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. XXXIV. Of the Vices and Imperfections of Horses, and how to Prevent and Remedy them.

NO Horse makes a fault, but it is either in his Head and shoulders, or Croup,* 1.1 which is either before or behind, that is, he doth either disobey the hand or the heel, I shall discourse in this Chapter of both, and offer to you the best remedies hitherto known, to prevent and rectifie the faults in either, and therefore shall begin with the Imperfections of a Horses Mouth.

FIRST. Of the Imperfections of a Horses Mouth.

THe most part of Writers on Horsemanship, as well Ancient as Modern, are mightily troub∣led and concerned, about the Vices and Imperfections of a Horses Mouth, for Example, the first is, when a Horse pulls and sucks up his Tongue; The second, when he puts his Tongue over the Bitt: The third, when he doubleth it about the Bitt: And the fourth, when he letteth his Tongue hang out of his Mouth, either before, or upon one side of it; for all which they have taken a great dale of pains, with many curious devices and inventions, and a great dale of labour to cure them; so as there several Writings about these particular Vices of the mouth, would make a great Volume, when in truth most of their Bitts designed to re∣medie these Imperfections, are greater vices then these they would rectifie, and their Phy∣sick worse then the Disease, which bringeth more inconveniencies along with it, then the Vices they go about to cure.

For my own part, I could indeed wish that a horse had none of these faults, but put the case he hath, as putting his Tongue out, over the Bitt, or sucking or drawing of it up, or doubl∣ing it, all these I wish were not, but if they be, the Horse is little or not at all prejudiced by them, for he will have as good an Apuy or feeling of the Bitt with them as without them, and will be as firm and steddy in the hand, and as sensible of the Barrs and Curb, as if those Vices were not; because the Bitt will rest and work still upon his Barrs, and the Curb in its due place where it ought, in spight of his Tongue, let it be where it will, for if a Horses Tongue should be cut out, would that hinder the Bitt from working upon the Barrs, or the Curb to work in its due place? Certainly not at all, Nay horses have been known to have had their Tongues pulled out by the Roots, and yet have Rid afterwards as justly as ever they did before, so the carrying of the tongue this or that way out of the mouth, although I confess it is not very becoming, yet it is but of little consequence for true going in the mannage, because as I said, the bitt will alwayes work upon the barrs and curb, whither the horse have a tongue or not, and it is this working of the bitt, which maketh a horse go

well, and not the different positions of a horses tongue, which you see can be no hinde∣rance to him in the World for Rideing, so you may perceive with what vain curiosity, our Great Masters have not only troubled themselves, but also puzsled many of their Ri∣ders, and tormented poor horses to no purpose in the World.

SECONDLY. Of a Horse who throweth up his Head, either to shun the pressure of the Curb, or the trouble of being put upon his Haunches.

THere are many horses, who when ever they are prest, will throw up their heads, and they do it commonly to shun one of two things, which is either the pressure of the curb or bitt, or the uneasiness of being kept upon their haunches: if the first, then it is a sign they do nor obey the curb or pressure of the Bitt upon their barrs, to remedy which, you must first trot and stopp them, then gallop and stop them, and also pull them back frequently, all which being done with Discretion and Judgement, their head in and their croup out, or cavezon rein and legg of one side will cure them; but if it be to shun being kept upon their haunches, then tye the cavezons inward rein pretty short to the pomel of the saddle, and this will pull down his head, and consequently put him upon his haun∣ches, but then the horse to hinder it, will strive still to go off his haunches by putting out his croup, in which case, you must alwayes give him the spurr upon that side to which he puts his croup untill he obeys you, and then he Vice is rectified.

THIRDLY. Of a Horse who goeth Incaputiato, or Arms himself against the Bitt.

MAny Authors are mightily mistaken about this Vice, as they call it, saying a horse is hard on the hand; and under no command, because the branches of the bridle rest upon his Neck or Counter so, that you cannot pull or help him at all with your briddle hand, wherein they are very much deceived, for many horses have been known to Arm themselves against the Bitt, as much as any horses could do, who yet were very com∣mandable, and as light on the hand as any horses in the World; For if a horse go per∣fectly upon the haunches he must of necessity be light on the hand, let him arm himself as he pleaseth, or carry his head never so low, therefore they are deceived who think other∣wayes; However to prevent the Arming of a horse against the Bitt, Mr: La Broue orders a ball of wood covered with Velvet, or any other thing to make it appear neat,) to be put upon his Chaul band, which when ever he bringeth in his head too much, will press him between his jaw-bones, and so prevent his head coming too closs to his neck or counter, the invention is good and seldom faileth to answer expectation; Therefore I recommend it to you, the only difficulty lyeth in proportioning the bigness of the Ball, to the distance which is between the Horses Jaw bones, for were it too small, it would have no effect, and should it be too large, it would appear too much, and consequently be Ʋnbecoming, there∣fore your own Judgement must direct you as to the Bigness, for according to the Ouverture between the Jaws, narrower or wider, so must the Boul be higger or smaller.

