HORSEMANSHIP

H O R S E M A N S H I P;

Or, The Art of Riding, and of Training and Managing Horses.

The method of preparing horses to be mounted.

THOUGH all horses are generally bought at an age when they have already been backed, they should be begun and prepared for the rider with the same care, gentleness and caution, as if they had never been handled or backed, in order to prevent accidents, which might else arise from skittishness or other causes: and as it is proper that they should be taught the figure of the ground

they are to go upon, when they are at first mounted, they should be previously trotted in a longe on circles, without any one upon them.

The manner of doing this is as follows: Put an easy caveçon upon the horse's nose, and make him go forwards round you, standing quiet and holding the longe; and let another man, if you find it necessary, follow him with a whip. All this must be done very gently, and but a little at a time: for more horses are spoilt by overmuch work, than by any other treatment whatever; and that by

by very contrary effects; for sometimes it drives them into vice, madness and despair, and often stupifies and totally dispirits them.

The first obedience required in a horse is going forwards: Till he performs this duty freely, never even think of making him rein back, which would inevitably make him retive: As soon as he goes forwards readily, stop and carets him. You must remember in this, and likewise in every other exercise, to use him to go equally well to the right and left; and when he obeys, carets him and dismisses him immediately. If a horse, that is very young, takes fright and stands still, lead on another horse before him, which probably will induce him instantly to follow. Put a snaffle in his mouth; and when he goes freely, saddle him, girt him at first very loose. Let the cord, which you hold, be long and loose; but not so much, so as to endanger the horse's entangling his legs in it. It must be observed, that small circles, in the beginning, would constrain the horse too much, and put him upon defending himself. No bend must be required at first: never suffer him to gallop false; but whenever he attempts it, stop him without delay, and then set him off afresh. If he gallops of his own accord, and true, permit him to continue it; but if he does it not voluntarily, do not demand it of him at first. Should he fly and jump, shake the cord gently upon his nose, without jerking it, and he will fall into his trot again. If he stands still, plunges or rears, let the man who holds the whip, make a noise with it; but never touch him, till it be absolutely necessary to make him go on. When you change hands, stop and carets him, and entice him by fair means to come up to you: For by presenting yourself, as some do, on a sudden before horses, and frightening them to the other side, you run a great risk of giving them a shyness. If he keeps his head too low, shake the cavesson to make him raise it: And in whatever the horse does, whether he walks, trots, or gallops, let it be a constant rule, that the motion be determined and really such as is intended, without the least shuffling, pacing, or any other irregular gait.

The method of placing the rider and rendering him firm on horseback, with some occasional instructions for riders and the horses.

It is necessary that the greatest attention, and the same gentleness, that is used in teaching the horses, be observed likewise in teaching the rider, especially at the beginning. Every method and art must be practised to create and preserve, both in man and horse, all possible feeling and sensibility, contrary to the usage of most riding masters, who seem industriously to labour at abolishing these principles both in one and the other. As so many essential points depend upon the manner in which a man is at first placed on horseback, it ought to be considered and attended to with the strictest care and exactness.

The absurdity of putting a man, who perhaps has never before been upon a horse, on a rough trotting horse, on which he is obliged to stick with all the force of his arms and legs, is too obvious to need mentioning. This rough

work, all at once, is plainly as detrimental at first, as it is excellent afterwards in proper time. No man can be either well, or firmly seated on horseback, unless he be master of the balance of his body, quite unconstrained, with a full possession of himself, and at his ease; none of which requisites can he enjoy, if his attention be otherwise engaged; as it must wholly be in a raw, unsuppled, and unprepared lad, who is put at once upon a rough horse: in such a distressful state he is forced to keep himself on at any rate, by holding to the bridle, (at the expence of the sensibility both of his own hand, and the horse's mouth,) and by clinging with his legs, in danger of his life, and to the certain depravation of a right feeling in the horse.

The first time a man is put on horseback, it ought to be upon a very gentle one. He never should be made to trot, till he is quite easy in the walk; nor gallop, till he is able to trot properly. The same must be observed in regard to horses: they should never be made to trot, till they are obedient, and their mouths are well formed on a walk; nor be made to gallop, till the same be effected on a trot. When he is arrived at such a degree of firmness in his seat, the more he trots, and the more he rides rough horses, the better. This is not only the best method, but also the easiest and the shortest: by it, a man is soon made sufficiently an horseman for a soldier; but by the other detestable methods, that are commonly used, a man, instead of improving, contracts all sorts of bad habits, and rides worse and worse every day; the horse too becomes daily more and more unfit for use. In proceeding according to the manner proposed, a man is rendered firm and easy upon the horse, both his own and the horse's sensibility is preserved, and each in a situation fit to receive and practise all lessons effectually.

