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 4 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY and ART 
 
 OF 
 
 HORSEMANSHIP. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
Cte^e'Ui' /v'iU'fii' u/u-/eji> a^iM/ta/uc^^uci^a^iz/iij 
 
 ^i/v-f'a ^nU'Vaaiio /it/Z/t /a^ci-i^ta- ca/i 
 
 'ynJiM. 
 
 Bucliao; 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY and ART 
 
 O F 
 
 HORSEMANSHIP. 
 
 By RICHARD BERENGER, Efq. 
 Gentleman of the Horse to HIS MAJESTY. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for T, Davies, in Ruflel-Street, Covent-Garden ; 
 and T. Cad ell, in the Strand, mdcclxxi. 
 

 
TO THE 
 
 Jx 
 
 N 
 
 G. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 NOTHING could juftify my pre- 
 ilimption, in thus approaching your 
 Royal Prefence with fo unworthy an ofFerino- 
 
 as 
 
vi DEDICATION. 
 
 as thefe volumes, but the fole confideration 
 that they are not foreign to the ftation in 
 which your goodnefs has condefcended to 
 place me \ and that they treat of an Art^ 
 which glories in being one of the favourite 
 amufements of your leifure hours. 
 
 Animated by thefe motives, I dared to 
 form the ambitious wilh of laying my labours 
 at your Majesty's feet , and moft humbly 
 to folicit the fame gracious favour and pro- 
 te£l:ion which your Majesty loves to extend 
 to every well-meant endeavour, and with 
 which you have been pleafed to benefit and 
 
 diftlnguifh 
 
DEDICATION. vii 
 
 diftinguifti their author 5 who is, Sir, with 
 all poffible gratitude, refpedt, and duty. 
 
 Your M A J E S T Y's 
 
 Moll devoted, 
 
 And moft faithful Subjed and Servant, 
 
 RICHARD BERENGER. 
 
Operis mei eft et lludii multos legere, iit 
 
 ex plurimis diverfos flores carpam : non tarn probaturus omnia, quam 
 quae bona lunt, clefturus : aflumo multos in manus meas, ut a multis 
 multa cognofcam. 
 
 Ex B. Hieron. adv. Vigil. 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY AND ART 
 
 O F 
 
 HORSEMANSHIP. 
 
 THE horfe is an animal, which, from the 
 earliefl; ages of th«e world, has been deftined to 
 the pleafure and fervice of man ; the various 
 and noble qualities with which nature has endowed 
 him, fufficiently fpeaking the ends for which he was 
 defigned. Mankind were not long before they were ac- 
 quainted with them, and found the means of applying^ 
 them to the purpofes for which they were given. This 
 is apparent from the hiftories and traditions of almoft 
 all nations, even from times the mod remote ; info- 
 much that many nations, and tribes, or colonies of 
 people, who were entirely ignorant *, or had but 
 
 * The wild Arabs, the Indians, feveral of the inhabitants of the 
 
 interior parts of Afric, and even Britain, with fundry other inftances. 
 
 Vol. I. B very 
 
i THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 very imperfecT: notions of other improvements and. 
 arts of life, and even at this day are unacquainted 
 with them, yet faw and underflood the generous pro- 
 perties of this creature in fo ftrong andjufl a light, as 
 to have treated him with a fondnefs and attention, 
 which fufficiently declare tliehigh opinion they enter- 
 tained of his merit and excellence. 
 
 This is a truth fo well attefted, that to infiH upon it 
 farther would be but a fuperfluous labour, and tend 
 only to divert the reader from the more immediate de- 
 fign of this undertaking; which is an attempt to fhew, 
 as far as any light can be thrown upon a fubjeift fo 
 obfcure and intricate, in what nations, and at what 
 periods of time, the horfe firfl became the objeft of 
 man's notice, fo as to be made at once the inftrument 
 of his ufe and pleafure. 
 
 All art is progreffive, and receives addition and im- 
 provement in its courfe, as the fagacity of man, at 
 different times, or chance, and other caufes, happen 
 to concur; yet, whoever lliall look into the few and im-» 
 perfeft accounts which has come down to us from- 
 ancient times, will find, with refpedt to the prefent 
 fubjecft, that the moderns have not fo much room to 
 boaft'of their fkill and management of horfes, as fome 
 may imagine ; but will fee that the ancients *, in various 
 
 * Simon of Athens, Xenophon, and Pliny the Elder, who wrote 
 exprefs Treatifes upon Horfemanfhip. — The works of the firft, and laft, 
 are loft.— To thefe we may add, the Rei Ruftide Scriptores. Nor is it 
 abfurd to believe there muft have been many more, whofe works and 
 names are perilhed with them. 
 
 regions. 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 3 
 
 regions, and in the moil diftant ages, were fo far from 
 being ftrangers to the many fervices of which they are 
 capable, as to have left rules and precepts concerning 
 them, which are fo true and juft, that they have been 
 adopted by their fucceflbrs, who may reafonably be 
 thought to have built upon their foundation ; although 
 it is certain and apparent, that the llrudlure has re- 
 ceived infinite improvements and beauties from the 
 experience and refinement of latter times. 
 
 It is very probable that the firft fervice in which 
 the horfe was employed, was to aflift mankind in 
 making war, or in the pleafures and occupations 
 of the chace*; and although he is faid to have 
 been firfl ufed in v/ar, and it is upon that occafion 
 he is firft mentioned in the Bible ; yet, we can 
 hardly conclude that mankind did not, in the begin- 
 ning of their acquaintance, put him to gentler and 
 more domeftic labours : till at length difcovering that 
 his courage, ftrength, agility, and fpeed, feemed to fit 
 him peculiarly for war, and the bufinefs of the chace, 
 they might fet him apart folely for thofe fervices, in 
 v/hich he is born fo eminently to excel, fupplying his 
 
 *■ Xenophon fays, that Cyrus hunted on horfeback, when he had a 
 mind to exercife himfelf and his horfes. Lib. I. Herodotus, in 
 Thalia, or his third book, fpeaks of hunting on horfeback as an exer- 
 cife pradifed in the time of Darius, and it is probably of much earlier 
 date. The occafion of his mentioning this fport, was a fall which Da- 
 rius had from his horfe, as he was hunting, by which he diflocated his 
 heel. In Melpomene likewife, or book the fourth, he fays the Amazons 
 hunted on horfeback, with their hulbands, the Sarmatians. 
 
 B 2 place, 
 
4 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 place, upon ordinary and familiar occafions, with affes, 
 mules, and camels. But however plain and evident 
 it may be, that he was firfl: ufed in war, yet the man- 
 ner in which he was taught to ferve his mailer, that 
 is to fay, whether he was rode, or put to draw carri- 
 ages and machines, has been a fubjeifl of much doubt 
 and contention among the learned ; it being afferted by 
 fome, that he was firft compelled to draw; and main- 
 tained by others, that the art of of riding was pradifed 
 before the ufe of chariots was difcovered. 
 
 We learn from hiftory, both facred and prophane, 
 that Afia and Africa were the quarters of the world, in 
 which mankind were firft formed into focieties, lived 
 under the control of laws, and exerted their endea- 
 vours to make life fecure, convenient, and happy: 
 and although the horfe could not but have been judged 
 capable of contributing a large fhare towards ad- 
 vancing thefe great ends, yet, it is certain, that he is 
 not numbered among the articles of property which 
 were moft ufed and valued in the primitive ages of the 
 world: accordingly we find him reckoned among 
 other domeftic cattle but in one place, in the hiflory 
 of thofe early times ; viz. in the forty- feventh chapter 
 of Genefis, where Jofeph is faid to have given the 
 Egyptians " bread in exchange for horfes, for flocks, 
 and herds." In the book of Genefis, where the firft men- 
 tion is made of worldly goods, which then chiefly 
 confifted of cattle, we read only of the flieep, the he 
 and fhe-afTes, and camels belonging to Pharaoh ; al- 
 though 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 5 
 
 though it appears at the fame time, that the fervices 
 of the horfe were well known, and the Egyptians 
 conflantly availed themfelves of them. In the laft ar- 
 ticle likewife of the Decalogue, where other animals, 
 as the ox and ai^s, are named, no notice is taken of 
 him ; nor is he mentioned upon another occafion, as 
 making part of Job's great riches, who yet fpeaks of 
 him, and defcribes his charadier and wonderful qualities 
 in the mod exalted terms. 
 
 If any reafon can be affigned for the omiffion, in thefe 
 inftances, of an animal fo valued and admired, I am 
 induced to think it may proceed from this caufe : viz. 
 that as in thofe times the fole occupation of men was 
 to tend their flocks and herds (imlefs interrupted by 
 war), and their courfe of life confequently being calm 
 and humble, nor fubje(3: to migration or change, the 
 horfe not being dire<5lly necelTary to them in this ftatc, 
 they did not count him among the animals of which 
 their wealth fo immediately confifted, and of which they 
 flood continually in need ; inafmuch as that his flefh 
 was not ufed for food, nor his blood, nor any part of 
 him, offered up in facrifice : upon this account, there- 
 fore, he, perhaps, was not confidered as an immedi- 
 ate article of private property ; but, being chiefly, if not 
 folely ufed in war in thofe days, might belong only to 
 kings and great men, and have but little, if any fhare, 
 in the occurrences of private life. 
 
 Accordingly we read in the book of Exodus, where 
 the horfe is named for the firft time, that he was ufed- 
 
 for 
 
6 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 for the purpofes of war : and that Pharaoh, when 
 he purfued the people of Ifrael, made ready his cha- 
 riot, " and took fix hundred chofen chariots ; and 
 . " that the Egyptians purfued after them, all the horfes 
 " and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horfemen." 
 
 This account being given almofl in the beginning 
 of the oldeft hiftory of the creation, and clearly and 
 circuraftantially related, it would be but a fruitlefs la- 
 bour to attempt to fearch elfe where, in order to fix the 
 epoch in which the horfe was firfl made fubfervient to 
 the will of man: becaufe, without making over nice 
 diftinctions, or refining too fcrupuloufly, as many 
 have done, in hopes of afcertaining a fadf, for which 
 no other proofs can be brought than thofe which are 
 cited above ; and which are, in authenticity and priority 
 of time, fuperior to all ; the faireft conclufion, and 
 moil rational, will perhaps be, that the ufeful qua- 
 lities which the horfe poffefles for the fervice of man, 
 were known and. called into pra(?tice in the earlieft 
 times of the world, and are almoll coeval with man- 
 kind. And I am the more induced to hazard this opi- 
 nion, not only upon the aflurance of the above-named 
 authorities, but likewife (which is flill a fironger, tho' 
 but a prefumptive proof) becaufe, that neither in the 
 facred writings, nor in any other hiftoiT-, is the origin 
 of taming the horfe mentioned and afcertained ; but all 
 hiftorians, and even Mofes himfelf, fpeak of ir, as of 
 an animal, whofe fervices were well known, both be- 
 fore and at the time when they wrote, and mention 
 
 them 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 7 
 
 them indifferently among other hiflorical occurrences 
 without going out of their way to give any account of 
 the origin of taming him for different purpofes, or 
 pointing out in what sera, or among what people, the 
 art was lirfl difcovered : I would here be underflood to 
 mean, that no exprefs and formal account is given of 
 its origin; and that confequently no more knowledge 
 can be gained upon the fubjei51:, than what may be 
 gleaned and fifted from other hiflorical fads recorded 
 in the Bible. Thence, as from the only fountain- 
 head to which we can pufh our enquiries, we learn, 
 that Egypt was the land, in which the horfe firft 
 paid the tribute of his labours to man ; a land 
 which had the flart of other nations in the difcovery 
 and cultivation of art and fcience ; and which was. 
 no lefs famous and efleemed for its horfes, than 
 adapted by nature to nourifh and fupport them ; be- 
 ing then (as now) very fruitful, and abounding in. 
 rich paflures ; whence other countries, efpecially Ju- 
 daea, in the time of Solomon, drew their fupplies, and 
 carried on a large commerce, greatly to the advantage 
 of Egypt, as we learn from various evidences of facred < 
 and prophane hiflory *, and efpecially of the former, , 
 
 * Vide loth chap, of the ift book of Kings, 
 
 Bochart Hieroz, ch. 9. 
 
 Diod. Sicul. lib. I. p. 42. 
 
 Wolfangus Franz. Part I. c. 12. Amflelod. Hifl:. Anim. p. loi, . 
 who fays, Fuerunt autem in Egypto Temper prsftantiffimi equi.— Alfo. 
 BufFon's Nat. Hift., Art. Cheval. . 
 
 whiclxi 
 
8 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 which akhough it gives but a few fcattered rays o£ 
 light, yet bellows all that can be had, and fuch as are 
 fufficient to render all attempts of going farther, fu- 
 perfluous and vain. I have, therefore, been much 
 furprifed, as I attended feme adventurers in their 
 learned and extenfive enquiries, in hopes of reaping 
 certainty and truth, to fee what pains and erudition 
 they have fquandered away, in feeking after what lies 
 fo full in fight, and is comprifed in fo fmall a coin- 
 pafs. 
 
 Nor is the difpute lefs frivolous, which has em- 
 ployed the pens of many learned and curious perfons, 
 upon the queftion, whether the ufe of chariots, or the 
 art of riding was jf/j^ known ? 
 
 I flatter myfelf that it will appear, from what has 
 been already fuggelled, that it cannot ftridtly be de- 
 cided to which the precedence is duej for in the firft 
 inflance in which either of them is mentioned, viz. 
 ill the firfl: book of Exodus, they are both named to- 
 gether, as well as in the 9th chapter of the ift book 
 of K-ings, where Solomon is faid to have had " his cap- 
 tains, the rulers of his chariots, and his horfemen j" 
 nor indeed can it be thought probable, than when one 
 of thefe methods were known, the other fhould remain 
 long undifcovered. Hence it feems to follow, and 
 with much colour of probability, that they are equal, 
 or very near equal, in point of time; alihough it is not 
 unlikely, that one might prevail more tlian the other 
 at particular airas, and in particular countries', as 
 
 opinions' 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 9 
 
 opinions and fancy might influence, or circumftances 
 require. I muft beg leave, however, in advancing 
 thefe notions, to confine myfelf to the earlieft periods 
 in which the horfe is mentioned, and to what may be 
 collefted concerning it in the Old Teftament. There we 
 learn, that Egypt was the land ta which mankind are 
 indebted for the equeftrian art ; but the period of 
 time, in which it was firft pracflifed, cannot fo eafily 
 be afcertained. A learned and inquifitive writer * 
 fixes it at the time of Jacob's coming into that country: 
 but notwithftanding that he has dived into the fubjeft 
 with great ability and diligence, yet he has brought up 
 nothing very valuable, or equal to the pains which he 
 mufl have employed in the fearch ; fince he can go no 
 farther than to prove, that the ufe of horfes was known 
 at the time of Jacob's coming into Egypt, but for want 
 of authorities, can have no right to aflert, that it was 
 not known till about that time : for 
 
 rixere fortes ante j^gamemnona 
 Multi, fed omnes illacbrymabilei 
 UrgentUKf ignotigue longd 
 NoBCi carent quia vatefacro- 
 
 Hor. lib. 4. carm. ode 9. 
 
 Heroes as brave as fam'd Mycsene's king, 
 Shone great in fight, e'er he was known f 
 
 But they no poets had their arms to fing, 
 And make immortal their renown : 
 
 * Recherches fur I'epoque de Tequitation. 
 Vol. I. C They 
 
10 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 They died ; oblivion feiz'd each mighty name, 
 Forbidding time to waft them down ; 
 
 For they no poets had to ling their fame, — 
 And poets only give renown. 
 
 It is, however, certain, that when Jacob came into 
 Egypt, he found rhe inhabitants perfe<ftly acquainted 
 with the horfe, and ufmg it in its two-fold capacity of 
 carrying and drawing. And here, although the fub- 
 jeift has been already touched upon in former pages, 
 it miay not be improper to offer fome farther and more 
 cogent reafons, in favour of the affenion, that riding 
 is not only equal in point of time to the ufe of chariots, 
 bur, in all probability, anterior to it. It has been 
 already faid, that Egypt was the fpot in which the 
 liorfe was thought to have been firft fubdued and 
 difciplined by man ; and it appears from the Mofaic 
 hiftory, that in the firft inftance, where mention is 
 made of Pharaoh's chariots, that he is likewife faid to 
 have had his horfemen; which word, in the Hebrew 
 language, is explained by the commentators, to mean, 
 one who fits upon, and guides an horfe. The learned 
 Le Clerc is alfo of opinion, that the expreffion of " all 
 the horfes of Pharaoh, and his chariots, is the general 
 defcription of the cavalry belonging to him, and con- 
 fiders his chariots and horfemen, as the two different 
 fpecies of it." To this I muft beg leave to add another 
 obfervation, but without laying any greater ftrefs upon 
 it, than barely to hint it to the reader's notice, that the 
 
 original 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. n 
 
 original Hebrew word (Parafh, Horfeman), is derived, 
 as Buxtorff fays, from the Hebrew root, which fignifies 
 to prick, or f pur; and the rider, or fpurrer, was fo 
 denominated, becaufe he ufed to prick or fpur the 
 horfe. Eques quod equum cakaribus pungat. Farther, ha 
 quotes Aben Efra, who fays, that the horfeman was 
 fo called, from wearing fpurs upon his heels, a caka- 
 ribus qua funt in pedibus ejus. By this account and expla- 
 nation of the word, which in the Hebrew fignifies an 
 horfemau, we are informed of the great antiquity of 
 fpurs, and may reafonably conclude that the art of 
 riding was not only known, but from the invention of 
 fpurs, had alfo received an improvejnent, not unwor- 
 thy the difcovery of more difcerning times ; and feems 
 to imply, that riding was not only familiar, but even 
 advanced in thofe primitive times to a degree of ex- 
 adtnefs, perhaps, not hitherto fufpedled. 
 
 If any doubt fliould flill remain, as to the feniority 
 of horfemanfliip, I beg leave (among many authorities 
 from the Bible, which, not to furfeit the reader I omit) 
 to ftrengthen the foregoing arg;uments, by the addition 
 of the following, taken from the book o£ Job, in thefe 
 ■words, where (fpeaking of the oftrich) he fays, " Ihe 
 lifteth herfelf on high, Ihe fcorneth the horfe and its 
 rider;" which expreffion feems to imply, that it was a 
 cullom (as now in fome nations) to hunt this bird on 
 horfeback, and that fhe was fuperior to the fwifteft 
 horfe. Hence it muft be granted that riding was 
 pradtifed in his country, and at the time in which he 
 
 C 2 lived ; 
 
iz THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 lived ; nor is it to be forgot, that he lived in a country 
 diftinguillied above others for its horfcs, and in which 
 no chariot was ever known to have been iifed. Nor 
 mull wc pafs by unremembered the noble defcription 
 which he gives of the horfe, fo known and fo ad- 
 mired *, in which he fpeaks of him only as being 
 rode, and not driven in a carriage ; and if there is 
 proper foundation for the opinion maintained by fome 
 learned perfons, that this celebrated patriarch lived long 
 before the time of Mofes ; it will follow, that what 
 he fays relative to our fubje<ft, muft be anterior to the 
 Mofaic hiftoryj and if fo, it will carry the antiquity 
 of equitation fo htgh, as to put it out of fight, and 
 beyond the reach of enquiry and inveftigation. 
 
 Afia and Africa being the divifions of the earth 
 which were firft peopled and cultivated, as likewife 
 regions of which the horfe was a native, the art of 
 
 * In this enumeration of the beauties and noble qualities of the 
 horfe, it Ihould be remarked, that the Englijh tranjlators make Job fay, 
 " that this animal's neck is clothed with thunder j" an expreffion as 
 falfe as it is abfurd. The true rendering of this paflage is, that his 
 neck is clothed ^ith a mane; thus Bochart, Le Clerc, Patrick^ and 
 other commentators tranflate it. — Bochart fays, that the word, which 
 in Hebrew fignifies thunder^ is fynonimous for the mane of an horfe ; 
 but this being fo, it is aftonifliing that the tranflator fhould have fet 
 afide thejuft and natural fignification, and have chofen to cover the 
 horfe's neck with thunder inftead of a mane\ nor is it lefs amazing that 
 this nonfenfe fhould have been extolled by the author of the Guardian *, 
 and others, as an inftance of thejiMme. 
 
 * Vide Guardian,, vol. II. page 26. 
 
 taming 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 13 
 
 taming him was firft pra6lired in them; and beginning 
 in Eg'^pt, fpread itfelf into the different ftates and 
 kingdoms which compofe thofe two quarters of the 
 globe. 
 
 Of the Egyptians neverthelefs, who were fo re- 
 nowned in ancient days for the merit and numbers of 
 their horfes, very little, if any knowledge, can be 
 gained, concerning their manner of riding, and treat- 
 ment of the horfe. Herodotus fpeaks of them as 
 horfemen, but fays no more : it is, however, to be 
 prefumed, that they were well verfed in an art, of 
 which they were the fathers and inventors. 
 
 The Mth'iopians were poffeired of a breed of horfes, 
 and acquainted with the art of riding *. Herodotus 
 fpeaks of them as a nation of cavalry that attended 
 Xerxes in his expedition againft Greece. 
 
 Nothing remains that can give any information, 
 with refpedt to the equellrian hiftory of the ancient 
 Jtrabs; a people in latter ages become fo famous for 
 riding, that they may be fliled a nation of horfemen. 
 When Xerxes led his army into Greece, they accom- 
 panied him, and fought under his banner ; but in- 
 flead of mounting horfes, they rode upon camels, 
 which Herodotus fays, were fwifter than the fleeteft 
 horfe ; and Zonaras reports, that they were fwift, but 
 foon fatigued. Lib. xviii. cap. 11. 
 
 The inhabitants of India were accuflomed to ufe 
 horfes, from the earlieft times. No particulars, how- 
 
 * Polymnia. 
 
 ever,. 
 
J4 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 ever, are known concerning their manner of riding. 
 The troops of this country which attended Xerxes in 
 his famous march againll Greece, fought on horfeback 
 as well as employed chariots in war, as Herodotus 
 reports, who numbers India among the nations which 
 corapofed the prodigious, and almoft incredible army 
 of the Perfian king. 
 
 The Pei'Jtjn 'horfes have been always famous for 
 beauty, vigour, fire, and other emir.ent qualities, and 
 fo celebrated for fpeed, that their very name, in the 
 language of the country, fignifies what may be ren- 
 dered, by the word wind-foot, a term emphatically ex- 
 preflive of their fwiftnefs. The ancient Perfians were fo 
 fond of them, and thought the art of managing them 
 fo becoming and necelTary a duty, that they taught 
 their children to ride at the age of five years, as He- 
 rodotus relates. As horfes were very fcarce in Perfia 
 in the time of Cyrus, this prince took pains to cultivate 
 and improve the breed ; and the Perfians foon became 
 fuch lovers of them, that there were few people but 
 thofe of the meaner fort, who did not keep them ; and 
 even a law was made, by which it was held ignominious 
 for thofe who were f urnifhed with horfes, ever to appear 
 on * foot. Athenceus f ^^.ys, they covered their horfes 
 with many foft and thick houfings, or cloth, being 
 more defirous of fittingat their eafe, than of approving 
 themfelves dexterous and bold horfemen. 
 
 * Herod, in Clio, & Polym. 
 
 ■f Lib. xii. 4. Xenop. Cyrop. lib. i. Bochart, lib,- 7. 
 
 Vege- 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 15 
 
 Vegetius defcribes the horfes of this country to have 
 been moft valuable for the faddle, fafe, gentle, and 
 very agreeable to the rider ; conftituting a confiderable 
 part of their owners revenue, and being very profitable 
 to thofe who could fupport a fine breed. They fur- 
 pafTed other horfes in the pride and gracefalnefs of 
 their paces, which were naturally foft and eafy ; fo as 
 rather to pleafe and relieve the rider, than diflurb or 
 fatigue him. They flopped fhort, but their motions 
 were very quick and nimble. Not patient of labour^ 
 but fubjecfl to tire upon a long march or journey ; 
 and of a temper which, unlefs awed and fubdued by 
 difcipline and exercife, inclined them to obflinacy and 
 rebellion, but with all their heat and anger, not diffi- 
 cult to be pacified, always maintaining a graceful 
 carriage, arching their neck, and bending it to fuch a 
 degree, as almofl to make their chins lean upon their 
 breafls *; while their pace was foraething between a 
 gallop t and an amble.. 
 
 * This, in the modern phrafe, is called arming, and is a very faulty- 
 method of placing the head, contrary to the truth of nature, and the 
 mecha i i'm of the animal. The word is derived from the French, who 
 when an horfe carries his head in this pofture, is faid I'arwer, or to arm 
 himfcli igainft the hand of his rider; but more properly from the Ita- 
 lian >yord armatwa, which fignifies the lower end of the branches of the 
 bitt . ". French it is alfo called encafuchonner, from its refemblance Jo • 
 the av jearance of a monk's head, when his cowl is pulled over it. 
 
 -f- A vile and broken pace, anfwering to v/hat the French call aukin, 
 and we a rack. 
 