FOƲRTHLY. Of a Horse who will not Turn, or Obey the Hand.

IF you have wrought your Horse in his first Lessons, as I have directed you, he can never be Entier which is not to turn, for when a horse is Entier he puts alwayes in his Croup, and out his shoulders, and those Lessons which I have given you for suppling his shoulders, put out his Croup, and force in his shoulders, which is just contrary to being Entier, so that suppling thus a horses shoulders, he can never have this vice, for indeed it procedeth more from the stifness of his shoulders, then any resistance he maketh with his Croup, and there∣fore if you work him with the Cavezon, Rein and Legg of a side, his head in and Croup out, he will never be Entier, but if you shall find him very obstinate, then pull the Cavezons in∣ward Rein very hard to you; giving him the spurr upon the inside, and this will certainly cure him.

FIFTHLY, Of a horse who will not Obey, or Answer the Heels.

IF your horse when you intend to work him with his Croup in, to put him upon the Haunches, will not answer your outward heel, but putteth out his Croup upon it, then if his head be to the Wall, pull the Rein of the Cavezon which is opposite to the side whereto he is going, and this will make him put in his Croup, but then your horse at the time you do this will go false, because he will look from the Volt or Turn; however if you find that this hath not effect enough, then put him upon a large Circle, and pull the outward Rein of the Cavezon quite without the Turn, at the same time helping him with your Outward legg and Spurr, which will infallibly bring in his Croup, but then this will be yet falser than the other, for now his head will be pulled quite out of the Turn, whereas he only lookt a little without the Turn in the former, but as a Man cannot do two things at once, espe∣cially Contrarys, so he must be satisfyed with this False Lesson, until once the fault be rectified, and then he must begin again, and work his Horse according to the true Rules of Art.

SIXTHLY, Of a Horse who in Riding upon a Circle or Square, bringeth too much in his Outward Shoulder, and therefore keepeth not his Ground as he ought: As likewayes who Goeth false upon his Terra a Terra, because he also bringeth too much in his Shoulders.

THis of bringing in too much the Outward shoulder, is a Vice by which a Horse disobey∣eth both the Hand and Heels, but especially the Hand, for no Horse can bring in his Shoulders too much, but at the same time he must put out his Croup, and no Horse also that bringeth in his Shoulders too much, but he straitens and narrows his Volt or Circle, and so keeps not his Ground, also if he go too high before, he will yet have more liberty to bring in his Outward shoulder, therefore to recover him of this Vice, the main Business is to keep him Low, and make him go forewards truely, both with his Leggs and Body: To perform which, you must sit oblique, as I have else where shown you for Terra a Terra, and pull the Cavezons inward Rein with your hand, in an oblique line cross his Neck, and the Nailes of it respecting your Outward shoulder to whatever hand you are going, and thus keep him down, that he rise not too high, your Bridle hand being also as Low as his Main, which will also help to keep him down, now his being thus keept low, will cure the half of the Vice of bringing in his shoulders too much, that is, he will not do it so much as he did before, but to keep him from coming in at all, because his coming too much in, is also occasioned by his not going forewards: Therefore to make him go forewards, you must help him with both your Leggs, and as your Outward legg keeps in his Croup, so your In∣ward legg must put him forewards, and thus you see your hand keeps him Low, and both your Leggs put him forewards, which will infallibly in a short time cure him.

But if your Horse go false upon his Terra a Terra, by bringing in his shoulders too much, and imbracing too much ground at once with his fore parts, then there is no way to Re∣medy him, like tying the Cavezons inward Rein, as strait as possible you can to the Po∣mel, that so he may with both his Eyes almost look into the Volt, and then he will not have so much Room to bring in his shoulders as he had before, although it appear other∣wayes to those who do not exactly understand the Opperation of the Cavezon; For this will force him to take shorter stepps, and consequently to imbrace less ground at a time with his fore parts, which will certainly cure him; Now whereas I can only say of other Helps that they may do, of this I say it will do and is most certain; therefore I set you down none but it, because I intend you should make use of no other.

