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. L. How Horses are to be Curry'd and Drest.

LEt us return again to our subject,* 1.1 and say that of necessity horses should be Curry'd, and that to do it well, one Groom cannot take care of or dress above six; and if People desire that he perform his work well, they should not charge him with any more, for I assure you he would but very badly acquite himself; neither must he have any other work to do in the Lodging, to the end he may be alwayes about the stable.

A Groom should be Active, Adroit, Nimble, Vigorous, and Hardy, should love horses, and have a defire to performe his work well; when a man findeth one with these qualities, he should not eafily part with him, for this Merchandice al∣though gross and clownish, is hard enough to be found in many places of the Countrey.

He should then rise early in the morning, immediatly make clean the Manger before his horses, and give to each of them a good measure full of Oats, which may con∣tain very near as much as the Crown of a large hat, which will be near two of these commonly made use of in the Inns.

He should also truss up their Litter with a wooden Fork, (one shod with Iron be∣ing dangerous for pricking) separate the dry from the wet for the next evening, and take that which is dirty and spoilt to the Dung-hill; he shall afterwards make clean and sweep the whole stable, and all day long keep it neat and in good order with the Broom and Shovel, for it is no-wise decent to see a horse's dung lying beneath him in the day time.

It is however good during the great Forsts in Winter, to shake down again the Litter beneath the horses, after it hath been cleand, and to leave it so all day long;

the evening or Supping time being come, he should truss it up again, make clean t•••• place where it lay, separate the dry from the wet, and shake it down beneath the•• as in the Morning, for this Method keeps horses warmer the whole day long, a•••• their Coat is also preserved more clear and beautiful, during the severity of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gold.

The horse having are his Oats, he shall put a small Watering-bit or Masticad•••• (whereof you may see the Figure in the 3d, plat. fig. 13.) in his head, and shall eith•••• lead him out, if the place will allow it, or otherwayes tye him betwixt two pill•••• in the stable, to Curry and rub him; for being Curry'd within the stable, his dust ••••∣fly upon the rest of the horses if they are not covered; however when a man can 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no better, he may dress him within doors.

Beginning then at his Near or left side, he shall take the Curry-comb into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 right hand, laying the left upon the horse's Back, and shall Curry him all along his bo•• both with and against the hair, behind and before, taking alwayes care not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 place himself behind him for fear of stricking, and this he must continue until the Curry-comb bring away no more dust; neither must he press it too hard or rude•• upon the horse's body, but let it go easily and lightly, for it is not strength that take•• away the filth and dust, but only the Adress and dexterity wherewith the Cum∣comb is moved, that produceth cleanness.

The dust being thus taken away from the skin, he shall next take the Hair e••∣wipeing cloath, (which is about half a yard of course linnen or woolen cloath, but many times they are made of hair) and holding it by one corner, shall whisk all his body over to remove the loose dust that was upon his skin, afterwards with the same cloath he shall clean his Eares within and without, rub him beneath the jaw-bones betwixt his legs before and thighs behind, and in all other parts of the body which the Curry-comb cannot reach; then he shall take the Brush, and pushing the head stall of the Watering-bit or Masticadour, as far back as he can upon his Neck, (〈◊〉〈◊〉 if he have nothing but a binding he shall wholly unty it,) he shall with his left Hand∣take hold of the lower part of his Chin, and brush his head pretty hard begin∣ning at the Fore-head; but he shall take care not to neglect his Eyes and Eye brows, because the dust cleaves strangely to those places, and thus he shall continue to go over all the head, alwayes smoothing down the hair at the last; next he shall brush all his body, and even his legs if the length of the hair will permit, and shall contime this work, (still now and then cleaning the brush with the Curry-comb,) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he perceive no more Scales, dust, or other nastyness upon the horse's bo••