 The 
 
1 6 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 The Partlaans refembled the Perfians fo much in 
 
 their cudoms and manners, and were fituaied fo near 
 
 them, that they were incorporated, and feeraed to 
 
 form but one nation. They were very eminent for 
 
 the fkili with which they managed their horfes, 
 
 and their manner of fighting upon them. They are 
 
 defcribed as having fuch dexterity and fupplenefs of 
 
 body, and fuch a command over their horfes, that they 
 
 could turn themfelves round upon their backs with fo 
 
 much eafe and readinefs, as to be able to draw their 
 
 bovys v/ith the fureft aim, and wound their enemies, 
 
 even while they themfelves were flying from them, 
 
 this manner of fighting being peculiar to them. The 
 
 name of PartJms is derived from a Chaldaian word, 
 
 which fignifies horfeman : their horfes are faid to have 
 
 been very a6live, and eafy in their paces *. We learn 
 
 from Vegetius that they were taught to ftep equally, 
 
 and in time, and to lift their legs aloft, fo as to pafs 
 
 over any thing that might lie in their way, as well 
 
 as to acquire a pliancy and fpring in their limbs, 
 
 which made their motion very agreeable to the rider, 
 
 and refembled the adlion or manner of going of the 
 
 Ailurian^ or Spanifh horfes. The better to form their 
 
 paces, they pradifed the following method : 
 
 They never applied rollers, chains, or weights to 
 their feet, in order to make them lift them from the 
 
 * Florus 49. Tacitus Ann. 6. 35. Pliny 6. 27. 
 
 Dion Cafl". lib. 40. Dionys. Per. 1089. 
 
 Juftinj lib. 41. Quint. Curt. 4, 12, and 5, 7. 
 
 ground, 
 
PL.i 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 17 
 
 ground, and thereby acquire a lofty adion j but they 
 were ufed to take their horfcs into a fpot of dry 
 and level ground, about fifty paces long, and five 
 broad ; here they difpofed in regular rows, certain 
 boxes or coffers, filled w^ith chalk or clay, in the man- 
 ner of horfe-courfes, which were roughened with fur- 
 rows, or purpofe to make the viAory more glorious, 
 in proportion as the difiiculty and danger were greater. 
 The horfes thus exercifed, at firft were apt to be very 
 aukward, and to trip or ftumble ; but being admo- 
 niflied by the fault they committed, they learnt to lift 
 their feet higher, and avoid the objedl that ofifended 
 them, till by pradlice and repetition they acquired an 
 habit of bending their knees, and dealing their fteps, 
 fometimes Ihorter and fometimes longer, as the 
 ground required, and were thus enabled to carry their 
 riders with fafety, and much to their eafe and pleafure ; 
 inafmuch as that thofe horfes which make Ihort * ileps 
 
 * If Vegetius means that fliort and fmall fteps are commendable, 
 I am afraid he will not engage modern judges to be of his opinion. 
 I ftiould imagine that we are to underftand by the -words Jhort and /mall 
 fteps, a manner of going in which the horfe does not extend or put out 
 his feet, fo much as one that goes near the ground ; but, on the con- 
 trary, lifts his feet above it, and fets them down at a fmall diftance 
 from the place whence he took them up. By this way of going, the 
 horfe indeed will not rid much ground, but his motions will be eafy 
 and pleafant to the rider, and he will refemble the going of the Aftu- 
 rian or Spanifh horfes, which are remarkable for their high anion, and 
 confequently an eafy and graceful carriage. The perfeftion, however, 
 of all the paces depend upon the united qualities oiextettjion and aSlion. 
 
 Vol. I. D and 
 
i8 THE HISTORYAND ART 
 
 and fmall, go more commodiouHy, and move with 
 more eafe and grace. Their horfes v/ere very hardy, 
 and inured to incredible fatigue, as well as to travel 
 a long time without food or water*. 
 
 This people, however fmce dillinguifhed for their 
 horfemanftiip, were probably ignorant of it at the time 
 of Xerxes' expedition, and according to Herodotus, 
 fought on foot in the caufe of that monarch. 
 
 Armenia likewife could boaft a breed of horfes, 
 hardly inferior to the Perfian race. 
 
 Vegetius fpeaks of the inhabitants of this country, 
 as being very careful in trimming and adjufting the 
 manes of their horfes. Some ufed to cut them clear 
 off, which pracSlice he condemns, as rendering the 
 horfe unfightly and deformed. Others clipped them, 
 fo as to make them refemble an arch or bow, which is 
 the fame as what is called an Hogs mane with us: 
 others again feparated it into notches, like the battle- 
 ments of a tower ; while fome cut it clofe, but only on 
 one fide, leaving the hair long and flowing on the other, 
 which was very graceful and becoming : the fide on 
 which the mane was turned and repofed was always to 
 the right. To this Virgil alludes, when he direds 
 the mane to be laid on the right flioulder : 
 
 Denfa juba, et dextro jaclata recumbit in armo. 
 
 * ^otfine aqua Paribus millia currat equus. 
 
 Prop. lib. iv. eleg. 3. 
 How many miies can run the Parthian horfe, 
 Nor quench his thirft in the fatiguing courfe ? 
 
 This 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. j c, 
 
 This method was likewife praclifed by the Perjians 
 and, by the above cited line, appears to have been in 
 ufe w^ith the Romans, as well as that of flieering the 
 manes of then- manni or nags : whence Propenius 
 fays, his miftrefs Cynthia was carried in her litter by 
 fhorn horfes : 
 
 ■ Et mea detcnjis adveMa eji Cynthia mannis, 
 Varro likewife dircils the mane to be turned to the 
 right fide. They alfo tied it in knots, or plaited it, as 
 the word impUcata aptly expreiTes *. 
 
 No particular reafon is afligned why the mane was 
 always turned on the right fide; it might be owing, per- 
 haps, to the cuftom of mounting on the right, which 
 was frequently, but not always the pravftice ; and in 
 that cafe, the mane hanging on the fide, from which 
 the horfeman got up, offered itfelf to his hand to allift 
 hina in the a(5tion ; while we, without any meaning, 
 always mount on the left, and always turn the mane 
 to the right. The Armenians had another method of 
 trimming their horfes, as well as the Parthians, by 
 which they made them as it were t^oz/^/e-maned ; for 
 the hair being cut away in the middle, the mane was 
 divided, and falling down, cloathed each fide of the 
 neck. A fafliion fometimes ufed at prefent, but ge- 
 nerally among coach-horfes. 
 
 Media was a region eminent for its horfes, and from 
 its fituation and other properties, produced them of 
 equal value with the neighbouring countries. 
 
 * Lib. iv. c. J. 
 
 D 2 Mfeea, 
 
a o THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 Nifaa, a di(lrl6t of Armenia, boafted a breed of very 
 large and beautiful horfcs. The chariot of Xerxes, in 
 his famous expedition, was drawn by horfes of this 
 country, and chofen for the tafk, as being the nobleft 
 which could be procured. 
 
 The Scythians were fo confpicuous for their addidlion 
 to horfes, that they were proverbially * famous. They 
 are reprefented to have prefeiTed mares, as thinking 
 them more capable of fervice. They imagined them 
 not to be fo liable to delay, and the inconvenience of 
 Hopping when they had occafion to ftale. Pliny tells 
 us, that this was the motive of their ufmg mares 
 more than horfes in war, and upon other occafions j 
 and we learn from Strabo, that they were wont to geld 
 their horfes, to make them gentle, and more eafy 
 to be governed. It is thought, however, and with 
 much probability, that this preference of the fe- 
 male fex may be afcribed to better caufes. Whether 
 the mare can carry her urine longer than the horfe, 
 or is able to difcharge it with more facility, even 
 while flie is in the moft rapid motion, as Pliny re- 
 ports, is a point only for anatomifts to determine ; 
 but it is certain that, in general, the female fex of thefe 
 animals is more mild and tradable, nor fo fubjeft to 
 fight and quarrel as horfes are, either from lufl, fpirit 
 or vice ; and what might have been ftill a ftronger 
 recommendation, not fo apt to neigh, and thereby 
 
 * Scytha equum. 
 
 betray 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 21 
 
 betray and difcover their riders, in an enterprizc of 
 war, or excurfion of pillage, in which they wifhcd to 
 fall unexpectedly upon the enemy. 
 
 The Sarmatians, both Afiatic and European, were 
 dirtinguiflied horfemen, and had large breeds of horics. 
 They ufed in. war a particular fort of armour, which- 
 covered themfelves and their horfes from head to foot: 
 the Perfians worc alfo, according to Ammianus Mar- 
 cellinus, armour of iron, which inclofed the whole 
 man ; they armed their horfes with, the fame metali 
 on their chefts and heads, and this fafhion was adopt- 
 ed by many other nations. Paufanias-in his Attics de- 
 fcribes the Sarmatian armour, and fays it was made of 
 boae, which they ufed in the place of iron, their own. 
 country having no mines of this metal, and they en- 
 deavouring to procure none from other nations. They 
 ufed horfes not only to ride, but ofifered them in facri- 
 fice to their gods, as did alfo many other nations; 
 They likewife eat their flefh, and drank their blood ; as 
 did another tribe of the fame people, called the Ge- 
 loni, and the Maflagetes. Lucan and Virgil records 
 this cuftom ; 
 
 Majfageles quo fugtt eqiio, valuer efque Geloni^ . 
 hongaqiie Sarmatici folvens jejunia belli *. 
 
 The MafTagete, who at his favage feail 
 
 Feeds on the gen'rous fteed which late he prefL 
 
 * Lib. iii. Row. Virg. Georg. 3d. Warton's tranH 
 
 Acerqtte 
 
22 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 Accrque Gelonus 
 Cum Juglt in Rhodopen, atque in deferta Getanim, 
 Et lac co77iTetu?n cum fanguine potat equina. 
 
 The fierce Gelonian when for favage food, 
 
 He blends the milky flream with horfe's blood *. 
 
 The materials of which the Sarmatians compofed 
 their armour, was taken from the hoofs of horfes, 
 which they cut into little plates, like fcales, which they 
 pierced and fewed together with the fmews of oxen 
 or horfes. 
 
 Cappadocia flands eminently praifed for its horfes ; 
 which, from the accounts given of them by hiftorians, 
 and the commendations beftowed by the poets, who 
 defcribe their beauty and merit in the moft lively and 
 ftriking terms, feem to have claimed the precedence 
 of the reft of their fpecies. Oppian, Gratius, iElian, 
 Nemefianus, Pliny, Vegetius, and Solinus, Pollux, 
 Varro, and many others, give them the higheft cha- 
 racfler. Oppian particularly celebrates their ftately car- 
 riage, and loftinefs of aftion ; and fays, that when 
 young, they are delicate and weak, but that ftrength 
 comes with years, and, contrary to other horfes, 
 they are better and more powerful when advanced 
 in age. 
 
 * Martial alfo fays, 
 
 Venit £5? e poto Sarmaia pvjius equo. 
 
 The 
 
n. 
 
 <•? 5« 
 
 f^^^ 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP, 23 
 
 The horfes of this trad: of country feem to have 
 been the favourites of the ancients, who greatly extol 
 their fwiftnefs, and ftatelinefs of their adlion. And 
 here it may not be improper to obferve once for all, 
 that moft of the ancient authors, who fpcak of the 
 horfe, or defcribe its figure, mention the proud, 
 high, and equal Hep, which conflitutes, what is un- 
 derflood by the term action, not only as a requifite, 
 but as the nobleft accomplifhraent an horfe can pofTefs: 
 and it mufl: be acknowledged, that when the animal 
 difplays it properly, motion appears in its higheft 
 grace. The poets^ who love beautiful images, fpeak 
 of the horfe in this view, in fuch expreffive and apt 
 terms, that after feeing the horfes themfelves, the next 
 pleafure is to read their defcriptions of them. The 
 painters and ftatuaries are likewife fond of exhibiting 
 the animal in this ftriking attitude. 
 
 The inhabitants of Numidia, Mauritania, Nafamonia, 
 MaJftUa, and other adjacent trads of the fame region, 
 are celebrated for having had horfes of great fleetnefs 
 and vigour ; but more for their ftrange and peculiar 
 manner of riding them without a bridle or faddle, 
 ufmg a voand only, or fwitch, to guide and command 
 them. Many poets, who in fome inftances may pafs 
 for hiftorians, and many hiftorians likewife, affert this 
 for a truth. Livy * fpeaking of this manner of ma- 
 naging their horfes, fays with great juftice, that they 
 
 * Lib. xxiii. c. 25, and 25, 9. Vide alfo Caef. de Bello Afric. 
 
 made 
 
24 THE HISTORY A N D A R T 
 
 made an ungraceful and aukward appearance, having 
 their necks ftrait and extended, and carrying their nofes 
 upwards, or in the air (capitibus ake Jlantibus). Many 
 authors imagine this breed to be the fame with that of 
 Lybia, or as this traift now is called, Barbary, famous 
 for its excellent horfes, celebrated for their fpeed, 
 wind, and patience of fatigue. Xenophon and Oppian 
 agree in giving them this charadler; and Mian bellows 
 upon them the fame commendations, defcribing them 
 to be of a lean habit of body, and of a {lender mould, 
 not requiring much care or attendance from their 
 keepers, but living hardly, and content with fuch food 
 as they find in the fields, into which they are turned as 
 foon as the rider quits their backs, without farther care 
 or notice The prefent treatment of them correfponds, 
 in a great degree, with this account, nor is the de- 
 fcription of them unlike that already related of their 
 anceftors. 
 
 Silius Jtalicus * fpeaking of the Carthaginians fighting 
 with the Romans, mentions the peculiar manner of 
 riding among thefe people, and many other autho- 
 rities confirm the praiSlice f. 
 
 It is neverthelefs, in fome degree, difficult to con- 
 ceive, how a wand or flick could be powerful enough 
 to guide or control a fpirited or obilinate horfe in the 
 violence of his courfe, or in the tumults of battle : — 
 but the attention, docility, and memory of the animal 
 
 * Punic, lib. 4. 
 
 •}- Livy, lib. xxxviL c. 20. 
 
 arc 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 25 
 
 are fuch, that it is hard to fay to what a degree of obe- 
 dience and cxaiflnefs he may not be reduced. It is 
 faid that the manner in which the ftick operated, was 
 by flriking the horfe with it on the right fide of his face, 
 to make him turn to the left, on the left' to dire<5l him 
 to the right, and full upon the griftle of his nofe, when 
 he was required to flop * : 
 
 Paret in obfeqniuin lento: modermn'me virga, 
 Verbera funt pracepta fuga, funt verbera frceni. 
 
 All ncedlefs here the bit's coercive force 
 To guide the motions of the pliant horfe ; 
 Form'd by the rod alone, its aids they know, 
 And flop, and turn, obedient to the blow. 
 
 AufoniuG confirms this account, and defcribing this 
 method of riding in very exaft terms, celebrates the 
 emperor Gratian for his fkill and addrefs in it. Mira- 
 bamur (fays he) -poetam "j" qui infrcenos dixerat Numidas, et 
 alterum qui coUegerat ita, ut diceret in equitando verbera ^ pra- 
 cepta eJJ'e fuga, & prcecepta Jtjiendi : obfcurum hoc nobis legentibus 
 erat. Intelleximus te videntes, quum idem arcum intenderes, ^ 
 habenas rcmitteres ; aut equum fegnius euntein verbere concitarest 
 vel eodem verbere intemperentiam coerceres %. 
 
 * Nemefian. 
 
 -}- Et numida infrceni eingunt, et inhofptn fyrtis. 
 
 Virg. ^n. 4. 
 X Aufon. Grat. Adio. p. 546, Delph. Edit. 4to 
 
 Vol. I. E This 
 
26 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 This method, I have been afTured, is ftill pra6lifed 
 in Barbary, by the lower fort of people, and anfwei-s 
 very juftly to the roughnefs and brutal violence of 
 thefe ignorant nations, in the ordinary courfe of their 
 manners, and harfhnefs of their tempers. 
 
 Nor is it unreafonable to fuppofe, that their extreme 
 poverty, their ignorance of the arts *, and the want, 
 perhaps, of materials and manufai5tures , might have 
 given rife to this manner of riding, which cuftom adopt- 
 ed, and conftant pracftice made eafy and familiar both 
 to man and horfe j which latter, after a certain degree of 
 difcipline and experience, from the force of habit, and 
 the docility of his nature, might be brought to under- 
 ftand the intention, and obey the will of his rider, with 
 as much certainty and readinefs, as our cart-horfes in 
 
 * In confirmation of this aflertion, I will add a paflage from an ac- 
 count of the Irifh, in the reign of king Richard II. 
 
 When this prince went into Ireland to chaftife IVIac-Morough, who 
 called himfelf king of Ireland, though properly only king of Leinfter, 
 in the year 1399 •, the king of England, by advice of his council, fent 
 the earl of Glocelterunto Mac-Moroiigh to charge him with his crimes. 
 Between two woods, Mac-Morough defcended from a mountain, 
 mounted upon an horfe without a faddle, which cofl: him (as reported) 
 four hundred cows ; for in that country they barter by exchange, horfes 
 for beafts, and one commodity for another. This horfe was very fair, 
 and ran as fwift as any flag, or the fv/ifteft beaft I ever faw. Vide 
 Harris's Hibernica. 
 
 Perhaps the cuftom once in this kingdom of making horfes draw 
 by their tails may be afcribed to the fame caufe, as the riding without 
 faddles •, the ignorance of the age in the art of making faddles and 
 harnefs. 
 
 the 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 27 
 
 the crowded ftrects, attend to the voice of their driver, 
 by which they almoft are folely governed, and difcover 
 no lefs fagacity and obedience than the famous Gallic 
 mules, dcfcribed by Claudian in the following epigram. 
 
 DE MULABUS GALLICIS. 
 
 ^fpicc morigeras Rhodani torrentis alumnas^ 
 
 Imperio ncxas^ impsrioque vagas ; 
 DiJJ'ona quam varios Jleclunt ad mitrmiira curfus^ 
 
 Et certas adeunt vcce regent e vias : 
 iluamvis qiiaquejlbi longh difcurrit habenis, 
 
 Et pateant diiro libera colla jugo ; 
 Ceu conJiriBa tatnenfervit, patienfque laborum 
 
 Barbaricos docili concipit aure fonos. 
 Abfentis longinqua vaJent pracepta magijiriy 
 
 Frcenorumqiie vicem lingua virilis agit. 
 Hac procul aiigujlatfparfas, fpargitque coa5ias, 
 
 Hac Jijiit rapidas ; hac properare facit. 
 Lava jubet ? lavo deducunt limite grejfum, 
 
 Mutavit Jirepitum ? dexteriora petunt. 
 Nee vinclis famuJa, nee libertateferoces, 
 
 Exuta laqueis, fiibditione tamen, 
 Confenfuque pares ; fed fiilvis pelHbus hirta 
 
 EJfeda Concordes multi fonora trahunt. 
 Miraris Ji voce f eras peccaverat Orphius, 
 
 Cum pronas pecudes Gallica verba regant ? 
 
 Bred, where the Rhone's impetuous torrents flow, 
 Obferve how well thefe mules their duty know ! 
 
 E 2 How 
 
1 
 
 28 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 How well their driver's meaning underftand. 
 Come at his call, and go at his command ; 
 Left to themfelves, and trufled with the reins, 
 His voice, with furer pow'r their fpeed reftrains* 
 Patient of toil, their Heady courfe they fleer, 
 Watch every accent, and obedient hear. 
 Govern'd by diftant founds, they clofe, divide, 
 And flop, or run, the voice their only guide.^ 
 To the left hand one tone diretSts their flight, 
 A difF'rent* cadence wheels them to the right. 
 Though free, not wild, they own fuperior fway, 
 With willing minds, and equal fleps obey^ 
 And fpeed the rattling carriage on its way. 
 Then wonder not, that Orpheus drew along 
 The favage herd, enraptur'd at his fong !. 
 Lo ! here a greater prodigy is found ! 
 And brutes more docile to a ruder found. 
 
 Libya, mentioned above, bred horfes which were 
 fwift even to a proverb *. Its inhabitants are reported 
 to have been the firft who taught Greece the method 
 of coupling horfes in a chariot. They were confidered 
 as moft fkilful horfemen, fuperior to other nations, 
 and never fought but on horfeback. 
 
 It may now, perhaps, be time to quit thefe regions, 
 in order to follow our fubjedl, and examine what re- 
 ception it found, and what progrefs it made, when in- 
 
 ■^ Ju>:ta Lydium currum curnre. Plutarch. 
 
 troduced 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 29 
 
 troduced into the third remaining part of the globe, 
 called Europe. 
 
 It is imagined, and the conjecfture is by no means 
 groundlefs, that the colonies which came from Phoe- 
 nicia and Egypt, countries in which equitation flou- 
 rifhed, brought the art with them, and eftablillied it 
 in Greece, long before the fiege of Troy ; and indeed 
 it would be very furpriling, and fcarcely credible, 
 that an art which promoted the convenience and plea- 
 fure of mankind in fo great a degree, lliould remain 
 entirely with the inventors, and not pafs into neigh- 
 bouring countries, and be adopted by all who were 
 once acquainted with it. 
 
 As many reafons have already been urged, and 
 many authorities produced from the facred writings, 
 in order to prove, that riding on horfeback was at 
 leafl: coeval, if not prior, to the ufe of chariots, fo it 
 may not be improper likewife to have recourfe to the 
 oldefl authors, in order to fee what farther knowledge 
 may be gleaned from them. 
 
 Homer, the oldeft poet, and, in fomc inflances, the 
 oldefl pagan hiftorian, fpeaks of riding fo familiarly 
 in fome parts of his poems, that we mull believe it 
 was known, and in ufe among the Greeks, before he 
 compofed his Iliad and OdyfTey. 
 
 Two paiTages of this poet, one in the i 5th book of 
 the Iliad, the other in the 5 th of the OdyiTeyj will 
 prove this alTertion. 
 
 In 
 
30 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 In the firft we read to the following effect. '« Juft 
 as a fldlful horfeman riding four chofen horfes along 
 a public road, to fome great city, where his courfe is 
 to terminate : 
 
 " The whole town afTembles to behold him, and 
 gaze upon him with wonder and applaufe, while he 
 leaps at pleafure from the back of one horfe, to ano- 
 ther, and flics along with them." 
 
 It is to be obferved, that the poet makes this compa- 
 lifon, when he defcribes Ajax fighting in defence of the 
 Grecian fhips, attacked by the Trojans ; and to give a 
 livelier idea of that hero's ftrength and adlivity, he fays, 
 that Ajax leaped from one fliip to another, with the 
 fame readinefs and addrefs, with which a fkilful 
 horfeman would vault from the back of one horfe to 
 that of another ; and confeqiienily that by his nim- 
 blenefs and force, he was able to defend many Ihips 
 at a time, as an accompliflied rider is capable of ma- 
 naging and controlling feveral horfes at the fame 
 time. 
 
 From this comparifon two obfervations will occur .- 
 the firft is, that riding mult have been commonly 
 known at the time when Homer wrote, otherwife he 
 could not have alluded to it, in order to illuftrate, and 
 give a full idea of Ajax's manner of fighting when he 
 defended the Grecian fliips. 
 
 The fecond remark to be made, is, that this art was 
 not only knpwn at that time in Greece, but alfo that 
 it muft have been lludied and cultivated with care and 
 
 attention. 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 31 
 
 attention, fincc no fmall fhare of dexterity and habit is 
 neceffary to enable a man to vault alternately upon the 
 backs of four horfes running at full fpeed. Nor is the 
 whole praife due to the rider : the horfes niuft have 
 contributed their part, and been docile and govern- 
 able, otherwife it would have been impoffible for the 
 man to have difplayed his fkill ; and the manage- 
 ment of them demanding a certain degree of experi- 
 ence, we are naturally led to conclude, that the Gre- 
 cians were acquainted with the art before this period, 
 and left their knowledge to their defcendants, for 
 whofe inftrudlion and entertainment Homer compofed 
 his two immortal poems. 
 
 The next teflimony comes from the OdyfTey, and is 
 likewife another fimile, which the poet makes of 
 UlyfTes, fhipwrecked, and fitting aflride a plank, which 
 was floating upon the waves, to a man beftriding an 
 horfe, and keeping his feat in fpite of all the motions 
 the animal could make. To the foregoing arguments, 
 we may Hill add another from the fame antient writer. 
 He tells us, that when Ulyfl'es and Diomed went by 
 night into the tent of Rha:fus ; UlylTes feeing his 
 horfes tied behind his chariot, immediately releafed 
 them from it, and mounting them, with Diomed, they 
 rode to the Grecian camp* 
 
 Notwithllanding the force of thefe evidences, 
 which tend to prove fo clearly, that riding was known 
 before the Trojan war ; it yet mud be confeffed, 
 from the filence of the fame writer, that the Greeks, 
 
 during 
 
3 2 THE ART AND HISTORY 
 
 during that long ficge, made ufe of chariots only ; for 
 it is not known; that they had any bodies of troops 
 v;hich ferved on horfcback : nor does it appear on 
 the other hand, from any writer of antiquity, why 
 chariots were preferred : and although it is but candid 
 to acknowledge that they were, and although the me- 
 thod of fighting on horfeback might at that time be 
 difufed ; yet, it does not follow, that the art of riding 
 and dreiling horfes, in its various branches, for^battle, 
 hunting, or exhibitions of pomp and pleafure, was not 
 known before that memorable cEra. 
 