Among the various methods that are used of placing people on horseback, few are directed by reason. Before you let the man mount, teach him to know, and always to examine, if the curb be well placed, (that is, when the horse has a bit in his mouth, which at first he should not; but only a snaffle, till the rider is firm in his seat, and the horse also somewhat taught;) and likewise if the nose-band be properly tight; the throat-band loose, and the mouth-piece neither too high nor too low in the horse's mouth, but rightly put so as not to wrinkle the skin, nor to hang lax; the girts drawn moderately, but not too tight; and the crupper and the breast plate properly adjusted. A very good and careful hand may venture on a bit at first, and succeed with it full as well, as by beginning with a snaffle alone: on colts, indeed, it is better, in all schools whatsoever, to avoid any pressure on the bars just at first, which a curb, though ever so delicately used, must in some degree occasion. When the bridle, &c. have been well looked to, let the man approach the horse gently near the shoulder; then taking the reins and an handful of the mane in his left hand, let him put his foot softly in the left stirrup, by pulling it towards him, lest he touch the horse with his toe, then raising himself up, let him rest a moment on it with his body upright, but not stiff: and after that passing his right leg clear over the saddle without rubbing against any thing, let him seat himself gently down. He must be

be cautious not to take the reins too short, for fear of making the horse rear, run, or fall back, or throw up his head; but let him hold them of an equal length, neither tight nor slack, and with the little finger betwixt them. It is fit that horses should be accustomed to stand still to be mounted, and not to stir till the rider pleases. All soldiers should be instructed to mount and dismount equally well on both sides, which may be of very great use in times of hurry and confusion. Then place the man in his saddle, with his body rather back, and his head held up with ease, without stiffness; seated neither forwards, nor very backwards, with the breast pushed out a little, and the lower part of the body likewise a little forwards; the thighs and legs turned in without constraint, and the feet in a straight line, neither turned in nor out: By this position, the natural weight of the thighs has a proper and sufficient pressure of itself, and the legs are in readiness to act, when called upon: they must hang down easy and naturally, and be so placed, as not to be wriggling about, touching and tickling the horse's sides, but always near them in case they should be wanted, as well as the heels.

The body must be carefully kept easy and firm, and without any rocking, when in motion; which is a bad habit very easily contracted, especially in galloping. The left elbow must be gently leant against the body, a little forwards; unless it be so rested, the hand cannot be steady, but will be always checking, and consequently have pernicious effects on the horse's mouth: and the hand ought to be of equal height with the elbow; if it were lower, it would constrain and confine the motion of the horse's shoulders; but, as the mouths of horses are different, the place of the hand also must occasionally differ: a leaning, low, heavy fore-hand requires a high hand; and a horse that pokes out his nose, a low one. The right hand arm must be placed in symmetry with the left; only let the right hand be a little forwarder or backwarder, higher or lower, as occasions may require, in order that both hands may be free: both arms must be a little bent at the elbow, to prevent stiffness.

A soldier's right hand should be kept unemployed in riding; it carries the sword, which is a sufficient business for it.

There remains one farther observation, that ought not to be omitted, about the hand, that it must be kept clear of the body; i. e. about two inches and half forwards from it, with the nails turned opposite to the belly, and the wrist a little rounded with ease; a position not less graceful than ready for slackening, tightening, and moving the reins from one side to the other, as may be found necessary.

When the men are well placed, the more rough trotting they have without stirrups, the better; but with a strict care always, that their position be preserved very exactly. In all cases, great care must be taken to hinder their clinging with their legs: In short, no sticking by hands or legs is ever to be allowed of at any time. If the motion of the horse be too rough, slacken it, till the rider grows by degrees more firm: and when he is quite firm and easy on his horse in every kind of motion, stir-

rups may be given him; but he must never leave off trotting often without any.

The stirrups must be neither short nor long; but of such a length, that when the rider, being well placed, puts his feet into them, (about one third of the length of each foot from the point of it,) the points may be between two and three inches higher than the heels. The rider must not bear upon his stirrups, but only let the natural weight of his legs rest on them: For if he bear upon them, he would be raised above and out of his saddle; which should never be, except in charging sword in hand, with the body inclined forwards at the very instant of attacking. Spurs may be given, as soon as the rider is grown familiar with stirrups, or even long before, if his legs are well placed.

A hand should always be firm, but delicate: a horse's mouth should never be surprised by any sudden transition of it, either from slack to tight, or from tight to slack. Every thing in horsemanship must be effected by degrees, but at the same time with spirit and resolution. That hand which, by giving and taking properly, gains its point with the least force, is the best; and the horse's mouth, under this same hand's directions, will also consequently be the best, supposing equal advantages in both from nature. This principle of gentleness should be observed upon all occasions in every branch of horsemanship. Sometimes the right hand may be necessary, upon some troublesome horses, to assist the left; but the seldom this is done, the better; especially in a soldier, who has a sword to carry, and to make use of.

The snaffle must on all occasions be uppermost; that is to say, the reins of it must be above those of the bridle, whether the snaffle or the bit be used separately, or whether they be both used together. When the rider knows enough, and the horse is sufficiently prepared and settled to begin any work towards suppling, one rein must be shortened according to the side worked to; but it must never be so much shortened, as to make the whole strength rest on that rein alone; for, not to mention that the work would be false and bad, one side of the horse's mouth would by that means be always deadened; whereas on the contrary, it should always be kept fresh by its own play, and by the help of the opposite rein's acting delicately in a somewhat smaller degree of tension; the joint effect of which produces in a horse's mouth the proper, gentle and easy degree of appui or bearing.

