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. 28. (Book 28)

In what sort you should vse and exercise horsses of seruice for the warre.

IF so be you desire to haue your horsse made fit for the war, you must be sure to keepe him well breathed, and run him often times vp and downe a∣mong hils & vneuen grounds. You shall like wise put him to leape ditches and * 1.1 hedges: but remember, that at the first, those leapes be not great, but as you find the horsse a∣ble and disposed, so you may put him vnto lar∣ger and hier leaping. You must also manie times bring him vnto the turnie and fight with swords, against another man armed. Which you may first doo disarmed, with your sword drawne, trot∣ting or gallopping to and fro against another man, hauing like wise his sword in hand: so as first vsed to this fained fight and noise of armes, he may be bold to doo the like in earnest. Also to in courage your horsse, let the horsse of him that commeth against you, retire and seeme affraid, as though he would flee for feare.

You must labour also to make your horsse to loue the lance & sword, by shewing them to him when you ride: and in steed of a rod, laie them ouerthwart the horsse necke, and betwixt his eares. It will not be amisse if in like sort you draw your sword vpon the horsse, when he commeth out of the stable, and suddenlie (as it were for feare) retire from him. And if then the horsse doo take courage, and come towards you, put vp your sword, and giue him some thing to eat, ma∣king much of him: so shall you find he will be∣come couragious and careles of weapons. The sword prepared for this purpose would be with∣out point or edge, yet bright and glittering.

The strokes which offend horsses most, are those that be giuen vpon their faces. Therefore, to the end your horsse may beare them without harme or impatience, you shall do well to arme him with a shaffron; and in the stable vse him vn∣to the sounds of trumpets, drums, and ratling of armor: which being first doone, the rest will feare him the lesse.

Aboue all things you must accustome an horsse of seruice to hunting, where manie other horsses are assembled, and where is great noise and shooting; as hornes, drums, and harque bus∣ses. Also accustome him to fiers, waters, swim∣ming,

and to behold men both armed and dis∣armed, aliue and dead, and passe among them. You may also ride him among coches, carts and other carriages, and all things vsed in the warre. It is also to good purpose, if you put your horsse sometimes to indure hunger and thirst, cold and heate, and suffer him to stand the whole daie with some burthen on his backe.

Moreouer, it were good to ride sometimes in the night, to accustome an horsse vnto the noise of armes and warlike instruments, which shall make him the more couragious, bold, and assu∣red. Faile not likewise to let him eate all sorts of meat, to drinke wine, and be bridled and sadled willinglie, and to let you mount & dismount at your pleasure. But aboue the rest, make him to loue your person, and (as it were) be in loue with you.

A horsse for the warre, ought to be a swift * 1.2 and sure runner, a good eater, light vpon the hand, strong, nim∣ble, and valiant, with∣out fault or im∣perfection.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Meanes to make hors∣ses vente∣rous and hardie.
• * 1.2

  Properties required in a horsse for seruice in warre.