The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

CHAP. IX.

Of Riding the Great Horse.

THere is certainly no Exercise more Noble and Manly than this of the Manege; It makes a man firm and easie on Horseback, and vigorous and adroit in Action: It increaseth health and strength; for none under the ill consequences of a Debauch, be it of Wine or Women, can per∣form this Exercise as he ought, being as unfit for it in such a case, as to go to Bed to a fair Lady: It also gives a graceful and Martial Air, which one may perceive in some fine Horsmen, (even when they are on foot) and therefore when the French would commend any Person that has a good Mean, they say Il a l' Air fort Cavalier.

We may consider it in two parts; First, that sort of Manege, which is proper for the Cheval d'Escole; Secondly, that which is proper for the Cheval de Guere. The Cheval d' Escole is taught several Airs and Lessons, which as they require a great deal of Vi∣gour and Address (as the Gall••pade-Relevée, Caprioles, Ballotades, &c.) so they are necessary to be learnt in Academies, to give young Men a firm, and easy Seat, and a good Hand upon a Horse; making them capable of humouring all manner of Horses according as it is requisite; but are not in them∣selves, absolutely necessary, nor of any use in Acti∣on, unless at Carousels, Triumphs, and the like. The Cheval de Guere is taught only such Lessons, as are necessary in the Field, and without which one cannot attack a good Horseman but upon very great disadvantages.

The confounding of these two, and not being able to distinguish the one from the other, makes a great many talk very ignorantly about Manag'd Horses, some despising the whole Art of Riding the Great Horse, because for want of Education they

[illustration]

The Manag'd Horse

To the Worshipfull John Cutts of Arksden in Essex & of Childerly in Cambridgshire Esq.

This Plate is humbly Dedicated by Richard Blome.

Wyke del••n▪ Sol•• scul••

know nothing of it, whilst others are such formal Academists, that they pretend every Lesson is as necessary in Action, as Stopping, Turning, and the like: Both these are in the wrong; the first through Ignorance the latter too often through Affectation; and I believe Mistakes of this nature have been partly the cause why the Great Saddle has been so slighted and neglected in England for some years past: But the present King is a Lover of Marshal Exercises, and therefore we may hope to see them [ 10] Flourish more than they have done; in order to it, his Majesty ha's been pleased to make choise of Monsieur de Foubert (for the Governing of an Academy) one of the best Masters in Europe, a Well bred, Good natured, and Ingenious Person, who ha's a Stable of very fine Horses, and the best Masters for all sorts of Exercises, that are necessary for the accomplishment of a Gentleman. In a word, one that neither wants necessary qua∣lications, nor spares any pains to teach and im∣prove [ 20] the Youth committed to his charge in all things that are to be learned in an Academy.

But (to return to my business in Hand) the Ma∣nege d' Escole, and the Manege de Guere must both of them be learnt by every one that designs to be a good Horsman, though 'tis necessary to distinguish the one from the other, that a man my know what Lessons are only for the Academy, or the like, and what to make use of in the Field, [ 30] or against an Enemy. A good Master will make you understand the difference; so that I need not give you an Account here of all those Airs, and Lessons which belong to the Manege d' Escole; and indeed, it would take up too much room for this design: Therefore when you have been long e∣nough in an Academy to be firm, and easy, and have a good Hand upon a Horse, remember ro take notice of this distinction, that you may know how to chuse a Horse for the Field, or Action [ 40] (for amongst fifty good Academy-Horses 'tis hard to meet with Ten that are good for the War) and take in short, the following Account of the Qualifications of a good Horse for Service.

In the Manege de Guere a Horse must be taught to Gallop true, and change readily; to go off from the hand like an Arrow from a Bow, and stop or turn at a Point; to obey the Hand and Heel in advancing or retiring upon a strait Line, or other∣wise; or in going Sideways to the Right or Left; [ 50] to Rise before (a Courbets) enough to keep him al∣ways upon the Haunch; to endure Fire, and to Charge up boldly against any thing: And all this must be done with willingness, ease, and subjecti∣on. For 'tis a Maxim in Horsmanship, That a Horse must never do any thing of his own head, but in obedience to his Rider, and no more than he re∣quires of him; as also, that a Horse can never per∣form any Action gracefully or well, that he doth with an aversion and uneasiness. This is that which [ 60] is necessary for a good War-Horse, and in this the Rider must be as perfect as the Horse, otherwise he will be so far from receiving any advantage from his goodness and address, that he will not only find himself often out of order (by making his Horse do things mal à propos,) but in a little time quite spoil him, and make him good for nothing.

