The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

Of handling, taming, or breaking of Horsses.

THey which are appointed to breake horsses, are called by the Graecians Eporedicae, Hipodami, and Hipocomi, the Latins [ 30] Equisones, Arulatores, and Cociones, in Italian Io Cozone. Ab∣syrtus is of opinion that foales are to be vsed to hand, and to be begun to be tamed at eighteene moneths old, not to be backed but onely tied by the heade in a halter to a racke or maunger, so that it may not be terrified for any extraordi∣nary noise, for which cause they vse them to brakes, but the best time is at three yeares old, as Crescetiensis teacheth in many chapters, wherefore when they begin to be handled, let him touch the rough partes of his bodie, as the mane and other places, wherein the horsse taketh delight to be handled: neither let him bee ouer seaueare and Tyrannous, [ 40] and seeke to ouercome the beast by stripes, but as Cicero saith, by faire meanes or by hun∣ger and famine.

Some haue vsed to handle them sucking, and to hange vp in their presence bits and bridles, that so by the sight and hearing the gingling thereof in their eares, they might grow more familiar. And when they came to hand to lay vpon their backes a litle boy flat on his belly; and afterward to make him sit vpon him formally, holding him by the head, and this they do at three yeare old, but commit him to no labor vntill he be foure yeare old, yet domesticall and small horsses for ordinarie vse are tamed at two yeare olde, and the best time for the effecting heereof, is in the moneth of March.

It is also good in riding of a young horsse to light often, and to get vp againe, then [ 50] let him bring him home and vse him to the stable, the bottome whereof, is▪ good to be pa∣ued with round stones, or else planks of oake, strewing litter vpon it when he lieth down, that so he may lie soft and stand hard. It is also good to be regarded, that the plankes bee so laid, as the vrine may continually run off from them, hauing a little close ditch to re∣ceiue it, that so the horsses feet may not be hurt thereby, and a good maister of horsses

must oftentimes go into his stable, that so he may obserue the vsage of this beast. The manger also ought to be kept continually cleane for the receiuing of his prouender, that so no filth or noisome thing be mingled therewith: there ought also to be partitions in it, that so euery beast may eat his owne allowance, for greedy horsses do not onely speedily rauen vp their owne meat, but also rob their fellowes. Others againe haue such weake stomackes that they are offended with the breath of their fellowes, and will not eate ex∣cept they eat alone.

The racke also is to be placed according to their stature, that so their throat may not be too much extended, by reaching high, nor their eyes or head troubled, because it is [ 10] placed too low. There ought also to be much light in the stable, least the beast accusto∣med to darkenesse, be offended at the Sunne light, and winke ouer much, being not able to indure the beams when he is led abroad, but yet the stable must be warme and not hot; for althogh heat do preseru fatnes, yet it bringeth indisgestion and hurteth a horsses na∣ture, therefore in the Winter time the stable must be so ordered, as the beast may not be offended or fall into diseases by ouermuch heat or suddaine cold▪ In the Summer time let them lodge both night and day in the open aire. This also in stabling of your horsses must be auoided, namely the sties of Swine, for the stinke, the breath, the gruntling of hogs, is abhominable for horsses, and nature hath framed no simpathie or concorde betwixte the noble and couragious spirite of a horsse, and the beastlie sluggish condition of a [ 20] Swine.

Remoue also far awaie from your horsses stables all kind of fowle, which were woont to haunt those places, to gather vp the remnant-graines of their prouender, leauing be∣hind them their little fethers, which if the horsse licke vp in his meat, sticke in his throat, or else their excrements which procureth the loosenes of his bellie.

It must also be regarded, that the stable must be kept neat, sweet, and cleane, so as in absence of the horsse, it may notly like a place for swine: The instruments also, and imple∣ments thereof, such as are the horsse cloathes, the curri-combes, the mane-combes, sad∣dles and bridles be disposed and hung vp in order behind the horsse, so as it maie neither trouble him eating or lieng, nor yet giue him occasion to gnaw, eat, and deuour them to their owne damage or hurt, for such is the nature of some wanton horsses, to pul assunder [ 30] and destroie whatsoeuer they can reach.

They are therefore oftentimes to be exercised and backed, and principally to bee kept in a good diet, for want of food deiecteth the spirit of the noblest horsse, and also maketh the meane horsse to be of no vse; but on the contrary, a good diet doth not onelie make a meane horsse to be seruicable, but also continue the worth and value of the best, which thing Poets considered, when they fained that Arion the horsse of Neptune and some o∣thers were made by Ceres the Goddesse of corne, which any meane witted man may in∣tetpret to signifie, that by abundance of prouender the nature of horsses was so farre ad∣uanced aboue ordinary, that like the sonnes of the Gods they perform incredible things: whether therefore they eat chaffe, or hay, or grasse, or graine, according to the diuersi∣ties [ 40] of countries, let it be wholesome, cleane, fresh, and sweet, without dust, grauel, mu∣stines, or euill smell.

