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. XVII. Of the imperfections of the Hind-legs, from the Hams downwards; where are explained all the infirmities, to which Coach-horses Legs are most subject.

FRom the Hams we must go to the other parts of the Hind-legs which are below them, which should be dry and broad; when a horse is standing still and quiet, that his Hind-legs may be right situate and planted, they should stand so that the back sinews, from the tip of the Hock to the Fetlock, which is upon the back part of the pastern joint, should be plum, that is, if you hang a line and plumet at the Hock, it should shave all alongst the back side of the Leg, and the Fetlock should stand neither within nor without it, but be placed exactly touching the line.

There cometh upon the Back-sinews Rats-tails, otherways called Arrestes, from the resemblance they have to the Arrestes of Fishes; some people call them Grapes, but very improperly; this infirmity is known, by the part in which it cometh (which is about the length of half a foot, that is, from two or three fingers breadth below the Ham to the very pastern joint) it's being without hair; they are sometimes dry and sometimes moist, but always accompanyed with Crusts and pretty hard Callosities, which are somewhat more elevate than the rest of the Leg, sometimes to half the thickness of ones finger, and sometimes less: When Arrestes or Rats-tails are moist, they send forth more or less of sharp humours; there are some Horses which have them only in their Fore-legs and not at all behind, but this is very rare: they are also the large size of Coach-horses, which have their Legs charged with flesh, hair, and full of bad humours, that are most subject to this infirmity. At Paris the Coach-horses of a moist temper and constitution, and loaded with humours, are very much subject to it, because the sharp and picquant salt, of the Dirt and Mudof the streets, doth very much contribute to it, especially if the Coach men are careless in keeping their Legs clean.

All people know that a Horse is called Rat-Tail'd, which hath little hair upon his Tail, and which can be look't upon but as a very inconsiderable deformity, although a late Author would make it pass in his Book for an infirmity, but he is mistaken, for a Rat-tail when it is an infirmity, cometh in the Legs, and such horses are not called Rat-Tail'd because of it, for these which are really Rat-tail'd, are commonly very good, notwithstanding of that deformity occasioned by the want of hair in their Tails, which remaine without it: I have seen some which had so very little hair upon their Tails when they were old, that they were almost quite bald, so that their Tails being thus without hair did very much resemble those of Rats, although but little with respect to their bulk and size.

The Infirmities following belong only to large Coach Horses, such as come from Hol∣land, North Holland, Oldenburgh, and other low Marish Countreys upon the North of France, for they have their bodies full of humours occasioned by that kind of moist feed∣ing, which at last falleth down upon their Legs; and which doth not happen to Horses of a middle size, nor to such large ston'd Horses which are bred upon the Mountains, although they have also very long hair upon their Legs, nay nor even to your thick course and short legged Horses, in French Chevaux goussaux on Ragots, providing they have their Legs dry, Nervous, and flat. The mattering kind of warts or Leek-heads, in French Poireaux, come about the Pasterns and pastern joints, and grow after the form of Leek-heads from whence they have derived their French Name, but they have anearer resemblance and affinity to large Warts: They are higher than the skin about half the

thickness of ones finger, and sometimes also about the thickness of ones Thumb, throw out filthy stinking stuff, spoil the Leg insensibly, and enlarge because of the great number there is of them; after a Leg is once infested with them, they are very troublesome to cure, because they have roots which are imperceptible, and which draw their nourish∣ment from the Nerves, so that after you have dryed up, and even consumed all that appears, as well by Causticks as firing, yet those roots which atract and feed upon that Nervous juice make them to revive again: The Poireaux or mattering warts which come in the pasterns, are hid beneath the long hair of the Fetlocks; there are some of them so very maligne, that they make the hair fall all around them, and they themselves grow up like Walnuts; there are others again which are more flat, and not so much raised above the skin, but they are more dangerous than those which are bigest and most elevate; this infir∣mity is easily discovered when a Man is a buying a Horse, for he will perceive a great many mattering kind of Warts or Poireaux which touch one another, and are without hair; they are for the most part humid and send forth matter, but yet may be dryed up for a season.

There cometh sometimes also in the soles mattering kind of warts, or rather Figs, upon the frush, which are easy to be known, for they are in a manner detatched from it, and send forth a stinking kind of matter, they also appear distinctly upon the middle of the frush towards the heel, which is full of corrupt stuff, they commonly exceed the ordinary height of the frush, and are as I said rather figs than Poireaux or mattering warts, although they are for the most part called Poireaux, because of their being mentained and nourished by the same nervous juice as they.