But I will not undertake in this Discourse to teach you to Ride, it being an Exercise, that as it is the finest and most useful of all (whatever some pretend that never could attain unto it) so it is the hardest to be perfect in, and is ne∣ver learnt well without a great deal of Industry, as well in the Practick, as the Theorick part, and that under careful and diligent Masters. It is as necessary for a Young man, that designs to be a good Horsman, to perform his course of Exercise in an Academy; as for him that whould be a great proficient in Learning, to run through his course of Philosophy, Logick, &c. in the Vniversity. I shall therefore undertake only to give some gene∣ral Directions which may be of use to such as learn and practice this Noble Exercise. And I can't imagine how a Young man of Quality (when by reason of his Tender years he is not ripe enough for Business and Action) can spend his time better, than in learning the Exercises of the Body, together with those of the Mind; by which (provided he be under good Masters and Governours) he will find so great an advantage, that he will not only be fitter to serve his Prince, when occasion serves, with a vertuous Mind and a strong and active Body; but avoid that lewd Effeminacy and those unmanly Extravagances, which so many are ruined by through Ease and Idleness.

'Tis to be hoped therefore (how negligent soe∣ver some are Educated) that a great many of our Young Nobility and Gentry will be induced, by their Parents Care, or their own Inclinations, to follow the great Example of the Roman Youth (who were a glorious Instance of the advantage of good Education) and convince the World by their Actions and Behaviour, that they have spent their time as well in the Academy, as the others did in their Campo Martis.

For the Service of such active and well dis∣posed Youth, I shall set down these following Rules and Directions; not that a good Master will omit them, but as they are fundamental Principles of Horsmanship, 'tis not amiss to have them in Writing, that by reading and considering them, they may never fail to have them at com∣mand.

The first thing to be considered by a Young Horsman, is how to Approach and Mount his Horse with safety, gracefulness, and convenience, which must be as follows; If there be but one present to assist him (which may sometimes hap∣pen to Persons of great Quality in the War, or the like) let him place himself on the Right-side of the Horse, holding his Head with one hand and the Stirrup with the other; then let him that is to Mount, walk up to the Horse, not directly before him, lest if the Horse be fearful of him he put him in disorder, or if merry and wanton he should strike him with one of his Fore-feet: nor behind him for fear of the same Accident from his Hind-feet (for a Mischance falls out sometimes in a Minute, that has not hapned be∣fore in an Age;) but let him approach him on the Left-side over against the Shoulder, inclining something more to his Head than his Flank: This done, let him examine if the Bridle be well

placed in his Mouth, the Curb right, his Girts fast, and every thing in good order; and then taking the Reins in his Left Hand, and the Pum∣mel of the Saddle (or a Lock of his Main) and laying his Right Hand fast upon the hinder part of the Saddle, let him place himself in the Seat: And let him endeavour to get a habit of doing this with so much case and liberty, that his mo∣tion may not seem forced or painful, nor the Horse receive any inconvenience, or apprehension [ 10] by his swagging him, or falling heavy into the Saddle, or brushing his Buttocks with his right Leg, which are often the faults of unwildy, awk∣ward and heedless People.

When he is mounted, having the Reins in his Left Hand, with his Thumb upon them, and his little Finger between to separate the right from the left Rein, let him take the end, (or Button) in his right hand, and lifting up his Arm with a loose and careless Air adjust his Bridle, so that [ 20] it be neither too long nor too short, and so hold it fast in its proper place, which must be three or four Fingers breadth above the Pummel of the Saddle, and exactly before him. Let him put himself from head to foot in the true posture of a good and fine Horseman. He must be placed in the middle of the Saddle, (not touching, if pos∣sible, any other part of it) and rest upon his Twist, not his Buttocks, keeping himself all over straight and easie, as if he were on foot, his shoul∣ders [ 30] just with the right, something forward, his Stomach advanced, holding his Elbows (equally and unaffected) at a little distance from his Bo∣dy; his right Hand at about three or four Fin∣gers distance from the left, grasping the handle of his Switch or Sword, with the point upwards, a little enclining to the Horses left Ear, his Legs a little forward, with his Toes pressing firm upon the Stirrups near his Horses Shoulders, his Heels lower than his Toes, and turned outwards, his [ 40] Knees fast as if they were glewed, which with the Counterpoise of the Body, by observing time is all that makes a Man firm on Horseback: No∣thing shew's a good Horseman more than to sit Free and Airy, and nothing shews more ridicu∣lous than to see one sit in a starch'd and formal way like a Statue.

This is the true posture of the Great Saddle, that he must keep himself in, what-ever Airs or Lessons the Horse performs, allowing only for [ 50] different Aids, and the various counterpoise of the Body, according as necessity requires.

The Counterpoise of the Body must be in Gal∣loping something backwards, both for the Grace∣fulness of the Posture, and that the Horse may with more ease keep himself upon his Haunch; the same is requisite in a Trot, or any other Pace, and especially always in stopping, for in that case it is not only graceful, and easie to the Horse, but prevents great disorder, which arrives [ 60] sometimes by a Mans jolting forwards almost touching his Horses Neck. The like is to be ob∣served in Voltes, Demy-voltes, &c. Unless a Horse be rough and Leaps; which if he doth, his Rider must observe to keep time with him, leaning back∣wards when his Croup is in the Air, and forwards when he rises before, without confusion, or dis∣order.