In the morning giue them barley or prouender, a little at a time in distinct or seueral portions, twice or thrice one after another, so as he may chew and eke disgest it thorogh¦ly, otherwise if he rauen it in, as he wil do hauing much at a time, he rendreth it in his dung whole and not disgested. About three houres after he hath eaten his prouender, giue him a little of hay, and three houres after that his dinners allowance of graine, as in the mor∣ning, and afterwards about two or three a clock hay againe, and then some drink: last of all giue him his allowance of prouender for Supper, with a bottle or two of hay, which [ 50] ought to be more plentiful than the former seruings: & yet these rules are not to be vnder¦stood as though they might not be altered, for the times prefixed may be preuented if o∣casion require. Their best prouender is oats and barley, yet barly ingendreth the thinner and better blood, and therefore it is to be preferred, only the measure of the prouender is lefte to the discretion of the horsse-keeper, and there is no meate more wholsome for a horsse, than barly and chaffe, because it wil make him ful of life, and also able to indure la∣bor, yet not ouer fat.

In England in many place•• they giue their horsses bread made of Fitches, beans, and pease. When one is to make a iourney on horsse-back, let him not giue his horse to much prouinder the noone before, but somewhat the more hay, and bread steeped in wine, and also let him serue him sooner at night than ordinary, that so the beast may take the more rest. There be which refuse to giue horsses wet prouender or steeped bread, because they conceiue that it will breed in them loathsomnesse of meat; but the truth is, a reasonable horsse-keeper preuenteth that mischeefe, and besides, the meat of a horsse is altogither so drie, that the beast himselfe is indangered to be sicke of that disease; and therefore it is as safe to giue him moistened foode sometimes, as well as to giue him bread mingled with salt. [ 10]

When a horsse is weary or sweateth, let him not drinke nor eat prouender, but after he is walked a litle while, giue him hay, first of al couering him with a large cloath, and re∣member, that hay is not to be cast before a horsse, as it is out of the reeke, but first of all, it must be pulled, and shaken betwixt the handes, for the auoiding of dust, and other filth. Restrain the horsse as much as you may from eating the litter vnder his feet, for euen the best meat so defiled is vnholsome. It is also good sometimes to suffer him to picke vp his meat on the ground betwixt his forelegs, that will make his necke to grow thinner, lean∣ner, and more comely. Let his necke be fast bound in the stable with a Letherne collar, and bind with a manicle his fore-legge to the hinder leg on the contrary side, and so shal his legs be preserued in more health, because they cannot mooue out of their place but [ 20] with difficulty.

Concerning the drinke of horsses, something more is to be added in this place, and namely brackysh and troubled water, such as runneth softly, as in great pondes, is fittest for horsse, because that water, being hot and thicke nourisheth better, but the swift Wa∣ter is colder, and therefore more vnholsome, but yet in hot times (as in Summer) the sweet and clearer water is more conuenient if custome bee not against it. And because a horsse (except he drinke freely) can neuer be fat, let his mouth oftentimes be washed within with salt and wine, and that will make him eat and drinke more liberally: and yet the running water is more wholsome for horsses, because whatsoeuer is moueably fluent, is lesse subiect to poyson then that which standeth still; but if a horsse sweat or be weary, it [ 30] is not safe to let him drinke any thing, except he first stale, for in such cases followeth di∣stention.

And it is better to turne or lead forth your horsse to water, then to bring it vnto them. And if at any time necessity cause this to be done, then let the Water be very cleare and fresh.

His stable or lodging ought to be ordered, as neither it offend him by cold in winter, nor yet thorough heat in Summer, for both these extremeties are pernicious: and ther∣fore when the weather is extreame colde, then must the horsses backe and belly be coue∣red with a cloath, and when on the contrary it exceedeth in heat, then must his litter be ta∣ken away. Also in heate he must bee couered with linnen to auiode flies, and in cold [ 40] with woollen to helpe nature: likewise it is good toward night to picke, cleanse, and open his hooues, with some artificiall instrument, and to thrust into the hollow cow-dung, or in defect thereof horse-dung with a little strawe, that so he may not shake it out againe, but this is not good to be done euerie daye, but rather euery second day, and it is good to mingle therewith sewet or greace, or els a new laide Egge with warme ••shes. In auncient time they vsed not to shoo their horsses with yron, vntill the daies of Catullus, who remembreth this custome, saying:

Ferream vt soleam tenaci in voragine mula:

