to travell or journey in the morning then give no hay or but little the night before if you journey in the afternoon then give no hay or but little in the morning If your horse sweat by exercise take off the sweat before you rub him with the Glassing-knife which is either a piece of a broken sword-blade or a piece of a broken Syth for this will make a clean a smooth and a shining coat In journeying ride moderately the first hour or two but after according to your occassions Water before you come to your Inne if you can possibly but if you cannot then give warm water in the Inne after the Horse hath fed and is fully cooled within and outwardly dried Trotters oyl is an excellent oyntment being applied very warm and well chafed into your horses limbs and sinews to nimble and help stifness and lameness And Dogs grease is better therefore never want one of them in your stable Of washing and Walking Neither wash your horse nor walk your horse for the first indangereth foundring in the body or feet and breedeth all surfaits the latter is the ground of all strong colds which turn to glanders and rottenness but if necessity compell you to either as foul waies or long stays then rather wash your Horses leggs with pailes of water at the stable door then to indanger him in either pond or river And for walking rather sit on his back to keep his Spirits stirring then to lead him in his hand and with dull spirits to receive all manner of mischiefs This I think sufficient for the office of the Keeper THE OFFICE OF THE AMBLER Observations in Ambling THere is not any motion in an horse more desired more usefull nor indeed more hard to be attained unto by a right way then the motion of Ambling and yet is we will beleeve the protestations of the Professors not any thing in all the Art of Horsmanship more easie or more severall ways to be effected every man conceiving to himself a severall method and all those methods held as infallible maxims that can never fail in the accomplishment of the work Mens opinions and Errors But they which know truths know the errors in these opinions for albeit every man that hath hardly a smell of Horsmanship can discourse of a way how to make an horse amble yet when they come to the performance of the motion their failings are so great and their errors so gross that for mine own part I never yet saw an exact Ambler I confess some one man may make some one horse amble well and perfectly nay more then one peradventure many and thereby assume to himself a name of perfection yet such a man have I seen erre grosly and spoyl more then his labour was able to recompence But leaving mens errors because they are past my reformation I will onely touch at some principall observations which in mine opinion I hold to be the easiest the certainest and readiest for the effecting of this work and withall glance at those absurdities which I have seen followed though to little purpose and less benefit Ambling by the plowed field There is one commends the new plowed lands and affirms that by toyling the horse thereon in his foot pace there is no way so excellent for the making of him to amble but he forgets what weakness nay what lameness such disorderly toyle brings to a young horse nay to any horse because the work cannot be done without weariness and no weariness is wholsome Ambling by the Gallop Another will teach his horse to amble from the Gallop by sudden stopping a more sudden chocking him in the cheeks of the mouth
throple little all are signs of short wind and much inward foulness If the void place be full of knots and kirnels take heed of the Strangle or Glanders at the best the horse is not without a foul cold If his jaws be so strait that his neck swelleth above them if it be no more but naturall it is onely an uncomely sign of short wind and pursickness or grosness but if the swelling be long and elose by his Chaps like a whetstone then take heed of the Vives or some other unnaturall impostume His Nostrils and muzzell If his nostrils be open dry wide and large so as upon any straining the inward redness is discovered and if his muzzell be small his mouth deep and his lips equally meeting then all are good signes of wind health and courage But if his nostrils be strait his wind is little if is muzzell be gross his spirit â—is dull if his mouth be shallow he will never carry a bit well and if his upper lip will not reach his nether old age or infirmity hath marked him for carrion If his nose be moist and dropping if it be clear water it is a cold if foul matter then beware of Glanders if both nostrills run it is hurtfull but if one then most dangerous Teeth Touching his Teeth and their vertues they are set down in a particular chapter onely remember you never buy an horse that wanteth any for as good lose all as one His Breast From his Head look down to his Breast and see that it be broad out-swelling and adorned with many features for that shews strength and indurance The little breast is uncomely and shewes weakness the narrow breast is apt to stumble fall and enterfeire before the breast that is hidden inward and wanteth the beauty and division of many feathers shewes a weak armed heart and a breast that is unwilling and unfit for any violent