SEVENTHLY, Of a Horse who in the Mannage maketh a Shuffling kind of Amble, As also Wrangleth in his Trot.

MAny Horses though they can do nothing but Trot, yet when they are prest in the Man∣nage, they will make a shuffling Amble, nay they will perfectly Amble, which is the worst Action for the Mannage that possible can be, and therefore to prevent it,

there is nothing better, then to pull your Horses head into the Turn as much as possible you can, and Ride him also upon very narrow Circles, which will hinder him from Ambling, to give him also the Spurrs soundly when he Ambles, will help to put him from it; Now although some strong Horses Amble when they are prest in the Mannage, yet they are commonly weak Horses, who either by nature, or because they are almost wearied, incline to Amble in the Mannage, for we frequently see, that the most part of Foles when first brought forth, naturally take themselves to the Amble, because they are as yet weak, but so soon as they are a little stronger, they altogether quite their Amble, and take themselves to a Trot.

Again, if your Horse do not Amble, but only Wrangle in his going, between a false Trot and a false Gallop, then also the inward Rein of the Cavezon pulled very hard with your hand, or tyed strait to the Pomel, to put out his Croup very much upon large Cir∣cles will help it, especially if at the same time you give him the Spurr within the turn, or both Spurrs soundly if need be, and this with good and frequent stops, will infallibly make him trot right, and make him go just both upon his Trot and Gallop, as he should.

EIGHTLY. Of a Horse who goeth too much upon his Chine or Back.

WHensoever a Horse goeth too much on the Back, and fetches disordered Leaps, there is no way better to hinder him, then to hold him fast and firm on the hand, for a flack and easie hand will give him Liberty to Leap, when a hard and stiffer would prevent it: Also when a horse is accustomed to go commonly low in Corvets, but by Long rest and little Riding begins to go too much upon his Back, there is nothing taketh him more off it then to put in his Croup sufficiently well, for this will so subject his hinder parts, that it will hinder and tye him up from Crouping or going upon the Back, but before you put in his Croup, it were very good to Trot and Gallop him so long upon large circles of one piste, or tread, until you find that you have totally abated his Chine, and taken him off his Back, and then put in his Croup to subject him, that so he may only go upon his Haunches, and not upon his Back; for there is nothing in the World puts a horse more u∣pon his Haunches, then the Cavezons inward Rein tyed to the Pomel, the Rider at the same time pressing him upon the outside of the Turn, which will make him lean upon the outside, that is lean upon his Outward bind legg, which is done by the inward Rein of the Cavezon, either pulled cross his Neck, or tyed to the Pomel, and helping at the same time with the outward legg, which is Legg and Cavezon Rein contrary, as I have several times told you already, and cannot do it too often, it is of such consequence for the right dressing of horses; especially for the putting them upon their haunches.

NINTHLY, Of a Horse who is Resty, or retains his Forces.

A Resty Horse is he who will not go forewards, the way then is to pull him backwards, and perhaps he will then go forwards, this seldom faileth; but if it should, then make use of your Spurrs to the purpose, causing also another person who is a foot, whip him forwards with a good Shambrier, and although he rebel a great while, the Spurrs and Sham∣brier will perswade him at last, they being the best argument you can use to him, if they be given sharply, soundly, and in time, and be also continued until he yeeld, which he will certainly do at last; for whereas the most part of other Remedies fail, this never doth, and you had as good apply Rose water and Suggar candy to him, as attempt to rectifie him with such foolish Remedies, as many old Writers have recommended for this Vice, therefore they are the Spurrs and Shambrier that must do the Bussiness, let people who un∣derstand no better talk what they will.

For a Horse who falleth down upon the Ground, or in the Water, nothing is better then a pair of good Spurrs timeously applyed.

But if your Horse be Retenu, paresus or Contre coeur, which is all but a kind of Restiness, by which he retains his forces, you must then Gallop him quick, as also press him upon his Terra a Terra to put him from thinking, for it is his Resty thinking that nurishes this Vice, and let me tell you, that bad Horsemen and Bunglers at first breaking of a Horse, are

the Cause of all these Vices, by correcting them either out of time, or letting them have too much of their will, which is every white as bad, if not worse than the other.

I must also tell you for a Truth, that the worst natured Jade in the World by nature, is more easily dressed and reduced to Obedience, then a Horse who hath been spoiled and made Resty by ill Riding, so much worse to rectifie is a bad habite, acquired by custome and continued, then an evil disposition by nature; for a customary Drunkard we see is hardly reclaimed, although by nature he be not much inclined to it, and if it be thus in Men who are Rational, we need not much wonder if we find it also so in Horses, who are accounted but poor irrationall Brutes.