He is moreover to Brush the Mane, both above, below, and within it, by sep∣ating the hair, that so he may take away the dust that cleaves to it; Last of all, he shal 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a wisp that is made of either Straw or Hay, twisted very hard, about the bigness•• ones Arm, and a foot in length, which should be moistned in a little water, (th•• which are made of Hay are the best for horses which have a thin and tender skin•• with this he shall pass and repass the horses whole Body, particularly his legs; for it •• upon them that he is to continue this work for a quarter or half an hour, to dive himself by rubbing the nerves of the legs, above and below, with and against the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 within the pasterns, and upon the joynts, that so no dust or foulness may rema•• upon them, and that their hair may remain as bright and shining as that of the Ma•• he shall also with another wisp, if the first be much worn with rubbing, Chaffe the wh•••• nerves of the legs, from Top to Bottom, and from Bottom to Top, to render 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Supple, disobstruct them, and facilitate the passage of the animal spirits which give them their motion; so that a Groom cannot rub too much a horse's legs in the ••••••∣ing, and a good Hard-hay-wisp is an excellent Stable-moveable: the Hay of th•••• wisps which have served a long time, if it be open'd out, dryed, and given to ho•••• to eat, will give those which are disgusted a good appetite, because of the salt•• the dust which hath adhered to the Hay, and penetrated it; I make frequently use•• them, provided their hay have neither a rotten nor musty smell: there are m•••• Grooms who will not make use of a Hard-wisp, as in Germany where it is not practi∣ed, but that is to dress well the body and badly the legs; and a Body without 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is in my opinion of no great use.

Some again after they have gone over them with a moist wisp, have a peice green Freize that they moisten with water, and with which they pass and re•• the whole Body, to render the skin more Smooth and Glossy; this is good, hower few French people make use of it, it was the Germans that introduced this meth•• which is a very excellent one: The English have Whisks of hair (called Hair-cl••••••

that are very good, they are woven of gross hair threed, as the countrey peoples course cloath is made of that of wool; with this they wipe theirhorses and take away all the dust, rub them very well betwix the legs, thighs, and all other parts of the Body whereat the Curry-comb and Brush cannot come, after which they wash them in a pail of water, and so hang them up to dry: I admire that the use of them has not been brought into France, especially seeing they are both good and cheap, for in England they are very common.

There are some horses so very sensible and ticklish, that they will not suffer the Curry-comb, yea with difficulty can they endure the Brush; these require to be drest only with the palm of ones hand, which is kept a little moist with water, and past flat alongst the horle's Body as if he were Brush'd, when the hand is sufficiently charged with dust, then it is to be washt and half dryed and they continue thus to pass it with and against the hair, until they can take away no more dust, and then at last they smooth down the hair, to make it appear the more Glossy.

This method of dressing a horse is Tedious, but good, because it renders the skin very beautiful, and keeps the body alwayes clean; there is not a better for this purpose, and those who have horses of a very tender and delicate skin, should never suffer them to be drest otherwayes.

For large horses which have a fine skin, a Groom should make it his business to dress them more with the Brush, and palm of his hand, than with the Curry-comb, because as they have a desicate Coat, so the Curry-comb scratches and galls them, which makes them oppose their keeper, and fret and torment themselves to no purpose; whereas with a little more time, the Brush and hand as I have directed, would keep them more clean and neat, without giving them so much trouble with the Curry-comb.

When a horse is well drest after this manner, his sweat when he is warm will come from him clear as Water; if he be exactly well drest the first day with the hand, the next morning there will be almost nothing to do, but the first time he is drest after this fashion, it will take near three houts to make him very clean, but afterwads one hour a day will be sufficient.

After all this, the Groom should Comb and Gently disentangle the hairs of his Mane, beginning alwayes at the lower parts of them and not at the roots, then he shall take his Tail in a full handfull, about a foot from the lower end, and shall like∣wise gently rid and disentangle it with the Comb, ascending alwayes by degrees un∣till it be all very well separate; there are some people who will never suffer their horses Tails to be Combed, for fear they be pulled out and shortned by it.

The Comb, being charged with dust, is to be washed, and every Groom when he is dressing a horse should have a pail of Water by him; after he hath as I have ordered, unreveled and separate the hairs of the Mane and Tail, he must then take a piece of sponge dipt in water, into the left hand, and the Mane-comb in his right, and shall comb down the Mane beginning at it's root, and wetting it with the spunge after each stroak of the Comb; next he shall comb the Tail beginning also at it's root, and al∣wayes smoothing down the hair upon the upper part of his dock with the wet sponge, after which he shall wipe down the Mane and Tail with a dry Hair-cloath, to remove any superfluous moisture.