toyl or strong labour His Fore-thighes Next look down from his elbow to his knee and see that those fore-thighs be rush-grown well horned within sinewed fleshy and out-swelling for they are good signes of strength the contrary shews weakness and are unnaturall His Knees Then look on his knees that they carry proportion be lean sinewy close knit for they are good and comely but if one be bigger or rounder then another the horse hath received mischief if they be gross the horse is gouty if they have scarres or hair broken it is a true mark of a stumbling jade and a perpetuall faller His Legs From his knees look down to his leggs to his pasterns and if you find them clean â—â—an flat and sinewy and the inward bought of his knee without seames or hair-broken then he shewes good shape and soundness But if on the in-side the leg you find hard â—nots they are splinters if on the out-side they are serews or excressions if under his knees be scabs on the in-side it is the Swift-cut and he will ill endure galloping if above his pasternes on the in-side you find scabs it shews interfeiring but if the scabs be generally over his leggs it is either extreame foul keeping or else a spice of the Maunge if his flesh be fat round and fleshy he will never indure labour and if on the inward bought of his knees you find seams scabs or hair-broken it shews a Maleander which is a cankerous ulcer His Pasterns Look then on his pastern-joynt and his pastern the first must be clear and well kniâ— together the other must be short strong and upright standing for if the first be bigor sweld 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 tiring His Hooves For the Hooves in generall they should be black smooth tough rather a little long then round deep hollow and full sounding for white Hooves are tender and carry â— shooe ill a rough grosse seamed Hoof shewes an age or over-heating A brittle hoof will carry no shooe at all an extraordinary round hoof is ill for foul ways and deep hunting A flat hoof that is pumissed shews soundering and a hoof that is empty and hollow-sounding shews a decayed inward part by reason of some wound or dâ—y founder As for the crown of the hoof if the hair lye smooth and close and the flesh flat and even then all is perfect but if the haire be staring the skin scabbed and the flesh rising then look for a Ring-bone or a crown scab or a quitterbone The setting on of his Head his Crest and Mane After this stand by his side and first look â—o the setting on of his head and see that iâ— stand neither too high nor too low but in â— direct line and that his neck be small at the setting on of the head and long growing deeper to the shoulders with an high â—â—rong and thin mane long soft and somewhat curling for these are beautifulll 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 Poul-evill 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 metall to have much hair on the mane sheweth 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 Manginess His Back Ribs Fillets Belly and Stones Look on the chine of his back that it be broad even and straight his ribs well comâ—assed and bending outward his Fillets upright strong and short not above an handfull between his last rib and his hucklebone let his belly be well let down yet hidden within his ribs and let his stones be close trust 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 no Liberty for wind To have his Fillets hanging long or weak he will never climb an hill nor carry a burden And to have his belly clung up or gaunt or his stones hanging down loose or a side they are both signs of sickness tenderness foundring in the body and unaptness for labor His Buttocks Then look upon his Buttocks and see that they be round plump full and in an even levell with his body or of long that it be well raised behind and spread forth at the setting on of the tail for these are comely and beautifull 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 fit or becomming for pad footâ—loth or pyllion His Hinder-thighs Then look to his hinder-thighs or Gaâ—ains
away infection and kils worms Gale â— A Drink to open an Horses body and cleanse it Take a quart of new milk Sallet-oyl hony each half a pint an ounce of London treacle and the yolks of six eggs beat all together and then put to it licoras sugar-candy anise-seeds all in powder of each an ounce and infuse all together so give it the horse ride him after it set up warm and let him fast above an an hour The true manner of making those cordial Balâ— which cure any violent cold or Glanders which prevent heart-sickness which purge away all molten grease which recover a lost stomack which keep the heart from fainting with exercise and make a lean horse fat suddenly Take Aniseeds Cominseeds Fenegreekseeds Carthumus seeds Elicampane roots and Colts foot each two ounces beaten and searced to a fine dust two ounces of the flower of Brimston then take an ounce of the juice of Licoras and dissolve it on the fire in half a pint of white wine which done take an ounce of Chymicall oyl of Aniseeds then of sallet oyl hony and the Syrop of Sugar or for want of it Molosses of each half a pint then mix all this with the former powders and with as much fine wheat