 It has been already obfervcd, that it is conjedlured, 
 that the colonies which came from Phoenicia and 
 Egypt, are fuppofed to have brought with them the 
 art of riding into Greece ; and it is likewife pro- 
 bable that the Grecians are not only indebted to them 
 for their knowledge of equitation, but likewife for 
 the animal which is the fubjeft of it; it being fuf- 
 pefted, that the horfe was not originally a native of 
 Greece, but tranfplanted thither from other parts. 
 Herodotus * tells us, that the Greeks learned to couple 
 horfes in a chariot from the Africans (Lybians) ; and 
 Pliny f the naturalift fays, that the Greeks compofed 
 no treatifes or natural hiftory of the horfe, becaufe 
 their country did not originally produce any, and they 
 knew nothing of them in their wild ftate ; de egui/ens 
 mji fcripferunt Graci, 
 
 * In Melpom. •\ Lib. I. 
 
 Let 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 33 
 
 Let 'us, however, fee what their own hiflories, or 
 traditions fay upon this fubje6t. 
 
 They tell us then, that Neptune and Minerva having 
 a difpute which could confer the greateil benefit upon 
 man, Neptune gave the horfe, and Minerva the olive- 
 tree. This is the ancient account of the origin of the 
 horfe ; and from this very account, independant of 
 other more fober and certain relations, we may be in- 
 duced to fufpecfl, that he was not a native of Greece 
 originally, but introduced and adopted, or to talk 
 in the language of ancient mythology, the gift of a 
 God. 
 
 It is well known, that antiquity had a peculiar fond- 
 nefs to exprefs itfelf, upon mofl occafions, in fable and 
 allegory, thinking thereby,*, perhaps, to llrike the 
 mind with greater awe and veneration, and to raife 
 and enoble the fubjeifl which they treated, by afcribr 
 ing them to a divine origin, and far removed from the 
 ufiial courfe of things. This is probably the reafon, 
 why we find all ancient Hijiory to be almolt all Table ; 
 yet if we go fpmewhat deeper, and look more clofely 
 into things, wefliall, in many inftances, difcover Fable 
 alfo to be Hi/lory. It is, therefore, incumbent upon 
 thofe who have to do with fubjeds, which, from their 
 antiquity can only be feen through the medium of fa- 
 ble, to confider the fabulous part only as a veil or co- 
 vering, which to a certain- degree conceals the objed: 
 which is under it ; but which being removed, genu- 
 ine hiftoric truth will appear in its naked purity. 
 
 Vol. I. F AYithout 
 
^4 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 Without this^ clu«, almoft all ancient hiftory will be a la- 
 byrinth of confufion and doubt, not to be believed, or 
 even underftood : as in the inftance before us ; is it not 
 abfurd and ridiculous to be told, that an imaginary 
 deity, who prefided as fovereign of the iea, Ihould 
 have formed the horfe, a land animal, for the ufe of 
 man ? Yet fuch is the account given of this creature 
 by the Greek hillories and traditions ; but the veil of 
 fable in which it is wrapped, being removed, the 
 plain fa(n: will be this : viz. that in Greece in early 
 times, there being few, if any, horfes, fome were 
 brought from Libya, and other parts, and being tranf- 
 ported thither by fea, were faid in the lofty and figu« 
 rative ftile of antiquity, to have been the gift of Nep- 
 tune, the God of the Sea. 
 
 Thus fable ends in hiftot-y, of which it is no more 
 than a gorgeous drefs, and fanciful embelliihment ; 
 and which, like other ornaments, oftentimes overload^ 
 conceal from fight, what they were intended only' 
 to fet off and adorn. 
 
 In following our fubjedV, we are led, in the next place, 
 to confider the fiftitious ftory of the Centaurs^ who are 
 reported to have been the inventors and teachers of 
 Grecian horfemanfhip. Many different accounts are 
 to be found concerning them, in the poets and other 
 mythological writers : the trueft and moll fimple feems; 
 to be this. 
 
 It is faid by many ancient writers, that the Theffa- 
 lians, chiefly thofe who dwelt about Mount Pelion, 
 
 were 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 35^ 
 
 were die firft among the Greeks who applied themfelvcs 
 to the art of breaking horfes. Pliny the Elder gives 
 Bellerophon the honour of having been the firft who 
 mounted a horfe j but his ftory is too abfurd and idle 
 to be eniicled * to any credit, Notwithftanding this, the 
 fame writer declares, that the Theffalians, of all the 
 Greeks applied themfelves moft to this exercife. The an- 
 cient cavalry of Greece, therefore, is to be found inThef- 
 faly. Hiftory farther informs us, that thefe primitive 
 horfemen, in order to acquire knowledge and dexterity 
 in the art, as well as to difplay them upon proper oc- 
 cafions, were aecuftomed to fight with bulls, attacking 
 them with javelins, in order to kill them, and thereby 
 prevent them from ravaging their fields. In this fci- 
 ence of bull-hunting, it is fuppofcd, they were expert, 
 as well as in horfemanfliip, by the affiftance of which 
 they were enabled to attack and deftroy thefe wild and 
 dangerous animals. Pliny fays, Julius Csefar introduced 
 thefe bull-fightings into Rome, and was the firft who en- 
 tertained the people with thefe fpe<5lacles ; nor is it im- 
 probable, that the celebrated Spanijb BuU-feaJis, as they are 
 called, are derived from thefe fports of the Romans, as 
 they took their rife from the Greeks. Be this as it may 
 it is certain that the word Centaur, or to fpeak more 
 properly Hippocentaur, owes its derivation in the 
 Greek language to tliis cuftom of bull-wounding by 
 men, who attacked them on horfeback, the word 
 Hippocentaur, fignifying an Horfeman BuU-wounden 
 
 • Vid. Diod. Sicul.— -Pliny — Palaephatus— Servius in Virg, 
 
 Fa At 
 
36 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 At the firlt appearance of thefe new horfemen, the 
 people who faw them were greatly flruck and amazed 
 at the ftrangenefs of their figures ; and having, per- 
 haps, but an imperfed view of them, and that imdet 
 the influence of fear and wonder, might think them 
 to be a new fpecies of creatures, compofed of two 
 different natures, half-human, and half-brute. 
 
 This is at once the fabulous and real account of the 
 faft. Ignorance, and its companion Credulity, might 
 impofe fo much upon the minds of thofe who firfl faw 
 thefe half-men, and half-horfes, as to make them think 
 they were a new fpecies of creatures ; as the Indians 
 imagined the Spaniards to be, when they firfl beheld 
 them mounted upon horfes, and believed them to be 
 deities. Poetry and fable adopted the opinion, and 
 made a proper ufe of it ; and whether we view it in a 
 literal or figurative fenfe, we mufl confefs the juflnefs 
 of the notion ; but the fabulous explanation of it is fo 
 flriking and beautiful, that it always has been re- 
 ceived, and prevails at this day. The Centaur is the 
 fymbol of horfemanfliip, and explains its meaning as 
 foon as it is beheld : for there is fuch an intelligence 
 and harmony between the rider and the horfe, that 
 they may, almofl in a literal fenfe, be faid to be but one 
 creature ; the horfe underflanding the Aids of his rider, 
 as if he was a part of himfelf, and the rider equally 
 confulting the genius, powers, and temper of the horfe, 
 juflifies the allegory; and may almofl be faid, in the 
 
 expr^flive 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 37 
 
 exprcflive words of Shakefpear * to be " incorpfcd and 
 derainatured with the brave beail." 
 
 Having thus finilhed this fabulous ftory, or rather 
 extradted as much truth from it as we could, we will, 
 in the next place, prefent the reader wirh a more cir- 
 cumftantial account of the particulars of Grecian horfe- 
 manlhip. 
 
 It is known, that in the infancy of mod of the 
 Grecian dates, the number of horfes was but fmall, 
 they being too expenfive to be kept by any who were 
 not rich ; to encourage people, therefore, to increafe 
 the number, and keep them at their own coft, an or- 
 der of citizens was erected in Sparta and Athens, who 
 were deemed the fecond in rank in the commonwealth, 
 and diftinguiflied by certain honours and privileges 
 conferred upon them : in after-times Rome availed 
 herfelf of this expedient, and formed her Eguites, or 
 knights, after this model. 
 
 The origin of horfemanfhip in this country, is 
 afcribed to various perfons, but can be fixed with cer- 
 tainty upon none ; and whoever was the firfl intro- 
 ducer of it, feems to have known but little of the art, 
 r.nd to have left it very imperfeft, though, perhaps, 
 in no worfe a flate, than other arts and fciences were 
 in ^t their beginning. It is probable to think that 
 fome time mull have elapfed before the indrument 
 called a Bitt was ufed for the governing of horfes, by 
 
 c 
 
 * Hamlet. 
 
 putting 
 
38 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 putting it into their mouths. By looking back into 
 antiquity for the pra<5lices of pad times, and the 
 origin of many cuftoms defcended to us, we every 
 where find the greateft plainnefs and fimplicity in their 
 firfl flate; and the more ancient, the ruder and fimpler 
 they were. The ftile of architecfture, the fafhion of the 
 habits and drefles of early times, the methods of pre- 
 paring food, and many articles befide, are convincing 
 proofs of this afTertion. By degrees light broke in, 
 and men advanced progreflively from one improve- 
 ment to another. In difcufling this fubjeA, it is cu- 
 rious to obfervc, that in ancient Greece, many of the 
 terms appropriated to navigation, were alfb ufed in 
 horfemanfliip. The word xsXyjc or keles, which lig- 
 nifies a runner, ferved likewife, as Suidas fays, to de- 
 note light failing vefTels, and fwift horfes. Homer 
 calls fliips, horfes of the fca, and the pilot, the coach- 
 man, or driver of the velTel. Pindar calls a bridle 
 an gnchor; and in this fenfe Neptune may properly 
 be called the inventor of the horfe, which implied no 
 more than a lliip. Thefe little obfervations, among 
 many others which may be found in the Greek 
 and Latin writers, are only offered to the reader, 
 as an argument, that bitts and bridles were ufed 
 in the moft diftant ages, but at what exa<5l pe- 
 riod to fix their origin, or even to defcrite their 
 ihapes and proportion, is a talk by no means eafy 
 to perform ; inafrauch as that there is fcarce any 
 track left to follow, and where mention is made 
 
 of 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 39 
 
 of them, it is fo perplexed and obfcure, that filence 
 itfelf could not have left us more in doubt. All the 
 advances we can make in this difficult road, rather 
 miilead, than conduft us to any knowledge that is 
 clear and certain. It may, therefore, be the wifer and 
 more modefl part, to fuppofe that the people of the 
 iirfl ages of the world, prompted by their necellities, 
 and a<5ting from them alone, made no other ufe of the 
 horfe at firft, than what might be for domellic pur- 
 pofes, teaching him to fubmit to carry men and bur- 
 dens ; and having reconciled and made him patient^ 
 they taught him by degrees to diftinguifli and obey 
 the diiFerent founds of the voice, as well as to be di- 
 re<Jted by the guidance of a fwitch or wand, which the 
 rider carried in his hand, 
 
 It is, however, apparent that they made ufe of cords 
 or thongs to Hop and confine the horfe in any place 
 where they chofe he fhould ftay. Thefe cords they 
 fattened round the horfe's neck, as may be feen in the 
 figures (though of a much later date), carved upon 
 Trajan's pillar at Rome. Thefe ropes hanging down 
 from the necks of the horfes, are imagined to have fug- 
 gefted the firft hint of traces for drawing machines. 
 Strabo fays, that the Moors, or Africans, ufed cords 
 for bridles. It is probable to think, that after a time 
 they might difcover, that if a cord was put into the 
 mouth, or at leaft over the nofe, like our bakers, 
 which may be ufed both ways at the fame time, it 
 would be a more effe<5lual ra.ethod of guiding and con- 
 
 trolhing 
 
40 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 trolling the horfe ; and hence is derived the fuppofed 
 origin of bridles ; which, in after-ages, have been 
 multiplied in fuch numbers, and under fuch a variety 
 of fliapes, increafing and improving, as men grew 
 more fkilful in riding, and applied it to fundry pur- 
 pofes. It is certain, that the ancient Greeks were ac- 
 quainted with the ufe of fpurs, ^s well as that they had 
 a covering for their legs when on horfeback, which 
 anfwered the intentpn of our boots. Xenophon, 
 in his treatife on horfemanfhip, mention both thefe 
 appurtenances. Neverthelefs no trace of the former 
 remains upon any flatue, or monument which have 
 reached thefe times, and is an omiffion of the ancient 
 fculptors not eafily accounted for, unlefs we conclude 
 with Montfaucon, that they did not think tliem worth 
 their notice. That learned and accurate antiquary 
 has preferved the figure of one, as well as of an an- 
 cient bitt, in his valuable colleflion. It does not ap- 
 pear, however, from this diligent enquirer, of what 
 country his fpur and bitt are the invention. Nor is it 
 quite certain, that what he calls a bitt, is really one, 
 and he leaves it to the reader to determine. It is of an 
 uncouth form, and bears no refemblance to thofc which 
 are ftill to be feen on Trajan's pillar, and elfewhere. 
 It has neither branches nor curb, and may not impro- 
 perly be called a Snofle ; the mouth-piece is ornamented 
 at each end, with two bofles, reprefenting ah horfe's 
 head. Not but that there are fome which appear to 
 liavc branches ; but curbs or chains under the chin are 
 
 no 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 41 
 
 no where to be feen. Xenophon, the oldefl writer 
 extant upon this fubjed:, defcribes two forts of bitts, 
 the one eafy and fmootb, the other fharp and more 
 powerful *. 
 
 They likewife had a fort of bridle which came over 
 the nofe, like our cavezons, armed with teeth, and 
 very fevere in its efFe(5ts f . 
 
 Whips were ufed by the Greeks, and were made of 
 thongs of leather, or the briftles of hogs twilled to- 
 gether, and fometimes of the fmews of oxen. Saddles 
 were unknown to ancient Greece. Inftead of them 
 <:ertain cloths or houfmgs were thrown upon the horfe, 
 and fattened by a girth, or furcingle. Upon thefe the 
 rider fat. They were known by the general name of 
 Ephippia ; and the trappings or horfe-furniture, known 
 and ufed in every part of the modern world, may be 
 fuppofed to owe their origin to them. They were 
 compofed of different materials, leather, cloth, and 
 the fkins of wild beads, and fometimes adorned with 
 gold, filver, and precious Hones ; the horfes, befides 
 thefe ornaments, being decked with Bel/s, rich Collars^ 
 and other devices. 
 
 As the invention of faddles was an advantage in 
 riding, of which the Greeks were totally ignorant, fo 
 were they likewife of the ufe of llirrups ; for want of 
 which they were obliged to mount and difmount by 
 vaulting, by the affiilance of horfe-blocks, or of other 
 
 * The reader will fee a fuller account in the treatife at the end of 
 this work. 
 
 t Vide Tidor. Hiipal. et SchefFer, de re Vehicul. 
 
 Vol, I. G people, 
 
42 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 people, as flaves or grooms, who lifted the rider upon 
 the horfe, and helped him to get down. Soldiers ge- 
 nerally made ufe of their fpears upon this occafion. 
 Others of Ihort ladders ; others again had their horfes 
 taught to kneel, when the rider was to mount or 
 get down. Beiides thefe helps, piles of flones were 
 ere6led in the public roads for the conveniency of 
 paflTengers ; and the officer, who had the fuperinten- 
 dency of the highways, was obliged to fee that they 
 were furniilicd with them. Thefe different expedients 
 all feem to confefs the ignorance of ftirrups in the. 
 ancient world, and are arguments of force enough, 
 to induce us to believe, that they are a difcovery of 
 modern da^e. Euflathius fpeaks of them as inftru^ 
 ments in which a man putting his foot, could mount 
 his horfe without farther affiftance. Suidas and Plu- 
 tai'ch feem to intimate the fame thing *. To what 
 
 other. 
 
 * The Greek word ava^^xsu?, and the Latin term Strator, are 
 jbppofed to fignify in thefe languages Si.'rrups. But they muft not be 
 taken in a literal fenfe, but vinderftood figuratively. In their literal 
 fignification they mean no more than any thing by which a man 
 caii be enabled to mount or difmount from his horfe, as a ladder,, 
 chain, rope, ftep •, or horfe-block ; or a man, as a fervant, or groom, 
 who affilled the rider to get up and down. Performing, therefore, one 
 part of the office of ftirrups, they were,, in after-ages^ called ftirrups j. 
 but in the fame fenfe as a man who lies upon the ground may call ic 
 his bed, and the heavens his canopy. Suidas gives this explanation. 
 Pitifcus thinks it might have been a rope ladder, which was flung over 
 the horfe to enable the rider to mount, and then taken off (a method: 
 praftifed at this day) j and that it was not till a long time after, that, 
 
 they. 
 
 <; 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 43 
 
 other contrivance they alluded, if this flaould not be 
 allowed, a more able and more fortunate enquirer may, 
 perhaps, difcover ; in the mean time it feems to be 
 the more probable fide of the queftion to conclude, 
 that they were not known to the ancients. Hippo- 
 crates obferves, that the Scythians, who were much on 
 horfeback, were troubled with defluxions and fwellings 
 in their legs, occafioned by their dependent pofture, 
 and the want of fomething to fuflain their feet. Had 
 flirrups been known, this inconvenience could not 
 have been urged ; and this proof, joined to the foregoing 
 arguments, feems to outweigh thofe which are brought 
 to fupport the contrary opinion. 
 
 As the moft meritorious part of the horfe's cha- 
 radter was his fervice in war ; the Greeks were very 
 nice and fcrupulous in this particular, and before any 
 were admitted into their troops, flri6lly examined their 
 qualities and difpolitions ; rejecting thofe whofe talents 
 and properties did not come up to a certain degree of 
 merit required of them. The method of trying their 
 courage and temper, was by ringing a Bell, and making 
 other loud and fudden noifes ; and by their behaviour 
 
 they were fixed fo as to fupport the rider's legs while the horfe was in 
 motion. This praftice probably did not obtain till faddles were invented, 
 to which they could be faftened with firmnefs and fecurity. This ex- 
 planation coincides with, and confirms the conjefture of Montfaucon. 
 
 Vide Hoffman. Lex. Art. Staffa. — Jo. Molinet. Itin. Neap. — 
 Gorop. Bee. Gall, lib, ii. p. 49. — DuFrefne in Glof. &Notis ad Cinn. — 
 V. eundem DifTert. ad Joinville. — Euftat. OdyfTey, A. n. 155. — 
 Sueton, in Calig. 
 
 G 2 under 
 
44 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 under thefe circumftances, they judged of their tempers 
 and charadlers. Such horfes as were worn out, and 
 unfit to ferve in the troops, were caft and turned out, 
 and, as a mark of difmillion, were branded in the jaw 
 with the figure of a Circle, or Wheel. It was alfo ufual 
 with private people to mark their horfes by burning 
 into their flefh certain figures and marks, as letters of 
 the alphabet, or the initial letters of names, denoting 
 their breed and country, or to whom they belonged. 
 
 Thus Lucian mentions the practice of ftamping 
 horfes with the figure of a Centaur ; and Bucephalus is 
 faid to have been marked with the head of a Bull-, 
 whence he had his name. It is, however, more pro- 
 bable that this famous horfe owes his appellation to the 
 refemblance which his head really bore to that of a 
 j5m//, and not to the impreflion of one which was burnt 
 into his flefli ; and was a mark in no wife peculiar to 
 liim, hni common to all horfes, fo that he could not 
 have been particularly diftinguiflied by it ; and Aulus 
 Gellius, lib. v. c. 2. exprefly tells us that this was the 
 fa(5t, and that his head literally refembled in jQiape and 
 figure that of a Bull, as the name implies, Jlexandri 
 regii &? capite t^ nomine Bucephalus fuit ; and horfes of this 
 kind are fometimes fl;ill to be found. The moft fre- 
 quent and principal marks, however, were the letters 
 fgma and kappa ; and the horfes which bore them were 
 termed KiXTtzoLrioLi and I,Oiv<popcii, the ancient Greeks 
 calling the Jigma I,ocv or I,X[a. *. 
 
 * Vide Sa'm. ad Solin. P. 891, 892. 
 7 Greece 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 45 
 
 Greece gave many appellations to her horfemen, 
 diftinguifhing them by the particular forts of armour 
 which they wore, and by the manner of riding and 
 fighting. The Ay,<^i7C7toi were fuch as had two horfes 
 affigned to one man, on which he rode by turns, 
 vaulting from one upon the other, as the circum- 
 ftances of battle required. Others there were who 
 fought on horfeback and on foot, like modern dra- 
 goons, and had fervants attending to hold their horfes, 
 whenever they got down to fight. The xsXric, or fingle 
 horfe, was ufed upon different occafions, but moft fre- 
 quently for the purpofe of running in the public 
 games, like our race-horfes. 
 
 The Grecian horfemen always fet off to the left,. 
 preferring that hand, as we do to the right ; and 
 were ufed in forming their horfes, to work them in 
 circles, in order to make them fupple, and ready to 
 turn to either. 
 
 The Thejfalian horfes, by the agreement of all 
 v/riters, were the raoft famous of ancient Greece, and 
 valued and admired not only by the inhabitants of that 
 country, but by the moft judicious and experienced 
 perfons of other nations. They were celebrated even 
 to a proverb, which fays, that among horfes, the 
 ThefTalian breed was the nobleft ; as among women, 
 the Lacedaemonian were the moft beautiful. 
 
 Theocritus honours them with his praifes, and fays, 
 that a cyprefs-tree in a garden, and a TheJjhUan horfe 
 drawing a chariot, are moft pleafing objects, and fupe- 
 
 riorly 
 
4^ THE HISTORY AN DART 
 
 riorly graceful. Varro, in his account of fine breeds of 
 ■horfes, mentions thefe as the firft and beft. Strabo 
 alfo records their merit. 
 
 The horfes of Mycencc were held in much efleem, 
 and accounted more proper for fiiew and parade, from, 
 the pride and gracefulnefs of their carriage, than for 
 fwiftnefs, or great fatigue. 
 
 To M-jcejtce we muft add Ephus, a country much 
 extolled for its breed of fleet and beaiuiful horfes. 
 
 The Lacedamcnians are mentioned by Paufantas, as be- 
 ing remarkable for their love and knowledge of horfes, 
 and for having a diftinguiflied breed exprefly deftined 
 to contend in the Olympic courfe. 
 
 Argolis^ a country in the Pehponnefus, was another 
 part which muft be remembered upon this occafion. 
 The horfes of Argos are extolled by all antiquity. 
 Arcadia juftly boaftcd her breed of horfes, and had 
 large and rich paftures for their nouri(hment. 
 
 Magnejia, a region of Macedonia, and bordering 
 upon ThefTaly, is commended for its horfes, in which 
 its inhabitants were very curious, and fought upon 
 them with great addrefs. Lucan and Oppian make 
 mention of them. 
 
 The Dalmatian horfss had likewife their fliare of 
 praife.— Thofe of Ionia are celebrated by Oppian and 
 Claudian. 
 
 The illand Scyros produced thefe animals in great 
 abundance, and furniflied Greece with large fupplies : 
 nor was flie lefs indebted to Colophon, whofe horfes (he 
 
 highly 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 47 
 
 highly efteemed, and which were remarkably excel- 
 lent in war. 
 
 The Jttic territories were not without their merit ; 
 and Elis was eminently diftinguiflied for the horfes 
 which fhe produced, fo admired in the Olympic race. 
 
 The Tbracian horfes are commended, as well as many 
 others of inferior note, whofe chara6ler and fame are 
 not confiderable enough to entitle them to any parti- 
 cular notice. 
 
 It was cuftomary with the Grecians to give par- 
 ticiilar names to their horfes, as modern nations 
 do- at this day. Thus the horfes of Achilles were 
 called Xanthiis and Baliiu ; that of Adrajlus, Arion -, Aura 
 was the name of the famous mare who won the 
 prize, without her rider, at the Olympic games, and 
 the property of Phidolas the Corinthian. Other names 
 were ^oivi^, a Phoenix, Kopoc^, a Crow, and fo on thro' 
 a variety of inftances, as with us, too trifling to be 
 enumerated. 
 
 They diftinguifhed likewife a particular clafs of horfes, 
 by the name of Lycofpades. Thefe were fuch as when 
 colts had been purfued and attacked in the mountains 
 and forefts by JVohes. They were highly prized, and 
 believed to be endowed with great fwiftnefs, if they 
 had outrun and efcaped from the purfuits of the 
 wolves ; or if they had received any hurt or mark, 
 the fear was thought honourable, and a proof of their 
 courage in refilling and fighting with the wolves 
 which had attacked them. Others interpret this ap* 
 
 pellatioQ- 
 
48 THE ART AND HISTORY 
 
 pellation to have been given to certain horfes, which, 
 from the hardnefs of their mouths, and obflinacy of 
 their tempers, could only be governed by the rigour of 
 the bitt, called the Wolj-b'm. 
 
 The Grecians in many inftances chofe mares before 
 horfes. ^Han fays, they thought them fitter for the 
 courfe ; and Virgil names only the mares of Epirus, as 
 running in the Olympian race. Pliny fays, they were 
 fwifter than horfes. It has been already obferved, that 
 the Greeks were accuftomed to mount and difmouni, 
 by vaulting and leaping from and upon the backs of 
 their horfes, as well as from one horfe to another. 
 Thefe feats of adlivity feem to have been firft pratTtifed 
 in battle, and in thofe ages vsrhen faddles, and confe- 
 qucntly ftirrups, were unknown. 
 