TENTHLY. Of a Horse who forceth the Riders Hand, commonly called a Run-away.

FOr a Runaway-Horse, you must have a Gentle Bitt, with a slack Curb, and easie Cavezon, that so nothing may hurt his Mouth, or trouble his Nose, for certainly sharp Cave∣zons, and Rud Bitts hard Curbed, which the Horsemen of old made most use of, did make more Runaway Horses by turning them to dispair, than any thing else, you must also take care to keep a gentle and easie Bridle hand, that so you may offend him no manner of way, and then Walk him first without Stoping, but only Steying him upon the hand little by little, and then Trot him, afterwards put him from his Trot to a Walk, also staying him by degrees, and alwayes make much of him when he obeys you, when you find him thus far peaceable, then put him from his Trot to a Gentle Gallop, and from the Gallop to a Trot, and from a Trot to a Walk, and then from his Walk stay him little by little with a Gentle hand, and using this Method for a while with Patience and Judgement, you will in all Probability prevent his Ruuning away.

But say you, put the case he do Run away, what is to be done then? for certain it is that the more the Cavezon be pulled, the harder he will press upon the Hand, and faster he will run to oppose the Rider, and the more you pull the Bridle Reins and hurt him by straitning the Curb, the more he will pull and run the faster, so that your pulling will signity no more then if you pulled a Wall, in answer to this I say, that if you have Field-room, when ever you find him begin to run, let him go by slacking the Bridle, and giving him the Spurrs continually, sharply, and soundly, until he begin to slack of himself, and so be contented to stop, and so often as he begins to run, use him alwayes after the same manner, and I dare undertake that at last you will cure him, for there is no Remedy I assure you like this for a Runaway Horse.

But if you have not Room to run him straight out, and are circumscribed and con∣fined in a narrow bounds, then make him run circularly until he be weary, but if you have only a very little space, then the absolute best way is to put him to the single Pillar, with a good strong Rope, which a second person must keep fast about the Pillar with his hand, both which will hold him, and there he can run no way but round and circular∣ly; neglect not to give him the Spurrs soundly, until he be weary and willing to stop, and this at last will no doubt cure him.

ELEVENTHLY, Of a Skittish Horse, and to assure him for the Warrs.

WHen a Horse is Skittish and apprehensive of Noise, there are many Inventions made use of by unskillful people to help him, which are none of the best, such as to stop his Ears with W••ol that he may not hear, that is, to make him deaf as well as Skittish, for the Vice still remains, and if the Wool should fall out, you would find it to be so; but you may be also deceived as to the sense which occasions this Vice, for perhaps it may not be from the Sense of Hearing, but seeing, that his Skittishness proceeds, and should he be afraid of the Fire when Guns are shot, would you cover his Eyes with Lunettes or Spec∣tacles of Leather, to make him both deaf and blind, these are all but great follies, there∣fore the only sure way is to accustome him by little and little to shot, and the noise of Drums, Trumpets and Colours, and the practice of this will make him endure them, and go upon any of them, yea even upon a Sword or Halbert, for as Custome prevaileth with Men, so does it also with Horses, it is also very good to teach a Horse to leap hedge, ditch, and Rail, for all these things are useful especially for a Souldiers Horse, as also to Swim well is very necessary, and hath saved many a Mans Life.

TWELFTHLY, Of a Horse who is Vitious, by Biting, Stricking, or Rising so high before, that he is alwayes in danger of coming over upon his Rider.

WHen a Horse Bites at his Shoulders, and at the branches of his Bitt, or at his Riders leggs, and also rises and turns round ready to come over, the best Remedy that I know, is to ride him with a Gentle Bitt, and without a Cavezon, offending and hurting him as little as possible, and to tye the Nose band of the Bridle strait, as also to have another Nose band below, where the Bitt is fastened, and to draw that so very hard, that he can∣not open his Mouth, and when the Horse finds that he cannot Bite, he will in a little time quite those Jadish Tricks; Now because the giving him the Spurrs out of time, appears to be the cause of his Vitiousness, Therefore do not give him them of a great while, but only walk and Trot him upon large circles quietly and peaceably, and when you have gained him to this point, then Gallop him gently now and then, making but just feel that you have Spurrs and no more, and this Method continued will cure him, or else nothing.