When the Tail is foul and dirty, which frequently happeneth to white horses, then it should be dipt and soak't a little in a pail of Water, and afterwards well scoured and rubbed betwixt ones hands; there are some who make use of black soap, or white in its place when it cannot be had; others again cause wash their horses tails once every day, and then truss or tye them up neatly, that they may be preserved clean when they either go to the City or Countrey, and if it be in the summer time, they also cause wash their horses Legs very exactly with a wet spunge.

They likewise cause make, for that purpose, Brushes which are about four fingers broad, and somewhat more then half a foot long, that with these they may wash and scour their horses Legs, and clean them of all the dust that cleaves to them; these Brushes should be made of Wild-Boar bristles, and well pitched and rozen'd upon the top, that so the Water may not rot the pack-threed which fixes the bristles to the wood, and those who will not be at this expence, although small, take the half of any old Brush, wherewith they serve themselves as with the former, after this man∣ner; they first wash very well the horses Legs, then rub them with the wet Brush which must be every moment dipt into Water, the water which first cometh from the Leg through the Brush, will be white as milk, but the washing and rubbing must

be still continued, till the Water come away clear, and then the leg will be ab•• dantly clean; this invention is excellent in the summer time, but not in Winter, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cause cold water founders Light-sized horses, which are of a more delicate constitu••e than others, however those who have fine horses and take delight in them, may in•••• summer time make use of this method.

The horse being thus Curryed and Drest, they then put on his Sheet and Mane-cloa•••• if he have one, and girt it on with a broad Sursingle or Housing-girth, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 two little Cushions about the bigness of ones two fists, fastned to it about half a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 distant from other, and which are placed one upon each side of the back-bone wh•• the girth is to be fastened; those two little Cushions facilitate a horse's breathing, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 preventing his being pressed by the Sursingle; then you shall turn him to the Mange and give him some Hay, which you shall have before shaken, that so it may be bo•••• well separate, and fred from its dust, before you throw it before him.

If people do not shake out that earth or dust, which hath adhered to the gra•••• while it was growing in the meadow when the water overflowed it, and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 water passes over it when it is yet uncut, and that the horse eat of this grass when it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 made hay, without being well shak't and tossed, it will make him cough extreme•••• and be prejudicial to his Lungs; as also, if the water happen to overflow the meadow when the hay is cut, this kind of hay which hath been in a great part covered with the Mud of these overflowing Waters, although it be afterwards well dryed, and also exactly shaken, yet is most prejudicial to horses, and worse than the former: You are to suffer your horses which are first drest, to eat from the time they are drest until nine a clock, and those that are last, till ten.

Some people, so soon as their horses have eaten their Corn in the morning, and art drest, tye them up to the Rack till nine a clock, and this is very proper for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which are very fat; but for these which need fatning, a man may order them as I have directed, which is to suffer them to eat all the morning, except when they are a dressing.

At Ten a clock or a little after, you shall lead your horses to the River; but in summer time you may take them to it after eight, if you live in a convenient place for it, because this quickens a horse, and makes him brisk and lively to be watered abroad.

But if you cannot do better, then you may let them drink within doors, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be in Winter, having drawn their Water you shall observe if it be warm, and to•• more certain of it you shall dip your hand in it, and if it be not, you shall then th•••• some wheat bran amongst it, which is a thing both very proper, and most wh•• some, but if it be in the summer time, and that you are obliged to let them d•••••• Well-water, you must cause draw it a considerable time before you suffer them to dr•••• it, and also cause set it in the sun, in clean Hogsheads which have their heads koo•••• out, that so the great crudity of the water, which is most prejudicial to horses, n•••• be corrected by the heat of the Sun.

Generally speaking, River Water is not so good in Winter as Well, because 〈◊〉〈◊〉 too cold, and if the Well-water be good, it is somewhat warmish when it is imm∣diatly drawn, and consequently better than River.

When People lead their Horses to the River to drink, they should go softly to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at a step, and if they are Coach-horses, should return from it at a short Trot, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 even at a step if they have a mind for it.

