The parfait mareschal, or Compleat farrier. Which teacheth, I. To know the shapes and goodness, as well as faults and imperfections of horses. II. The signs and causes of their diseases, the means to prevent them, their cure, and the good or bad use of purging and bleeding. III. The way to order and preserve them, when upon travel, to feed, and to dress them. IV. The art of shoeing, according to a new design of shoes, which will recover bad feet, and preserve the good. Together with a treatise, how to raise and bring up a true and beautiful race of horses: as also instructions, whereby to fit all kinds of horses with proper bits, whereof the chief draughts are represented in copper-plates. / Written originally in French by the Sieur de Solleysel Escuyer, sometime one of the overseers of the French Kings Royal Academy of Riding, near to the Hostel de Conde in Paris. And translated from the last Paris impression, by Sir William Hope of Kirkliston Kt. Lieutenat Governour of the Castle of Edinburgh. By whom is also added as a supplement to the first part, a most compendious and excellent collection of horsemanship, taken from the best and most modern writers upon that subject, such as Mr. De la Brow, Pluvinel, and the Great Duke of Newcastle. Part I.

CHAP. XIV. Of the Operation of the Bitt in several Cir∣cumstances. And

FIRST, When a Horse goeth straight forewards.

TO Work regularly with the Reins of the Bridle, which work upon the Bitt,* 1.1 is an Art which requireth a great deal of more consideration and Judgement, then many who understand it not do imagine, for you must consider that the Bitt is an Engine which worketh upon the Horses Barrs and the Curb, and the two Branches are like Leavers to work on these two places accordingly as the Reins pull the Cheeks; The Barrs and the place where the Curb resteth, are much lower then the Nose upon which the Cavezon worketh, and the Rings whereto the Reins of the Bridle are fastned at the end of the Cheeks, are also lower then either the Barrs or the Curb, but as the Branch∣es are pulled by the Reins of the Bridle, so doeth the Bitt work upon the Barrs, or the Curb upon the place where it resteth.

I must also tell you that the Branches ly slope to you, and the Reins more slope before you take them into your hand: So the Bitt cannot press very much upon the Barrs, the Bridle hand and Reins being so farr from the Perpendicular line to the Branches; The Per∣pendicular Line is, when you thrust your Bridle hand so far forewards as that it is Per∣pendicular to the ends of the Cheeks, which maketh you have a fuller pull of the Branches, and consequently maketh them work extreamly upon the Curb: So when a Horse go∣eth straight forewards either Trotting, Galloping, or upon Corvets, if you hold your hand low, the Bitt presses more upon the Barrs then the Curb, because the Cheeks of it are not so much pulled to you, or towards the neck of the Horse, and consequently the Curb is not straitned so much, and the Horse is at more liberty, and his head a little high, but when you hold your Bridle hand a little more forewards, and pull it upwards, then the Curb worketh more, and so pulleth down the Horses head: Now the reason of this is plain, for when you pull the Branches hard and up, then you pull the mouth of the Bitt down, and so the Horses head also, because the Branches work hard upon the Curb, for it is most true, that when the Cheeks of the Bitt are pulled up, the mouth goeth down, and straitens the Curb, the hand being high, and when the Branches are not pulled hard, then the Curb is a little slackt, and the Horses head at more liberty; because the pressure of the Bitt upon the Barrs, and of the Curb upon the place where it resteth, dependeth upon the Branches; for when the Branches go up, the Mouth of the Bitt goeth down, and when the Branches go down, the Mouth of the Bitt goeth up; this is the true Operation and Effect of the Bitt, when a Horse goeth straight forwards.

SECONDLY, When a Horse goeth to either the Right or Left Hand, his hinder parts being at Liberty.

FOR the Right Hand: Your little Finger seperating the Reins, the left Rein lyes under the little Finger; and the right Rein above it, so that to turn him to the Right, you must turn up your little Finger and Nails; and as you put it up, put it a little upon the inside of the turn or Volt: But then at the same time, you must also advance a little your outward or left Shoulder, that your Body may incline a little to that Hand you are turning to, and thereby appear the less constrained when your Horse is a turning.

Again for the left Hand, your little Finger also seperating the Reins, you must do quite the contrary; for now you must turn down your Nails and Thumb, and in the time of your turning them down, put your Hand a little upon the inside of the Volt or Turn, that is a little to the Left Hand; but then you must also advance a little your outward or right Shoulder, as upon the right Hand you did your left, that so your Body may incline to that Hand to which you are turning, which is now the Left: And that the

Horses fore-parts may not rise too high, keep the Bridle-hand low, which will help to put him upon the Haunches; for the Bridle hand should never be above two or three Fingers breadth, above the Pommel of the Saddle, and a little advanced and easie, but by any means firm; for there is nothing maketh a Horse go more upon the Haunches, then a light and firm Hand, because when he hath nothing to rest upon be∣fore, he will rest behind, for he must rest upon some thing; and if it be behind, then it is right, because it will be upon his Haunches, a light hand is one of the greatest Se∣crets in Horsemanship; but there is no Horse can be light and firm upon the Hand, except he suffer the Curb, and obey it: and this is the Truth and Quintessence of the Bridle∣hand for the outward Rein, upon either right or left Hand.

THIRDLY, Of the use of both the Outward and Inward Rein.

YOU must help your Horse with the Outward Rein of the Bridle in the Piroite, be∣cause his fore parts are straitned, and his hinder parts at liberty, so you must al∣so help with the outward Rein in Demy Volts of one Pist, and in Passads alongst a Wall; The Demy Volt consisting of either three or five times, and that for the same reason, because his fore parts are pressed or straitned, and his hinder parts at liberty, the Demy Volt being as it were half a Piroite; and so shall you also help with the outward Rein in Corvets backward in a straight Line, his fore parts being pressed, and his hinder parts at Liberty because they lead; in all leaps as Croupadoes, Ballotadoes and Captiole, whither straight forewards or upon the Volts, you must also help with the outward Rein; because in these Ayres the fore parts of the Horse are alwayes pressed, and his hinder parts at liberty; otherwayes it were impossible for him to Leap.

