The perfect horseman, or, The experienced secrets of Mr. Markham's fifty years practice shewing how a man may come to be a general horseman, by the knowledge of these seven offices, viz. the breeder, feeder, ambler, rider, keeper, buyer, farrier
Markham, Gervase, 1568?-1637., Thetford, Lancelot.
Page 12
To know Goodness.
There is a Rule, and it is a good one, that an Horses ability, and continuance in good∣ness is known by his Hoofs: For if they be strong, smooth, hard, deep, tough, upright∣standing, and hollow, that Horse cannot be evil. For they are the foundation of his buil∣ding, and lend fortitude to all the rest. If they be otherwise, he cannot be good or lasting: Whence it comes to pass, that no Horse na∣turally hath so good hoofs as the Barbary; and it is indeed the only character by which to know him from all other horses.