 The utility of this method fpeaks for itfelf, for if one 
 horfe was tired, wounded, or killed, his rider had 
 another ready for his fervice ; two or three being led 
 into the field, which were ufed as occafion required. 
 Thefe exercifes, fo feriouily neceffaiy in war, were, 
 after a time, performed in the public games, and 
 other occafional exhibitions, merely tofhew thenimble- 
 nefs and addrefs of the horfeman ; and the modern art 
 of vaulting, in all its variety of poilures and methods, 
 and which has now little more in view, than to difplay 
 the atflivity of the performer, is, beyond doubt, derived 
 from this ancient pradlice ; as well as the whole modern 
 manege, except which in fome few refinements, calculated 
 merely for grace and pleafure, is borrowed from the 
 
 different 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 49 
 
 different motions and evolutions performed by men and 
 horfes in battle. To this likewife we owe the folemni- 
 ties and fports of tilts, tournaments, and J t/J^s, invented 
 as a nryck-war, to fill up the lazy hours of peace, to 
 infpire and keep alive a martial fpirit, to render the 
 body acTiive, robuft, and expert in the feats of arms ; 
 and which, though confecrated in latter days folely to 
 pomp and gallantry, were anciently of more ferious 
 account, and the real difcipline and exercife of war. 
 
 Hence the praifes, and hence the honours, which 
 were always beftowed upon thofe who excelled in 
 hoyfemanJJjip, not as being fkilled in a light and idle 
 accomplifliment, but as pofTeffing an art, which was of 
 folid ufe, and indifpenfably neceflary in bufmefs of 
 war : for as in ancient times the moft important fer- 
 vice of the horfe was in the field, thofe who broke and 
 managed them were almoft always men of military 
 eminence ; and the appellation of horfeman, or more 
 fimply and literally horfe-breaker, meant a foldier or chiefs 
 who fought on horfeback, in dillin(5lion to one who 
 combated on foot; and the fkill of managing horfes in 
 its two branches of riding or driving them in chariots, 
 was a qualification requifite in a warrior. The epi- 
 thet, therefore, of horfe-breaker was a title of praife 
 and refpc61; ; as we learn from Homer, Virgil, and 
 others, who add it to the names of their moll illuflri- 
 ous heroes and chiefs, and confer diflinguiflied com- 
 mendations upon thofe who excelled in this art, fo 
 neceflary and becoming in the profeflion of arms ; and 
 
 Vol. I. H fo 
 
so THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 fo proper and ufcful upon other occafions, that Plu- 
 tarch declared to his countrymen, ' it was as abfurd 
 ' and fauhy in one who intended to ride, to be ignorant 
 ' of it, as it would be in a perfon who did not under- 
 ' ftand mufic, to undertake to play upon the pipe.' 
 
 The next, and mod remarkable period in the pro- 
 grefs of our fubjedt, is the inftitution of the public 
 games, which were exhibited at ftated feafons in diffe- 
 rent parts of Greece, wdth the utmoft fplendour and 
 magnificence ; infomuch that by the pomp with which 
 they were celebrated, efpecially thofe of Olympia, one 
 would almoft think, that the fafety of the ftates and 
 the glory of the Grecian name depended upon them. 
 The chronology of Greece was fixed, and the mofl me- 
 morable events were dated from their periodical cele- 
 brations. The performances exhibited were of feveral 
 kinds, all defigned and calculated to call forth the ut- 
 moft exertion of the powers of the human body. 
 
 To make thefe games more folemn and awful, they 
 were confidered as adls of religion, and confecrated to 
 different deities, as thofe of Olympia to Jupiter, and 
 Pythia to Apollo. Policy likewife had no inconfider- 
 able fhare in thefe folemnities, and under the cloak of 
 religion advanced her own ends, by ftirring up a fpirit 
 of emulation, and an ardent love 6f fame among the 
 Grecian princes and chiefs, by the rewards and honours 
 which were conferred upon the conquerors, in thefe 
 trials of courage, flcill, ftrength, and activity. Hence 
 the youth of Greece acquired a martial genius, and 
 
 became 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. ^i 
 
 became habituaied to danger, pain, and fatigue ; their 
 bodies at the fame time being hardened by toil, and 
 growing more ftrong, healthy, and alert. Nor mull 
 we forget the advantage which was hereby derived to 
 that part of the fports, which only can be confidered 
 here, eguitatioTi, and the culture of horfes. 
 
 From thefe public allemblies, and trials of merit, 
 it is certain much good fruit muH have been gathered; 
 for as Greece, in its early days, could boaft no good 
 horfes, or very few, thefe horfe races (like our own at 
 Newmarket) mull naturally have infpired an emulation 
 among the Greeks, to procure the fineft horfes, and 
 have put them upon ufmg every means which could 
 improve the art of riding, and the qualities of the 
 animal upon which it was to be exercifed. 
 
 It having been already faid that it is foreign to our 
 purpofe to confider the other exercifes which were 
 performed in thefe games, and were called GymnaJIic, 
 becaufe the men who contended in them were naked i 
 I fliall return diredly to my fubje(5l ; and lay before 
 the reader the particulars which remain concerning it. 
 
 It appears from the chronology of the Olympic 
 games, that chariot races were not introduced till the 
 2j:th Olympiad, nor horfe-races till the 23d. It'is a 
 quellion very natural to be alked, how it happened that 
 fuch a fpace of time elapfed, before thefe games were 
 graced with the labours of the horfe ? It is moll pro- 
 bable, that it was owing to the fcarcity of horfes in 
 Greece, at thofe times, and the large cxpences incum- 
 
 • H 2 bent 
 
^2 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 b^nt upon thofe who undertook to breed and manage 
 them ■, for it is certain, from the concurrent accounts 
 of many writers, that the Grecians were fo ill furniflied 
 with thefe animals, that in the feveral wars in which 
 they were engaged from time to time, they could not 
 mufter a fufficient number, although they were fo ufe- 
 ful andnecefTary. At length, however, things grew better; 
 laws were made, and rewards given to encourage the 
 breeding, and managing of them ; for which laft purpofe, 
 fkilful people, who profefled the art of riding, under- 
 took to inftru(5t the youth, efpecially fuch of them as 
 were to ferve in war, in the fcience of horfemanfhip *. 
 Befides this, the privileges and honours which were 
 conferred upon thofe who gained the prize in the 
 Olympic Games, mufl have contributed greatly to pro- 
 mote this end ; and fo great was the zeal, and even 
 juftice of the Greeks upon thefe occafions, that even 
 the horfes were not forgot, but, when vitftorious, were 
 crowned amidft the fliouts and applaufes of the multi- 
 tude t- 
 
 Neverthelefs, however exaft and zealous the Greci- 
 ans might have been, and notwithfhanding the pomp 
 and magnificence of thefe games, the ceremonies of 
 religion obferved at their celebration, and the venera- 
 tion in which they were held by all Greece, feveral 
 particulars are wanting, which, had they been tranfr 
 
 * Hefych. and Xenophon. 
 
 t Weft's Diflertat. on the Olympic Games. Plut. Sym. lib. 2. 
 Paufan. lib. 6. 
 
 mitted 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 5-3 
 
 mitted to pofterity, would have given a more certain 
 account of many articles relative to thefe famous exer- 
 cifes, and have enabled the reader to form a furer opi- 
 nion concerning them. 
 
 The piece of grotmd on which the chariot and horfe- 
 races were performed (for the fame fpot fervcd for both) 
 was called the Hippodrome. The Olympian Hippodrome, 
 or horfe-courfe, was a fpace of ground of fix hundred 
 paces long, furrounded with a wall, iituated near the 
 city EUs, and on the banks of the river Alpheus. It v?as 
 imeven, and in fome degree irregular, owing to the 
 lituation ; in one part was an hill of a moderate 
 height, and the circuit was adorned with temples, al- 
 tars, and other embellifliments. 
 
 This Jiadium^ or race-ground, confilled of two parts ; 
 the firft refembled in fliape the -proiis of a Ihip, and 
 was called the barrier. In this place, were the Hands 
 for the horfes and chariots, and here they were 
 matched and prepared for the courfe. The next par- 
 tition was the lifts, or the fpot on which the races 
 were to be run. At the end of the courfe flood a pillar, 
 which was the goal, round which the candidates were 
 obliged to turn, in order to come-back to the place 
 where they had izx. out ; and that rider or driver, who 
 could make the narroweft turn, and approach neareft 
 to it, every thing elfe being equal, had the faireft chance 
 offurpaffing his rivals. In doing this, the fkill of the 
 men, and the fupplenefs and obedience of the horfes, 
 were put to the fevereft proofs; inafmuch as that there 
 
 was 
 
54 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 was much danger in the performance, efpecially in 
 the chariot- race, where it fometimes happened, that 
 they were forced upon it, and broken to pieces, at the 
 manifeft rifque of limbs and life. To this, it is very 
 well known, Horace alludes in his expreffion, Meta 
 fervidis evitata roiis ; it being necefTu^y that the adven- 
 turers (liould go as clofe as poflible to the goal, to 
 prevent any lofs of ground or time, and yet to take 
 care not to ftrike again fl. it, for fear of receiving an in- 
 jury. 
 
 Beyond this goal another difficulty was to be en- 
 cotrntered. This was a figure, by which the horfes 
 were to pafs, placed on purpofe to alarm and frighten 
 them, as the name imports, being called Tarax/ppus, or 
 the terrifier of horfes. 
 
 The ftiape and form of this ftrange deity (for fo he 
 was called) is not defcribed, but he certainly anfwcrcd 
 the end for which he was defigncd ; it frequently hap- 
 pening, that the horfes were fo feared and alarmed at 
 his appearance, as to run away with the utmoll 
 violence, and expofe their riders, or drivers lives, to 
 the moll imminent dangers. Many conjectures have 
 been formed concerning this ftrange deity, and the 
 means which he ufed to frighten the horfes in fo ex- 
 traordinary a manner ; but the mod probable conclu- 
 fion will be, perhaps, to fuppofe, that fome tricks and 
 artifices were practifed under the difguife of this 
 figure ; either with a defign to render the vi(5tory more 
 honourable, in proportion to its being more difficult to 
 
 be 
 
O F H O R S E M A N S H IP. SS 
 
 be gained, or elfe (which was a better dcfign, and a 
 founder way of reafoning) that this horfe-fn'ghtening 
 deity was placed in the courfe, as a touchjlone, to try and 
 prove the refoUition and temper of the horfes ; and to 
 obUge the candidates to bring none into the field, but 
 fuch as by exercife and difcipiine were fo aflured and 
 fleady, as not to let their obedience be fliaken upon 
 the moft trying occafions. 
 
 On each fide of the courfe, from one end to the 
 other, the fpeiflators were placed ; the moft advanta- 
 geous nations being referved for the judges of the 
 games, and other diflinguiihed perfons ; the reft ftand- 
 ing where they could, it being impoflible to affign 
 particular places for the multitude which always at- 
 tended thefe folemn and magnificent diverfions. Again, 
 in that part where the horfes flood which were to run 
 for the prize, a long cable was drawn from one end to 
 the other, and ferved the purpofe of a barrier ; about 
 the middle of the prow above-mentioned, an altar was 
 erected, upon which ftood a brazen eagle, with out- 
 fli-etched wings, and the figure of a brazen dolphin was 
 likewife placed at the entrance of it. Tliis laft was fo 
 contrived, by the powers of mechanifm, that when ihe 
 prefident of the races thought proper to put it in mo- 
 tion, it would afcend at once to fuch an height, as to 
 be vifible to all the fpedlators. This eagle was dedi- 
 cated to Jupiter, the patron god of the Olympic 
 games, as the dolphin was facred to Neptune, the fup- 
 pofed creator of the horfe. The moment the eagle 
 
 fprang 
 
S6 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 fprang into the air, the dolphin funk under ground : 
 upon this fignal, the cable * was removed, and the 
 horfes advanced from their Hands, which were diftri- 
 buted by lot, into the courfe, where they Hood ready 
 to Hart : but in what order and arrangement, whe- 
 ther in a line, or one behind another, is a queilion 
 which has often been difculTed, but is hitherto unde- 
 cided. Nor is it known what laws were to be obferved 
 by the horfes which entered to run, or whether they 
 were confined to any fixed number ; but it appears that 
 they were divided into two clafTes, of full-aged and 
 under-aged horfes ; and that horfes and mares were 
 allowed to contend for the prize. There was likewife 
 a race, called Calpe, in which mares- alone were per- 
 mitted to run ; and with whofe riders it was cufto- 
 mary to leap from their backs towards the end of the 
 courfe, and keeping the bridle in their hand, to run 
 along with them, and fo finifli the career. 
 
 There was alfo another fort of riders, called Aiia- 
 batte, who refembled thefe horfemen of the Calpe in 
 moft particulars, but were difiinguiflied from them 
 in one inflance, being obliged by law always to ride 
 horfes. 
 
 * In the races at prefent performed in Italy, the fignal for the horfes 
 to ftart is oiven by removing a rope from before the horfes — the 
 cuftom beino- derived from this method of the Greeks ; efpecially, as it 
 known, that the Olympic Games were celebrated in Sicily (called 
 Magna Gr^cia), in the fame manner, and with all the circumftances, 
 as in ancient Greece. 
 
 The 
 
 i 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 57 
 
 The fignal for flarting was probably the fame as in 
 the chariot- races, and was given by the founding of 
 a trumpet. The fpace of ground round which the 
 horfes were to run, and the number of times which 
 they were required to run round it, will make their 
 courfe, or heat, to amount to about four miles, or fome- 
 what more. 
 
 Although the candidate-horfes were ranged into 
 claffes oi full ?ind under- aged, yet it is not known, what 
 was the precife term which qualified them to be rated 
 as full or under-aged. Neither can it be afcertained 
 how many were permitted to run at the fame time, at 
 what fize they were required to be, or of what weight 
 the jockeys or riders. Of thcfe particulars the reader 
 cannot be informed ; but as the riders were obliged to 
 undergo preparatory trials for the fpace of thirty days, 
 it muft be concluded, that there were certain laws and 
 conditions appointed by the judges, to which they were 
 obliged to fubmit. 
 
 This is the fum of what is recorded concerning the 
 celebrated races of ancient Greece, as far as my fub- 
 jedl leads me to confider them : in doing which, I 
 have confined myfelf to thofe of Olympia only, with- 
 out even pafting a glance upon any other, ' looking 
 upon them as comprehended in the general view, un- 
 der which the Olympian are prefented ; which, as 
 Pindar fays, were as much fuperiour to the reft which 
 Greece exhibited, as water is among the elements, or 
 gold compared with other metals. 
 
 Vol. I. I And 
 
sB THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 And now leaving Greece, and her horfes, it may 
 be time to turn our eyes to her admirer and imitator, 
 Rome. 
 
 It is very well known, that the Romans were in- 
 debted to Greece for many of the refined arts, and 
 ufeful improvements of life. Among thefe horfe- 
 manfhip, perhaps, was not the leaft confiderable, and 
 was received and adopted by the Romans with fuch 
 eagernefs, and cultivated with fuch diligence and 
 zeal, that they foon were able to excel their maflers. 
 
 Romulus very early inftituted his order of eguites, or 
 horfemen, as Jtbens and Sparta had done before, on 
 purpofe to encourage the pra«5lice of riding, and en- 
 gage his new fubjetfts to keep horfes at their own ex- 
 pence, which, in thofe times, were fo coftly, that the 
 rich alone were equal to the charge of maintaining 
 them. 
 
 The Certamlna Equejlrlay or horfe and chariot races of 
 the Circus, began very early in Rome, and were formed 
 upon the model of the Olympic races ; like them they 
 were deemed facred fports, performed as atfts of reli- 
 gion, and dedicated to particular deities, of whofe at- 
 tributes they were a myllical reprefentation. And here 
 it muft be acknowledged, that although the Romans 
 did not ufe chariots in battle, it is certain, that in the 
 Circus they preferred them to the races performed by 
 fmgle horfes. 
 
 That horfe was called by the Romans Singu/aris, or 
 
 Single, upon which a man rode without a faddle, ufing 
 
 I only 
 
// 
 
 J 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 59 
 
 only a cloth, like the Greeks, faftened with a furcingk^ 
 or elfe fitting upon the bare back. 
 
 Occafionally too the riders were tied and bound to 
 their horfes by thefe girths, that they might fit with 
 greater firmnefs and fecurity •, but the pradlice was 
 imprudent and dangerous, as they were, by this 
 means, expofed to be dragged, and torn by the horfe, 
 in cafe they were unfeated, like the warriour defcribed 
 by Silius Italicus *. 
 
 ■Raphiirque pavcre 
 
 Tragus equiy vinHis connexa ad cinguJa membris f. 
 
 Lock-faddles, now but little ufed, are liable to the fame 
 objeftion. 
 
 Whenever an inferior perfon on borfeback met his fupe- 
 rior, or a raagiftrate, or any one of diftinguifhed rank 
 and charatfler, the form of paying his civilities, and tefl;i- 
 fying refped, was by defcending from his horfe, unco- 
 vering his head, and retiring on one fide of the road. 
 This ceremony, Seneca % fays, he always obfcrved, when- 
 ever he met a conful or prastor ; to whom thefe ho- 
 nours were due. Apuleius mentions the fame manner 
 of falutation ; and fays, that when any one happened 
 to be on horfeback, and met any eminent man, who 
 w-as entitled to particular notice and regard, the horfe- 
 man, although in hafte, and going very faft, would 
 immediately flop, alight, and changing the wand or 
 
 * Lib. 4- Punicior. -f Florid, lib. 3. J Epift. 65. 
 
 I 2 fwitch 
 
6o THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 fwitch with which he rode, from his right hand to 
 his left, would advance, and make his falutation with 
 his right. To a certain degree, and upon particular 
 occafions, this ceremony is obferved among the mo- 
 derns. 
 
 Whoever knows the method of treating horfes after 
 fcvere labour, will be fenfible that it is the fame with 
 that which was pra6lifed by the Romans. Apuleius * 
 informs us, that when he perceived that his horfe 
 grew tired upon his journey, he wiped off the fweat, 
 rubbed his head, took off the bridle, ftroaked and 
 pulled his ears, and gently led him along, with his 
 head hanging down, and at liberty, allowing him to 
 crop the grafs as he went, to footh and refrefli him, 
 hoping, at the fame time, by thefe indulgencies, to 
 engage him to llale. 
 
 Straw was the material commonly ufed for litter ; 
 when that failed, leaves (chiefly thofe of the holm- 
 tree) fupplied its place, both for horfes, and other 
 cattle. 
 
 The food generally given to horfes, both by the 
 Greeks and Romans, when they were turned into the 
 fields, was grafs, clover, trefoil, and other herbs of 
 the grafs-kind. In the liable they were fed with hay, 
 barley, oats, wheat, and llraw. Pliny f extols the 
 virtues of the Cytifus; and fays, that horfes love it fo 
 extremely as to prefer it to barley. 
 
 This author, and Strabo, recommend likewife the 
 herb Medka (or the three- leaved grafs of Spain), as a 
 
 * Aur. Afin. lib. i. -f- Lib. xiii. c. 24. 
 
 moll 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 6i 
 
 moft excellent food. Columella fays it will bear mowing 
 four, if not fix times in the year ; and that nothing is 
 more efficacious to reftore lean and weak horfes to 
 plumpnefs and vigour. There are doubts, however, 
 what the herb i^, which was anciently called Medica, 
 a name given to it from its originally growing in 
 Media. Nemejian recommends ftraw and barley as very 
 nourifhing diet; and it certainly conduces very much to 
 keep horfes in health, fpirits, and wind, and in a Hate 
 of body fit for any kind of labour, as it fupports and 
 ftrengthens, without rendering the animal heavy and 
 corpulent. Eumenes^ as we learn from Plutarch, who 
 wrote his life, being befieged, and not having room to 
 exercife his horfes, fed them with boiled barley, as 
 being more eafy of digeftion. The ancients like wife, 
 on certain occafions, gave their horfes wine to drink, 
 to animate and refrefb them. Thus Homer makes An- 
 dromache give wine to He^or's war-horfes, or, as fome 
 commentators render it, wheat fleeped in wine. It is 
 no uncommon thing with us to give wine and beer to 
 our horfes, in cafe of ficknefs, or where any extraor- 
 dinary exertion of fatigue is required. 
 
 The cloths, or houfings, ufed by the Roman horfe- 
 men are Hill to be fecn upon Trajan's pillar, and many 
 other monuments of Roman antiquity. Stirrups were 
 unknown, and the Roman horfemen were therefore 
 obliged to mount their horfes, and get dov/n, by vault- 
 ing, by the help of horfeblocks, or of a groom called 
 Strator. 
 
 The 
 
^2 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 The origin of Saddles is not exa<5tly known : fome 
 writers among the moderns, attribute their invention 
 to the Saliiy a people among the ancient Franks ; and 
 hence they fetch the Latin word Sella, a faddle. This 
 alTertion, however, can amount to nothing more than 
 a conjedture, becaufe the word Sella fignifies, in gene- 
 ral, any thing upon which a man may fit, a chair, 
 ftool, or bench ; and under this denomination, a 
 thing called a Saddle, may be comprehended, but the 
 term could not alone be expreflive of what we call a 
 Saddle. The ufage and pra<5lice, however, of latter ages 
 have confined it to that fignification, although the 
 thing meant by it was unknown to the Romans, in 
 whofe language the word was always underftood in a 
 general fenfe. 
 
 The firll time we hear of faddles, is in the year of 
 Chrift 340, when Conjianthis endeavouring to deprive 
 his brother Conjiant'me of the empire, oppofed his army, 
 and entering the fquadron where Conftaniine was, at- 
 tacked, and unhorfed, by throwing him out of the 
 faddle, as we learn from the hiftorian Zonaras. 
 
 The emperors which fuccecded made many regu- 
 lations concerning horfes, and occafionally take notice 
 of faddles. 
 
 There is a refcript in the Theodofian Code, given by 
 the emperors Vahntinian, Theodojiiis, and Jrcadius, which 
 prefcribes the exa^ft weight of a faddle, confining it to 
 fixty pounds, including the bridle ; and ordaining that 
 the cloak -bag with which people travelled, Ihould 
 
 weigh 
 
Pi ^ 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 63 
 
 weigh no more than thirty-five pounds j the cloak-bag 
 be forfeited, and the faddle broke in pieces, in cafe of 
 difobedience. The old Romans being ignorant of fad- 
 dies, were likewife unacquainted with llirrups, and 
 like the Greeks obliged to ride without the eafe and 
 conveniency which they could have afforded. What 
 Hippocrates obferved of the Scythians, Galen found to 
 be true in the Roman cavalry, who, he fays, were 
 fubjedl to pains and defluxions in their hips and legs, 
 from their dependent poflure, and the .want of a fup- 
 port when on horfeback. It is, therefore, to be con- 
 cluded, and with great appearance of truth, that this 
 contrivance for eafing and fupporting the rider's legs, 
 was not the portion of the ancient horfemen ; no men- 
 tion being made of flirrups in any ancient Greek or 
 Latin author, no figure of them to be feen in any flatue 
 or monument, nor any word expreflive of them to be 
 met with in claflical antiquity. 
 
 The filence, therefore, of all the writers, and the 
 want of other proofs, leave us no room to form any 
 other conclufion, than that they are modern inven- 
 tion. The Romans, having no better aflillance, copied 
 the Grecian manner of getting upon their horfes ; they 
 vaulted, or employed horfeblocks, and the afliftance 
 of another perfon, after the Ferjian and Grecian me- 
 thods, 3.5 Julius Po/Iux, FolateramiuSy and F^^ef/wj teflify. 
 
 The firft fays, that when a man is to mount, or 
 defcend from his horfe, he fhould lead him to a bank, 
 or elevated ground, that he may execute his defign 
 
 with 
 
64 THE ART AND HISTORY 
 
 with greater eafe ; and that the horfe fliould be taught 
 to approach the mounting-place, readily, and without 
 fear. Fegetius informs us, that wooden horfes were made 
 ufe of for the purpofe of learning to vault, which were 
 placed in the open air in fummer, and in houfes in 
 the winter feafon. Upon thefe the young Romans 
 miade their effays, and the art is taught at this day in 
 the fame manner. 
 
 They at firft endeavoured to leap upon thefe wooden 
 horfes without armour; and when they grew flronger, 
 and more fkilful, completely armed. 
 
 The horfeblocks which they ufed, were compofed 
 of done, or wood ; and were in great abundance 
 upon all the roads ; the Roman people, according 
 to Plutarch, being under much obligation to Grac- 
 chus, who caufed thefe conveniencies to be placed at 
 proper diftances for the ufe of travellers. Porchachi*y 
 in his Funerali Antichi, has preferved an infcription, 
 in which one of thefe horfeblocks (fuppedaneum) is 
 jeftingly dedicated by Craffus to his mule, and was 
 ereded in the road from Tivoli to Rome. 
 
 Dis pedib. Saxum. 
 
 Chicia dorjijerce & clunifera 
 
 Ut infultare (fj defultare commodetur. 
 
