A new method, and extraordinary invention, to dress horses, and work them according to nature as also, to perfect nature by the subtility of art, which was never found out, but by ... William Cavendishe ...

THAT THERE ARE FEW GOOD HORSES.

NOw I must Tell you, That there are Good and Badd Horses of all Countries in the World; but there are more Badd than Good, as there are of Men: And though there be Mil∣lions of Painters, yet there was but one Vandike in many Ages, or, I believe, shall be: The like in Musick, in Horse-manship, in Weapons, and in Horses; for a Rare Horse in any Kind, is a Difficult business to find, I assure you: It is a Hard thing to find Fit Horses for the Mannage, either upon the Ground, or in Ayres. It is true, Art doth much, but Nature is the Ground for Art to Work on; for, without it, Art can do but Little.

I dare Undertake to Make a Cow go Just in the Mannage, but when I have Done that, it is but a Cow: And so a Jade that is Drest, he is but a Jade when you have done all you Can.

I assure you, it is a very Hard thing to find a Good Padd-Nagg, or a Good Padd-Gelding, to Amble finely upon the Hanches, and from his Amble to his Gallop, or from his Amble to his Trot, and firm on the Hand: Upon the Bitt I have seen very Few worth any thing, and as few Good Buck-Hunters, or Hawking-Naggs, or Winter Hunting-Geldings, or Horses to Gallop or Run surely upon All Grounds, Plowed Lands, Moors, Parks, Forrests, and every where, with a Snaf∣fle, and a Scotch Saddle, the Rains slack in his Neck, which makes him very much the Sa∣fer for his Rider, because he Gallops upon the Hanches.

Let me Tell you, That Running-Horses are the most Easily found, and of the least Use; commonly they Run upon Heaths, (a Green Car∣pet) and must there Run all-upon the Shoulders, which in Troublesome Grounds is ready to Break ones Neck, and of no Use; Though I Love the Sport of a Running-Horse very Well, and think I am as Good a Jockey as any, and have Ridden many Hundred Matches, and Seen the

Best Jockeys, and Studied it more than, I think, they have Done.

You see how Difficult a thing it is to Have a Good Horse in any Kind, for Any thing: Therefore I conclude, That a Knowing Horse-man is not so Happy for Horses, as a Citizen of London, that knows Nothing, more Than to Buy a Horse in Smithfield, for Eight Pound Ten Shil∣lings, or there-abouts, to Carry him to Notting∣ham, or to Salisbury; and let him have never so many Faults, his Ignorance finds none: Wherein he is very Happy.