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. 2.

Of the largenes of the rings and their vses.

THe rings to serue all sorts of horsses (as M. Claudio saith) ought to be foure elnes at the least in their diametre: and if they be somewhat larger, a colt at his first riding will like them so much the better. Now to make some demonstration of the forme of the said rings, behold this figure which is the ring:

[illustration]

and the line that diuideth it in the midest is the large∣nesse or widenesse thereof. But you must note, that the widenesse of the small rings ought not to be much more than one elne. And to the end you may the better conceiue how the rings

should be made, where to enter, where to come out, and how to exercise your horsse in them, be∣hold the demonstration or figure set downe in the end of this chapter.

Sure I am, that some riders accustomed vnto two rings will accompt this figure of three large and three small, to be a thing most strange: and where they commonlie doo vse foure turnes on euerie hand, I would haue onelie three, or rather but two. Notwithstanding, if they please to cōsi∣der mine intent, they shall find I haue framed this forme of turnes, to eschew wearisomnesse both in the rider and in the horsse, who (cheefelie if he be yoong) will lightlie forget what he ought to doo. Wherefore in my iudgement, these rings (though more in number) will not so much busie the memorie neither of the horsse nor the rider. Besides that, you may perceiue how in these three large rings you may conuenientlie handle two horsses at one time: which within two rings cannot be so conuenientlie doone. I shall not need to set downe anie entrie or going out of these rings or turnes; for wheresoeuer you en∣ter, you ought also to passe out: and in mine opi∣nion euerie horsse in the beginning, and after, dooth prooue better, being vsed to few turnes than manie on one hand. I haue set out the three

small turnes, to be vsed with the same order: which you may exercise or not, as by your dis∣cretion shall be thought meete.

Touching the profit which proceedeth of trotting the rings, I saie that it bringeth the horsse to be well breathed, it maketh his should∣ers and legges nimble, it setleth his head and necke, it maketh him to beare light on the hand, it giueth him heart and courage, it maketh him willing to turne on either hand indifferentlie, it correcteth all euill conditions, and the horsse becommeth more apt and disposed to the short turnes, and euerie other kind of manage.

The vse of the ring is necessarie for skirmish, for battell, and for combate, either offending or defending. It is also a comelie sight in the rider, and standeth him in steed for the exercise of the turneie, and all other feats of armes. Moreouer, it is a thing that naturallie horsses doo loue: which is prooued, in that the yoong foles, so soone as they are borne, doo presentlie runne a∣bout, plaieng as it were in circular wise. I doo therefore conclude, that the ring turnes are things of much importance.

[illustration]

The forme of the foresaid rings.

Notes

• The profit of trotting the rings.
• The mani∣fold vse of the rings.