Those Figs grow sometimes also upon the sides of the frush, and beneath the sole of the foot, and when they are considerably raised above the frush, so that they touch the ground as the Horse is riding, they then cause him halt to the very ground.

The external form of Figs, is the the same with those Poireaux or mattering warts which come in the pasterns, only that the figs do not in the beginning send forth such stinking matter as the Poireaux or Leek heads doe; those figs are of such consequence that no man should buy a Horse which hath them, because their cure is long and trouble∣some, so that such persons who know the secret of it, may safely say they can perform what very few people can, although some within this short time have become pretty skilful in it.

A Man may know when a Horse hath been cured of figs, especially if he hath suffe∣red long under them, because that foot in which he had them will be larger than the rest, and will still continue to be so, although the Horse be otherways very well recove∣red, and render good service.

I know a fine Coach Horse whom there was a necessity to reject, because they had neglected to look to the figs which he had in his hind soles, which were become so cor∣rupted, that the little foot or Coffin-bone was almost quite discovered by it, so that one might have easily touched it with the prob, thorow the corruption which the figs had made a top of it; the Horse being in this condition did rid but with trouble, and his hind feet were almost twice as big as his fore, so that at last there was a necessity to reject him.

There cometh sometimes also thorow a Horses whole Body, a great number of figs or rather Anburys, but which do no kind of prejudice, and as their roots are a great dale less than their bodies, people tye a threed of double silk about them, which they straiten by degrees, and which maketh these Auburys to dry up and fall away, especially if they are begun to be tyed and restricted after the full of the Moon, and when she is a decreasing, and that they be daily anointed with the juice of the herb purslain, or with the milk which cometh from green figs when they are broke and squeezed; there are few of these kind of Figs or Anburys which are not eradicat in the decrease of one Moon, but the silk threed must be straitned once in three days: sometimes they go away of their own accord, and so the horse is freed of them, unless it be a certain kind of large ones, which are broad at the roots, and also almost asflat as a Crown piece, such immediatly appear upon the surface of the skin, the part is quick, and sendeth forth a stincking juice or water, if these kind of Anburys be neglected, they will increase to the bigness of half Oranges, and will be very ugly, they may be dryed up with the yellow water, by touching them with it once or twice a day, and if you strew them over with the powder of dryed Cuttle fish bone, and continue it, you will so kill them that they will no more appear: they come likeways upon that part of the neck where blood is taken, and which is common∣ly caused by stricking with a rusty lance or fleam, also in the flat and middle parts of hind Legs: The best remedy which I find for either, is the yellow water, or vulne∣rary water, described in the 60. Chap. Sect. 8. and 61. Chap. Sect. 3d. of the

second part; you are to wash these figs or Anburys every day with urine, then touch them with the vulnerary water, and afterwards strew them with the powder of dryed cuttle fish-bone, and continuing this for a Month the Anburys will dry up, and because they have no roots, will therefore never return: It may so fall out that the Anburys may have caused a kind of Ulcer which will be long a drying up and healing, but if you still continue to apply what I have been directing, it will at last extirpate them. In fine, although it is not in this place you should find remedies, I have however thought fit to set down this because of its easiness, and that it is not worth the while to make a Chapter expresly for it.

The Traverse Mules or Kib'd heels, are Chops and Clifts which surround the back parts of the pastern joints where they ply and bend, and oft-times there cometh above that part many more; this infirmity is more painfull than the preceeding, because these chincks as a horle is Riding, shut and open by reason of the motion made by the pastern-joint, which maketh them very painfull; it is with difficulty that they can be dryed up, because of that movement that keepeth them still open, and which augmenteth the descent of the humour that nourisheth them; those who understand not this infirmity call it a Crevisse, it is indeed a Crevisse, but which is more propperly called a Traverse Mule or Kib'd Heel.

This infirmity should not hinder a man to buy a horse if the legs be not gorged and swelled, although the most inconsiderable infirmities in Coach-Horses legs, are truly very much to be feared because of their bad consequences; oftentimes this infirmity maketh a Horse always halt, until the sharpness of the humour, heat, and swelling of the leg are removed.

Besides Rats-Tails, Poireaux or mattering warts, and Traverse mules, there com∣eth in the hind legs a kind of white, sharp, and corrupt humour or Waters, called in French Manvaises Eaux, they come very rarely in the fore-legs, but rather almost always in the hind, these Waters are like to a stinking kind of matter, which passing thorow the pores of the skin deaden it, and also render it of a whitish collour, they com∣monly do not ulcerate, but in the Crevisses which are either in the pastern or upon the pastern-joint: This infirmity is quickly known by causing lift the hind feet, and search∣ing the pasterns, in which you will presently find a humidity and moistness beneath the hair, which is extremely stinking, and groweth all round the pastern and pastern-joint, and sometimes up almost to the very Ham; you are to observe that people dry up these humours or Waters for a certain time, but then thy return again; It is easie to know when they have been dried up, because you will find the filth and neastiness in the pasterns, which is occasioned by the Drugs that were made use of to dry and heal them up.