A coward and a madman make alike bad riders, and are both alike discovered and confounded by the superior sense of the creature they are mounted upon, who is equally spoilt by both, though in very different ways. The coward, by suffering the animal to have his own way, not only confirms him in his bad habits, but creates new ones in him: and the madman, by false and violent motions and corrections, drives the horse, through despair, into every bad and vicious trick that rage can suggest.

It is very requisite in horsemanship, that the hand and legs should act in correspondence with each other in every thing; the latter always subservient and assistant to the former. Upon circles, in walking, trotting, or galloping, the outward leg is the only one to be used, and that only for a moment at a time, in order to set off the horse true,

true, or put him right, if he be false; and as soon as that is done, it must be taken away again immediately: but if the horse be lazy, or otherwise retains himself, both legs must be used, and pressed to his sides at the same time together. The less the legs are used in general, the better. Very delicate good riders, with horses they have dressed themselves, will scarcely ever want their help. By the term outward is understood the side which is more remote from the centre; and by inward is meant the side next to the centre. In reining back, the rider should be careful not to use his legs, unless the horse backeth on his shoulders; in which case they must be both applied gently at the same time, and correspond with the hand. If the horse refuse to back at all, the riders legs must be gently approached, till the horse lifts up a leg, as if to go forwards; at which time, when that leg is in the air, the rein of the same side with that leg, which is lifted up, will easily bring that same leg backwards, and accordingly oblige the horse to back: but if the horse offers to rear, the legs must be instantly removed away. The inward rein must be the tighter on circles, so that the horse may bend and look inwards; and the outward one crossed over a little towards it; and both held in the left hand.

Let the man and horse begin on very slow motions, that they may have time to understand, and reflect on what is taught them; and in proportion as the effects of the reins are better comprehended, and the manner of working becomes more familiar, the quickness of motion must be increased. Every rider must learn to feel, without the help of the eye, when a horse goes false, and remedy the fault accordingly: this is an intelligence, which nothing but practice, application and attention can give, in the beginning on slow motions. A horse may not only gallop false, but also trot and walk false. If a horse gallops false, that is to say, if going to the right, he leads with the left leg; or if going to the left, he leads with the right; or in case he is disunited, i. e. if he leads with the opposite leg behind to that which he leads with before; stop him immediately, and put him off again properly: the method of effecting this, is by approaching your outward leg and putting your hand outwards, still keeping the inward rein the shorter, and the horse's head inwards, if possible; and if he should still resist, then bend and pull his head outwards also, but replace it again, bent properly inwards, the moment he goes off true. A horse is said to be disunited to the right, when going to the right, and consequently leading with the right leg before, he leads with the left behind; and is said to be disunited to the left, when going to the left, and consequently leading with the left leg before, he leads with the right behind. A horse may at the same time be both false and disunited; in correcting both which faults, the same method must be used. He is both false and disunited to the right, when in going to the right he leads with the left leg before, and the right behind; notwithstanding that hinder leg be with propriety more forward under his belly than the left, because the horse is working to the right: and he is false and disunited to the left, when in going to the left he leads with the right leg before, and the left behind; notwithstanding,

as above, that hinder leg be with propriety more forward under his belly than the right, because the horse is working to the left.

In teaching men a right seat on horseback, the greatest attention must be given to prevent stiffness, and sticking by force in any manner upon any occasion: stiffness disgraces every right work; and sticking serves only to throw a man (when displaced) a great distance from his horse by the spring he must go off with: whereas by a proper equilibrating position of the body, and by the natural weight only of the thighs, he cannot but be firm, and secure in his seat.

As the men become more firm, and the horses more supple, it is proper to make the circles less, but not too much so, for fear of throwing the horses forwards upon their shoulders.

Some horses, when first the bit is put into their mouths, if great care be not taken, will put their heads very low. With such horses, raise your right hand with the bridle in it, and play at the same time with the bit in the left hand, giving and taking.

On circles, the rider must lean his body inwards; unless great attention be given to make him do it, he will be perpetually losing his seat outwards. It is scarce possible for him to be displaced if he leans his body properly inwards.

The method of suppling horses with men upon them, by the ÉPAULE en dedans, &c. with and without a longe, on circles and on strait lines.

WHEN a horse is well prepared and settled in all his motions, and the rider firm, it will be proper then to proceed on towards a farther suppling and teaching of both.