 Pub. Crajfus mulajua CraJJ'a bene ferenti 
 
 Suppedaneiim hoc cum rifu pos. 
 
 Vixh annos XI. 
 
 * Page 14. 
 
 it 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 6s 
 
 It is impoflible to tranflate this infcription fo as to 
 make it intelligible to the Englifli reader ; to thofe 
 who are acquainted with the language in which it is 
 written, I will, with all deference, fubmit a conjec- 
 ture, which may attempt to give it fome meaning. 
 It feems to be ludicrous, and deligned, perhaps, as a 
 parody upon the known form and ftile of lapidary in- 
 fcriptions. X>isped. is for Dis pedibus, and is oppofed to 
 Dis manibus, allowing the pun between manes and maims, 
 Saxum is contrafted to facnim, the ufual word in epi- 
 taphs. Beneferenti is ufed inftead of benemerenti, a word 
 frequent in monumental formularies ; and the cum rifu 
 feems to juftify the conftrudlion, and confefs that the 
 infcriber was burlefquing, and in joke. 
 
 Menage^ however, notwithftanding what has been 
 advanced, trufling to Vojius, reports, that St. Jerom is 
 the firft author who makes mention of ftirrups, and 
 quotes his very words upon the occafion. He fays, «« that 
 at the time of his receiving certain letters, he was 
 mounting his horfe, and had his foot in the ftirrup 
 (bijiapia).'' This pafTage, however, is not to be found 
 in his epiftles ; and if it were there, it would prove 
 nothing, becaufe St. Jerom lived at a time when ftir- 
 rups are fuppofed to have been invented, and after the 
 life of faddles. Montfaiuon denies the reality of this 
 pafTage, as well as the following infcription, which 
 recounts the death of a perfon, whofe foot , being en- 
 tangled in the ftirrup, as he was difmounting, was 
 dragged by his horfe, and killed upon the fppt. . For 
 
 Vol. T, K the 
 
66 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 the fingularity of the thoughts, and turn of the ex- 
 ipreffion, I venture to infert it, with an attempt of a 
 verfion of it, for the Englifh reader. 
 
 retus infer ipt to Roma, 
 
 D. M. 
 
 fluifquls leBurus accedis, caveji amas, 
 
 Etji non amas^ penjicula. Mifer quijine amore 
 
 Fivitf duke exit nihil. Aji ego tarn 
 
 Duke anbelans, me incautet 
 
 Perdidi, & amor f nit. Equodum 
 
 ^/peHui Durmionia formojij/ima puella: \ 
 
 Firguncula, fumma cum pohoria placer e 
 
 Cuperem, cafu dejiliens, pes ha/it Jiapia, 
 
 TraBus interii : in rem tuam mature^ propera. 
 
 Vale, 
 
 If love's fvveet paiHon ever touch'd your heart. 
 Or if your bofom never felt his dart ; 
 Whoe'er thou art, approach ; behold this tomb f 
 And heedful read a lover's haplefs doom ! 
 Unconfcious of love's joys, the wretch who lives. 
 No pleafure ever knows, no pleafure gives : 
 Love is the life of life — yet from it flow 
 Various difafters, and a world of woe. 
 By love I perifh'd ; from the bounding horfc, 
 When I had call'd forth all his adlive force, 
 In fondeft hopes to pleafe a beauteous maid, 
 Whofe charms infpir'd the feats which fhe furvey'd, 
 
 My 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 67 
 
 My foot, difmounting, in the ftirrup hung, 
 And the wild fleed his mafter dragg'd along ; 
 All torn and mangled I refign'd my breath, 
 And loft my pallion in untimely death : 
 Go then! by my misfortune taught, be wife! 
 And know from love v/hat mighty mifchiefs rife. 
 
 After all, it feems moft reafonable to conclude, 
 from the mention of llirrups already reported to have 
 been made by St. Jerom, as well as from what is faid 
 concerning them in the infcription above-cited, that 
 thefe authorities, inftead of proving their antiquity, 
 evince them to be inventions purely modern ; and far- 
 ther, that the infcription above-named muft, for that 
 very reafon, be modern likewife. The learned and ac- 
 cufate explainer of antiquities, Montfaucon, after tefti- 
 fying his furprize, that the ancients fliould have been 
 entirely ignorant of this inftrument, fo ufeful in itfelf, 
 and fo eafy of invention, flatters himfelf at laft with 
 being able to aflign a reafon for it. He fays, that as 
 iong as faddles were unknown, fo long were men un- 
 acquainted with the ufe of flirrups. For, fays he, 
 while cloths and houfmgs only were laid upon the 
 horfes backs, on which the riders were to fu, flirrups 
 could not have been ufed, becaufe they could not have 
 been fattened with the fame fecurity as upon a faddle. 
 This aflertion is plaufible, but not conclufive ; for al- 
 though the flirrups being flung over, or faflened to a 
 cloth, could not have enabled the rider to mount or 
 
 K 2 dif mount, 
 
6B THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 difmount, yet by the afTiftance of a fecond perfon, 
 who might hold the ftirrup on the oppofite fide, the 
 feat might have been performed; and for the purpofe 
 of fupporting and relieving the legs, they would have 
 been as effedual as they are at prefent. 
 
 The more natural and modeft folution feems, there- 
 fore, to be this: — that in this inftance, as in many 
 others, it fhould be remembered, that the progrefs of 
 human genius and invention is uncertain and flow, 
 depending frequently upon accidental caufes. That 
 time alone ripens, and brings things to perfedion ; 
 that improvement follows improvement, and the arts 
 advance gradually ; 
 
 __ — . .. ■ Adfummum donee venere cacumen.. 
 
 Lucret. 
 
 The horfe deftined to carry a man in the races of the 
 Circus, as well as upon other occafions, was called 
 Celes, from the Greek, word xiXric ; and Singularis and 
 Solitariusy fo denominated becaufe he went alone, in 
 contradiftindlion to thofe which drew chariots, or other 
 machines, and were yoked together in different num- 
 bers, as two, three, four, and fometimes more. In 
 latter times, after the difcovery of faddles, he was 
 alfo called Sellarius. 
 
 Their chief employment was to run at the full ex- 
 ertion of their fpeed in the Circus (as our race horfes 
 do now), againft their antagoniils. Their riders fre- 
 q^uently mounted them bare-backed, and performed 
 
 extra- 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 69 
 
 extraordinary feats of agility * upon them : fucli as 
 Handing upright, fpringing upon them at once, laying 
 down along his back, picking up things from the 
 ground in full fpeed, and leaping from one horfe to 
 another, whence they were diftinguiflied by the title of 
 Defultores, or Leapers. Suetonius fays, that in the time 
 of Julius Cxfar, who was an expert and diftinguiflied 
 horfeman, the youths of the nobleft families ufed to 
 ride in this manner -, and fo fond were the Romans of 
 riding, that to be ignorant of it was a proverbial re- 
 proach, and reflected as much difgrace, as not to be 
 able to write or read f. 
 
 Upon certain occalions, and efpecially in the races 
 of the Circus, they preferred, like the Scythians and 
 Greeks, mares to horfes, judging them to be fleeter, 
 and more fit to endure violence and fatigue, ^lian, 
 Pliny, Horace, and Virgil, celebrate the fpeed and abi- 
 lities of the mare, as being efteemed fuperior to thofe 
 of the horfe. The laft of thefe authors fpeaks of them 
 as being more efteemed than horfes in the Olympic 
 race. The reafon which is affigned for this prefe- 
 rence, has already been mentioned ; but without en- 
 tering into any difcuillon concerning it, it is but 
 juftice to the female fex, to acknowledge, that it is at 
 leaft in all particulars equal to the male ; and that in 
 
 » Vid. Sil. Ital. lib. 16.— Maniliijs, lib, 4.-— Procop. Gothicis, lib. 8. 
 Agathias, lib. 32. — Firmicus, lib. 8. 
 t Ncque equitare, nee literas fcire. 
 
 the 
 
70 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 the article of breeding; it Ought to be preferred. Vir* 
 gil *, Hot lefs a philofopher, than poet, advifes 
 breeders to be fcrupuloufly nice in the choice of the 
 Wiare, inafmuch as that fhe is far more important, 
 and their hopes mull more immediately depend upon 
 her. The breeders of mules, knowing the fuperiority 
 of the female, always chufe that the nobler animal 
 fliould be of that fex, and therefore make the afs 
 the flallion ; for a creature begot by an horfe Upon si 
 fhe-afs, is a viler animal than the mule, which is the 
 offspring of a mare by an afs ; and the intimacy and 
 union between the mother and its young in all ani- 
 mals, both duting geftation, and for a long time after 
 the birth, is fo clofe and ftridl, that it mull be fuppofi^d 
 to inherit, in the fulleft manner, every quality and 
 every property of the body whence it proceeds. 
 
 We are told by Pliny, that the Romans ufed to geld 
 their horfes, efpecially thofe which they employed up* 
 on common and domellic occafions. They likewife 
 ranged them into diiTerent clalTes, and diftinguilhed 
 them by denominations expreffive of their various qua* 
 lities and charaders Itinerant were the horfes upon 
 which they travelled, Sarcinarii thofe which can-ied bur-^ 
 dens, To/ut'arii and Gradarii horfes whofe paces had been 
 formed and improved by art, particularly amblers, Fe^ 
 jiedi hunters, Celes, or the race-horfe, and Cantberii, 
 which was a general name for an horfe ufed upon many 
 
 -Corpora pracipue mat rum kg-at. Georg. 3. 
 
 different 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 71 
 
 different occafions, but always underflood to mean a 
 gelding. 
 
 The etymology of this word is fomewhat particular, 
 and various, but unfatisfacftory conje<5lures have been 
 formed concerning it. The beft explanation feems 
 to be that which derives it from the Greek word 
 xxvhXiov, canthelion, which by no unufual change of 
 one letter for another, may be made cantherion -, which 
 word, in the original fenfe, fignifies a pack-faddle j 
 and it being ufual to caflrate the Cantberii, or Pack- 
 horfes, to make them gentle and quiet, it became a 
 cullom to call all caftrated horfes Cantherii, though 
 appointed to other fervices than to carry packs or 
 burdens. 
 
 In procefs of time, people who, for fundry reafons, 
 rode on horfeback, began to prefer thefe Cantherii, or 
 geldings, for their calmnefs of temper, to other horfes; 
 and the flow gallop, which we call a Canter, being a 
 foft and eafy pace in which moft people delight, it 
 may not, perhaps, be deemed too bold a conjecTrure, 
 to fuppofe that our word canter, expreffive of tliat 
 pace, may owe its derivation to the Latin term, Cantbe- 
 ritis, the appellation of the horfe, which ufually per- 
 formed it*. 
 
 * Dr. Johnfon, in his diftionary, calls this pace the Canterbury oal- 
 !op, which he defines to be the ^a>"<^ gallop of an ambling horfe, com- 
 monly called a canter ; and probably derived from the monks riding to 
 Canterbury on eafy ambling horfes. How juft the derivation of the word 
 may be, I will not prefume to decide > but the definition muft certainly 
 puzzle all who are horfeimn, and all who are not, 
 
 I The 
 
72 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 The Bkts and Bridles of the Romans feem chiefly 
 to have confilled of two forts, the rough and the 
 fmooth. 
 
 The rough fort was called lupus, or hpatum, or the 
 •wolf-biit. It was borrowed from the Greeks, who called 
 it by the fame name ; it was made in imitation of the 
 teeth of a wolf, the mouth-piece having little fliarp 
 points of iron upon it, ranged like teeth in the jaw of 
 this animal. This bitt was harfh and fevere, calcu- 
 lated for hard mouths, and flubborn and impetuous 
 tempers. The other, called the fmooth, had its 
 mouth- piece, or cannon, quite even, was gentle in its 
 effedts, and ferved for little more than to guide the 
 horfe. Neither of thefe bitts had a curb or chain un- 
 der the chin of the horfe, fome, however, upon Tra- 
 jan's pillar have branches, others are without any, 
 and differ very little from the Snaffle now in ufe, 
 which feems to be copied from them, excepting that 
 they are thicker and more clumfy, like the fnaffles 
 ufed for colts, called Mouthing-bitts . 
 
 Whips were in common ufe j they fometimes had 
 an iron point, or fpur, inferted in the handle-end. 
 This fort of whip was C2l\td fcorpio, from the refem- 
 blance it bore to the fling which is in the tail of the 
 fcorpion, and was very fevere *. 
 
 Spurs were familiar, the mention of them occurs fo 
 often in the Roman authors, that it would be pe- 
 dantry to cite them. 
 
 * Scorpiones, genus acutijfmcrum fiagellormn. 
 
 Barth. Adv, p. 2272. 
 s This 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 73 
 
 This renowned people employed for their ufe and 
 pleafure the horfes of every country, whofe merit and 
 qualities entitled them to their notice. Whatever 
 Greece admired and approved, was cherifhed and 
 efteemed by them ; who added the horfes of foreign 
 countries, to the breeds of their own, which in many 
 parts produced excellent, and which experience and 
 Judgment taught them to value. 
 
 The Etrurian, or Tufcan breed is praifed by Oppian. 
 Volateranniis fays they were good in war, and celebrates 
 thofe of the iflands of Sardinia and Corfica, which were 
 adlive and bold, but apt to be unquiet and impatient. 
 The Venetian territories produced a noble and much 
 admired breed. Strabo fays, that Dionyfms, tyrant of 
 Sicily, eftabliflied a ftud in them, whence he drew his 
 fupplies for the public games, and that the fame of 
 this flud was very great, and fupported itfelf for a 
 long time *. 
 
 Jgragasj a town of Sicily, otherwife called Jgrigeiitnm, 
 is highly extolled by Pindar, and Silius Italicus, for its 
 horfes ; and Sicily was always famous upon this ac- 
 count. 
 
 Calpe is another place, whofe horfes were -prized by 
 the Romans. It is an hill in the fartheft part of Spain, 
 by the ftreights of Gibraltar, over ag^inft Jbyla on the 
 Barbary lide. Under this hill was once an ancient city, 
 called Tartejus, near the prefent city of Cadiz, which is 
 
 • Lib. 5.* -^ 
 
 Vol. I. L much 
 
74 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 much commended for its race of horfes. Ajlurla^ 
 GalHcia^ and A>idahiJIa, then called Bxtica, were known 
 to produce the fined of their kind. The Jjliirian and 
 GalUcian horfes are defcribed by Pliny to have been of a 
 middling fize (like the prefent Gcnnets) and remarkable 
 for the opennefs of their paces, their pliancy of limb, 
 and the time and exadnefs with which they dealt their 
 feet, and regulated their motion, fo, as it were, to 
 count their Heps. Pliny calls them ThieJdones, which 
 word is explained to mean the fame as if he had called 
 them tellers or numberers of their ileps. Martial de- 
 fcribes this diftindl and bold acTiion with great pro- 
 priety, when, fpeaking of a Spanifli horfe, he fays, 
 
 Hie brevis ad numerum rapidos qui colligit ungues^ 
 Fenit ab auriferis gentibus Jjiiir. eqiius. 
 
 This little horfe, which moves his feet in time, 
 Comes from Afturia's gold-producing clime. 
 
 Claudian alfo celebrates this country for breeding 
 numbers of fine and beautiful horfes : 
 
 Dives equis, fnigum facilis, pretiofa metallis. 
 
 De Laudibus Seren. Reg. 
 
 Horfes who had this high adion, were alfo called 
 Tolutarii; derived from the word tollo, to lift up 5 becaufe 
 they lifted their feet confiderably above the ground. 
 
 Strabo, 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 75 
 
 Strabo, Nemefianus, Juftin, Vegetius, and many 
 other writers of paft times, celebrate the merit of the 
 Spanifh horfes ; and modern times have feconded them 
 in all their commendations. Vegetius ranks them 
 equally, or next in value to the Cappadocian, and fays, 
 that the African mixed with the Spanifli blood, pro- 
 duces moil adive and fleet horfes, and the fitteft for 
 the faddle. According to Strabo, they excel all others 
 in fpeed and nimblenefs. Oppian fays, that they were 
 fleeter than the Parthians ; and after comparing them 
 in this refpedl to hawks and eagles, affirms that they 
 might vie with the winds in fwiftnefs. Juftin, guarded 
 with the fobriety and difcretion of an hiftorian, beftows 
 upon them equal, if not fuperior commendation ; and 
 fays, that they and the Lufitanian or Portugal horfes, 
 were endowed with fuch fwiftnefs, that they might 
 juftly be faidto be born of the winds j in this manner 
 naturally and properly explaining the fiftion of the 
 poets and fabulifts, who reported, that the mares of 
 this country were wont to conceive by the fouth 
 wind, without the afliftance of an horfe. In fliort, the 
 characfler given "of thefe horfes by various writers 
 ftands juflified by the unanimous confent of all anti- 
 quity, and diftinguiflies them for their beauty, fpeed, 
 courage, and generofity, in fo eminent a degree, as 
 to fl:amp them for the beft and moft accompliflied of 
 their kind. Succeeding times have confirmed their 
 character, and they fl:and now, as of old, moft valued, 
 and moft admired. 
 
 L 2 The 
 
t6 the history and art 
 
 The horfes o£ Gaul were alfo ufed by the Romans, 
 wlio held them in confiderable efteem, as appears from 
 many paflTages of ancient authors. Horace makes 
 mention of them, and Lucan particularly celebrates the 
 Sequani, or Burgundians, for their fkill in riding, and 
 the fupplenefs of their horfes. 
 
 Optima gens Jlexh in gyrum Seqiiana frcenis. 
 
 The Sequani the wheeling horfe who guide. 
 
 Rowe. 
 
 The German horfes alfo were well known to them ; 
 they are mentioned by Csefar * and Tacitus, but by the 
 latter not much to their credit. 
 
 Csefar fpeaks of the Suevi, an ancient, great, and 
 warlike people of Germany, as having had their horfes 
 fo trained and difciplined, that when their riders dif- 
 mounted in battle to fight on foot, they would never 
 flir from the fpot where they were left, but wait 
 with the greateft confcancy and patience their matter's 
 ■ return *. 
 
 Contrary to the pra(5tice of latter times, and con- 
 trary to the rules of art (founded upon the truth of 
 nature) thefe people were fond of making their horfes 
 amble^ and taught them to go in this pace by the help 
 of cords, tied to their legs, which controlled their 
 fteps, fo as to make them move the two legs of the 
 fame fide at once, and then follow with the other two» 
 which two motions conflituted tlie amble. 
 
 ■^ Csef. Comment. lib. 4. 
 
 This 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. ^^ 
 
 This we learn from Pliny, who wrote a treatife on 
 the art of riding, which is now loft. There were 
 likewife Eguifones, or profeffed riding-mafters, among 
 them who difciplined horfes, and taught the art of 
 riding. Varro mentions the fame thing, and fays, that 
 an horfe deftined to the faddle, is fent to a mafter, 
 who is to teach him to deal his feet loftily, and form 
 his paces — traditiir magijiro, ut equifo doceat tolutim. 
 
 It was ufual with thofe, who valued themfelves 
 upon their fkill in riding, and had won a prize in the 
 races of the Circus, or elfewhere, to change horfes 
 with their vanquiflied antagonifts, and ftart again, 
 purely to fhew that the vidlory was not to be afcribed 
 to the horfes only. Homer and Plutarch fpeak of this 
 cuftom, as well as other writers. 
 
 This people (as well as the Greeks) were very exacH: 
 in cleaning and dreffing their horfes. 
 
 For this purpofe, and to remove the fweat, they 
 made ufe of a piece of wood, formed to the fliape of 
 a Sword, and known to us under the name of a Scraper; 
 and, inftead of a Curry-comb, they put a covering upon 
 their hands, of a rough grain, and compofcd of the 
 bark of the palm-tree, with this they rubbed the coats 
 of their horfes, to give them a polifli, and make 
 them fleek and fhining. They were likewife very 
 careful of the Foretop, Mane, and Tai/, frequently wafli- 
 ing and cleaning them, and occafionally applying oil, 
 to nourifh the hair and give it a glofs. After labour 
 and fatigue, it was cuftomary to lead the horfes to 
 
 ponds 
 
78 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 ponds and rivers, where ihey were bathed and waflicd, 
 particularly the legs ; and lb high and juft an opinion 
 prevailed of the benefit refulting from the frequent 
 cleaning and dreffing an horfe, that Columella alTerts, 
 that it is more advantageous and wholefome for an 
 horfe to be well rubbed down, than to have a large 
 allowance of food, and that without proper drefling 
 he cannot thrive and be healthy. 
 
 In managing horfes, if nature had not furniflied 
 them with a proud and lofty adion, they ufed to tie 
 rollers of wood and weights to their paftern joints, to 
 compel them to lift their feet. This they particu- 
 larly required in the amble, to make their horfes go 
 gracefully, fafely, and with eafe to the rider ; pre- 
 ferring this pace to the trot, which, from the vio- 
 lence, and hardnefs of the motion, was difagreeable. 
 
 There are Hill exifling fomc famous ftatues of horfes 
 in the adion of the amble. The horfes of Caftor and 
 Pollux, in the Capitol, at Rome, the four horfes of Bronze 
 in the portico of St. Mark at Venice, and the horfe of 
 Balbus, at Portici, are all in the fame attitude. Some 
 horfes are alfo to be feen in the fame pofition of a 
 more modern date, whofe ftatues were made when the 
 arts began to revive ; fuch are the two equeftrian figures 
 at Florence. 
 
 All thefe are vouchers, which prove the fondnefs 
 which the Romans (while they knew no better) had for 
 the pace called by them the amhulatura, and with us the 
 amble. Notwithflanding, however, that this pace had 
 
 fo 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 79 
 
 fo much merit with thofc who loved their cafe, yet, if 
 we may judge from the fame fort of witnefTes, the an- 
 cient equeftrian ftatues, fome of them will convince 
 us, by the attitude in which the horfes are placed, 
 that the trot was not wholly difregarded. The ftatue 
 of Marcus Aurelius in bronze, a bas relief of the fame 
 emperor, and the horfes of Titus upon the arch which 
 bears his name, are all reprefented in the action of the 
 trot. Thefe are the remarks of the late learned Abbe 
 Winkelman : he fays, " that notwithftanding the 
 " authorities above cited of ftatues of liorfes in the 
 " aiflion of the amble, that it was a manner of going 
 *' which the ancients did permit, and oppofes to them 
 *' feveral horfes reprefented in the trot.'* In doing 
 this, however, he only confronts ftatue with ftatue, 
 and the fcales hang even. Befides, as a French author 
 obferves, the ancient ilatues are not always to be irufled; 
 and the artifts were fo ignorant and inaccurate in the 
 figures which they made of horfes, that they fre- 
 quently deformed and mifreprefented nature, and 
 violated all the rules of art. Nor is it impoffible that 
 their contemporary horfemen were better Ikilled ; and 
 indeed it cannot be fuppofed that they were, when 
 they permitted to fend forth fuch uncouth and grofs 
 reprefentations of horfes, as antiquity in many inftancea 
 furnilhes us with, in which all the fair proportions of 
 nature, the elegancies of form, and what the French 
 call belle nature are often facrificed to whim, conceit. 
 
 and ignorance. 
 
 With 
 
8o THE ART AND HISTORY 
 
 With refpcct, however, to the two paces, the amble 
 and- the trot, it is to be prefuraed, that the llatuaries 
 might not know the difference, but copied what they 
 faw, and did as they were dire(5ted ; from the evi-%. 
 dences of whofe works it clearly appears that both 
 the paces were ufed ; but it is plain from paffages in 
 many authors, that the amble, or amkdatura, as it is 
 called by Vegetius, was the admired pace ; and that 
 much fkill and labour were employed to render the 
 horfes perfedl in it. After-ages continued the pra(5lice; 
 and modern horfemanfhip, for fome centuries, blindly 
 trod in the fame path: all the writings and treatifes of 
 thofe times, containing rules and dire(5lions for teach- 
 ing by various methods this faulty and imperfedt 
 pace. Light at laft broke in, and good fenfe, and 
 knowledge, founded upon experience, have concurred' 
 to banifh it with contempt from the manege ; where 
 the trot is now confidered and acknowledged as the 
 only pace which can enable a four-footed animal to 
 fupport and balance himfelf with firmnefs and eafe, 
 as the laws of mechanifm require. 
 
 Neverthelefs it is evident upon the whole, that, 
 notwithftanding the truth and foundnefs of this 
 dotftrine, the Romans were either ignorant of the merit 
 of the trot, or dilliked it fo much, as to diftinguilh it 
 by appellations very exprellive of their fentiments con- 
 cerning it. They called a trotting horfe, from the 
 roughncfs of the pace, Succujfjtor, ot Shaker, as we iro- 
 nically name hard trotters, Bone-fetters. Tortorcs, 'Tor- 
 turers, 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 8i 
 
 turersy was another fynonimous term with which they 
 were honoured ; whence fome etymologifts imagine 
 the Italian words Tortori or Trottoni corruptedly come, 
 and from them the French and Englifh term trot. But it 
 feems to be more lawfully defcended from the Italian 
 word Travatto, by contradlion, Tratto, which fignifies 
 crofs-uife, by which motion of the legs, the trot is per- 
 formed. To thefe we may add the epithet Criuiator, or 
 'tormejiter, a title as expreflive as either of the former, 
 for the Romans were very exadl and curious in the 
 names w^hich they affigned to the different horfes in 
 ufe among them. 
 