The English at coming our of the water, gallop commonly their running or h••••∣ing horses for a quarter of an hour without Intermission, and almost at full speed, the method may he good for them, but galloping after watering cannot but be hurt•••• and so very prejudicial, that the horses accustomed to it, do either soon or late beco•••• pursy by this rare method, upon which the English will bear no reason that is give against it.

People must not be surprized, that I give so many precautions concerning Wate∣ing, for if you observe it narrowly and attentively, you will find that a great ma•• of the diseases which happen to horses, proceed from bad Water, or from being w••∣tered unseasonably; the reason is, that the heat of the intrals attracteth with a gr••••∣avidity and quickness, the liquor which the horse drinketh, and if it chance that th•• water be charged with any sharp mineral, such as Allum, Bitumen, or any the li•••• without doubt that drink or liquor, will leave some intemperature in the inward par•••• with some impression of a strange or unnatural heat.

If the Waters be sharp or too crude, they leave behind them obstructions or ••••∣crudities,

that are capable to hinder the necessary functions, which are required to boyl and perfect the Blood, which by that means giveth occasion to several sorts of diseases.

When you return with your horses from the water, you shall lash a little water upon each leg with your two hands, and afterwards wipe them down with straw, to cause the water run off.

Some people, so soon as they return from the water, give their horses Oats, but I think it is not a good method; because seeing a Groom who hath Six horses to look to, cannot take them all to the water but at Three times, if they were accustom∣ed to get Oats immediatly as they come from the water, they would be impatient waiting for the rest, would Bite and Strike at other, and eat no Hay during all that time.

The Horse-coursers, who are understanding in their profession, as it is their cheif design to cause horses look plump, round, and full Flanked, cause them drink in the Summer time by seven a clock in the morning, and give them no drink at all in the Evening, that so they may drink the more heartily next Morning, having been so long without it; after which they no doubt feed better, and so appear more plump, and better Bellyed in the morning; then giving them drink again at two a clock in the afternoon, they feed them after it, which makes them appear full and round all the after-noon, and seeing they do not show them in the night-time, they care not whether they then look well or not, but suffer them to endure Thrist, that so they may drink the more heartily in the Morning; this method is good to be practis∣ed by those, who have no other disign in showing their horses but to sell them, but for those who keep and feed them for their own service, I assure you the method I have before prescrived is better.

After you have then brought them from the water, you shall give them fresh Hay, and suffer them to eat of it till Eleven or Tuelve a clock, at which time you are to make clean the Manger, and give each of them two measures, or two French pecks of clean sifted Oats, which is somewhat less than two English quarts, which you are to suffer them to eat at their own ease; others again give them only two such measures heaped of wet Bran, which is a very good method for horses of mannage, because it refreshes and cools them after their violent exercise, and your larger siz'd horses stand also in need of moistning, being generally of a hot constitution and full of fire.

After they have eaten their Oats or Bran, you are to put them upon a snaffle or a vering-bit, their Tails being turned to the Manger, and let them stand thus till four a clock in the After-noon: People do not only put horses upon the Snaffle (or Slaver∣ing-bit which is more proper) to prevent their eating, but also to discharge their brains, this method causing them voyd a considerable quantity of watery Flegm, which can∣not but be prejudicial were it not evacuate, and which is a thing very well worth observation; for notwithstanding that there was of old so many knowing Anatomists, they never discovered till of late, the Vessels by which the Saliva or Spittle is con∣veyed into the mouth: The Spittle falls from two small conduits, which take their rise betwixt the Parotide Glands, and are insert between the two neither jaw∣bones below the Crotaphite Muscle, from whence by the motion of this Muscle, and the Tongue, the humour or Spittle falleth by degrees into the mouth; not so much as one Author hath mentioned these Salival Ducts or passages, their discovery being only made lately at Paris.

This time that horses are suffered to stand upon the Slavering-bit, produceth a very good effect, for it helpeth the aliments which are frequently in too great a∣bundance in the stomack (especially being swallowed down with greedyness) to digest, and giveth also an appetite to those horses which want one.

