The gentleman's recreation in four parts, viz. hunting, hawking, fowling, fishing : wherein these generous exercises are largely treated of, and the terms of art for hunting and hawking more amply enlarged than heretofore : whereto is prefixt a large sculpture, giving easie directions for blowing the horn, and other sculptures inserted proper to each recreation : with an abstract at the end of each subject of such laws as relate to the same.

The HUNTER. CHAP. I. Of Hunting-Horses in general, their Ex∣cellency, and the necessity and benefit of the Art of Keeping. (Book 1)

I Shall omit to speak in praise of Hunting in gene∣ral, since I would avoid (as much as might be) Re∣petitions, and that it is already done at the Begin∣ing of the foregoing Book, with more Address than I am Master of. But since that Author hath spoken nothing of the Hunting-Horse, which is a principal Instrument of that Excellent Recreation, I desire leave to speak a word in his Behalf. In Behalf, I say, of this noble Creature, to whom all that are Followers of Hunting are oblig'd: since it is by his Strength and Vigour that we gratifie at ease our Eyes and Ears with all the Pleasures that Hunting affords; and with∣out whose Assistance, a great part of us could enjoy it a little more than in Imagination.

But tis not to us only, that are Huntsmen, but to all Mankind, that the Hunter is (or may be) service∣able. Has our Prince, or Country occasion for our Service in the Field: on what Horse can we venture our Lives more securely, than on the Hunter? His Readiness to obey the Hand and Heel, equals him to the

Mannag'd Horse. His being us'd to gallop on all sorts of Grounds, as well steep places as deep Earths, has so steel'd his Couragc, that he declines no Military service you can put him on. Are there Ambuscado's to be laid, Discoveries to be made, speedy and long Marches to be perform'd; or any other Service, wherein Strength of Body, Purity of Wind, or Swift∣ness, are requir'd? The General may in any of these cases rely on the Hunter, with as much Confidence, as on the Horse that is dress'd in the Mannage.

In times of Peace he is equally Useful, not only for Pleasure, but also for Necessity, and Profit. How diverting to the Eyes, is a Beautiful Horse after a Pack of Dogs? and with how much ease to our Bo∣dies, and delight to our Minds, are we carried up to them; with so much Vigour and Pride to be discern'd in his Countenance, as if he emulated the Hounds in their Speed, and was desirous to excell them, in his Obedience to their common Lord.

How Necessary is the Hunter beyond all other Hor∣ses, if his Masters urgent Affairs (where either Life or Fortune are in hazard,) exact the performance of a long Journey in a short Time. If his Master, in hopes of Advantage, has match'd him against any other Horse; how ready and willing is he, to persorm the Utmost that Nature is capable of, or his Master can reasonably expect from Him? and having Art joyn'd to his natural Abilities, will not only excell all other Horses, but accomplish things beyond his Masters Hopes, or Expectations; for without its Assistance in Dieting and Exercise, no Horse can follow the Hounds, or indeed undergo any other extreme Labour, with∣out hazarding the melting his Grease, the breaking of his Wind, or foundring him either in Feet, or Body: all which are consequences of immoderate Labour, and Ignorance in this Art.

That I may therefore give you some Light into its Mysteries, I shall first direct you how to breed such Horses that may be for Training; or else instruct you, how otherwise to procure them. Secondly, how to know by Shapes, Marks, and other Tokens, what Horse may be most convenient for your purpose. Thirdly, how to diet him so, that he may perform all things within his Power, without Danger. Last∣ly, what manner of Exercise is most conducive to this Design: and on these Heads I intend to inlarge in my following Discourse.

But before I enter upon my Subject propos'd, I think it necessary to answer Four Objections, that may be made against this Art of Dieting and Training Hor∣ses, that I may remove all prejudice from the minds of those, who think they may have Reason to op∣pose it; and that I may vindicate (with Truth) this Art, and clear it from all Aspersions.