Yet I must tell you, that for Vitious Horses who endanger the Company, by Kicking or Stricking out behind, there is no better way then to cause geld them, for if that cure them not, nothing else in the World will; But the worst of all Vices or rather Defences, and which puts a Rider in most danger, is when a Horse Rises so high before, that he is ready to Renverse or come over upon his Rider, those Horses which are firie and weak in the Gambrels, are most subject to it, and put frequently their Rider in peril of his Life, and therefore I call it a troublesome or dangerous Defence, now those Horsemen who teach their Horses to rise before, or upon pesates, before they be settled upon the bond and answer the heels, teach them this Defence, so that upon the least pull, or holding fast of the Bridle when the Horse rises, he is brought over upon his Rider; besides what I have already desited you to do in this Case, which is to keep a gentle and light hand, and to trouble your Horse as little as possible, yet here is an infallible way without any kind of hazard for the Rider, to cure a Horse of this Vice, even when he hath had it so long, that it is convetted into a kind of habit.

Tye therefore your Horse very short between the Pillars with a Rope Cavezon, without any person upon his Back, and with a Stick about six foot long, pointed at one end with an Iron Punchion or Needle, prick your Horse upon the outside of his Thigh, to make him strick out, and when he doth it make much of him, continue thus to make him strick out, untill he do it easily, and without any kind of difficulty, which will be in two or three Dayes at most, if you continue it for half an hour each Day, when you find that he stricks out when ever you offer to prick him, although you do not touch him with the Needle, then take his Back still between the Pillars, and keeping the Bridle a little long in your Left Hand, help him behind the Saddle with your Right, in which you must have a short Punchion, another person upon foot at the same time, helping with the Stick upon his Thigh, and if he strick out easily with you upon his Back, then Caresss him, and con∣tinue for several Dayes this Lesson, until you find him strick out by the help only of the Punchion which is in your Right hand, without the assistance of the Stick upon his Thigh, which will be in four or five Dayes at farthest, then take him from between the Pillan, and put him to the single pillar with a long Rope, which must be kept about it by the Per∣son who is a foot, and there make him strick out in one place with the help of your Right hand, and of the long stick upon his Thigh if need be, afterwards make him go fore∣wards two or three Steps, and then make him strick out three or four times upon end, and thus continue first Stepping or VValking him, and then making him strick out, untill he perform it a whole Round without making one Step or VValk, but alwayes stricking out; when he is brought this length, then Gallop him about the Pillar, and as you stop him make him strick out, without raising him at all before, and if he should offer to rise of his own accord, then make use of your Punchion behind the Saddle, which will at that inflant of time make him strick out, and so prevent his rising before, and using him thus for some time he will be so accustomed to it, that he will not so much as offer to rise before at all, let alone to come over or Renverse, even although you should Gallop him in the Fields, and without any kind of Longe or Rope fixed to the Bridle, and all this in the space of eight or ten Dayes at farthest, I have had experience of this Remedy for Renversing many a time, and it never yet failed me, so that after I have made use of it for eight or ten Dayes, I make no difficultie to give them the Spurrs sharply if they need them, and

vet they never think of rising before: when you have once brought him from rising before, it is an easie matter to cure him of his stricking out, so here you see is a Vice or Defence rectifi∣ed in a very short time by its Contrary, and without any kind of difficulty or danger to the Rider.

If I have not in this Chapter named all the Vices with their Remedies, which the most part of cross natured Horses are subject to, and defend themselves by when dressing, it is be∣cause those Horses who are Rid according to the Method I have prescrived in this Trea∣tise, are not subject to them, because they are not too much troubled and pressed, for by this Method you follow Nature, and make every thing become easie to them by de∣grees, and do not force and press them either with the stroacks of the Spurrs, or lashes of the Shambriet, and as by practise they become supple and easie, they press themselves of their own accord, and aim at nothing else but to obey, for it is a foolish thing to ex∣pect to make a Horse obedient and ready in eight or ten Daves time, by the force of Blows, because it is not Force as I have else where told you, but good and methodical Lessons judiciously applyed, which make and dress Horses, and render them perfectly obedient to the hand and heel; and if I be not very much mistaken, you have in this Treatise as true and Artificial Ones, for the Dressing and perfecting of Horses, and also descrived with as few Repetitions, as you will find in any Book as yet extant: There∣fore practise them with Patience and Judgement, and I make no doubt, when once you have a little tryal of them, but you will acknowledge them, notwithstanding of their being thus compendized, preserable to the many and unnecessary Varietys, of larger and more expensive Volums.

Notes

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  CHAP: XXXIV