If the Groom in turning the horses from the Manger upon the Snaffle, observe that they have not eaten all their Oats, without any manifest cause, then it is a token that they are either disgusted or sick, he is therefore to put these upon the Masticadour or Slavering-bit, iustead of putting them upon a Snaffle; this Slavering-bit is a kind of Snaffle, which hath two large Asses treads, the one a little shorter than the other, and which are put into the horses mouth to cause him Slaver, and thereby discharge his Brain, I have given the shape of it in plat. 3. Fig. 13.

If a horse which eateth not his Oats be simply disgusted, without any appearance of sickness, and that he have his head heavy, his Eyes swelled, or his Mouth foaming, and that there falls from the Bit a great deal of driveling Slaver, which ropes almost to

the very ground, you are then to take half an Ounce of Assa-faetida, and wrapp•••• it up in a peice of linnen cloath, tye it to the middle of the Slavering-bit, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cause him throw out a great deal of those watery phlegms, and give him a good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 petite; about four a clock, or between four and five, turn your horse again 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Manger, suffering him to eat his Hay till about Six, at which time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 must take him again to the water as in the morning; at Seven a clock, you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 give him two more of the above mentioned measures, or three if you please, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 according as you find the horse to need it; these measures as I have said contain 〈◊〉〈◊〉 very near two English quarts; after he has eaten his Oats, give him what wheat-S•••••• he can eat till next morning, observing alwayes to give him his Oats and water •• near together as you can, for the observation of this Rule or method is extre•••••• porfitable.

At nine a clock at night put a good deal of Litter beneath him, shaking it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 well forwards towards his fore-legs, because horses do commonly in the night-time thrust it too far back and almost behind them with their feet.

People give Wheat-straw to horses rather in the night time than in the day, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 end that when they have ate the empty heads or Ears of it, and that which is be•••• the rest being pulled down among their Feet may serve them for Litter, for if the got it in the day time, it would not be possible to keep their stable neat, seeing the•• would be alwayes some straw lying amongst their Feet, besides that the cool•••• of the night obliges them to eat it better, and the hay which is given them i•• the day time, causes them to drink the more heartily, and therefore it is very proper to give them alwayes a little quantity of it in the day time, to keep them plump and fat, although the Spanish horses in their own Countrey are not suffered to taste it; their straw there is sweeter and more juicy, where also the Barley which they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 supplyes the want of a little hay, which People are necessitate to give them in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as well as their other horses, although it should be but six or eight pounds a day, to some moreand others less.

I am here discoursing of Spanish horses, Barbs, Turks, and other horses of Manage of a light size; and I cannot understand why many people give to their horses 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the day time, and hay in the night; because, besides what I have said, it were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tainly very much to be wished that horses slept in the night-time, which they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not so readily do if people give them good hay, upon which they are a great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more greedy and bent than upon straw, and whereof if they eat too much, it will•• be the better for them; indeed, horses which are journeying would be but badly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dered, having travelled the whole day, if people at night gave them only straw in pl•••• of good hay, and it is not for these kind of horses that I write this Chapter, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for extraordinary horses, such as fine Hunters, and delicate horses of Mannag•• which labour little, and only for their Masters divertisment and pleasure.

For Coach-horses, which stand commonly all day upon the street, or before a g•••• as they have no time allowed them to eat hay but in the night, being bridled 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatest part of the day, it is most proper, to give them hay in the night ti•• and straw in the day.

Tye your horses in the night time with two bindings, that so they may not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with those which stand next them, and the Ropes or Longes are to be so long, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they may easily lye down with them; the Cross-barrs which are between the ho•••• should be of a good height, that is a little higher then their hams, with Ropes fastend to the ends of them, whereby they are to be made fast to the Posts, and which may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 easily slackt at pleasnre without cutting them, when it shall happen that the horses have Embarred themselves, or put their Legs over the Barrs; if it be a stable of conse∣quence, People should leave a burning Lamp in it all night: This is enough for horses which are plump and in a good condition, but for these which are harassed, lea•• and light bellyed, there are some other particulars to be observed, which I am going•• propose.

Notes

• * 1.1

  CHAP. L. How horses are to be Curry'd and drest.