 Guttonarii and CoJatorli are epithets metaphorically ap- 
 plied to thofe horfes, which dealt their fteps in time 
 and meafare, and had a certain fpring and lightnefs in 
 their motions. 
 
 The metaphor is taken from the method of flrain- 
 ing water through a bag, in order to make it fall di- 
 ftincTily, and drop by drop : now, the action of horfes 
 which move their feet in a cadence, and juft time, be- 
 ing thought to refemble this paflage of water, or any 
 other liquid, when drained through a bag or cloth, they 
 were called Droppers, or Strainers. Thefe horfes were 
 characterized by the Greek word aa,Kyj(riKoi. After 
 all, thefe terms fecm to convey no very clear, or pre- 
 cife idea of the thing they would defcribe, and the 
 metaphor itfelf feems to be too far fetched, and 
 Jirained too finely. Vegctius fpcaks of thefe horfes ; 
 and we cannot but conclude from thefe epithets, whe- 
 ther properly applied, or not, that the Romans, at 
 
 Vol. I. M leaft, 
 
82 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 leaft, were horfemen fo Ikilful and enlightened as to 
 lafle the merit and beauty of this meafured and well 
 timed motion in horfes. The Latin word, defcriptive 
 of this adlion, in which the -horfe lifts his feet alter- 
 nately aloft, fufpends them for a momentary fpace in 
 the air, and then ftrikes them forcibly, and in equal 
 cadence, againll the ground, is called T'ripiid'mm ; its ge- 
 i;iuine fignification, is to Jirike againji the ground, and 
 means technically the fame thing as the French expreflion 
 Piaffer, which literally rendered fignifics to Jirut, or 
 move in a fwaggering and haughty manner. 
 
 The French term Trepigner, is likewife fuppofed to 
 be derived from the old Latin word Tripudiiim, but is 
 always ufed by horfemen in a bad fenfe ; being ex- 
 preffive of the low, fhuffling, and indiftindl motion of 
 the legs, in oppofition to the flow, marked, and lofty 
 aiflion, difplayed in the Piaffer. 
 
 Indenendent of thefe refinements, the Romans were 
 very found and competent judges of the qualities re- 
 quifite to conftitute a good horfe. Virgil defcribes them 
 with all the force of truth, and all the warmth of 
 poetry. Varro, deemed the mod learned and accom- 
 pliflied perfon of the moft refined age of Rome, has 
 likewife given a detail of them, which is fo mafterly 
 and exa^l, that the knowledge of the prefent times, 
 enlightened as they may be, can find nothing in it to 
 reprehend. They both afiTure us, " that we may 
 " prognofticate great things of a colt, if, v^hen run- 
 «< ning in the paftures, he is ambitious to get before 
 " his companions ; if, in coming to a river, he flrives 
 
 " to. 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 83 
 
 " to be the firil to plunge into it j adding, that his 
 " Head fliould be fmall ; his Liinbs clean and compact ; 
 -" his Eyes bright and fparkling ; his No/ri/s open and 
 " large ; his Ears placed near each other ; his Alane 
 " ftrong and full ; his Cheji broad ; his Shoulders flat and 
 " floping backward ; his Barrel round, compacft, and 
 " rather fmall ; his Lcins broad and flrong ; his 'Tail full 
 " andbufhy ; his Legsi\rd.it and even j his Kjiees round, 
 " and well knit ; his Hoofs hard and tough, and his 
 " reins large, and fwelling boldly through all his 
 *' body." 
 
 The Geopontick writers alfo, the Rei Rufticce Scn'ptores, 
 Xenophon, Pliny, and many others, who have written 
 exprefly upon the fubje6l, defcribe the parts and figure 
 of the horfe with the greatell judgment and accuracy: 
 to thefe we may add the harmonious writers of verfe, 
 Oppian, Statius, Claudian, Gratian, Nemejian, Sec. who, ar- 
 raying Truth in the beautiful robes of poetry, celebrate 
 the horfe, and point out his character and talents, 
 with all the fidelity and exadnefs, that can be expe(5l- 
 ed from the coldell profe. 
 
 Pliny tells us, that if an horfe in drinking plunged 
 his nofe deep into the water, it was reckoned a fign of 
 fpirit and courage; and this notion prevails gtprefent 
 in this country. 
 
 Like the Armenians, the Romans always turned the 
 mane on the right fide. Varro and Virgil direcH: it fo 
 to be placed. Propertius * likev?-ife mentions it. 
 
 * Propertius, lib. iv. eleg. 4. 
 
 M 2 Ilk 
 
84 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 lUe eguus, ilk meos in cajlra reponet amores. 
 Cut Tatius dextras colhcat ipfejuhas. 
 
 Me to my Tatius fliall that horfe convey, 
 
 That favour'd horfe, whofe mane he loves to lay 
 
 On the right fide 
 
 Varro, in defcribing its properties, fays likewife that 
 it fliould be plaited, or formed into knots on the right 
 fide. 
 
 In dexteriorem partem impUcata. 
 
 To which fafliion Statins alludes, in his defcription 
 of a young hunter. 
 
 CoUa Jedent nodis, ^ cajiigata jiibarum 
 Libert as. 
 
 His flowing mane, in braided knots confin'd, 
 Lays on his neck, nor fears the ruffling wind. 
 
 It was ufual alfo for them to flieer and cut off the 
 manes ; whence Propertius fays *, that his miftrefs 
 Cynthia was borne in her litter by Manui, or nags 
 whofe Manes had been cut off. Dctonjis mannis. 
 
 They were wont to diftinguiili their horfes by cer- 
 tain marks, which they burnt into their flefli, as the 
 Greeks did before them : thefe were the initial letters 
 of the owners names, figures of animals, and other 
 devices, by which the horfes were known and appro- 
 
 * Lib. ii. eleg. 8. Varro, lib. iv. c. y. 
 
 Virg. Geor. iii. v. 86. Prop. lib. 4. 
 
 Stat. Theb, lib. ix. v. 6Sj. . 
 
 priated;. 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 85 
 
 priated, frauds prevented, and the breeds and pedi- 
 grees, of which they were very careful, preferved 
 and diftinguiflied. This cullom prevails ahiioft uni- 
 verfally at' this time, in the ftuds of princes, and other 
 perfons, who have valuable ■ breeds ; and in fome 
 places the counterfeiting thefe marks is highly penal ^ 
 the perfons to whom they belong being as nice and 
 fcrupulous about them, as families are proud and 
 jealous of their coats of arms. 
 
 It was ufual alfo for them to give names to their 
 horfes, exprefllve of their country, qualities, or co- 
 lour ; fuch as Nitidus, Niger, GentiJis, jEgyptus, ViFtor, 
 Fohicer, Incitatiis, Delicatus, Superbus, and fo forth. 
 
 In breaking and drefling their horfes, they ufed to 
 work them in waving ot ferpentine lines, as the pracftice 
 is (or ought to be) at prefent. The French call this 
 riding an horfe en ferpentant. The Greeks and Romans 
 knew it by the term of riding in Maanders, in allufion 
 to the windings and doublings of the celebrated river 
 which bears that name. 
 
 The Sybarites, a people of Calabria, and proverbially 
 famous for the voluptuoufnefs of their manners, are 
 recorded to have taught the horfes in their troops to 
 move or dance in exaifl time to the founds of mufical 
 inflruments. The better way, however, of relating this 
 fact would probably he to fay, that they were fo wan- 
 ton and refined in their pleafures, that they exercifed 
 their horfes by the found of mufic, which was fct to 
 the time and cadence of their Heps ; fo that the horfes 
 
 did 
 
86 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 did not obey and follow the mufck, but the mufick ac- 
 companied and marked the time of their motions : this 
 is eafily done, and there are books extant in the Ita- 
 lian language, with notes of this horfe-mufick. • 
 
 In breaking and reducing their horfes to obedience, 
 they ufed to apply 'Torches and Firebrands'^ ^xo fuch as ob- 
 flinately refufed to go forward, and were what we call 
 rejiive, as well as to thofe which were abjecft and dull. 
 This /fry tryal, with additions of various kinds, equally 
 cruel and abfurd, defcended from the Roman horfe- 
 men to fucceeding riding-mailers, and are partly prac- 
 tifed at this day. 
 
 The Ludus Trojanus, or Trojan Game^ is well known, 
 and faid to have been introduced by jEneas, when he 
 left Troy, and came to fettle in Italy ; and hence we 
 may have fome reafon to conclude it had long before 
 been performed in Pbrygia, and other parts of JJia : and 
 as the Greeks alfo had their military equeflrian evo- 
 lutions and games, • they might, perhaps, be indebted 
 for them to the Trojans, or other Afiatick nations. 
 
 From Homer, indeed, we learn, that Chariot races were 
 exhibited at the funeral obfequies of Patroclus, there 
 being at that time no troops of Horfemen in the Grecian 
 army ; but Athenaeus fays, that the Spartans performed 
 Equejliian fports in the theatre, and adorned their horfes, 
 to celebrate the death of Hyacinthus ; and, if we may 
 
 ^ Equos tarde con/urgent es ad curfum Jlimulis facilufgue fulditis concila- 
 f»us. Sen EC. Lib. IL de Ira. 
 
 judge 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. Bf 
 
 judge from the ufages of antiquity, thefe military ex- 
 ercifcs and cavalcades were coniidered as a neceffary 
 part of the funeral rites of Chiefs and other illuftrious 
 perfons ; and if a conje(n;ure may be allowed, it feems 
 not too improbable to believe, that the origin of the 
 cuilora prevailing at this day of leading ftate Horfes in 
 the funeral folemnities of eminent military perfons, 
 and others diftinguiflied by birth and rank, proceeds 
 from the practice of the ancients, obferved from the 
 moil diftant ages, Virgil, who defcribes the game of 
 Troy, fays it was performed by the Trojans in honour 
 of Anchifes, whofe death they celebrated with this 
 and other fports *'. In the reign alfo of Theodojius, and 
 his fon Jrcadiiis, that is, towards the end of the fourth 
 century, it was ufual to mix led horfes in funeral 
 proceffions. The fervants or grooms who led them 
 were covered with long cloaks, and the horfes were 
 hid under the trappings which they wore. Our fu- 
 neral ceremonies correfpond with this pradlice. 
 
 Thefe Eguejires Decurjiones, or feats of military equef- 
 trian fkill and aiTtivity, were ufed alfo upon other oc- 
 
 cafions They were practifed in camps, to teach and 
 
 confirm the foldiers in the ufe of arms, and the dif- 
 cipline of war : they were exhibited to the people by 
 feveral of the emperors as fpecT;acles of parade and 
 
 * Vid, Herodian, de Confecrar. Severi Imperat. Appian. de Scyl- 
 te morte. Paufanias Arcadicis. — Stat. Thcb. lib, vi. v. 213. Ibid, 
 lib. V. 221, Virg. lib. v. 545. lb. ii. v. 188. 
 
 4* enter- 
 
88 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 entertainment ; being performed by bands or troops 
 of young men of the nobleft families, who rode their 
 horles in Evolutions and Turnings in fliew of Battle, of 
 which they were a picture and reprefentation. Firgil 
 defcribes them with great corre^lnefs, and adorns them 
 with all the graces of poetry ; nor is it unreafonable 
 to conclude from the exa6lnefs with which he relates 
 them, that they were familiar to the Romans in his 
 time, and that he did not copy them more faithfully 
 in his defcription, than he faw them performed and 
 reprefented. — That the reader may have a clearer idea, 
 and the mofl pleaiuig account of this fo famous Game^ 
 I prefume to bring the poet to fpcak for himfelf ; and 
 with refped; to thofe who may not underftand his lan- 
 guage, I have procured an interpreter, who is fo ca- 
 pable of doing him juftice, that the Englifli reader 
 will have but little (if any) room to lament his ig- 
 norance of the original language. Neither will he be 
 difpleafed (I flatter myfelf) with the length of the ac- 
 count, but will rather think it enhances its merit. 
 
 jit pater JEneas nondum certamine mijfo 
 Cujiodem adfeje comitemque impubis lull 
 Epytidefi vocat, et fidam fic fatur ad aurem. 
 Vade age, et Afcanio, fi jam puerile par atum 
 Agnwi habet fecum, curjiifque injlruxit equorum 
 Ducat avo turmas, et fefe ojiendat in armis. 
 X)ic ait. Ipfe omnem longo decedere circo 
 Infufum populum, et campos jubet ejfe pate?ites. 
 
 Incedunt pueri, paritcrque ante ora parentum 
 
 Fra- 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. S9 
 
 Frccnath lucent in equis ; qiios omnis euntes 
 Trinacrice miraf a fremiti Trojaque juventus. 
 Omnibus in morem ton/a coma prejja corona : 
 Cornea bina ferunt p-cejixa hoJiiUa ferro : 
 Pars leves humero pbaretras : in peBore fumjtw 
 Flexilis obtorti per collum cir cuius aiiri. 
 T'res equitum numero turmce, ternique vagantur 
 Du&ores : pueri bis feni quetnque fccuti, 
 Agmijie partita fulgent, paribufque magijlris, 
 Una acies juvenum, ducit quam parvus ovantem ' 
 ]S!o7ne7i avi referens, Priamus, tua clara. Polite, 
 Progenies, aiiClura Italos : quern T'hracius albis 
 Portat equiis bicolor maculis, vejligia primi 
 Alba pedis, frontemque ojlentans arduus albam. 
 Alter Atys, genus unde Atti duxere Latini, 
 Parvus Atys, pueroque puer dile£lus lulo. 
 Extremus, formaque ante omnes pulcher lulus 
 Sidcnio eji inveBus equo ; quem Candida Dido 
 EJfe fui dederat monument um et pignus amoris. 
 Cat era Trinacriis pubes fenioris Acejla 
 Fertur equis. 
 
 Excipiunt plaufu pavidos, gaudentque tuentes 
 Dardanida, veterumque agnofcunt ora parentum. 
 PoJtqua?n o?nnem Iceti concejjum ocuhfque fuorum 
 Lujlravere in equis, fignum clamore paratis 
 Epy tides longe dedit, infonuitque flagello. 
 Olli difcurrere pares, at que agmina terni 
 DiduBis folvere Choris : rurfufque vocati 
 Convertere vias, infejlaque tela tulere. 
 Inde alios ineunt curfus, aliofqiie recurfus 
 Adverfis fpatiis : altcrnofque orbibus orbes 
 Vol. I. N //;/- 
 
90 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 o 
 
 Impediunt, pugnaque cient Jimulacra fub arm'is. 
 Et nunc terga fuga nudant, nunc fpicula •vertunt 
 Infenfi ; faSld pariter nunc pace feruntur. 
 Ut quondam Cretaferiur labyrinthus in alta 
 Parietibus textum cacis iter ancipitemque 
 Milk viis habuijje dolwn, q-ua figna fequendi 
 Falleret indeprenfus et irremeabilis error. 
 Hand aliter T'eucrum nati vejiigia curfu 
 Impediufzt, texuntque fugas, et pralia ludo. 
 Delphinumjimiles, qui per viaria humida nando 
 Carpathium Lybicumquejecant, hiduntque per undar^ 
 Hunc morem^ curfus, at que hac certamina primus 
 AfcaniuSi lotgam muris cum cingeret Albajn, 
 Rettulit, et prifcos docuit celebrare Latinos. 
 ^0 puer ipfe modo, fecum quo Uroia pubes : 
 jilbani docuerefuost hinc maxima porro 
 Accepit Roma, et patrium fervavit honor em- 
 1'rojaque nunc pueri 'Trojanum dicittir agmen. 
 
 Tranflated by Pitt, 
 
 The prince now call'd, before the games were done 
 The hoary guardian of his royal fon ; 
 And gently whifper'd in his faithful ear, 
 To bid Afcanius in his arms appear. 
 And with his youthful band and courfer come 
 To pay due honours to his grandfire's tomb. 
 Next he commands the huge aflembled train^. 
 To quit the ground, and leave an open plain. 
 Strait on their bridled fteeds, with grace divine,. 
 The blooming youths before their fathers Ihine. 
 
 4 Tile- 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 91 
 
 The eager Trojans and Sicilians throng, 
 And gaze with wonder as they move along. 
 Around their brows a vivid wreath they wore, 
 And glitt'ring lances tipt with fteel they bore. " 
 Thefe a light quiver ftor'd with fliafts fuftain, 
 And from their necks depends a golden chain. 
 On bounding deeds advance three graceful bands 
 And each a little blooming chief commands. 
 Beneath each chief twelve vouthful ftriplings came 
 In Ihining arms, in looks and age the fame. 
 Grac'd with his grandfire's name, Polites' fon, 
 Young Priam, led the firft gay fquadron on. 
 A youth, whofe progeny mufl Latium grace ; 
 He prefs'd a dappled fteed of Thracian race ; 
 Before, white fpots on either foot appear. 
 And on his forehead blaz'd a filver flar ; 
 Atys the next advanc'd, with looks divine, 
 Atys, the fource of the great Attian line ; 
 lulus' friendfhip grac'd the lovely boy ; 
 And lall lulus came, the pride of Troy, 
 In charms fuperior to the blooming train, 
 And fpurr'd his Tyrian courfer on the plain ; 
 Which Dido gave the princely youth, to prove 
 A lading pledge, memorial of her love. 
 Th' inferior boys on beauteous courfers ride, 
 From great Alceftes' royal flails fupply'd. 
 Now flufli'd with hope, now pale with anxious fear, 
 Before the Ihouting crowds the youths appear j 
 
 N 2 The 
 
92 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 The fliouiing crowds admire their charms, and trace 
 
 The parents lines in every lovely face. 
 
 Now round in rings, before their fathers, ride 
 
 The boys, in all their military pride. 
 
 Till Periphontes founding lafh from far, 
 
 Gave the loud fignal of the mimick war. 
 
 Strait in three bands dillindl they break away, 
 
 Divide in order, and their ranks difplay. 
 
 Swift at the fammons they return and throw, 
 
 At once their hoftile lances at the foe. 
 
 Then take a new excurfion on the plain, 
 
 And now retreat, and now advance again. 
 
 With well-diffembled rage their rivals dare, 
 
 And pleafe the crowd with images of war. 
 
 Alternate now they turn their backs in flight, 
 
 Now dart their lances, and renew the fight. 
 
 Then in a moment from the combat ceafe, 
 
 Rejoin their fcatter'd bands, and move in peace. 
 
 So winds delufive in a thoufand ways 
 
 Perplext and intricate, the Cretan maze ; 
 
 Round within round, the blind Mceanders run 
 
 Untrac'd and dark, and end where they begun. 
 
 The fkilful youths in fport alternate ply 
 
 The Ihifting courfc, by turns they fight and fly. 
 
 As dolphins gambol in the wat'ry way. 
 
 And bounding o'er the tides in wanton circles play. 
 
 Thefe fports Afcanius when in mighty length 
 
 He rais'd proud Alba, glorying in her ftrength, 
 
 Taught 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 93 
 
 Taught the firft fathers of the Latian name, 
 As now he folemniz'd the noble game ; 
 From their fucceflive Alban offspring come 
 Thefe ancient plays to grace imperial Rome. 
 Who owns her Trojan band, and game of Troy, 
 Deriv'd through ages from the princely boy. 
 
 Befides this, and other equeftrian exercifes, the 
 young Romans, from gallantry and poliienefs, were 
 accuftomed to ride before the ladies, merely to difplay 
 their fkill and addrefs, and recommend themfelves to 
 the favour of their fair fpeiTtators. The paffage in 
 the infcription mentioned before, which relates the 
 death of a perfon, who was dragged by his foot, 
 entangled in the ftirrup, when he had been riding 
 before a young lady for her entertainment, alludes to 
 this cuftom, as we learn from Francifcus Modius, in 
 his Treatife de Spe(5laculis, 
 
 Among the various colours by which horfes are 
 diftinguiflied, white was anciently the moft admired, 
 and confidered as a mark of pre-eminence and fove- 
 reignty. 
 
 Herodotus reports, that the Cillcians paid an annual 
 tribute of three hundred and fixty "jjhite horfes to Da- 
 rius, the King of Perfia; and in Xerxes' march againft 
 Greece, the chariot of Jupiter was drawn by eight 
 white Nyfsean horfes, the colour being appropriated 
 I'eligioufly to the deity. We read likewife in the book 
 of. Kings, that the kings of Judah were ufed to dedi 
 
 6 cate.^ 
 
y4 1 H E HISTORY AND ART 
 
 cate horfes to the Sun. Tacitus fays, the ancient Ger- 
 mans had certain horfes which were confecrated to their 
 gods ; thefe horfes were * white, and exempt from 
 all labour, but that of drawing the facred chariots 
 upon folemn occafions. 
 
 Livy relates, that Pionyfius of Sicily was drawn by 
 four white horfes, as well as Hiero, one of his fuc- 
 cefTors : and this hiftorian exprcfly reckons horfes of 
 this colour among the infignia of royalty, as much as 
 the purple robe, armed guards, and the diadem f. 
 Diodorus X Siculus gives an account of three hundred 
 while horfes, as part of a cavalcade which attended a 
 conqueror at Agrigentum. Romulus § in his triumph 
 had four while horfes harnefled to his car, and the 
 Roman conquerors were generally drawn by fuch in 
 the foiemnities of a public triumph. Nero made his 
 €ntry into Naples drawn by four horfes of this beau- 
 tiful colour. In latter times feveral Chriftian princes 
 adopted, or rather continued the cuftom, which lafted 
 for many centuries, and was obferved with the ut- 
 
 * It is to be remarked, that this colour was held fo facred, and 
 the fondnefs of it was fuch, that it was required in more animals than 
 horfes, and even in robes and garments. It appears from Ammianus 
 Marcellinus, lib. xxv. chap. 4, that in their triumphs and facrifices the 
 Romans chofe white oxen ; and fome writers (particularly Menage) 
 obferve, that if they could not procure oxen which were perfe^/y white, 
 they coloured them with chalk, whence they were called Boves creiati. 
 
 ■f Livy, Dec. 3. Lib. xxiv. chap. 5. 
 
 j: Lib. xiii. p. 204, Edit. Rhodom. 
 
 § Propertius, eleg. i. lib. 4. 
 
 mod 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. ^s 
 
 mofl jealoufy and ftri^lnefs, this colour being always 
 confidered as the imperial badge, and confccrated to 
 fovereignty. The popes aflumed ir, and gave in- 
 du^genciei to bifliops * and princes to ufe it. 
 
 Tlie king of Naples at this day pays an annual Tief 
 of a JVljite Horfe to the fee of Rome, as an acknowledg- 
 naent for the kingdom which he holds of the pope. 
 When John of France was taken prifoner at the battle 
 of Poi(5liers, and conducted into England by Edward 
 the Black Prince, he landed at Southwark, and was 
 met by a prodigious concourfe of people. Edward, 
 from the moment in which the king became his pri- 
 foner, had treated him with fuch refpe<5l and defe- 
 rence, as to convince him, that, though a captive, he 
 was ftill a king: accordingly, when he was to make 
 a public entry into London, Edward took care that he 
 Ihould appear as fuch. The prifoner was clad in royal 
 robes, and mounted on a white ileed, diilinguiihed for 
 its beauty and lize, while the conqueror rode by his 
 fide, in a meaner attire, and carried by a black palfrey. 
 To this we may add another inftance equally flrong. 
 When the emperor Charles IV. paid a vifit to his coufin, 
 Charles V, king of France, in the year 1377, the latter 
 was fo jealous of his dignity and fuperiority in his own 
 kingdom, that to ftifle the fraalleft appearance of 
 
 * Hinc magni muneris loco, Ticinenfi Ep. Joh. & Honorins III. — 
 Ut album eqiium cooper turn eq^'.jtaret, in ramis palmarum, i^ fecmdd feria, 
 pjl pafcha. Vid. Diifrefiie in GlofT. — Ex bulla titriufque pontijicis, Vid. 
 Joh. Rofin. Antiq. Rom. lib. x, cap. 29, 
 
 equality, , 
 
9^ THE HIaSTORY AND ART 
 
 ■equality, he obliged the emperor and his fon to make 
 their entry upon two black horfes, while he, as the only 
 fovereign, rode between them upon one of the oppofite 
 colour. Many other proofs, both before and fince this 
 peripd, are not wanting. Charles VII. called the Victorious, 
 made his public entry into Paris, mounted on a IVbite 
 liorfe, without caparifons (tout nudj. Margaret, daugh- 
 ter of James of Scotland, when fhe came to be married 
 to the Dauphin, fon of Charles, rode into Tours as 
 Dauphine, .upon a JVhhe liorfe, her attendants all being 
 mounted upon horfes of diiTerent colours. St. Louis 
 alfo is reprefented in the antiquities * of the French 
 monarchy, mounted upon a -white horfe ; and the 
 king of Yemene in Arabia, weekly makes a folemn 
 proccffion, always riding upon that occafion upon a 
 ^nit ehoxio. '\. 
 