The Mauvaises Eaux or this white corrupt and sharp humour, is not of great conse∣quence in the beginning, because its course is easily put a stop to; they many times cause the pasterns and pastern-joints to swell, keep the legs stiff, make the Horse lean, and also seperate the flesh from the Coronet near to the heels; all the infirmi∣ties almost of the legs, have their rise and begining from these corrupt humours or waters, so that they are the cause of Poireaux or mattering kind of warts, Rats Tails, Arrestes, Traversing mules or Kib'd heels, and other such like infirmities which make the horse to perish by his legs: After that the swelling of these hath continued a long time upon the legs, people are deceived when they imagine to discuss it, for these infirmities do not easily yeeld to remedies, because the humour occasioning them is too much hardned and congealed; Therefore in such an uncertainty, when a man knows not whether the infirmity be newly come or not, I am of opinion that no man should buy Coach horses, with gorged and swelled legs, unless they may be had at a very reasonable rate.

However I would not scruple to buy a young horse, although he might have some of these humours or Waters in his pasterns, providing that his Hams be dry, together with the bending of them, as also that his legs be not gorged, that is, swelled: The Horse Coursers are not so gross and foolish, as to put horses to sale which have such Waters in their legs, for they dry them up from Evening to Morning when the horses have no swelling with them, but if the legs are gorged, whatever they may pretend for an excuse, you must not meddle with them, for they are sufficiently hindred to restrict them by their not stirring out of the Stable, and especially if the horses do not incline to ly down and rest.

The infirmities in the hind-legs are most dangerous for Coach horses, especially such as have a great dale of hair upon their legs, because being always wrought in Towns, where the dirt and mud is full of Nitre or a sharp salt, unless they be carefully

lookt after and kept clean, the mud doth so poyson these parts, that they are thereby rendered subject to infirmities, which are very obstinate in yeelding to remedies, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that a man can scarcely recover them: Also if people let the dirt and filth remain•• such horses legs as have a great great dale of hair upon them, that will be a mean to cauterize them, and a wound being once made, a fluxion of humours falleth dow•• upon it, and entertaineth a passage for the whole impurity of the body, which at last corn••••∣eth the horses legs, and occasions all these infirmities I have been mentioning Therefore those who buy horses with very much hair upon their legs, would do well to provide•• the same time, a Coach-man or Groom who will take care to keep them cle•••• and spare neither time nor Labour, to make all redound to their own reputation, an Masters ••enefite and advantage; But notwithstanding of all this if the legs be eithe•• charged with flesh, or have a full and fleshy Ham, I assure you, you shall ne•••• find any satisfaction in them,

In buying a Coach-horse, the surest way to know if he will be little subject to these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 firmities of the legs, which are most dangerous and will soonest ruin him, is to cho•••• him with as short hair upon them as possible, as well for the ease of your Coach m•••• as your own satisfaction; not that it is long hair alone which occasioneth those i•• firmities which I have been explaining, but because it is a help to them, and as it we an assisting cause: above all, you are to take care that their Hams be dry, that is pretty hollow, and without much flesh, having no Vessigons, Varisses, or other co••∣siderable infirmities in them; but the leg broad, nervous, disch••rged of flesh, a•• without swelling in the pastern-joint, and thus, without it be by an accident, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will hardly be subject to any infirmities in his legs: For my own part, I would li•••• a Coach-horse better which had a great dale of hair upon his legs, than if he h•• but little, and very large and swelled Hams, for with this last imperfection he will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a great dale more subject to the infirmities of the hind legs, than with the former, p••••∣viding always that his legs be kept clean and neat, and that the hard Hay-wisps be ma•• to play exactly their part.

If you undertake the cure of these infirmities incident to the hind legs in Winter a•• cold weather, they will give you a great dale of trouble, but in Summer time as warm weather, the white Charge described in the 115 Chap. Sect. 3. of the second pa•• will produce such effects as you dare hardly wish for.

You are to observe besides what hath been already said if his pastern joynts are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 swelled, or have Crown Scabs as these before commonly have if he have no Wind-gal•• and if when he is standing still, his pastern joynt be not lodged more to one side that t'other, as if it were out of its place, and the joyn•• dislocate, or if it bend too mu•••• forwards, or if he carrie it so low that it mishapeth his leg; now some Horses have this weakness in their hind legs, when they have it not in their fore.