But for Terra a Terra you must help with the inward Rein, because his hinder parts are pressed, and his fore parts at liberty, that is, your chief Aid must be with the Rein upon the inside, which is done by putting your hand upon the outside of his Neck or Volt, which streacheth the inward Rein, and so maketh it work, but if your Horse throw his shoulders too much out of the Volt, then you must instantly turn your hand upon the inside of his neck, and work the outward Rein to bring in his shoulders, and when they are brought in, then immediatly place your hand again upon the outside as it was before; you must also work after the same manner with the inward Rein upon Demy Volts-Terra a Terra, because in them the hinder parts are pressed, and the fore parts at liberty, as likewayes for Corvets upon Volts of two pists, because the hinder parts are pressed, and the fore parts at liberty, that so they may with the more ease lead; You must also make use of the same inward Rein, upon Corvets straight forewards: And that for the same reason of the hinder parts being subjected and pressed, and the fore parts enlarged and at liberty; for the more easie advancing and leading of the way.

Again in Passaging a Horse, you must alwayes whatever hand you are going to, For the most part make use of the outward Rein; Which is, to turn your hand upon the inside of the Volt: That so the Horse may the more easily pass, or Lapp his outward fore legg over his inner, or that within the Volt. But notwithstanding of this, I do not pretend, that you should never make use of the inward Rein; especially, if your Horse straiten his Volt by too much turning of his neck and shoulders within the Circle: For in that case, you must of necessity keep him up, or Soutener him with the inward Rein, and so make him inlarge his Volt, which you found he inclined to close; but still I desire that your principal Aid may be with the outward Rein, and that immediatly after you have given him your Aid, Whither it be with the outward or inward Rein, or that you have Soutened, or keept him up from advancing too quickly: That immediatly I say, after your Aid given, you would slaken and yeeld your Bridle hand a little; This is not only a General, but also a very Useful direction; and therefore I intreat you to remember it.

FOƲRTHLY, Of the Operation of the two Reins seperate, one in each hand.

WHEN you work with the Reins seperate, one in each hand, (I shall first speak of the inward Rein) if you pull the inward Rein from his neck, towards the inside, then you pull the inward Cheek or Branch into the Turn, and then the mouth of the Bitt goeth to the Contrary side, which is without, and presseth the Horse upon the Barrs without the Turn; and likewayes presseth the Curb

upon that same outside, which maketh the Horse look out of the Turn, and consequently presseth his Leggs within the Turn, which is not at all proper for Terra a Terra: And it must of necessity do so, to whatever hand you are going, when you thus pull the in∣ward Rein from his neck, upon the inside of the Volt: For when the Cheeks are pulled in, the mouth of the Bitt must go out, because of what side soever the Cheeks are pull∣ed, the mouth of the Bitt goeth still contrary to them; The Bitt being a Machine which is made so to do.

Therefore in Terra a Terra the Reins seperated one in each hand; I pull the inward Rein (if I am going to the Right hand) slopwayes over his neck, towards my left shoulder, the Knuckles of my Right hand down, and Nails up, which pulleth the inward Cheek towards me, and as it were without the Turn, and then the mouth of the Bitt bendeth into the Turn, and maketh the Horse also look into the Turn, presleth his leggs which are without the Turn, and giveth liberty to those within: Which is the true action of a Horses Leggs, for Terra a Terra.

The inward Rein likewayes pulled thus when you have both the Reins in the Left hand, worketh the very same effect: For going to the Right hand, if you turn your Knuckles quite down, making your Nails as it were respect a little your left shoulder, and there∣by streatch the inward Rein, by this motion of the inward Rein You pull the inward Branch to you, and as it were out of the Turn, and then the mouth of the Bitt goeth into the Turn, and pressing the Horse upon the inside of the Barrs, maketh him both look into the Turn, and also presseth his leggs without the Volt, and giveth liberty to those within, all which is most proper for Terra a Terra: Now what I have said of the Right hand, may be easily applyed to the Left, and this much of the inward Rein, either both Reins being in the Left hand, or the Reins being seperate, and one only in each hand.

Let us now consider the working of the outward Rein, what operation it hath upon the Branches, which Branches govern the mouth of the Bitt and Curb; As for example, going to the Right hand, I turn my hand on the inside of his neck, my Nails a little up; this pulleth the outward Rein, Which outward Rein pulleth the outward Cheek towards me, and therefore must of necessity put the mouth of the Bitt from me, and press the Horse upon the out side of the Barrs, which is on the outside of the Turn, and so the Horse must look out of the Turn, have his leggs pressed within the Turn, and at liberty without the Turn, and all this, because the Branches are pulled to me, and as it were within the Volt, and therefore the mouth of the Bitt must go from me, which is without the Volt: And it is impossible it should work otherwayes, but then it is true that this is not at all fit for Terra a Terra, but excellent for suppling his shoulders. The reason is this. The H••rses leggs are as I said, pressed upon the inside of the Turn, And therefore he must needs bring in his Shoulders, although he is at the same time constrain∣ed to look out of the Turn, the same thing is for the left hand, and the same reason serve for both: Thus you have the Bitt and Reins truely Anatomized, which if I be not mistaken, will be sound very useful to those who design to understand the true Foun∣dations of Horsemanship: The superficial Knowledge of it, being for the most part but a meer Routin, and not worth a Farthing.

Notes

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  CHAP: XIV.