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. 5. (Book 5)

How to manage your horsse in and out, which Maister Claudio calleth Serpeg∣giare, with the profit thereof.

THe commoditie that cō∣meth * 1.1 of this manage is not a little: bicause in vse therof the horsse becommeth well brea∣thed, nimble, and readie on ei∣ther hand. It causeth him also to knowe the bridle, the hand, and the heele. Moreouer it is necessarilie vsed in all skirmishes, to auoid the danger of the harquebusse, and o∣ther small shot. Also euerie horsse delighteth in that kind of manage, & the more, if he be fierce and couragious. The proofe thereof is found true, in that all horsses of great courage doo of themselues naturallie trot, turning their bodies vnder the man to and fro: as I said before they delighted in turning. The Italians doo terme this manage Serpeggiare, bicause the horsse ther∣in dooth vse a motion like vnto the snake sliding in & out, as in the figure hereafter is expressed.

I knowe well that this kind of manage, with∣out anie demonstration or figure, is easilie con∣ceiued:

yet I thinke it not amisse to entreat ther∣of, to informe the ignorant that be desirous to knowe, and the rather, for that I find the same much discontinued, and as it were banished the schooles: where now adaies nothing is almost v∣sed but sundrie sorts of superfluous dansing and pransing, which M. Claudio calleth Coruette & pesate vaue.

The maner of this manage is first to bend your horsse towards the right hand, and wheeling to * 1.2 and fro forward as it were the length of a short carriera, shut vp a ring on the left hand. Then re∣turning after the same maner, close the other end on the right hand. Which you may continue so long as by your discretion shall be thought good. And when you determine to leaue, be∣ing at the one end, you must put forth the horsse straight the length of six elnes, there stopping him in such order & fashion as best becommeth him; where hauing paused a while, you shall make him retire presentlie: then staieng againe, cast him first on the one hand, then on the other, large or straight, fast or slow, as you shall thinke fittest for the force and skill of the horsse. You may also (if you thinke so good) teach your horsse in doing this manage to false & mocke in turning, which the Italians call Volte ingannate

and Rub∣bate.

[illustration]

¶ A descri∣ption of the manage in & out, called the Serpeg∣giare; for the furder mea∣ning where∣of looke be∣fore in the xvij. page.

It will also make him more redie and liuelie on ech hand, when hee shall ma∣nage with∣out rest.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A descrip∣tion of this manage, see pag. 19.
• * 1.2

  The manner of the Ser∣peggiare.