An hipponomie or the vineyard of horsemanship deuided into three bookes. 1. The theorick part, intreating of the inward knowledge of the man.2. The first practicke part, shewing how to worke according to that knowledge. 3. The second practicke part, declaring how to apply both hunting and running horses to the true grounds of this art. In which is plainly laid open the art of breeding, riding, training and dieting of the said horses. Wherein also many errors in this art, heretofore published, are manifestly detected. By Michaell Baret ...

CHAP. 16. Obseruations in running.

VVHen as you are come into the place where you are to beginne your Traine-sents, you shall first picke his feete that there be no grauell nor stones to annoy him, betwixt his hoofes and the shoes, and scrape all the dirt or clay round about the vpper part of his hoofes off, and wipe them cleane: then chafe his legges very well, and for his saddle and bridle they would be made fit before hee come to the field: being a light saddle well sinewed, & stand sure on his back without hur∣ting, with a couple of wollen girths, because they will not be so subiect to chafe, as if they were of girth-webbe, and they will giue more liberty to his body for his wind to passe more easily: the stirrops and lethers strong and sure, but yet so light as is pos∣sible, being let forth to the iust length of your seat, that you may behaue your selfe more artificially▪ for the ease both of your selfe and your Horse. For if they be too short, you can neuer hold a firme seat, your kees being kept from their true place, so that if you leape, you wil either be in hazard of dismounting, or else sit so loose that the vncertainty of your body will be more trouble and hinderance to him then his leape, if you serued him accordingly.

And surther, you cannot haue liberty to spurre when, and as occasion shall be offered: And againe, if they be too long, you cannot haue any stay of them to helpe your horse when he be∣ginneth to be weake, and likewise, it will be hard for you to keepe your stirrops, which to loose is disgracefull.

Likewise, that the reines and head-stall of the bridle be made sure to the snaffle, that there be no miscariage through neglect: and that the snaffle hang in the true place of his mouth: then he being vncloathed mount vpon him, and seat your selfe truely in your seat, and take your reines to such a proportionate length, as you may command your Horse without mouing your seat; holding your switch downe by your right fide, with the poynt backe-ward like a sword, and with your elbowes close to your sides, yeeld your body somewhat forward, houlding your feet straight in your stirrops, and so beginne your businesse cheare∣fully.

Note, that when you switch or spurre your Horse, you haue a care to keepe your seate firme, for a little disorder in your selfe, will cause a greater in the Horse, especially when his strength is weakened: and therefore when you switch, doe not fetch your hand so farre as to remoue your elbow (much) from your side, but lifting your hand vp towards your eare, bring it suddenly downe and strike him with a short iert, for that will be sh••rper, then if it were further fetched, and strike him in the flancke, for there the skinne is tenderst and thinnest. Neither when you spurre, doe not fetch your legges farre to strike him on the side, like a mallet, for then the calues of your legges will so beat him on the sides, that they will force his winde, as if they would driue it out of his body: And beside, you shall in so doing loose your seate. But when you spurre, you shall fetch your legge no further then your ordinary seating, and bring your spurres quick to his sides, with the strength of your legges from the knees downeward, for I am sure it will be so sharpe as to draw blood; and then also you will spurre so couertly as your aduersary will hardly perceiue: and spurre him not vnder the fore ribs neare his heart, till you be driuen to the last refuge.

Note, that if there be any forceable wind, that ye be mind∣full to ride for the best aduantage of your Horse, that is, if the

winde be on your face when your aduersary leadeth, then to ride so close to him, that his Horses bodie may breake the force of it from yours, and yeeld your selfe so low that his body also may shelter your body, which will greatly helpe the strength of your horse.

And likewise, if it bee on your backe, ride so behind him, that your Horse may haue the force of the winde, to set him forward, and breake it from him that he may haue the lesse be∣nefit thereof. And Note, that if you perceiue to haue the speed of him, that you be carefull to preserue it till you come to the course, and there to husband it also, till such time as you shall dispose of it for the best profit: for prodigall running whilst a Horse is fresh, is the losse of many a wager, and disgrace to the Horse, though the fault be in the man.

Note, that at the end of euery Trayne-sent you haue straw and dry cloathes to rub and chafe your horse withall, to make him as dry as the time will permit before you beginne the next sent, & that you haue two or three cloathes steept in neats-foot or sheeps-foot oyle, or such like, to chafe his legs withall, to keep them pliable, & nimble: or if he hath had a strain that you doubt an inflamation, then dip some linnen clothes in cold water and bathe his legges therewith, and that will asswage the heate for that present. Note, that your Tryer may be alwaies prouided of such a Horses, as shall be able to come vp to your aduersary, to switch him vp if at any time be ride not faire, and without the compasse of law: and that he be alwaies with the aduerse Horse to see that they giue him no comfortable thing in his mouth, by conueying it in pretence of rubbing him about the head or musle, or by changing his snaffle, that may be annoyn∣ted with some nourishment; nor that he haue no releife, either by holding straw or clothes ouer him to keepe him from the wet, if it chance to raine, but onely to vse such things by rub∣bing and dressing as the law and match doth allow. And like∣wise to obserue what state the aduersaries horse is in, and how he indureth his labour, which may be perceiued, either by his countenance, or by the working of his flanck, or by the slacking of his girths: for if his winde faile, then his strength abateth, and his body will waxe thinne, so that hee will not fill his girths as

afore, and therfore if they gird him aboue once after he is come into the field, or that once at the first sent, it is a good signe for you, if hee bee close girt when hee beginneth the first traine∣sent.

And thus much briefly for this noble sport of hunting, where∣in a great deale more might be spoken, bnt it would bee too tedious for a young fauourite, to shake euery branch, till hee haue gathered the fruit of the chiefe armes; and therefore if any be of such a dainty stomack that cannot feed on this messe because there is no more variety of dishes, or that the Cooke hath not set it forth with such sweet sauce as their queasie sto∣macks can digest, let them repaire to Mr. Markhams Caualla∣rice, where they may bee fully satisfied, except their stomacks bee so sickly that no dainties can content them: but then looke to themselues, that they surfet not through their cu∣riosity.

Notes

• 1 His hoofes would be pickt.
• 2 His legges chafed.
• 3 The saddle & furniture an∣swerable.
• Theo. 13.
• Theo. 14.
• Theo. 24.
• Theo. 15. 17.
• 1. Pra. 15.
• 1. Pr. 17.
• Theo. 6.
• How to switch.
• How to spurre.
• Theo. 6.
• Aduantage ta∣ken by the winde blowing.
• A small thing will goe farre with good vsing
• Of ordring him at the end of e∣uery Traine∣sent.
• The Triars what to obserue
• Note.
• 2. Pr. 11. 16.
• Variety hurteth them more ti••l it be grounded.
• A conceited sicknesse is incurable.