Observe also if the Windgalls have any coherence with the nerves, for it is one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the greatest infirmities a Horse can have, such windgalls as are called nervous doe al∣wayes larne the Horse, and there is no remedy for them but firing: one single nervo•• windgall should be enough to hinder a man from buying the horse that hath it.

You are next to consider if the horse tread only upon his toes, called in French 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cheval rampin, which you will easily know by taking up his foot; for they tread upon no part of it but the Toe, so that the shoe is all worn and used in that part, the bac•• sinew of the leg shrinketh up, and the older the horse groweth it is still so much the worse; People may remedy this imperfection, by methodical shooing when the horse is young and but lately subject to it.

For what remains in the hind legs, you are to make the same observations which I ordered you for the fore, that is, for treads upon the Coronet, scratches, and other such like infirmities, to which the hind legs are as much subject as they.

Having observed all I have been saying, you are as yet to consider if your horse be Sound, that is, if he doe not halt, you will know it best upon the Step or Trot, for upon a Gallop a man can perceive but very little, without having had a great and long experience, especially if the lameness lie in his fore quarters; but still it will be less perceptible, if he be gallop't by a good and skilful horseman.

The surest way then by far to know if a horse halt, is to make use of the very same method people take for Coach horses, which is to cause trot them along the streets i•• ones hand, it is there that a man cannot possibly disguise and conceal a horses lameness, and is the true touch stone whereby a man cannot be deceived in buying any kind of Horses, and not only for knowing if they halt, but also for observing their strength and reins.

When a horse trotteth in ones hand, you are to observe if the lifting up, keeping up, and setting down of his fore Legs, in French Le Lever, Le Soutien, et L'Appuy, be such as they ought, and as I have already told you in the 11 Chapter; if he keep his Reins streight and equall, without rocking or swinging, his head high, well placed and firm, for if he halt he will mark every time in his trot with a motion of his head: When a horse rocketh, which I have explained in discoursing of the Step or Walk, it is when one of his haunch bones goes up and the other down, always the one after the other, every st••p he marketh with his trot, for his Croup should not at all move thus after the fashion of a ballance beam, and if it do it is a token of no great strength.

The Horse-Marchants are obliged to warrant and secure the horses they sell, from these infirmities following, to wit Pursyness, Glanders, that he shall prove sound when either warm or cold, that is, that he shall no more halt after he is warm, than he did at first going out of the stable when cold: If a horse have any of these three in∣firmities, people both at Paris and almost over all France, oblige the seller to take him again within nine dayes after the delivery.

For the other infirmities, which I have been all along explaining in the preceeding Chapters, you are to have your eyes as sharp and clear sighted as possible, that so you may discover them, because thē Horse-marchants, who are otherwayes generally cal∣led Horse-coursers, are not obliged to warrant them, nay nor even the Eyes, for it is to be supposed that you might have looked to them and so have discovered whether they were good or not; but if you are a buying a horse from a Gentleman or Burgess, who tells you expresly that he will not warrant his soundness, you should in that case use all diligence imaginable to discover the horses infirmities, if you suspect he have any, for when a horses price is once payed, it is very difficult to make him be taken back again.

When a Man buyeth a Horse at Paris, it is very fit to know the person from whom he is bought, least he might have been stoln, because it is lawful for the true owner of the Horse, to take him again where ever he can find him, so that in this case the Buyer will be sent to seek after the Seller he knoweth not where, and if he cannot find him, the price of the Horse is lost for good and all; it is just so when a Man buyeth a Horse in the weekly Mercats, but if it be in an open and publick Fair there is no such hazard.

You are yet further to observe, if the Horse you intend to buy, be right situat, and planted upon his legs and feet, as he is standing still and quiet, and that he have the toes of his hind feet pointing streight forwards and turned neither out nor in, or that he do not bring his hind legs too much forwardbeneath his belly as he is stand∣ing, which is the very worst of all stances: People say of such a horse, that his two ends, or head and Croup are going to join when they perceive him standing in such a posture, and it is either a token of a bad horse, or that he is much fatigued, when he thus endeavours to give ease to his fore-legs, by bringing forwards and as it were beneath his belly those behind, that so he may make them support the most consider∣able weight of his body.

Having thus examined your horse in every point as I have directed, you will, when once you have had a little practice, in the twinkling of an eye find out and discover the smallest imperfection, so that if a horse have any, it will be the first thing will fall under your view and presently displease you; you are in the next place to consider if he have a good Mouth.

Notes

• CHAP. XVII Of the im∣perfections of the nind∣legs, from the Hams downwards.