 In confequence of the veneration in which thefe fa- 
 cred uhhe horfes were held, the Saxon, or, to fpeak 
 more properly, the German princes, and chiefs, adopt- 
 ed the ijohite horfe, and bore it in their Standards. It 
 was the enfign of Hengifl and Horfa, and among other 
 ancient families, the illullrious prince who wears the 
 crown of the. Britifli dominions, bears it in his arms, 
 as duke of Brunfwick : and whoever confiders the 
 Saxon white horfe, as a judicious antiquary % remarks, 
 as it is placed in the Brunfwick fhield, wild, running 
 
 * Montfaucon, p. 217, 220, vol. iii. 
 "l" Voyages Franfois. 
 
 X Vide Obfervations on the Vale of White Horfe in Berks, by 
 F. Wife, 17^2. 
 
 at 
 
bF HDliSEMANSHIP. ^J 
 
 at full fpeed, and without faddle or bridle, will be in- 
 clined to think it was meant to reprefent the facredu bite 
 horfes defcribed by Tacitus. 
 
 Nevertheiefs, if we may believe Virgil and others, 
 who pretended to prognollicatc the innate properties of 
 horfes by the colour of their fkins, and other marks, 
 the white fliould always be rejefled, as having few 
 qualities which can render them pleafmg or fcivice* 
 able. Some commentators, however, aflert, that by 
 the words color determinus albis, Virgil did not mean vii'.k 
 ty/i/f horfes, but thofe of a faint pale colour, fomewhat 
 bordering upon the cream colour, or whitifli dun : for 
 otherwife, as Servius obferves upon this palTage, the 
 poet would contradi(5l himfelf, inafmuch as that in 
 other parts of his poem he commends this colour, and 
 fays, that Turnus's horfes " furpaffed the winds in 
 " fwiftnefs, and excelled fnow in the whitenefs of their 
 " coats," which are exaiflly the praifes bellowed upon 
 the horfes of Rhefus, king of Thrace, by Homer. 
 Claudian alfo, Plautus, Horace, Statius, and PalUdius, 
 join in celebrating it ; the laft approves, and recom- 
 mends it in a Stallion ; and it muft be prefumed that 
 they all fpoke according to the fancy and opinion of 
 the times in which they wrote ; and whatever might 
 be the prevailing tafte, as to colour, it is certain from 
 experience, that there are good and bad of all. Never- 
 theiefs, independent of the whims of fancy, and the 
 abfurd refinements of philofophy, the white colour w^as, 
 from the earlieft times, fet apart as the moll beautiful 
 
 Vol. I. O and 
 
ijS THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 and pure, and confccrated to power and royalty. Mankind, 
 in fo doing, having ufurped it from the gods, and 
 made the myfteries of religious worlhip fubfervient 
 to human pride and arrogance. In the fyftem of the 
 pagan religion, it is well known, that in various na- 
 tions, a diverfity of animals, as fymbols, were confe- 
 crated to different deities, under a notion, that they 
 either delighted in them, or that they were myftically. 
 fis;urative of their attributes and characSiers. Thus it 
 is faid, that the chariot of Venus was drawn by Doves y 
 that Minerva had her Owl, and Apollo his Lyre, Thus we 
 find too that Jupiter, in the mythology of the Perfians, 
 as fupreme of gods, had his chariot drawn by eight wbits- 
 horfes. By Jupiter was underftood, according to the 
 ancient Perfian religion, the expanfion of the heavens,, 
 or the air, and horfes of a white colour were probably 
 faid to have drawn his chariot, as being of an hue m oil' 
 proper tdexprefs and reprefent the purity and brightnefs- 
 of that element. Thus the horfes of the Sun, to whom a 
 Chariot was given, are faid to have been of a refplendent- 
 rofy colour ; thofe of Pluto to have been black, and 
 the chariot of the moon to be drawn by a black and a 
 white horfe, all being fymbolical of their refpecT:ive at- 
 tributes. 
 
 In procefs of time, ambition and pride, but too in- 
 herent in the breaft of man, cheriflied and inflamed by^ 
 tlie attainment of almoft every human wifli, and above 
 all, by the adulation which dependent fervility always 
 pays to power and fuperiority, began to dilate the 
 
 mindS: 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 99 
 
 minds of conquerors and potentates, and to delude 
 them fo far as to make them forget themfelves, affedl 
 to be gods, and have temples, altars, and divine ho- 
 nours decreed to them. Thus Julius Csfar was re- 
 proached, with having his image carried in the fame 
 chariot with the infignia of the gods, according to 
 Suetonius ; and it is to be fufpeded that white horfes 
 were preferred by potentates and other exalted pcr- 
 fons upon the fame account. Livy tells us, that Ca- 
 raillus, after he had fubdued the reii, a people of 
 Italy, entered their city in a triumphal chariot, drawn 
 by white hordes, highly to the offence and allonifliment 
 of the inhabitants, who confidered him as afluming 
 greater honours than belonged to an human being, 
 and afFeding to appear like the fupreme and omnipo- 
 tent Jupiter, fo true is the remark of Juvenal, 
 
 -Nihil ep quod credere de fc 
 
 Noil poj/it, cum laiidatiir Diis aqua potejias. 
 
 Nothing fo grofs that will not be deceiv'd, 
 Nothing fo falfe that will not be believ'd ; 
 When powr by fervile flattery is prais'd, 
 And equal to the gods a jiiortal rais'd. 
 
 When Conftantine the Great founded the city of 
 Conftantinople, and made it the feat of empire, he 
 built the famous Hippodrome, or place in which horfes 
 were to run, whofe ruins are ftill in part extant and 
 remaining. Here the races which Rome faw in her 
 
 O 2 Circus^ 
 
100 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 Circus, were performed with equal pomp ; and the 
 emperors of the Eaji teftified as great a fondnefs for 
 horfes, and made them as much the objedls of their 
 attention, as their predeceflbrs of the Weft had done 
 in their time. They had ftuds compofed of horfes, 
 colledled from various parts, which Avere maintained 
 with tlie greateft eare and exa^tnefs -, and the empe- 
 rors from time to time pubHlhed many edicts, to fix 
 the price, and regulate the treatment of horfes in 
 their dominions. Their humanity was fuch, that 
 a law was made, forbidding a perfon to ftrike an horfe 
 with a flick or club, and enjoining them to ufe a wand 
 or rod only. Their gratitude was fuch (if I may ufe 
 the word) towards fuch as had deferved well, and en- 
 tertained the public in the Circus, that when they 
 grew old, or weak and decayed, they fupported 
 them from the public treafury. Thefe horfes were 
 called Emeritiy or Difcharged ; and this cuftom was ob- 
 ferved in Rome, as well as in the rival empire of the 
 
 Eaft. 
 
 Their duds, as already mentioned, were compofed 
 of horfes brought from countries, which were known 
 to produce the nobleft and beft. Thofe which came 
 from different parts of Greece were much valued, as 
 well as the Phrygian and Spanifh, but the Cappado- 
 cians were moft admired, and bore away the palm 
 from all their competitors. 
 
 Among thefe, the horfes called Pahnattan and Her^ 
 mogenian were accounted the nobleft and firft in merit. 
 
 They 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. loi 
 
 They were fo prized, that they were devoted to the 
 fole ufe and pleafure of the emperors, it not being 
 permitted to fell them, unlefs by exprefs licence and 
 allowance. With the Palmatian and Hermogenian 
 horfes, it was ufual to couple Phrygian mares ; and the 
 produce of this mixture, efpecially if derived from the 
 horfes of Argccm, a mountain in Cappadocia, -was 
 thought the titteft and bell for the labours of the 
 Circus, to which they were always pre-eminently de- 
 voted, both at Conftantinople and at Rome. Many 
 conjedlures have been offered concerning the etymo- 
 logy of the names, Palmatian and Hermogenian, fo 
 famous throughout the eaftern empire. Moft of them 
 are futile and ill-grounded. The moft reafonable ac- 
 count feems to be this. 
 
 The Palmatian horfes owe their name to a perfon 
 called Palmatus, or Palmatius, who was rich in a. 
 breed of moft valuable horfes, whofe pofleftions being 
 feized and confifcated, his horfes were appropriated to 
 the emperor, and formed the moft valuable part of 
 the Grex Dominicus, or imperial ftables. 
 
 Palmatius is faid to have refided at Andibilis, a 
 town of Cappadocia, not far from Mount Taurus ; and 
 living in a country productive of fine horfes, by his 
 knowledge and care, he raifed fo generous a breed, 
 that they have at once perpetuated his fame and their 
 own. 
 
 The Hermogenian horfes were reckoned next, if not 
 equal in repute, to the Palmatian race. They wer3 
 
 fo 
 
102 THE H I,S T O R Y AND ART 
 
 fo denominated from Hennogenes Ponticus, who was 
 a general of horfe under the emperor Conftantius, 
 and is fuppofed to have been the founder of this 
 diftinguillied kind of horfes, whofe praifes have de- 
 fcended to thefe times. 
 
 Bcfides the Liidus T'rojaniis, aheady defcribed, the Ro- 
 mans pracSlifed other cxercifes, for the purpofcs of 
 teaching men and horfes the different talks required 
 of them in war. They had a miHtary esercife, de- 
 fcribed by Vegetius, called the Fahs, by which the 
 young men prepared, and qualified themfelves for real 
 combat. 
 
 The Pa/us W3.S a PiHar about fix feet high, fattened 
 into the ground ; againfl this the foldiers made an 
 attack, affaulting it in feveral different manners and 
 attitudes, always taking care fo to manage their wea- 
 pons, that, fuppofmg it was a real enemy, they might 
 not expofe any part of their body to be hurt, while 
 they were llriking their adverfary. Inftead of a fword, 
 they ufed a rod, or (lick. They likewife run at the 
 Palus with lances, and threw javelins or darts at it, 
 endeavouring to hit particular partsj and their fuccefs 
 was a proof of their dexterity. 
 
 There was alfo another military fport called the 
 Siuintana, from one ^I'lntus, who is faid to have been 
 the inventor of it. In its original ftate, it feems to 
 have been little different from the Pahs. 
 
 The ^lintana was ufually the trunk of a tree, a poll, 
 
 or pillar, fixed in the ground, againfl which the young 
 
 4 foldiers 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 103- 
 
 foldiers pufhed their lances ; and by this means ac- 
 quired fcrength in their limbs, and a facility of ufing 
 their weapons. This Game ftill exifts, and preferves its 
 name, being called ^I'mtaine, and is pradlifed, with 
 improvements and additions, in difTerent academies, 
 where fuch exercifes are taught, but which now are 
 unavailing in war, and can only conduce to form the 
 body to (Irength and activity ; the introduclion of fire- 
 arms in other refpecfts having rendered them ufelefs. 
 From thefe two fports are derived the famous exercifes 
 of running at Heads with lances, of picking them from 
 the ground with points of fwords, while the horfe is 
 in full fpeed, of throwing darts at them, of taking 
 off a ring fufpended in the air with the point of a 
 lance, all performed on horfeback, according to cer- 
 tain rules and principles, cllablifhed in modern aca- 
 demies, which all tend to make the fuccefs of the 
 adventurers more meritorious, as more difficult. 
 
 Thefe, and other branches of the equeflrian art, 
 fuch as combats of one horfeman againft another, or 
 of feveral againfl an equal number, the riding a cer- 
 tain number of horfes in different divifions, figures 
 and evolutions, and thereby compofmg a Dance^ called 
 Iry the Italians La Fola, and by the French La Foule, as 
 well as the art of Faulting, are all diredly defcended 
 from the fports and exercifes of the Ancients, and have 
 been exhibited for many centuries with much fplen- 
 dDur and folemniry, under the names of Jujis, Ca- 
 
 roiifels, ., 
 
104 THE ART AND HISTORY 
 
 roufels, "Tilts, and Tournaments, in mofl nations of tlie 
 modern world. 
 
 The origin of Tournaments is no where exacSlIy afcer- 
 tained, feveral nations pretending to have been the firll 
 introducers of them. The word itfelf is fuppofed by 
 fome writers to be derived from the French verb 
 tourner, to turn, becaufe the performers rode in rings 
 and circles, and were obliged to make many Turnings 
 with their horfes, as the laws of the game required. 
 Others pretend, tbat it comes from the modern Latin 
 word Torneamentum, which is derived from Trojamentunt, 
 which is formed from Troja, the Game cf Troy. One 
 would be apt, however, to think ex vi termini, that al- 
 though the fport itfelf untiueflionably owes its rife to 
 the Trojan game, yet, that its name is of French ex- 
 tracftion, aad not only given with great propriety, but 
 feems to be a tacit argument of its fuperior antiquity 
 among that people, whofe hiflorians aflert, that it was 
 firft known in France. Nithard reports, that at the 
 interview of Charles the Bald, king of France, who 
 fucceeded to the throne, in the year 840, and his bro- 
 ther Lewis of Germany, at Strafburgh, the gentlemen 
 of the retinue of either prince fought on horfeback, to 
 difplay their courage and fkill. Ducange fays, that 
 thefe fports were fo peculiar to the French, that they 
 were called CcTvfliBus Ga//;V/, or French Combats. TheGer- 
 n»ans alfo began to practife them about the year 1036, 
 and the Greeks acknowledge that they learned them 
 of the Franks, as their authors alledge. John Cantacu- 
 5 %enus 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 105 
 
 zenus fa)^, that thefe military and gallant diverfions 
 were firfl feen in the eaftern empire in the year i 326, 
 at the marriage of Ann of Savoy with the young em- 
 peror Andronicus Pakologiis ; but Nicetas and Cinnamits report 
 that the emperor Emanuel O^mmemts inftitutcd them, in 
 imitation of the French, about the year 1145. 
 
 The Englijlo had thefe folemnities among them, in 
 the reign of King Stephen, about the year 11 40, but 
 they were not much in ufe till Richards, * time, to- 
 wards the year i 149: it may not be improper to ob- 
 ferve, that in the reign of this prince Side-faddles were 
 firll known in England, as it will appear from the fol- 
 lowing anecdote ; and although it is mixed with other 
 particulars, which do not immediately relate to the 
 fubjedt, I venture to give the paragraph entire, as it 
 is to be found in J. RoJ/i Antiquarii fFarwicen. Hiji. Reriim 
 Ang. p. 205, in Latin. In Englifh it may be rendered 
 thus. " In his days alfo began the deteflable cuftoni 
 " of wearing long pointed Ihoes, fattened with chains 
 « of filver and fometimes of gold, up to the knees. 
 " Likewifc noble ladies then ufed high heads and cor- 
 " nets, and robes with long trains, and Seats or Side- 
 " /addles on their horfes, by the example of the re- 
 " fpe6lable queen Ann, daughter of the king of Bohe- 
 *' mia, who firll introduced this cuftom into this 
 *' kingdom : for before women of every rank rode as 
 " men do, with their legs allride the backs of their 
 
 * Tho. Hearn, prsf. ad Guliel. Neuwig. Hift. p. 49. 
 Vol. I. P • " horfes." 
 
io6 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 " horfes." Thus far our Warwick hiftorian ; and it 
 is certain, that this was not the ufual way of riding 
 till about this time ; for Nicetas, one of the Byzantine 
 hiftorians, who wrote an hiftory of i i i 8, to the year 
 1205, fays, that at this period, women did not ride 
 as they ufed to do, fitting on a Side-fadd/e, but mounted 
 their horfes with their legs indecently ajiride. Thus 
 Side-faddks appear to have been ufed many centuries 
 ago, and before the female fex took up the fafliion of 
 riding like men, for which they are reprehended by 
 the Greek hiftorian : and hard indeed is the equejlrian 
 fituation of the fex ! for if they are to be accufed of 
 indelicacy for riding after the manner of men, they cer- 
 tainly hazard their fafcty too much in riding after the 
 manner of women. 
 
 The military fports which (not to be particular and 
 minute) may be comprehended under the name of 
 'Tournaments, were, for many centuries, the prevailing 
 entertainment of Chriftendom, and known to a certain 
 degree in Afia and Africa: but the European nations 
 cultivated them with an earneftnefs worthy of a better 
 caufe, and ambitioufly vied with one another in the 
 fplendour and expence with which they conftantly ex- 
 hibited them. The Germans, upon all occafions of joy, 
 were fond of reprefenting them ; the French were re- 
 markably addidted to them j the Spaniards devotion to 
 them, efpecially in their Bidl-feajis, which is a fpecies 
 of them, is univerfally known ; the Portuguefe enter- 
 tained the fame affedion for them ; the Italians and 
 
 a. Poki. 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 107 
 
 Poles were well acquainted with them, and the Gothic 
 -nations were diftinguiflied for performing them in the 
 midft of winter upon the Ice, as well as for their love 
 of arms and riding ; and in the rudeft times, the 
 horfe, his furniture, and ornaments became the efTen- 
 tial objedl of their care. England kept pace with the reft 
 of Europe, and faw many of her kings fond of dif- 
 playing thefe magnificent diverfions ; and the fpot of 
 ground near St. James's Park, called the Tilt Tard, is a 
 voucher of the repute in which they were held. Smith- 
 field was likewife famous for the frequent and fplendid 
 Tournaments held in it : adjoining to it, is a ftreet 
 called Knight-Rider and Gihfpur-Street ; fo named, it is 
 prefumed, from the Knights riding through it to the 
 tournament in Smithfield, and from the magnificent 
 ^It Spurs, worn in thofe times, being fold there. Cbeap- 
 Jide was another place in which thefe folemnities were 
 fometimes held, as well as Barbican and Bridewell. 
 
 Mars and Fenus prefided over them ; they were the 
 image of IFar, without its guilt, and frequently the 
 femblance of PaJ^on, under the mafk of Gallantry, the 
 combatants afluming the title of Servans d' Amour *. The 
 
 • No knight could exift without having a declared miftrefs, 
 L* Amour de Dieu, et des dames, religion and gallantry being the two great 
 articles in the creed of Knight-errantry. An elegant and judicious 
 French writer marks this devotion to their miftrefies in a very peculiar 
 and pointed terms. 11 etoit, fays he, de rejfence de Vancienne chevalerie 
 d' avoir fa Dame, a qui, comme un etrefupreme, on rapor toil tons fesfenti- 
 tnens, toutes fes penfees, toutes fes aSiions. EfTais Hift. fur Paris par 
 Saintfoix. 
 
 P 2 pro- 
 
io8 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 profeflion of chivalry, which flourillied fo much in 
 paft ages, flied a luftre, and conferred importance and 
 dignity upon them. At laft, however, they were 
 found to be produAive of bad effedts, and the occafions 
 of feveral fatal misfortunes ; as in the inftance of 
 the death of Henry 11. king of France, and of the 
 T'ik exhibited at Chalons; which, from the numbers 
 killed on both fides, was called the little War of Cha- 
 lons. Thefe, and other inconveniencies and difafters, 
 which were confequences of thefe dangerous paftimes, 
 gave the Popes occafion to forbid them ; and the 
 princes of Europe by degrees difcontinued them, re- 
 fleding, as well they might, that thefe feats of fkill 
 and courage, were degenerated into mere fliews of pa- 
 rade and oflentation ; that the combatants performed 
 too little, if they were in earneft, as well as too much, 
 if fport and amufement only were intended ; as well 
 as that from the fpirit of Chivalry, which had fpread its 
 delufions over all Chriftendom, thefe contells were carried 
 to a blameable and ridiculous excefs y holding their 
 exiftence folely in the rough manners of brave, but 
 unenlightened ages, and the abfurd laws and notions 
 of knight-errantry, which foon proved too weak to 
 ftand againft the force of good fenfe, efpecially when 
 armed with ihofe irrefiftible weapons, fatire and ridi- 
 cule. Every body knows with what force and efficacy 
 Cervantes wielded them in his famous hiftory of Don 
 ^ixote, which is thought to have given thefe romantic 
 inftitutions the wound of which they died -, nor did 
 
 the. 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 109 
 
 the difcovery of gunpowder, and the revival of letters, 
 fail to contribute their fliare towards their deflrudlion. 
 Since their abolition, mankind have not obferved 
 lefs decorum and honour towards the fair fex, nor 
 been lefs fenfible of the power of their charms, know- 
 ing, that although the exterior form of worfliip may 
 be lefs fplendid and pompous, their devotion may be 
 full as zealous and fmcere ; while the ladies, gene- 
 roufly on their part have condefcended to liften to the 
 vows of their adorers, without requiring fuch rigorous 
 proofs of their fidelity and paffion ; feeming to be 
 convinced, that, unlefs in particular cafes, men may 
 be in love vjithout fghting, and fight without being in 
 love. 
 
 End of the First Part. 
 
 THE 
 
C HI } 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY AND ART 
 
 O F 
 
 HORSEMANSHIP, 
 
 PART II. 
 
 THROUGH the whole animal world each 
 fpecies of the fame kind differ from one another, 
 according to the Climates in which they are born ; and 
 it is this influence of climate which occafions the al- 
 moft infinite variety of creatures, forms their cha» 
 radters, and feparates and diftinguifhes their qualities ; 
 in which, like children of the fame parent, they in ge- 
 neral refemble one another, but yet, at the fame time, 
 have always fome features and properties peculiar to 
 themfelves, which conftitute the difference between 
 each fpecies. Mankind, with refpedl to Horfes, feem 
 to have ftretched nature beyond the bounds flie ufually 
 prefcribes to herfelf, and by coupling thofe of different 
 countries, have created feveral vew fpecies ; fo that in 
 the mixture and confufion, all original national cha- 
 
 radtec- 
 
112 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 rader and diftincflion are, in a great meafure funk and 
 loft J feveral countries, like engrafted trees, producing 
 horfes, which they can hardly call their own. 
 
 Having attempted, in the foregoing part of this 
 work, to give fome account of the regions moft 
 efteemed by the Jncients for their breeds of horfes, as 
 well as of the animals thenifelves, it remains that as 
 in the courfe of our fubjedl we are arrived at modem 
 times, we fhould alfo take a view of the horfes moft 
 valued at prefent in the different parts of the globe. 
 
 Among thefe Arabia ftands moft eminently diftin- 
 guifhed for the excellence of its horfes, and the ad- 
 drefs of its inhabitants in riding them. Hiftorians and 
 travellers unite in the praifes of both ; yet a perfon of 
 knowledge in the Art, will, neverthelefs, be fomewhat 
 perhaps embarraffed in forming his opinion, and think 
 it neceffary to have a fuller and clearer evidence, be- 
 fore he will decree the palm to them. Happy indeed 
 would it be for the Arts, if Artijis only were its Judges, 
 and people meddled with nothing but fuch things as 
 they are qualified to underftand : but, unfortunately 
 for the prefent fubjeds, among numbers of others, it 
 isnotfo: unfortunately for us, none of the writers 
 who have touched upon it, have gone far enough into 
 it, fo as to open and explain many particulars, with 
 that accuracy and fullnefs, which alone can enable us 
 to judge of the real merit of thefe famous riders, and 
 liorfes ; for the accounts given of them are fo loofe 
 and imperfect, that it is as difficult for a real judge to 
 
 form 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. ii 
 
 J 
 
 form any precife opinion concerning it, as it would 
 be for a Jeweller to know what to think, if a common 
 Sailor were to give an account of the Dia?no/ids which he 
 had feen in the mines of India or Brazil ; the luftre, the 
 hardnefs, and other particulars, which folely conftitute 
 their merit, are unknown to him ; and the Jeweller 
 would probably be in danger of being mifled, if he 
 fliould truft to the ignorance of fuch a reporter. 
 
 Hence the random accounts of Jralianhor[cvnd.n{h{p, 
 fo much boafled and extolled, but related too fuperfci- 
 ajly to enable us to form any clear judgment, or know 
 by what means they teach and drefs their horfes to 
 perform the feats afcribed to them, or what their no- 
 tions and principles of riding are ; no writer or tra- 
 veller that I could ever confult, being an horfeman, 
 and none but an horfeman can give a clear and fatif- 
 faclory account of Horfemanjljip ; it is to be fufpecTted, 
 therefore, from this want of lawful ei-idemes, that in the 
 feats of Arabian horfemanfhip fo much boalled by wri- 
 ters and travellers, more is to be afcribed to the acti- 
 vity and powers of the horfes, than to the knowledge 
 and judgment of the riders ; who yet are confefTedly 
 very bold and dextrous in the faddle ; but who, by 
 working upon falfe rules, or perhaps without any, 
 never attain that grace, exaftnefs, and certainty, which 
 the principles of the Art, if known, would infure to 
 them ; principles which have their foundation in na - 
 ture, and are juftified by truth and experience. 
 
 Vol. I. Q^ They 
 
114 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 They are reported to have then- ftirrups remarkably 
 fliort, which obliges the rider to fit upon his faddlc, 
 as if he was in an cafy chair : their bridles * are fo 
 powerful, as to endanger the breaking of the horfe's 
 jaw, if he ihould refift ; the hand being as rough and 
 fevere, as the bridles are cruel, and both co-operating 
 to bruife and tear the mouth,, and in the end to render 
 it callous and dead : it is a great feat of horfemanfhip 
 with them to flop Jljort ; this they effecl by mere vio- 
 lence and ftrength, and as they never previoufly make 
 the mouths, nor fupple the joints of their horfes, the 
 rudenefs of they?o/)fo fhocks the whole frame, as fre- 
 quently to fpoil and ruin the haunches and other 
 parts. The horfe-flioes ufed by them are large, very 
 heavy, and of a circular form, refembling in fliape 
 that fort of llioe, called by us the Bar-Jlooe. The pro- 
 vince of Sinan is at prefent eminent for its race of horfes, 
 of which fome arc near fixteen hands in height, and 
 very mufcular and ftrong ; while the breed of the 
 •wandering Arabs, feldom exceed the meafure of fourteen 
 and two inches, probably for the want of more gene- 
 rous nourilliment than they can find in their migra- 
 tions and unfettled condition. The Arabians feel no 
 relu(5lance to part with their horfes in fale, they being 
 a commodity which they breed for that purpofe, and 
 the Imaum raifes a revenue from the duty of horfes 
 which are fcnt out of the country, the tax being about 
 ten pounds fterling paid for each horfe. 
 
