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. 16. (Book 16)

How to make vp an horsse vpon the ground, and of the manage without time.

IT is the opinion of Mai∣ster Claudio, that within the space of foure moneths a horse may become perfect in all the lessons aforesaid, vnlesse by some accident he be hindered. For the horsse may be within this time brought to such staiednes and obedience, that the Ca∣uezzan may be taken off, and in steed thereof you shall vse a false reine. During all this time, I would not haue you in anie wise to put your horsse to manage with halfe or whole time, no nor with the swift turne: neither would I haue him put to turne hie, with or without yarking. Moreouer, you may not in anie wise meddle to make him doo the Capreola, to leape, or gallop galliard; no although the horsse doo shew great spirit, or desire to doo those things, for it is vtter∣lie vaine to teach them, till such time as he be firme and perfect in all things vpon the ground. Besides that, bicause the horsse dooth want his full strength, you may worke an effect contrarie

to your desire.

But being reduced to this ripenes in fowre moneths, I would not haue you (as diuers men doo) neuer leaue off the Cauezzan, continuing there with, moneths, yeares, and whole ages of men, before they make vp the horsse: but find∣ing him firme and perfect in the dooings aboue∣said, you shall presentlie take awaie the chaine, and in all his lessons exercise him with the false reines, at the least one whole moneth. Then if you see that he goeth well, you may put him al∣together to manage without rest: where vnto ye may easilie induce him to doo it both iustlie and swiftlie, by obseruing that hath beene often said; which is, if by little and little you drawe in the horsse, and make him go with more speed: wher∣in, to exercise him often vnto the S, being made somewhat short and strait, dooth helpe much in this respect; as I haue at large before dis∣coursed.

The manage without rest, called of the Itali∣ans Maneggio di contra tempo, requireth great * 1.1 firmenesse both of hand and bodie, and perhaps more time and measure is therein to be vsed, than in anie of the other manages with halfe or whole rest, which they call Maneggio di mezzo e di tutto tempo. All which manages are verie

discreetlie englished by Maister Blundeuile; a manage with halfe rest, whole rest, and without rest.

It seemeth more ouer, that M. Claudio think∣eth the manage without rest is both most com∣mendable, and most difficult; cheefelie when the turnes are made not vpon the soft gallop, but swiftlie and furiouslie. Also when the horsse is in stopping, if you suddenlie at the middest of the turne put him foorth with a good grace, closing the next turne swiftlie, and close as it should be; and if from thence the horsse doo de∣part suddenlie, making hast to the other end of the manage, there dooing the like, and so conti∣nue without staie or disorder.

You must neuer forget that this manage must be taught the horsse in the order before said, which is; first pasing, next trotting, and lastlie gallopping, by little and little drawing him to that swiftnes and frankenes that is required, ac∣cording to the force of the horsse; remembring in the end to stop him comelie, with two or three Pesate made well, and with breath enough. And surelie, if you continue thus to doo, you shall make your horsse so perfect, that if you please to put him to doo more, he will learne it easilie. You must also, during this moneth, vse your

horsse much to the turnes Terra terra, which I would haue him learne, before he be brought to manage, to the end that both in them and all other dooings, he may come more readilie and iustlie to his halfe turnes.

But if it fortune that your horsse dooth not e∣uerie thing firmelie and iustlie as you desire, yet ought you not be discouraged; but present∣lie in the same place where he committeth the fault, correct him by all meanes due to that fault: neither shall you cease so to doo, till such time as he amendeth. And trulie, either the first, second, or third morning he will be brought to doo according to your owne fansie, so that you giue him not ouer at the first. This we haue said shall suffice, to enforme you how to make your horsse perfect in all his dooings vpon the ground.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Maneggio di contra tem∣po, & Ma∣neggio di mezzo e di tutto tempo.