In setting out upon this new work, begin by bringing the horse's head a little more inwards than before, pulling the inward rein gently to you by degrees. When this is done, try to gain a little on the shoulders, by keeping the inward rein the shorter, as before, and the outward one crossed over towards the inward one. The intention of these operations is this; the inward rein serves to bring in the head, and procures the bend; whilst the outward one, that is a little crossed, tends to make that bend perpendicular, and as it should be, that is to say, to reduce the nose and the forehead to be in a perpendicular line with each other: it also serves, if put forwards, as well as also crossed, to put the horse forwards, if found necessary, which is often requisite, many horses being apt in this and other works rather to lose their ground backwards than otherwise, when they should rather advance: if the nose were drawn in towards the breast beyond the perpendicular, it would confine the motion of the shoulders, and have other bad effects. All other bends, besides what are above specified, are false. The outward rein, being crossed, not in a forward sense, but rather a little backwards, serves also to prevent the outward shoulder from getting too forwards, and makes it approach the inward one; which facilitates the inward leg's crossing over the outward one; which is the motion that so admirably supple the shoulders. Care must be taken, that the inward leg pass over the outward

one, without touching it; this inward leg's crossing over must be helped also by the inward rein, which you must cross towards and over the outward rein every time the outward leg comes to the ground, in order to lift and help the inward leg over it: at any other time, but just when the outward leg comes to the ground, it would be wrong to cross the inward rein, or to attempt to lift up the inward leg by it; nay, it would be demanding an absolute impossibility, and lugging about the reins and horse to no purpose: because in this case, a very great part of the horse's weight resting then upon that leg, would render such an attempt, not only fruitless, but also prejudicial to the sensibility of the mouth, and probably oblige him to defend himself: and moreover, it would put the horse under a necessity of straddling before, and also of leading with the wrong leg, without being productive of any suppling motion whatsoever.

When the horse is thus far familiarly accustomed to what you have required of him, then proceed to effect by degrees the same crossing in his hinder legs. By bringing in the fore-legs more, you will of course engage the hinder ones in the same work: if they resist, the rider must bring both reins more inwards; and, if necessary, put back also, and approach his inward leg to the horse; and if the horse throws out his croup too far, the rider must bring both reins outwards, and if absolutely necessary, he must also make use of his outward leg, in order to replace the horse properly; observing that the croup should always be considerably behind the shoulders, which in all actions must go first; and the moment that the horse obeys, the rider must put his hand and leg again into their usual position.

Nothing is more ungraceful in itself, more detrimental to a man's seat, or more destructive of the sensibility of a horse's sides, than a continual wriggling unfetteredness in a horseman's legs, which prevents the horse from ever going a moment together true, steady, or determined.

A horse should never be turned, without first moving a step forwards; and when it is doing, the rider must not lift up his elbow, and displace himself; a motion only of the hand from the one side to the other being sufficient for that purpose. It must also be a constant rule never to suffer a horse to be stopped, mounted or dismounted, but when he is well placed. The slower the motions are, when a man or horse is taught any thing, the better.

At first, the figures worked upon must be great, and afterwards made less by degrees, according to the improvement which the man and horse make; and the caddened pace also, which they work in, must be accordingly augmented. The changes from one side to the other, must be in a bold determined trot, and at first quite straight forwards, without demanding any side motion on two pistes, which is very necessary to require afterwards, when the horse is sufficiently suppled. By two pistes is meant, when the fore-parts and hinder-parts do not follow, but describe two different lines.

In the beginning, a longe is useful on circles, and also on straight lines, to help both the rider and the horse; but afterwards, when they are grown more intelligent, they should go alone. At the end of the lesson, rein back; and then put the horse, by a little at a time, for-

wards, by approaching both legs gently to his sides, and playing with the bridle: if he rears, push him out immediately into a full trot. Shaking the cavesson on the horse's nose, and also putting one's self before him and rather near to him, will generally make him back, though he otherwise refuse to do it: and moreover a slight use and approaching of the rider's legs, will sometimes be necessary in backing, in order to prevent the horse from doing it too much upon his shoulders; but the pressure of the legs ought to be very small, and taken quite away the moment that he puts himself enough upon his haunches. If the horse does not back upon a straight line properly, the rider must not be permitted to have recourse immediately to his leg, and so distort himself by it, but first try, if crossing over his hand and reins to which ever side may be necessary, will not be alone sufficient; which most frequently it will; if not, then employ the leg.

After a horse is well prepared and settled, and goes freely on in all his several paces, he ought to be in all his works kept, to a proper degree, upon his haunches, with his hinder legs well placed under him; whereby he will be always pleasant to himself and his rider, will be light in hand, and ready to execute whatever may be demanded of him, with facility, vigour, and quickness.

The common method that is used, of forcing a horse sideways, is a most glaring absurdity, and very hurtful to the animal in its consequences; for instead of suppling him, it obliges him to stiffen and defend himself, and often makes a creature, that is naturally benevolent, restive, frightened and vicious.

For horses, who have very long and high fore-hands, and who poke out their noses, a running snaffle is of excellent use; but for such as bore and keep their heads low, a common one is preferable; though any horse's head indeed may be kept up also with a running one, by the rider's keeping his hands very high and forwards: but whenever either is used alone without a bridle upon horses that carry their heads low and that bore, it must be sawed about from one side to the other.

This lesson of the epaul en dedans, should be taught to such people as are likely to become useful in helping to teach men and to break horses; and the more of such that can be found, the better: none others should ever be suffered upon any occasion to let their horses look any way besides the way they are going. But all horses whatever, as likewise all men, who are designed for the teaching others, must go thoroughly and perfectly through this excellent lesson, under the directions of intelligent instructors, and often practise it too afterwards, and when that is done, proceed to, and be finished by the lessons of the head and tail to the wall.