flower as will bind and knit them all together work them into stiff paste and make thereof Balls somwhat bigger then French Walnuts â—ull and all and so keep them in a close Gallipot for they will last all the year Yet I do not mean that you shall keep them in the pot in balls for so because they cannot lye close the air may get in and do hurt as also the strength of the oyls will sweat outward and weaken the substance therefore knead the whole lump of paste into the Gallipot and make the Balls as you have occasion to use them Now for the use of these Balls because they are cordiall and have divers excellent vertues you shall understand that if you use them to prevent sickness then you shall take a Ball and aniont it all over with sweet Butter and give it the horse in the morning in the manner of a Pill then ride him a little after it if you please otherwise you may chuse and feed and water him abroad or at home according to your usual custome And thus do 3 or 4 mornings together If you use them to cure either cold or glanders then use them in the same manner for a week together If you use them to fatten an horse then give them for a fortnight together But if you use them in the nature of a scouring to take away molten grease foulness then instantly after his heat and in his heat Again if you find your horse at any time hath taken a little cold as you shall perceive by his inward ratling if then you take one of these Balls and dissolve it in a pint of sack and so give it the horse it is a present remedy Also to dissolve the Ball in his ordinary water being made luke warm it worketh the life effect and fatneth exceedingly To give one of these Balls before travell it prevents tyring to give it in the height of travel it refresheth the weariness and to give it after travel it saves an horse from all surfeit and inward sickness For the Bots or any Worms Take a quart of new milk and as much hony â—â— will make it extraordinary sweet then â—eing luke-warm give it the horse early he â—aving fasted all the night before then bridle â—im up and let him stand tied to the empty â—ack for two hours then take halfe a pint â—â—white wine and dissolve into it a good â—poonfull or more of black soap and being â—â—ll mixt together give it him to drink â—en ride and chafe him a little and let him â—â—t another hour and the Worms will aâ—oid Another for Worms more ready more easie Take the soft Down-hairs that grow in the â—rs of an horse and which you clip away â—hen you coule him and the little short tuft â—hich grows on the top of the Fore-head â—derneath his fore-top and having a pretty â—antity mix them with a pottle of oats and â—â—â—e them to the horse and it helpeth A Purgation when an horse is sick of grease or costiveness Take a pint of old white Wine and oâ— the fire dissolve into it a lump as much aâ— an Henns Egge of Castle-sope and stiâ— them together then take it off and put in to it two good spoonfulls of Hempseed beaten an ounce of sugar-candy in powder and brew all together then having waâ—med the horse to stirre up his grease another foul humors give him this to drink and walk him up and down a little after â— to make the potion work then set uâ— warm and after a little stirring him in hâ— stall if he grow sickish give him liberty tâ— lye down then after two hours fasting givâ— him a sweet Mash then feed as at otheâ— times For Laxativeness or extream Loosness Take a quart of red Wine and on the fire put into it an ounce and an halfe â— Bolarmonie in powder and two ounces aâ— an half of the conserve of Sloes mix thâ—â— together after take it from the fire aâ— put to it a spoonfull or two of the powdâ— of Cynamon brew all together and give it the horse but let him fast two hours after it and let him eat no washed meat Hay is wholsome so is Bread and Oats if they be well mixt with Beans or Wheat but not otherwise For the stone or pain of urine by winde causing sickness Make a strong decoction that is to say boyle your first quantity of water to an halfe part three times over of keen onions clean peeled and parsley then take a quart thereof and put to it a good spoonefull of London Treacle and as much of the powder of Egge-shels and give it the horse And thus do divers mornings if the infirmity be great otherwise when you see the horse offended For an Horse that staleth blood Take knot-grasse Shephards purse Blood-wort of the hedge Polypodium of the wall Comphrey Garden Blood-wort of each an handfull shread them fine and put them into a quart of Beer Ale or milk and put to them a little salt a little soot and leaven mix all to gether and give it the horse to drink For a growing cold Take the juyce of Licoras London Treacle Aniseeds Turmereack Fenegreek and long pepper of each an ounce the hard Simples in powder then of Suger-candy two ounces and with as much English hony as will suffice incorporate all together and make thereof Balls as bigge as a good pullets egge and give the horse two or three in the morning fasting After he hath taken the Balls give him two new laid eggs then rid ehim and at noon give him a Mash keep warm and do this twice or thrice For a more violent cold causing rotting in the head Take the bigge Elecampane root slice it and boyl