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. 24.

How to helpe your horsse in the rings, and at his stop.

I Haue here to fore dis∣coursed of helping your horse, yet did I not particularlie in∣forme you at what times and what places the same helpes ought be vsed: which is doone to the end I might proceed in order, & you the better reteine them in memorie. But now ha∣uing accomplished what order and helps are re∣quired, here will I let you know how and when they shalbe vsed.

And first you must remember, that when so euer either in the large or strait rings, in the Ca∣ragolo, in the figure of S, or in the manage in and out, which (as is before said) the Italians call Ser∣peggiare, your horsse dooth put out his but tocke; then must you forth with correct him on that side with your rod, with your heele, and with your spur (if you weare any) which you must continue till the horsse amendeth his fault. The like you must doo, if turning of anie hand, or in going for∣ward, he casteth his hinder part out of order.

You may also in that case vse this subtiltie; first to make proffer to go on one hand, & then sud∣denlie put the horsse to turne on the other. You may likewise for this fault correct him well, if you pase or trot him neere vnto a wall, & when he turneth putting out his hind part, he must of force hurt himselfe, vnlesse he holdeth his bodie strait, which he will not doo often, but for feare therof leaue his fault, which he shall doo the bet∣ter if you ad there vnto the other helpes.

In gallopping the rings you may helpe the horsse with your bodie, by carrieng your legs put forward more than ordinarie. And there is nothing that maketh a man to sit so comelie on horssebacke as the gallop: for in gallopping he may take time to settle his feete in the stirrops, to hold his legs in their due place with his thighs and knees closelie, and his whole bodie strait and disposed, with either hand bestowed in their places. Therefore M. Claudio (perhaps contra∣rie to many other good riders) thinketh best that the stirrops should be euen of one length, which will be a meane that the rider shall sit with the better grace, and more conuenientlie helpe his horsse; much maruelling why the right stirrop should be shorter than the other.

In gallopping you must somewhat yeeld your

person towards that side you would haue the horsse turne, yet not mooue your legs but when need requireth. As for example. If you gallop turning on the right hand, you must staie your selfe somewhat more on the right than the left stirrop. The like order shall you obserue on the contrarie hand, holding your bodie a little for∣ward toward that side. Also in turning you must put your contrarie shoulder somewhat more forward, resting your bodie on that stirrop more than the other: for by that meanes you shall swaie your horsse towards that side, and be the more readie to helpe him. But in his trot or gal∣lop strait foorth, you shall not so doo, but sit e∣quallie in the middest, without leaning: vnlesse the better to helpe your horsse you beare your bodie somewhat forwards.

It is also at sometime permitted, you should leane your bodie to the contrarie side, from that the horsse is inclined, thereto to enforce him to leane the same waie your selfe leaneth. Also if vpon that occasion you vse the helpe of the stir∣rop, striking his shoulder therewith on the con∣trarie side, and likewise giue him a twich or two with the false raine on the same side, it will be a good meane to draw him that waie.

But in stopping you must cast your bodie a

little backwards, suffring the horsse to slide for∣ward as it were alone, drawing the reines faire & easilie, till such time he be come vnto that place you would; then hauing staied his furie, you may stop him firme, and staie him there. This I would haue obserued, with those horsses that vnder∣stand how to be handled vpon the ground. But if in stopping the horse leaneth more on the one than the other hand, then must you, leaning backe, giue your selfe most towards that side, whereto he leaneth not, helping him all other waies: and so gallop him & stop him strait forth, till you find his fault amended. But note, that gallop shall not exceed the length of an ordina∣rie manage. At the end wherof hauing stopped, if the horsse stoppeth not strait as he ought, put him forward againe, and at his stop correct him on that side he yeeldeth not, with your stirrop, the calfe of your leg, your spur, & your person, till he be content to yeeld and stop as you would haue him.

Notes

• How and when the foresaid helpes are to be vsed.
• The stir∣rops should be of euen length.
• Correcti∣ons diuerse waies for not stop∣ping, &c.