Of the head to the wall, and of the croup to the wall.

THIS lesson should be practised immediately after that of the epaul en dedans, in order to place the horse properly the way he goes, &c. The difference between the head to the wall, and the croup to the wall, consists in this: in the former, the fore-parts are more remote from the centre, and go over more ground; in the latter, the hinder-parts are more remote from the center, and consequently,

sequently go over more ground: in both, as likewise in all other lessons, the shoulders must go first. In riding-houses, the head to the wall is the easier lesson of the two at first, the line to be worked upon being marked by the wall, not far from his head.

The motion of the legs to the right, is the same as that of the epaule en dedans to the left, and so vice versa; but the head is always bent and turned differently: in the epaule en dedans, the horse looks the contrary way to that which he goes; in this he looks the way he is going.

In the beginning, very little bend must be required; too much at once would astonish the horse and make him defend himself: it is to be augmented by degrees. If the horse absolutely refuses to obey, it is a sign, that either he or his rider has not been sufficiently prepared by previous lessons. It may happen, that weakness or a hurt in some part of the body, or sometimes temper, though seldom, may be the cause of the horse's defending himself: it is the rider's business to find out from whence the obstacle arises; and if he finds it to be from the first mentioned cause, the previous lessons must be resumed again for some time; if from the second, proper remedies must be applied; and if from the last cause, when all fair means that can be tried have failed, proper corrections with coolness and judgment must be used.

In practising this lesson to the right, bend the horse to the right with the right rein; helping the left leg over the right (at the time when the right leg is just come to the ground,) with the left rein crossed towards the right, and keeping the right-shoulder back with the right rein towards your body, in order to facilitate the left legs crossing over the right; and so likewise vice versa to the left, each rein helping the other by their properly mixed effects. In working to the right, the rider's left leg helps the hinder parts on to the right, and his right leg stops them, if they get too forwards; and so vice versa to the left; but neither ought to be used, till the hand being employed in a proper manner has failed, or finds that a greater force is necessary to bring what is required about than it can effect alone; for the legs should not only be corresponding with, but also subservient to the hand; and all unnecessary aids, as well as all force, ought always to be avoided, as much as possible.

In the execution of all lessons, the equilibrio of the rider's body is of great use to the horse: it ought always to go with and accompany every motion of the animal; when to the right, to the right; and when to the left, to the left.

Upon all horses, in every lesson and action, it must be observed, that there is no horse but has his own peculiar appui or degree of bearing, and also a sensibility of mouth, as likewise a rate of his own, which it is absolutely necessary for the rider to discover and make himself acquainted with. A bad rider always takes off at least the delicacy of both, if not absolutely destroys it. The horse will inform his rider when he has got his proper bearing in the mouth, by playing pleasantly and steadily with his bit, and by the spray about his chaps. A delicate and good hand will not only always preserve a light appui, or bearing, in its sensibility; but also of a heavy one, whether naturally so or acquired, make a light one. The

lighter this appui can be made, the better; provided that the rider's hand corresponds with it; if it does not, the more the horse is properly prepared, so much the worse. Instances of this inconvenience of the best of appuis, when the rider is not equally taught with the horse, may be seen every day in some gentlemen, who try to get their horses bitten as they call it, without being suitably prepared themselves for riding them: the consequence of which is, that they ride in danger of breaking their necks; till at length after much hauling about, and by the joint insensibility and ignorance of themselves and their grooms, the poor animals gradually become mere senseless, unfeeling posts; and thereby grow, what they call, settled. When the proper appui is found, and made of course as light as possible, it must not be kept duly fixed without any variation, but be played with; otherwise one equally continued tension of reins would render both the rider's hand and the horse's mouth very dull. The slightest, and frequent giving and taking, is therefore necessary to keep both perfect.

Whatever pace or degree of quickness you work in, (be it ever so fast, or ever so slow,) it must be caddened; time is as necessary for an horseman as for a musician.

This lesson of the head and of the tail to the wall, must be taught every soldier: scarce any manœuvre can be well performed without it. In closing and opening of files, it is almost every moment wanted.

The method of teaching horses to stand fire, noises, alarms, fights, &c.

In order to make horses stand fire, the sound of drums, and all sorts of different noises, you must use them to it by degrees in the stable at feeding-time; and instead of being frightened at it, they will soon come to like it as a signal for eating.

With regard to such horses as are afraid of burning objects, begin by keeping them still at a certain distance from some lighted straw: caress the horse; and in proportion as his fright diminishes, approach gradually the burning straw very gently, and increase the size of it. By this means he will very quickly be brought to be so familiar with it, as to walk undaunted even through it.

As to horses that are apt to lie down in the water, if animating them, and attacking them vigorously, should fail of the desired effect, then break a straw-bottle full of water upon their heads, and let the water run into their ears, which is a thing they apprehend very much.