The first Objection I shall mention, is made by de Grey in his Epistle to the Reader, (Edit. 4th.) where under the Umbrage of his Love to Horses and in pity of the Hardships they undergo in Hunting, he ex∣treamly inveighs against it, as the Sourse of all their Miseries. But that I may not be tax'd of Prevarica∣tion by my Reader, and for his satisfaction I shall set down his Words, which are these.

If the Nobility and Gentry of this our Isle of Great Britain, did truly know how honourable, and how com∣mendable Horsemanship were, and how much they are esteem'd and admir'd, who are the true Professors thereof, they would labour more than they now do, to breed and to have good Horses; but it much troubleth me to see, how little Esteem Gentlemen have thereof. Some Horses they have, though not for Mannage, yet for Hunting: but what manner of Hunting? Fox-hunting forsooth, or Har∣riers, which be as fleet as petty Grey-hounds, wherewith

they do so much over-strain the strength of these poor Horses, (forcing them over deep Fallows, tough Clays, and wet and rough Sands,) that albeit those Horses be strong and able, yet are they so toil'd out therewith, as that when they come home at night they would pity the Heart of him that loveth an Horse to see them so bemired, blooded, spurred, lamentably spent, and tyred out; where∣as if such Horses had been ridden to the Great-Saddle and Cannon, they would infinitely have delighted all men that should have beheld them.

To this I answer, that for my own part I am not very fond of Fox hunting; but I can see no Reason why Persons of Honour should not gratifie their Fancies with this Recreation, since from the beginning Horses were made for the service of Man; and doubtless for their Recreation, as well as more necessary Uses. And I am very confident, that if Horses be train'd, dieted, and ridden according to Art, there will be left no ground for this Objection. For by good Feeding Faint∣ness would be prevented; and by Airing, and due Exercise, the Horses Wind would be so improv'd, that no moderate Labour would hurt him; nay, though a Horse by immoderate Riding, were reduc'd to such Tragical Exigencies, as De Grey mentions, yet by the Assistance of Art Nature may be in Twenty four hours space so reliev'd, that all those dangerous Symptoms shall be remov'd, and all the Natural Faculties act as formerly.

Now as to the last part of his Argument, I appeal to all the greatest Masters of Academies here, or in Foreign Parts; whether in the Mannage, the Spurs are not as much us'd, (not to say more,) as in Hunt∣ing; and the Duke of Newcastle in his Methode Nou∣velle in 80. p. 85. says, il n'y a point d' Exercise si vio∣lent pour les Chevaux que celuy de Manege; that is, There is no Exercise so violent for Horses as the Man∣nage;

so that you see Hunting is not the only violent Exercise: and Salomon de la Brove goes further in his Cavalarise Frangoise, telling us, that Mannag'd Horses should sometimes be us'd to the Chase, since hunting assists his wind, and brings him to a civil Ac∣quaintance with other Horses: inferring from hence, that hunting procures to an Horse two Benefits, viz. Speed and Strength, and reforms in him two Vices, Salvageness and Restiveness.

Secondly, there are others, that though they may approve of keeping their Horses clean, yet are not reconcil'd to hunting; but being either Admirers of Coursing, or else keeping Horses only for the benefit of their health, and the taking the Air; will not be perswaded, but that they can bring their Horses to the same Perfection without hunting, as with it.

To answer the first of these, I mean Coursers; I affirm, 'tis impossible to attain the end of this Art by that Means: for being oblig'd in search of their Game to toil their Horses all day, over deep Fallows, in a foot-pace only, they are likelier to bring their Hor∣ses to Weariness than Perfection.

And the same Answer may serve the Others likewise: for Riding a Horse up and down the Field after no∣thing, brings a Weariness and Dislike to an Horse in his Exercise, through his Ignorance of the Time, when his Labour shall cease; whether, or to what End he is so labour'd. Whereas on the contrary, an Horse naturally takes delight in following the Dogs, and seems pleas'd with their Musick, as is evident by his pricking up his Eaers, gazing on them, and preffing to gallop towards them, when ever he hears them in full-cry, (though at a distance.) Nay further, I have been Master of a Stonehorse, that so entirely lov'd the Hounds, that when at any time (through eagerness of Sport, and desire to save the Hare from being

eaten) I have rid in amongst the Dogs, he would so carefully avoid treading on them, that he has more than once hazarded my Limbs (by making a false step) to save theirs. From hence I infer, that doubtless Horses extreamly delight in hunting, and consequently, that it is a fit Exercise for them.

