The art of riding conteining diuerse necessarie instructions, demonstrations, helps, and corrections apperteining to horssemanship, not herettofore expressed by anie other author: written at large in the Italian toong, by Maister Claudio Corte, a man most excellent in this art. Here brieflie reduced into certeine English discourses to the benefit of gentlemen and others desirous of such knowledge.

CHAP. 8. (Book 8)

How to teach your horsse to retire or go backe, and the commoditie thereof.

BIcause I am hereafter to speake of retiring, it seemeth fit to enforme you what profit it carrieth, and how to make your horsse doo it. When you haue gone forward so farre as we haue before assigned, you must assaie faire & softlie to draw in the reines of the Cauezzan, which must be done with both hands euen toge∣ther, holding them lowe towards the horsses shoulders, drawing him backe two pases. But if the horsse resisteth, then doo not in anie wise in∣force him, but cause some footeman that hath knowledge, to come neere, first to cherrish the horsse, and then faire and easilie to laie hand vp∣on the reine of the Cauezzan, gentlie putting him backe: which your selfe must also doo at the same instant. But that not sufficing, let the said footeman with a rod lightlie strike him on the knees and forelegs, not rating him, but speaking gentlie, and then he will perhaps with lesse a doo than we haue spoken retire willinglie.

But though it fortune that all these meanes will not preuaile, yet vexe not the horsse in anie wise, either with pulling or beating; but after you haue trotted him a good space about, and stop∣ped him, doo thus. First offer him to go backe; which if he refuse to doo, cause him to trotstrait foorth in some euen ground; & hauing stopped, suddenlie offer him to retire: and I am sure he will either the first, second, or third time doo it, though not the same daie, yet the next daie after.

But note, that if the horsse, which hath worne a * 1.1 cannon and a sadle, doo hap to haue so great ob∣stinacie or disobedience, as he refuseth to go backe, you may not then vse so manie faire meanes or respects, but shall emploie the corre∣ctions due vnto that disobedience: as beating on the legs, quiching with the Cauezzan, some∣times with the one, sometimes with the other hand, and sometimes with both together: and al∣so giue him a chocke or two with the bridle, sai∣eng; Retire, retire: or, Backe, backe.

And if it so be, that all these corrections will not force him to retire, then must ye dismount, & take one reine of the Cauezzan in your hand, causing an other footeman to laie hold on the o∣ther, and betwixt you force the horsse gentlie to

go backe, and in the same instant strike him vp∣on the knees, accompanieng those stripes with your voice.

Moreouer, if all that you can doo will not bring him to retire, yet staie firmelie in the same place, and assaie once more patientlie to put the same correction in vre, offring the horsse to go backe: and if he so doo, put him forward againe to the same place, and then mount on his backe, and you shall find him presentlie content to retire: which dooing, you must make much of him, both by your voice and hand, and once more put him backe. Marie if he refuse, then presentlie alight, and doo as you were woont, correct him on foot, till he becommeth obedient: for ye shall be sure within two or three mornings, he will doo as you will haue him, or perhaps within an houre. You must in no wise vse these extreame corrections, as chocks with the bit and Cauezzan, to anie colt that weareth no bit, seeing they are fit for horsses of more continuance, & vsed to the bri∣dle: but I thinke for horsses that beare the bit, and become disordered, correction would be performed with terror.

Touching the commodities that proceed of * 1.2 retiring, or putting the horsse backe, they be more than euerie man conceiueth. For retiring

maketh the horsse light vpon his stop, and nim∣ble in bestowing his legs in all his dooings. Be∣side that, if he happen into such a place as he can neither go forward nor turne, it standeth him in great steed to retire directlie. It helpeth him also in the motion of his shoulders and legs, to make him slide on his heeles and stop well. And aboue the rest, it is of most necessitie to make him firme and staied vpon the bridle, & also go light vpon the hand. All which things, with diuerse others, how necessarie they are, I leaue to the conside∣ration of euerie discreet horsseman.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The vse of correction when ne∣cessarie.
• * 1.2

  The com∣modities of retiring, &c.