All troop-horses must be taught to stand quiet and still when they are shot off from, to stop the moment you present, and not to move after firing, till they are required to do it; this lesson ought especially to be observed in light-troops; in short, the horses must be taught to be so cool and undisturbed, as to suffer the rider to act upon him with the same freedom as if he was on foot. Patience, coolness, and temper, are the only means requisite for accomplishing this end. Begin by walking the horse gently, then stop and keep him from stirring for some time, so as to accustom him by degrees not to have the least idea of moving without orders: if he does, then back him; and

and when you stop him, and he is quite still, leave the reins quite loose.

To use a horse to fire arms, first put a pistol or carbine in the manger with his feed; then use him to the sound of the lock and the pan; after which, when you are upon him, shew the piece to him, presenting it forwards, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other; when he is thus far reconciled, proceed to flash in the pan; after which, put a small charge into the piece, and so continue augmenting it by degrees to the quantity which is commonly used: if he seems uneasy, walk him forwards a few steps slowly; and then stop, back and carets him. Horses are often also disquieted and unsteady at the clash, and drawing, and returning of swords, all which they must be familiarized to by little and little, by frequency and gentleness.

It is very expedient for all cavalry in general, but particularly for light cavalry, that their horses should be very ready and expert in leaping over ditches, hedges, gates, &c. The leaps, of whatever sort they are, which the horses are brought to in the beginning, ought to be very small ones: the riders must keep their bodies back, raise their hands a little in order to help the foreparts of the horse up, and be very attentive to their equilibrio. It is best to begin at a low bar covered with furze, which pricking the horse's legs, if he does not raise himself sufficiently, prevents his contracting a sluggish and dangerous habit of touching, as he goes over, which any thing yielding and not pricking would give him a custom of doing. Let the ditches you first bring horses to, be narrow; and in this, as in every thing else, let the increase be made by degrees. Accustom them to come up to every thing which they are to leap over, and to stand coolly at it for some time; and then to raise themselves gently up in order to form to themselves an idea of the distance. When they leap well standing, then use them to walk gently up to the leap, and to go over it without first halting at it; and after that practice is familiar to them, repeat the like in a gentle trot, and so by degrees faster and faster, till at length it is as familiar to them to leap flying on a full gallop, as any other way: all which is to be acquired with great facility by calm and soft means without any hurry.

As horses are naturally apt to be frightened at the sight and smell of dead horses, it is advisable to habituate them to walk over, and leap over carcasses of dead horses: and as they are particularly terrified at this sight, the greater gentleness ought consequently to be used.

Horses should also be accustomed to swim, which often may be necessary upon service; and if the men and horses both are not used to it, both may be frequently liable to perish in the water. A very small portion of strength is sufficient to guide a horse, any where indeed, but particularly in the water, where they must be permitted to have their heads, and be no ways constrained in any shape.

The unreasonable rage in Britain of cutting off all extremities from horses, is in all cases a very pernicious custom. It is particularly so in regard to a troop-horse's tail. It is almost incredible, how much they suffer at the picket for want of it: constantly fretting, and sweating,

kicking about and laming one another, tormented, and stung off their meat, miserable, and helpless; whilst other horses, with their tails on, brush off all flies, are cool and at their ease, and mend daily, whilst the docked ones grow every hour more and more out of condition.

The method of reining back,—and of moving forwards immediately after,—of piaing,—of pillars, &c.

Never finish your work by reining back with horses that have any disposition towards retaining themselves; but always move them forwards and a little upon the haunches also after it, before you dismount. (unless they retain themselves very much indeed, in which case nothing at all must be demanded from the haunches.) This lesson of reining back, and piaing, is excellent to conclude with, and puts an horse well and properly on the haunches: It may be done, according as horses are more or less supplied, either going forwards, backing, or in the same place: if it is done well advancing, or at most on the same spot, it is full sufficient for a soldier's horse: For to piae in backing, is rather too much to be expected in the hurry, which cannot but attend such numbers both of men and horses as must be taught together in regiments. This lesson must never be attempted at all, till horses are very well supplied, and somewhat accustomed to be put together; otherwise it will have very bad consequences, and create restiveness. If they refuse to back, and stand motionless, the rider's legs must be approached with the greatest gentleness to the horse's sides; at the same time as the hand is acting on the reins to solicit the the horse's backing. This seldom fails of procuring the desired effect, by raising one of the horse's fore-legs, which being in the air, has no weight upon it, and is consequently very easily brought backwards by a small degree of tension in the reins. When this lesson is well performed, it is very noble, and useful, and has a pleasing air; it is an excellent one to begin teaching scholars with.

The lesson is particularly serviceable in the pillars, for placing scholars well at first. Very few regimental riding-houses have pillars, and it is fortunate they have not; for though, when properly made use of with skill, they are one of the greatest and best discoveries in horsemanship; they must be allowed to be very dangerous and pernicious, when they are not under the direction of a very knowing person.

The method of curing restiveness, vices, defences, starting, &c.

WHENEVER a horse makes resistance, one ought, before a remedy or correction is thought of, to examine very minutely all the tackle about him, if any thing hurts or tickles him, whether he has any natural or accidental weakness, or in short any the least impediment in any part. For want of this precaution, many fatal disasters happen: the poor dumb animal is frequently accused falsely of being restive and vicious; is used ill without reason, and, being forced into despair, is in a manner obliged to act accordingly, be his temper and inclination ever so well

well disposed. It is very seldom the case, that a horse is really and by nature vicious; but if such be found, he will despise all caresses, and then chastisements become necessary.