And the better to know the different Aids, let him take notice and remember, that there is in the Managed Horse two Motions, viz. that of the Shoulders, and that of the Haunch; now that of Shoulder is governed by the Hand, and that of the Haunch by the Heel.

The motion of the Hand is thus, if he turns to the right, he must turn his Bridle-hand, so that his Nails come upwards, removing it little or nothing out of the place: if to the left, he must keep it in its own natural posture without turning, only moving it a little to the left. In both these motions he must feel his Horse's Mouth, and work it insensibly as occasion requires. When a Horse carries his head in the right place, and stedy, his Neck pliant, and obeys these Aids rea∣dily, we say he is well in the Hand.

The motion of the Heel is as follows; when he is Galloping upon the Volte, Demi-volte or the like, and would have his Horse keep his Croup in∣wards (which is necessary) he must stretch out his Leg on that side to which he turns, and move the other nearer to the Horses Belly, so that he may feel the motion. If he would make his Horse go sideways upon a right line, he must first put his Shoulders in motion, and then give the same Aids with his Legs as before, and when ever his Horse (of himself, as by any accident) throws his Croup this way or that way, by mov∣ing one of his Legs to him, and stretching out the other, he will rectifie him. A Horse that is well Managed will obey these Aids, if rightly given, and then we say he is well in the Heel.

In these Aids of the Hand, and the Heel, lies the Art of making a Managed Horse perform all his Lessons with exactness, which is not so easy a thing as some imagine, who think if a Horse be perfect, the Rider has nothing to do but sit still upon his Back; because if he doth but sit fast, and keep in Action, they look after no more, not heeding whether he guides the Horse, or the Horse him. But let an ill Horseman be upon never so good a Horse and never so well managed, if he Rides before a good Judge, or Fights with a good Horseman, his weakness will certainly ap∣pear. Let him therefore that begins to Learn, make it his first business to get a good Seat, a true and exact posture, without stifness, or af∣fectation, to gain which, let him add his own ob∣servation to his Masters directions, and making choise of some well shaped Person (who is known to be a fine Horseman) let him observe his posture and motions, endeavouring to imitate them, for we are apt to learn faster from Examples before our eyes, than from the best directions that can be given.

In the next place let him endeavour to get a just hand upon a Horse, and to give his Aids true, and à propos, which must be done by a constant application, and a good Memory; and by working with his Head, as well as his Body. And lastly, I would advise him to stick to it till he is so far Master of a Horse, that he is not on∣ly able to Ride one that is Managed to his hand, but to teach a young Horse himself. For though the teaching a young Horse be too great a drudgery

[illustration]

for a Person of Quality, so that it is not fit he should practice it, yet unless he knows what belongs to it, he will not be capable of Judging when his Riders commit Errors, and whether his Horses be well Managed or no. And when he leaves the Academy, let him be sure to be easie, and unaffected on Horseback, with a loose and manly Gayety, free from scrued Grimances, and stiff Postures. For some young Sparks upon their first leaving an Academy, have their heads [ 10] so turned with it, that they are for Managing all Flesh alive, even to the Post-horse, and are in the same Postures a Hunting, Hawking, and the like, that they ought to be in at the head of a Squadron; whereas a compleat Horseman distin∣guishes always what Horse he is upon, and what he is doing; If he is upon a War-horse going to charge, he puts himself in a firm posture, and considers how he shall Attack, or defend; If a Hunting, his Stirrups are shortned for the ease of [ 20] his Horse, and his posture is more negligent and loose: If for Riding a Course, or Heats, his Feet are home in the Stirrups, his Elbows close to his Body, lying snug upon his Horse, that he may have the advantage of the Counterpoise, which doth not hinder the Running so much before: In a word, a good Horseman knows how to make use of all Horses for all uses, and in all pla∣ces.

I shall not trouble you with a Journal of Les∣sons [ 30] for Managing Horses, for if you are an Ar∣tist it is needless, if not, you must know (what ever some Men have pretended) ti's a thing not to be got by Book, as a Lesson of Musick is: I will only tell you one thing and so conclude this Chapter, and that is, never to put a young Horse to the Manege, that is not naturally made and disposed for it. He must be of a good kind, strong and vigorous, and yet light and nimble, with good Reins and Limbs, his Neck and Crest [ 40] must be well formed, and his Head well set on, &c. (according to the former directions, Chap. 7.) he must naturally have good motions which you, may guess at, by seeing him Walk and Trot, and strikeing him gently to see how he presents himself; and he must also be of a good temper: without these qualities the best Rider throws a∣way his pains, and the owner his Money. For some Horses are so awkward, stubborn and dog∣ged, having such skittish, resty and Cross-grained [ 50] Tricks, that tis as easie to teach a Dromedary to fetch and carry, as to make them fit for any A∣ction, or service in the War. Therefore when you have a good Horse, prize him, for they are very rare, though of so much use and conse∣quence: And if you have two or three particular Horses that you would choose in an occasion to venture your life upon, keep them for their proper business, and put them to nothing un∣necessary that will fatigue them, or batter their [ 60] Limbs.