Thirdly, Others Object, That what soever Plea∣sure there may be in Hunting, they had rather deny themselves that satisfaction than hazard the Laming their Horses, which, (as they are told few, or no Hun∣ters escape.

That Hunters are sometimes Lame, I do not deny: but cannot allow, that it proceeds alwaies from this Exercise. For 'tis the Indiscretion of the Riders, in o∣verstraining their Horses at Leaps; and by that meanes, sometimes clapping them on the back-sinews, catching in their shoos, and such like, and not the Sport, that is the cause of Lameness. But on the contrary, I will un∣dertake to shew any man Twenty other Horses lame (which never knew what belong'd to Hunting) for One Hunter. There are several other Reasons besides Hunting to be given for Lameness; as for Instance. Much Travel though but moderate, if care be want∣ing) will produce Wind-galls, and Splints, which are the fore-runners of Lameness. Want of Exercise will straiten the Hoofs, and dry up the sinews; and too much negligence in Travail occasions Surbating, Foundring, and Gravailing. Horses on the Road oftentimes stumble, and now and then fall, and so become Lame. Nav, a Slip, or an Over-reach are as incident to the Pad, as to the Hunter. And to conclude, the Horse that is Dressd, is more liable to a Strain in the Back, and Fillets, than the Hunter; by meanes of his short-turns: so that you may perceive that Lameness is E∣pidemical, and therefore no more to be objected a∣gainst Hunting-Horses, than the rest of that Species.

Fourthly, Some again are. Enemies to this Art of Dyeting Horses in particular: affirming, that such exact Diet makes them tender, sickly, and takes them off their Stomach: and that the Charges are not only great, but likewise unnecessary.

To the First part of this Obiection, I answer, that an Horse is so far from being made tender, or losing his Appetite, by such extream and several Feedings, if he have proportionate Exercise, that it rather in∣ures him to hardship. For much Labour (if not too violent) either in Man or Beast, instead of weakning the Ssomack, and causing Sickness, does rather advance the Appetite and preserve his Health; and it may be observed, that it doth oftner heighten than decay the Stomack. In like manner moderate Airings pu∣rify his Wind, and both together render him Heal∣thy, and fit for Service.

As to the several sorts of Food, we shall prove in the sequel, that every part of it is both nourishing, and natural to all Horses Constitutions; so that con∣sequently, tis not only allowable, but necessary: And to prove this, needs no more; than to ride an ordi∣nary Horse drawn clean, a days Hunting, or three Heats, and a Course, against the best of those Horses, which are kept by such Persons who think that half a Peck a Day, and fetching his water at the next Spring is Horsemanship sufficient; and they will find by keep∣ing and Exercise, the Ordinary Horse will become long winded, and stick at Mark: when the other that is Foul-fed, and fat, will soon give out, for want of Wind; or otherwise if he be hardy will dy under the Spur; whereas if the untrained Horse had been rightly ordered he would have worsted Twenty such Horses.

Now to the Charges of Keeping, Fifty Shillings a Year disburs'd for Bread, besides Hay, Straw, Corn

and Physick, (which all Horses of Value must be allow∣ed) is all that will be requisite, to keep an Horse in as good State for Ordinary Hunting, as any Horse whatsoever. Lastly by being Skilful in the Art of Keeping, this Advantage will insue; that no Distem∣per relating either to the Head or Body can conceal themselves from his keepers knowledge, whose Skill will inform him, how to put a stop to them, before they have made any considerable Advances to the Horses Prejudice. And he that grudges so small an Expence on so noble and useful a Creature as an Horse is, deserves never to come on the back of one.