So that it seemeth that this deuise was first of al inuented for mules. These horsse-shooes, [ 50] ought to be round like his feet, and not heauy, least the horsses nimblenes be thereby hin∣dered; & great care must be had in nailing or seting thē on, least the tender and fleshy part of the foot be thereby pierced. Another charge of a horsse-keeper is to keepe his horsses lippes soft, tender, and gentle, so as he may more sencibly feele his bit: and for this cause let him often rub them with his hands and warme Water, and if neede require with oyle

also: and in handling of a horsse this must be obserued for a generall rule, that neither he come to the horsse right before his face, nor behind his taile, because both these are dan∣gerous to the rider; least by his heeles or mouth hee harme him, but on his side he may safely set vpon him or handle his horsse, and when he leadeth him, he must likewise goe on his side.

Likewise good and painefull dressing of a horsse is no small meanes to retaine him in in sound and perfect health: and therfore he must often be touched with the curry-comb, and afterward with a handfull of strawe, so as the hand may follow the stroke to lay the haire smooth: and their fashion was in old time to brush ouer their horsses with a little tone [ 10] linnen instrument made like a sword, whereby they excusse all dust from the beast: and heerein it is wisedome to beginne at the head and mane, and so to descende to other parts, and to touch the horsses backe gently: he may wash the head and mane because it being so bony it is daungerous least the combe offend and greeue the beast, except it be layed on very tenderly, but it is not good to wash the legges, because daily washing softneth the hoofe by sliding downe of the Water, and therefore it is sufficient onely to stroke them downe with his hands.

The neather part also of the belly is not to be kept ouer clean, for the more it is clensed with water, the more is the horsse pained therein: when a horsse is dressed it is good to bring him out of the stable, that so in the open ayre hee may be tyed in a longer halter, [ 20] and seeme to be at liberty, whereby he shall be brought to more cleannesse and tractable gentlenesse, standing vppon some smooth stones, till all the dust and loofe haires both by the combe and brush be driuen away, and in the meane time the stable be emptied, and this is to be performed before the horsses watering. You must also regarde the skin wherein the horsses yard runneth be kept cleane, for if it be stopped it hindereth vrine, and maketh the horsse sicke, and when your horsse is in dressing, let him haue before him no manner of meat either of hay or prouender.

Let them be ledde to the Water twice a day, and wash therein both legges and bel∣ly, except in the Winter time, wherein it is not safe to wet the beast so often: and if there be in them any appearance of sicknesse and infirmity, or if you haue any purpose to giue [ 30] vnto them any kinde of medicine, then must you altogether forbeare to Water them.

Some vse to wash their horsses legges with warme wine-lees to refresh their ioyntes and sinnewes after hard iournies, which custome seemeth very allowable: other vse in∣steed thereof warme dish-water out of the kitchin, and the backes they wash with colde water and salt.

Vnderneath their tails and neare their yards, you shal find them in the Summer time to be much annoyed with flies, and therefore it is a needefull part of the horsse-keepers watch-fulnes to looke in those places and driue them away, for so his charge will take the better rest.

[ 40] And euermore there must be nourished a mutuall beneuolence betwixt the horsse and horsse-keeper, so as the beast may delight in the presence and person of his attendant; and for this cause he may be kept from hunger, wet litter, cold in the winter, and flies in the Summer; and furthermore a dilligent caution must be had, that the beast be not pro∣uoked thorough ouer much severity, for if the horsse by his keepers violence be often dri∣uen to his racke and maunger to auoid stripes, either he hurteth his shoulders or legges by his owne weight or force, or else groweth into a trembling at the presence of a man, and so neuer yeeldeth any louing obedience; or els faleth into some furious and vnreclai∣mable euill qualities.

[ 50] The master therfore ought often to enter into his stable, and take a view of his horsses vsage, whereby the beast wil quickly take notice of him, especially if he haue but one, for it is a great follie and peece of ill husbandry to trust Seruantes and not to ouer-see them. Cato was wont to say:

Frons occipitio prior:

That is, As the forehead is before the nape of the necke, meaning thereby that nature

hath set him highest and formost, which should not hide himselfe, but take his place vp∣pon him and discharge it, for it is not safe or any part of wisdome, to see by another mans eies; or worke altogether by Deputies.

Men must also be affraid of lending their horsses, for the Germans haue a pretty pro∣uerbe, that they will not trust their wiues at great feasts out of their sight, for commonly they learne some euill fashion or other more then they had before, and so much more horsses (after lending) returne home againe to their maisters with alteration of strength and quality. [ 10]

Notes

• Ʋegetius
• Camerarius
• Camerarius
• R••s••ius
• Pollux.
• Camerarius
• Ʋegetius