Correction, according as you use it, throws a horse into more or less violent action, which, if he be weak, he cannot support: but a vicious strong horse is to be considered in a very different light, being able both to undergo and consequently to profit by all lessons; and is far preferable to the best-natured weak one upon earth. Patience and science are never-failing means to reclaim such a horse: in whatsoever manner he defends himself, bring him back frequently with gentleness (not however without having given him proper chastisement, if necessary,) to the lesson which he seems most averse to. Horses are by degrees made obedient, through the hope of recompence and the fear of punishment: how to mix these two motives judiciously together, is a very difficult matter; it requires much thought and practice; and not only a good head, but a good heart likewise. The coolest, and best-natured rider, will always succeed best. By a dextrous use of the incitements above mentioned, you will gradually bring the horse to temper and obedience; mere force and want of skill and coolness, would only tend to confirm him in bad tricks. If he be impatient or choleric, never strike him, unless he absolutely refuses to go forwards; which you must resolutely oblige him to do, and which will be of itself a correction, by preventing his having time to meditate, and put in execution any defence by retaining himself. Resistance in horses, you must consider, is sometimes a mark of strength and vigour, and proceeds from spirits, as well as sometimes from vice and weakness. Weakness frequently drives horses into viciousness, when any thing wherein strength is necessary is demanded from them; nay, it inevitably must: great care therefore should always be taken to distinguish from which of these two causes any remedy or punishment is thought of. It may sometimes be a bad sign, when horses do not at all defend themselves, and proceed from a sluggish disposition, a want of spirit, and of a proper sensibility. Whenever one is so fortunate as to meet with a horse of just the right spirit, activity, delicacy of feeling, with strength and good-nature, he cannot be cherished too much; for such a one is a rare and inestimable jewel, and, if properly treated, will in a manner do every thing of himself. Horses are oftener spoilt by having too much done to them, and by attempts to dress them in too great an hurry, than by any other treatment.

If after a horse has been well supplied, and there are no impediments, either natural or accidental, if he still persists to defend himself, chastisements then become necessary: but whenever this is the case, they must not be frequent, but always firm, though always as little violent as possible: for they are both dangerous and very prejudicial, when frequently or slightly played with; and still more so, when used too violently.

It is impossible, in general, to be too circumspect in lessons of all kinds, in aids, chastisements, or caresses. Some have quicker parts, and more cunning, than others. Many will imperceptibly gain a little every day on their

rider. Various, in short, are their dispositions and capacities. It is the rider's business to find out their different qualities, and to make them sensible how much he loves them, and desires to be loved by them; but at the same time that he does not fear them, and will be master.

Plunging is a very common defence among restless and vicious horses: if they do it in the same place, or backing, they must, by the rider's legs and spurs firmly applied, be obliged to go forwards, and their heads kept up high. But if they do it flying forwards, keep them back, and ride them gently and very slow for a good while together. Of all bad tempers and qualities in horses, those which are occasioned by harsh treatment and ignorant riders, are the worst.

Rearing is a bad vice, and, in weak horses especially, a very dangerous one. Whilst the horse is up, the rider must yield his hand, and when the horse is descending, he must vigorously determine him forwards: if this be done at any other time but whilst the horse is coming down, it may add a spring to his rearing, and make him fall backwards. With a good hand on them, horses seldom persist in this vice; for they are themselves naturally much afraid of falling backwards. If this method fails, you must make the horse kick up behind, by getting somebody on foot to strike him behind with a whip; or, if that will not effect it, by pricking him with a goad.

Starting often proceeds from a defect in the sight; which therefore must be carefully looked into. Whatever the horse is afraid of, bring him up to it gently; if you caress him every step he advances, he will go quite up to it by degrees, and soon grow familiar with all sorts of objects. Nothing but great gentleness can correct this fault: for if you inflict punishment, the apprehension of chastisement becomes prevalent, and causes more starting than the fear of the object. If you let him go by the object, without bringing him up to it, you increase the fault, and confirm him in his fear: the consequence of which is, he takes his rider perhaps a quite contrary way from what he was going, becomes his master, and puts himself and the person upon him every moment in great danger.

With such horses as are to a very great degree fearful of any objects, make a quiet horse, by going before them, gradually entice them to approach nearer and nearer to the thing they are afraid of. If the horse, thus alarmed, be undisciplined and headstrong, he will probably run away with his rider; and if so, his head must be kept up high, and the snaffle sawed backwards and forwards from right to left, taking up and yielding the reins of it, as also the reins of the bit: but this latter must not be sawed backwards and forwards, like the snaffle, but only taken up, and yielded properly. No man ever yet did, or ever will stop a horse, or gain any one point over him, by main force, or by pulling a dead weight against him.

Remarks and hints on Shoeing.

As feet differ, so should shoes accordingly. The only system of farriers, is to shoe in general with excessive heavy and

and clumsy ill-shaped shoes, and very many nails, to the total destruction of the foot. The cramps they annex, tend to destroy the bullet; and the shoes made in the shape of a walnut-shell prevent the horse's walking upon the firm basis which God has given him for that end, and thereby oblige him to stumble and fall. They totally pare away also, and lay bare the inside of the animal's foot with their detestable butteris, and afterwards put on very long shoes, whereby the foot is hindered from having any pressure at all upon the heels, which pressure otherwise might still perchance, notwithstanding their dreadful cutting, keep the heels properly open, and the foot in good order. The frog should never be cut out; but as it will sometimes become ragged, it must be cleaned every now and then, and the ragged pieces cut off with a knife. In one kind of foot indeed a considerable cutting away must be allowed of, but not of the frog; we mean that very high feet must be cut down to a proper height; because if they were not, the frog, though not cut, would still be so far above the ground, as not to have any bearing on it, whereby the great tendon must inevitably be damaged, and consequently the horse would go lame.

The weight of shoes must greatly depend on the quality and hardness of the iron. If the iron be very good, it will not bend; and in this case, the shoes cannot possibly be made too light: care however must be taken, that they be of a thickness so as not to bend; for bending would force out the nails, and ruin the hoof. That part of the shoe which is next the horse's heel, must be narrower than any other, (as is seen in the draught, plate 101, fig. 4.) that stones may be thereby prevented from getting under it, and sticking there; which otherwise would be the case; because the iron, when it advances inwardly beyond the bearing of the foot, forms a cavity, wherein stones being lodged would remain, and, by pressing against the foot, lame the horse. The part of the shoe, which the horse walks upon, should be quite flat, and the inside of it likewise; only just space enough being left next the foot, to put in a picker, (which ought to be used every time the horse comes into the stable,) and also to prevent the shoe's pressing upon the sole. Four nails on each side hold better than a greater number, and keep the hoof in a far better state. The toe of the horse must be cut short, and nearly square. (the angles only just rounded off,) nor must any nails be driven there; this method prevents much stumbling, especially in descents, and serves, by throwing nourishment to the heels, to strengthen them; on them the horse should in some measure walk, and the shoe be made of a proper length accordingly; by this means, narrow heels are prevented, and many other good effects produced. Many people drive a nail at the toe, but it is an absurd practice. Leaving room to drive one there causes the foot to be of an improper length; and moreover that part of the hoof is naturally so brittle, that even when it is kept well greased, the nail there seldom stays in, but tears out and

damages the hoof. That the directions for shoeing a proper length may be the more clear and intelligible, we have annexed (plate 101.) a draught of a foot shod a proper length standing on a plain surface, and with it a draught of the right kind of shoe.

In wet, spungy, and soft ground, where the foot sinks in, the pressure upon the heels is of course greater, than on hard ground; and so indeed it should be upon all accounts. The hinder feet must be treated in the same manner as the fore ones; and the shoes the same: except in hilly and slippery countries, they may not improperly be turned up a little behind: but turning up the fore-shoes is of no service, and is certain ruin to the fore-legs, especially to the bullets. In descending hills, cramps are apt to throw horses down, by stopping the fore-legs, out of their proper basis and natural bearing. When the hinder ones are rapidly pressed; which unavoidably must be the case, and consequently cannot but push the horse upon his nose. With them on a plain surface, a horse's foot is always thrown forwards on the toe, out of its proper bearing, which is very liable to make the horse stumble. The notion of their utility in going up hills is a false one. In ascending, the toe is the first part of the foot, which bears on, takes hold of the ground, and whether the horse draws or carries, and consequently the business is done before the part where the cramps are comes to the ground. Ice-nails are preferable to any thing to prevent slipping, as also to help horses up hill, the most forward ones taking hold of the ground early, considerably before the heels touch the ground: they must be so made, as to be, when driven in, scarce half inch above the shoe, and also have four sides ending at the top in a point. They are of great service to prevent slipping on all kinds of places, and by means of them a horse is not thrown out of his proper basis. They must be made of very good iron. If they are not, the heads of them will be perpetually breaking off. From the race-horse to the cart-horse, the same system of shoeing should be observed. The size, thickness, and weight of them only should differ. The shoe of a race-horse must of course be lighter than that of a saddle horse; that of a saddle-horse lighter than that of a coach or bat horse; and these last more so than a cart, waggon, or artillery horse. At present all shoes in general are too heavy; if the iron is good, shoes need not be so thick as they are now generally made. The utmost severity ought to be inflicted upon all those who clap shoes on hot: This unpardonable laziness of farriers in making feet thus fit shoes, instead of shoes fitting feet, dries up the hoof, and utterly destroys them. Frequent removals of shoes are detrimental and tear the foot, but sometimes they are very necessary: this is an inconvenience which half-shoes are liable to; for the end of the shoe, being very short, is apt to work soon into the foot, and consequently must then be moved.

For the Natural History and Treatment of the Diseases of Horses, see EQUUS, and FARRIERY.

HORSHAM, a market-town and borough of Sussex, situated twenty miles north west of Lewis, in W. long.

22', N. lat. 51° 10'. It sends two members to parliament.

HORTAGILERS;