 * They are known in Europe by the name of Turkifh bits. 
 
 4 The 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 115 
 
 The grofs and ignorant ftate in which thcfc people 
 live, their bigotted attachment to their own cuftoms 
 and manners, then- little intercourfe with the more 
 polifhed parts of the globe, and their manner of fit- 
 ting on horfeback (which, though fufficient for their 
 purpofes, yet does not fpeak them to be acquainted 
 with the true feat, and is aukward and clumfy) feem 
 all to incline us to believe, that this fufpicion is not 
 groiindlefs. Neverthelefs, it muft be acknowledged, 
 that without thefe advantages, the Arabs and their 
 horfes deferve the greateft commendations ; but the 
 latter feem to be entitled to the larger fhare, while we 
 cannot but lament, that people who have fuch noble 
 and fine-toned Injiruments^ fliould underftand Mitjic no 
 better. 
 
 Thefe horfes, by the unanimous allowance of all 
 who have feen them, are reckoned the moft beautiful 
 of their kind, larger and more furniflied than thofe of 
 Barbary, and of the jufteft proportions ; but as very few 
 have been brought into Europe, it is not poffible to 
 fpeak of them collectively, with that jullice and accuracy, 
 which would decide their charadler. There is fcarcely 
 an Arab, how indigent and mean foever, who is not 
 pofTefTed of fomc. They ufually prefer (like the an- 
 cient Scythians) to ride Mares, experience having con- 
 vinced them, that they endure fatigue better, and refill 
 the calls of hunger and third longer than horfes, not 
 being fo inclined to vice, but gentle and willing, nor 
 fo fubjedl to neigh as the males. They are fo ac- 
 
 Qji cuflomcJ 
 
II 6 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 cuflomed to be together in great numbers, that their 
 o-Nvners venture to trufl. them whole days by themfelves, 
 and are under no apprchenfion of mifchief, from their 
 biting or kicking one another. 
 
 The Jrabs fell fuch of their horfes as they do not like 
 to keep for StalHons, and are moft fcrupuloufly exa6t in 
 preferving their Pedigrees *", evqn for ages back-, fothat 
 they know, with the utmoft certainty, their parentage, 
 alliances, and genealogy ; diflinguifliing each family, 
 or breed, by different appellations or epithets, and di- 
 viding the whole kind into three clalTes. 
 
 The firfl: is called Ncble, being the pureft and moft 
 ancient, without ever having received any flain or 
 mixture, on the fide of the fues or dams. 
 
 The 
 
 * The following is tranflated from an original Arabian certificate, by 
 the learned and ingenious Mr. Charming^ eminent for his (kill in 
 the oriental tongues, and communicated to the author by his Grace 
 High Duke oi Northumberland. 
 
 1 he fhcrt account of his pedigree, and caufe of fale, are thefe. 
 
 I, the Fakir Mohammed, ion of the Hadg Chalil, fon of Sheich 
 Suleiman, Sheich of the village of Alchadar, adjoining to the back of 
 mount Sihangan, have now fold my bay mottled horfe Bik, a thorough 
 Arabian, fon of the bay mare Alkahila, got by N if, of Gialf, a bay 
 with black eyelids, a noble Arabian. Th^ mother of the horfe (Nif j 
 was the m.are HulTein Ali Beg. He has the full powers of generation. 
 T, the Fakir, who ftand in need of the mercy of the moft high God, to 
 whom be praife, Mohammed, fon of Hadg Chalil, fon of Sheich Su- 
 leiman, even I have now fold my before-mentioned horfe, who is 
 among my horfes, and in: my enclofure. He is a bay mottled horfe, 
 black eye-lidded. The witncfTes below atteft his breed and family : 
 
 the 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 117 
 
 The fecond clafs is compofed of horfes, whofe race, 
 though ancient, has been mixed and crofled with Ple- 
 beian 
 
 the laft of Safar, in the year 11 73. At this very time, the horfe 
 before-mentioned is fold to a fpeedy convej^er of this truft, the Sieur 
 fon of a chief of the Bricifli company of Frank 
 
 Merchants, of the Englifli faftory fettled on the confines of the defarts 
 of 7\leppo. I have contradted with him, and have received the full price 
 from him in good and complete payment. 
 
 Mohammed, fon of 
 Hadg Chalil, fon of 
 Sheich Suleiman, the 
 Alchadarite. 
 
 HufTein Abu, 
 Suleiman. 
 
 The Hadg Ifa, 
 the derwis 
 
 Seid Ibrahim The Seil 
 head Aga of the Feftagi, fon 
 Chan at Toman, of Hadg 
 
 HufTein, of 
 ChanToman. 
 
 Hadg Moham- 
 med the derwis. 
 
 Othman Alcafirah 
 
 r Ibrahim 
 [Alnafiat. 
 
 Sid Abd' Allah , 
 
 Algnalhour of 
 Chan Toman. 
 
 The Sheich 
 Nachif. 
 
 To this I beg leave to add another Arabian pedigree of an horfe, 
 from an Appendix to the Britilh Zoology, by Pennant. 
 
 Taken before Abdorraman Kadi of Acca. 
 
 The occafion of this prefent writing or inftrument is, that at Acca, 
 in the houfe of Badi, legal eftablilhed judge, appeared in court Tho- 
 mas Ufgate, the Englifh conful ; and with him Sheikh Morad Ebn al 
 Hajj Abdoilah, Sheikh of the county ofSafad, and the faid conful 
 defired from the aforefaid Sheikh proof of the race of the grey 
 
 hotfa 
 
II 8 THE HISTORY AMD ART 
 
 beian blood, either on the male or female fide, which, 
 neverthelefs, is deemed noble, but mlfaUied. 
 
 The third, and laft divifion, is made up of the com- 
 mon and ordinary horfes, which are fold at a low 
 price, while thofe of the firft and fecond clafs (among 
 the latter of which fomc are to be found equal to thofc 
 of the firft) command exceflive fums of money, when 
 fought in purchafe. 
 
 horfe which he bought of hhn, and he affirmed to be Monaki Shaduhi *} 
 but he was not fatisfied with this, but defired the teftimony of the 
 Arabs, who bred the horfc, and knew how he came to Sheikh Morad, 
 wliereupon there appeared certain Arabs of repute, whofe names are 
 undermentioned ; who teftified and declared, that the grey horfe which 
 the conful formerly bought of Sheikh Morad, is Monaki Shaduki, 
 of the pure race of horfes, purer than milk -j; and that the begin- 
 ning of the affair was, that Sheikh Saleh, Sheikh of Alfabal, bought 
 him of the Arabs, of the tribe of al Mohammadat, and Sheikh Saleh 
 fold him to Sheikh Morad Ebn al Hajj Abdullah, Sheikh of Safad, 
 and Sheikh Morad fold him to the conful aforefaid ; when thefe mat- 
 ters appeared to us, and the contents were known, the faid gentle- 
 man defired a certificate thereof, and teftimony of the witnefles ; 
 whereupon we wrote him this certificate, for him to keep as a proof 
 thereof. Dated Friday, 28 of the latter Rabi, in the year 1 135 :]:. 
 
 WitnelTes. Sheikh Jumat al Falibau of the Arabs 
 
 of al Mohammadat. 
 Ali Ebn Taleb al Kaabi. 
 Ibrahim, his brother. 
 Mohammed al Adhra Sheikh Alfarifat, 
 Khamis al Kaabi. 
 
 * Thefe are the- names of the two breeds of Arab horfes, which are' reckoned 
 pure and true ;' and thofe which are of both thefe breeds by father and motlier are 
 tbc moft noble and free from baftardy. 
 
 .f A proverbial exprefTion. f /. ^. 29 January, 1722. 
 
 It 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. up 
 
 It is a rule with the Arabs never to let a capital mare 
 be covered but by a ftallion of equal quality. Each 
 breeder acquires a perfe6t knowledge of their own and 
 neighbours horfes, and of each particular relative to 
 them ; as their names, mark, colour, exploits, and 
 age. When an Arab has not an approved ftallion 
 of his own, he hires one for a certain fum of his 
 neighbours ; Jfitnejfes are called to be prefent at the 
 confummation, who give a folemn certificate of the 
 performance, figned and fealed in the prefence of the 
 Emir, or fome other magiftrate. hi the inflrument of 
 atteftation, the names of the horfe and mare are men- 
 tioned, and their pedigrees fet forth. When the mare 
 drops her foal, witnefles are called again, who fign a 
 frefli certificate, touching the birth of the foal, in 
 which they defcribe each particular, and record the 
 day of the birth. Thefe vouchers fiamp a great value 
 upon the animal, and, like the deeds of an eftate, are 
 given with if, when fold, or otherwife called in 
 queftion. 
 
 The loweft-priced mares of the firft clafs, are worth 
 five hundred French crowns ; many of them will bring 
 a thoufand, and fome even four, five, or fix thoufand 
 livres. As the Arabs have no houfes, but live in tents, 
 thefe tents ferve at the fame time for ftables for their 
 horfes, and homes for themfelves. Mares, foals, the 
 mafter, and his wife and children, lay together pell- 
 mell, and receive the flielter of the fame roof ; which 
 
 Et peats et dominum communi cJanderet umbm. Juv. 
 
 In 
 
120 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 In the fame cavern, undiftinguifli'd, fleeps 
 The humble owner, and the flocks he keeps. 
 
 The young children will lay upon the neck, fide, 
 or crawl between the legs of the mare and foal, with- 
 out receiving the leafl hurt ; and it is even aflcrted, that 
 thefe animals are cautious how they move, left they 
 fhould incommode thefe little ones, by whom they 
 will permit every playful liberty to be taken. Their 
 matters treat them with the ntmoft fondnefs, and per- 
 feift good will and harmony fublifls between them ; 
 they are extremely nice in the care of them, and en- 
 deavour to engage them to perform what they require 
 by the gentleft means, feldom chufing to urge them 
 beyond the walk, which is their ufual pace ; but if 
 they have occafion to give the fpur, the animal no 
 fooner feels its fide touched by the toe of the Stirrup, 
 which is pointed and fliarp, fo as to anfwer the in- 
 tention of a fpur, but it fprings forward at once with 
 incredible force, runs with amazing rapidity, and leaps 
 over whatever obftruds its way, with the lightnefs and 
 vigour of a Hag ; yet is fo gentle and attentive to the 
 rider, and fo well taught, that if he fliould happen to 
 fall, it will {lop at once, tho' running at the top of its 
 fpeed. The Arabian horfes generally are of a middling 
 fize, neat and clean in their fliape and limbs, and of a 
 thin and llender figure. Their keepers feed and curry 
 them morning and night with great exacflnefs, never 
 fuffering the lead ftain to remain upon them, frequently 
 
 wafliing 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 121 
 
 wafliing their legs, manes, and tails, which latter ihey 
 encourage to flow at full length, and comb but feldom, 
 for fear of breaking or pulling out the hairs. They 
 never feed them in the day, but allow them to drink 
 two or three times, referving their meal till fun-fet, 
 when they difpenfe to each horfe about half a buflicl 
 of barley, well fifted and cleaned, and put in a fack, 
 which they tie upon their heads, where they leave it 
 till morning, that they may take due time to eat their 
 allowance. About March, when the grafs is ftrong and 
 plentiful, they foil them, and devote this feafon like- 
 wife to the work of procreation ; obferving always to 
 throw cold water upon the mare, the moment the Hal- 
 lion defcends from her back. This cuftom is obferved 
 by us, and other European nations, being probably 
 borrowed of the Ai'abians, as well as that of keeping 
 the pedigrees, and recording, the vidories of our race- 
 horfes. When the fpringis paft, the horfes are taken 
 from the paftures, and kept for the rell of the year 
 without grafs or hay, and folely upon barley, with a 
 certain portion of ftraw. When the colts are about 
 a year and fix months old, the Arabs fheer the hair 
 of their tails, to make them grow thicker and 
 ftronger. 
 
 They begin to ride the colts at the age of two years, 
 or two and an half at moft, rigidly obferving never to 
 touch them before this period, and always keeping 
 thofe horfes which they ride, faddled and bridled, and 
 waiting at the doors of their tents the whole day. 
 
 Vol. I. R The 
 
122 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 The mod ancient and nobleft breeds of this country, 
 are faid to be fprung from the wild horfes of the De- 
 fcrt, of which, many ages ago, a ftud was compofed, 
 which increafed the breed, and peopled Afia and 
 Africa with thefe noble animals. Thefe horfes are fo 
 fleet as to outrun the OJirich, and the Arabs of the De- 
 fert, as well as the people of Libya, rear a great number, 
 and devore them folely to the chace, never ufing them 
 in combat, or upon journeys, feeding them with grafs, 
 and when that fails fupporting them with dates and 
 camels milk, which contributes to make them adlive- 
 and vigorous, without inclining them to grow fat. 
 
 From thefe accounts it is to be concluded, that the 
 Arabian horfes are, and have been, from all time, efleemed 
 to be the firll and beft of their kind ; and that it is ori- 
 ginally from them, that the noblefl. breeds of Europe, 
 Afia, and Africa proceed, being immediately or re- 
 motely defcended from Barhs^ defccnded from Arabi- 
 ans, whofe climate is, perhaps, the moft favourable 
 and beft adapted to the nature of horfes of any hitherto 
 known, iince, without going elfcwhere, in fearch of 
 horfes to crofs and mend their breed, the Arabians keep 
 it religioully pure from all foreign mixture, and truft 
 folely to their own ftock, which affords them a finer, 
 and more generous race, than they could procure by 
 any alliances with other horfes. So that if the climate 
 fliould not in itfelf be the moft friendly and congenial, 
 of all others to the nature of horfes, yet the inhabitants 
 feem to make it fo, by their nice and judicious care,. 
 
 and, 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 123 
 
 and by never permitting an horfe or mare to come to- 
 gether, unlefs of equal rank, beauty, and merit. By 
 this exacStnefs, fcrupuloufly obferved for ages, they 
 have raifed and refined the fpecies, and led it up to a 
 pitch of perfection, beyond what mere nature perhaps 
 could have attained, though affifted by the advantages 
 of a better country. With refpetT: to the climate, it is a 
 certain truih, that thofe agree befl with horfes which 
 are rather hot than cold ; and above all a dry foil is 
 necelTary : that in general middle-fized horfes are to 
 be preferred ; that care and proper management will 
 conduce as much almoft to their well being as food ; 
 that mildnefs, patience, and kind treatment, will in- 
 fluence their temper, gain their confent and obedience, 
 more efFedlually than feverity and force ; that horfes 
 of warm climates have their bones, hoofs, and mufcles 
 more compact: and firm than thofe born in colder re- 
 gions ; and that although warmth is more pleafing to 
 their conftitutions than cold, yet the extreme of either 
 is hurtful ; and laftly, that their Manners, charaders, 
 and other qualities, almoft entirely depend upon the 
 -climate, the properties of food, their treatment, and 
 education. 
 
 I will conclude this narrative with a defcription of 
 their manner of riding at this day. The account is 
 taken from a traveller, who vifited the tents of thefe 
 Bedouin Arabs in the year 1749, ^^^ was an eye-witnefs 
 of what he relates. 
 
 R 2 "It 
 
124 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 " It is well known (fays he) that the chief article 
 *' of property in Arabia confifls in horfes, which are 
 " the fined and beft of their kind. Their owners ma- 
 *' nage them in their way very dexterouHy. Their fad- 
 " dies have the back part, or Cantle, fo high, that it 
 " reaches more than half way up the rider's back. 
 ' The ftirrnps are flat, in the Turkifli manner, and 
 '* contain the whole foot. They never ufe a girth, 
 " which makes it more difficult to mount, and keep 
 " their feat. Th€ Arabian youth underftand the equi^ 
 *' libre, and keep their body in a jufl: coimterpoife, 
 " being fo dextrous, that they will fland on the faddle 
 " while the horfe runs at full fpeed, fling their lances, 
 '* turn round, throw themfelves over, and fland 
 " upon their heads ; the horfe continuing his career 
 " all the time *." 
 
 The reader will remember^ that thefe performances 
 are related by many writers to have been inufc among 
 the Romans ; and the prefent times afibrd, in this 
 kingdom, many inftances of thefe extraordinary feats 
 of agility ; which, though wonderful and imufual^ 
 are not equal to what the Rope-dancers conftantly exhibit 
 in their public fhews, and which can by no means be 
 allowed to pafs for horfemanfliip ; which depends upon 
 the exat^lnefs, readinefs, and fidelity with which the 
 horfe obeys the diredions of his rider, who is re- 
 quired to give them according to the known rules of 
 
 * Haflelquift.. 
 
 the 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 125 
 
 the Art, and the capacity of the horfe to execute them. 
 While thefe feats, are only a difplay of the a(flivity and 
 fupplenefs of the man, without any attention to the 
 horfe, beyond the ordinary method of riding. 
 
 The Arabian breed is propagated in Barbary, among 
 the Moors, and even among the negroes, on the banks 
 oi Gambia and Senegal, where fome horfes of beauty and 
 merit are fometimes to be found in the pofleffion of the 
 princes and chiefs of thefe people. Inftead of barley 
 and oats they are fed with Indian corn, bruifed, or 
 ground into flour, and mixed with milk : this nou- 
 rifhes them, and makes them fat : and although the 
 country is feverely hot, they are permitted to drink 
 but fparingly, Arabia has peopled not only Egypt and 
 T'urkey, but, as it is thought, Perfia alfo with horfes,. 
 which formerly boafted a very generous and admired 
 breed of its own. Marcus Paulas fpeaks of a ftud which 
 could count feveral thoufand white mares ; and fays, 
 that in the province of Balafcia, were great numbers of 
 large and acfkive horfes, whofe feet were fo good, and 
 - their hoofs fo tough and firm, that fhoes were ufelefs 
 and curaberfome. 
 
 The Egyptian horfes are little known in Europe, but 
 the country is certainly capable of producing a noble 
 and ferviceable breed, equal to thofe it boafted in 
 former days. It is faid by fome late travellers (whofe 
 judgment, neverthelefs, as horfemen, cannot be re- 
 lied on) that its horfes are fuperior to thofe of all the 
 
 ncigli- 
 
1 26 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 neighbonrlng countries ; and Dr. Shaw * afferts, that 
 they are preferable to thofc of Barbary, both in good- 
 nefs, beauty, and fize, being indebted for the 1 aft to the 
 fruitfuhiefs of the foil, which affords great nourifh- 
 ment, and for tlie former to the Arabian blood which 
 flows in their veins. This country is faid to have two 
 diftincfl breeds, one of its own, the other Arabian. 
 This latter fort are fo highly valued, that numbers are 
 purchafed to be fent to Conftantinople ; but the defpo- 
 tifm of the government is fuch, that the breeders are 
 afraid and difcouraged from raifmg a noble race, as 
 they are certain almoft of having them taken from them 
 without any price paid, or fatisfadion given ; fo that 
 the owners of fine horfes, will frequently lame or ble- 
 mifli them, that the Beys may not like them, and take 
 them away by force f. 
 
 Mibiopia has fo little intcrcourfe with the reft of the 
 world, that much concerning it cannot be known. Some 
 writers, however aflert, that it originally gave Arabia 
 the fine breed of horfes which it fo long has boafted. 
 Others think that ^Ethiopia owes its race of horfes to 
 Arabia. The horfes are generally reported to be ftrong, 
 nimble, and mettlefome, and (like the MenJ black. They 
 are kept facred from common and ignoble labours, not 
 fuffered to travel long and fatiguing journeys, but re- 
 ferved for the nobler tafks of battle, or the courfe, the 
 ordinary work being performed by mules. They wear 
 
 * Shaw's Travels, chap. ii. 
 -|- Vid. Maillet and Pococke. 
 
 4 no 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 127 
 
 no flioes ; upon which account, when they go through 
 uneven and rough places, the riders difmount, get 
 upon mules, and lead their horfes in hand, that, 
 by having no burden to carry, they may tread the 
 lighter *. 
 
 The Barbary horfes are to be found in mofl countries 
 of Europe. Their Foreheads are generally long, flender, 
 and ill-furnifbed with mane, but riling diftindly and 
 boldly out of their fVitbers. Their Heads, lean, fmall, 
 and what the French called moiitonne, or refembling that 
 of a Iheep. The Ears handforac, and well-placed ; 
 the Shoulders light, floping backward, and flat. Their 
 Withers fine, and Handing high ; Loins fliort and flrait ; 
 Flanks and Ribs round and full, without having too 
 large a Barrel ; their Haunches flrong and elaftic ; the 
 Croupe oftentimes fomewhat too long ; the Tail placed 
 high ; Thighs well-turned and rounded j Legs clean, 
 well made, and thin of hair ; the finews detached 
 from the bone, but the Pajlern generally too long and 
 bending. The foot good and found. 
 
 There are of all colours, but the moft common is 
 grey. They are generally cold, and flow in their 
 paces, requiring to be rouzed and animated by the 
 rider ; when they will difcover a great fund of vigour, 
 wind, and fpeed. They are very light and nimble, 
 formed to excel in running, and are generally more 
 valued in their offspring, than for their own perfonal 
 
 * L.LudolphHift. ^chiop.. 
 
 merit:: 
 
1-8 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 merit ; being thought, when tranfported into foreign 
 countries, to get colts which excel their fires in good- 
 nefs : for this reafon they are valuable in fluds, cfpc- 
 cially if they are of the larger growth, the greater 
 part being but of a middling fize. The jilgerines * are 
 faid not to like to caftrate their horfes, but only fqueeze 
 their teflicles when they are about three months old, 
 which renders them incapable of propagation. 
 * It is thought that the horfes of the kingdom of Mo- 
 rocco are the beft, and next to them a breed called the 
 Mnuitain barbs. The horfes of thefe climates, as well 
 as of all hot countries, have always fliort and fleek 
 coats, with foft and fraooth hair. The peculiar merit 
 of the Barbs confifts in their being very fure-footed, 
 and of tempers moil amiably gentle, as well as very 
 docile and attentive. Their walk is free and bold, 
 their gallop very rapid, thefe being the only paces 
 they know ; for they are never taught to amble, nor 
 permitted to trot, their owners looking upon thefe 
 paces as vulgar and ignoble. 
 
 The horfes throughout the Levant have their hoofs 
 very hard, as well as thofe of Perfia and Jrabia, whofc 
 horfes are all fliod, but ought to have light and thin 
 
 fhoes. 
 
 T'urkey, Jrabia, and Perjia all follow the fame rules 
 in dreffing, feeding, and treating their horfes. They 
 expofe their dung in the fun, and when it is fo dried 
 as to become a fine and foft powder, they fpread it 
 
 * Shaw's Travels, chap. 2. 
 
 under 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 129 
 
 under them inftead of litter, continuing to dry it, as 
 often as it is infefted by the addition of frefli dung 
 falling from the animal. 
 
 This dryed dung has the effecfl upon the fkin, which 
 powder has upon human hair, and gives it a moll 
 beautiful glofs and luflre. 
 
 Turkey polTefTes a great variety of horfes. Arabians^ 
 Tartars, Greek, Hungarian, and others, befides their own 
 natural breeds. The laft arc handfome, and elegantly 
 fliaped, have a great deal of fpirir, are fwift, and have 
 many agreeable qualities, but are too tender and deli- 
 cate. They are unequal to fatigue, have weak appe- 
 tites, and are foon agitated and diftrefTed. Their fkins 
 are foft, and fo quick of feeling, that they cannot bear 
 the curry-comb, for which reafon their keepers ufe 
 only the brufli, and wafli them : though beautiful, 
 and of a llriking figure, they are very inferiour to the 
 Arabian horfes, nor to be compared with the Perlian, 
 which, after the Arabian, are the fineft and bell horfes 
 of all the Eall. Nor are they fo well proportioned as 
 the Barbs, their necks being ufually weak, and too 
 llender, their carcafes long, and their legs too delicate 
 and fmall : they neverthelefs are capable of much la- 
 bour, and furniflied with unfailing wind. Nor ought 
 we to be furprifed at this account, for it is a truth, 
 that in all hot climates, the bones of animals are more 
 folid and clofe than in colder lituations ; and this is the 
 caufe that the Ihank-bone of horfes born in warm cli- 
 mats, is of a lefs diameter than thofe of horfes of 
 
 Vol. I. S the 
 
I30 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 the fame fize, born under a colder Jky, while they 
 are in proportion flronger, and capable of greater tt- 
 fiftance. 
 
 The Turks ride with their llirrups fo Ihort, that 
 their knees are almoft as much bent, as when they fit 
 upon their hams upon a fopha. Their faddles are as 
 large and unweildy as a pack-faddle ; they faften and 
 fecure them upon the hcrfe by a large girth, which 
 paffes over them, and prevents the faddles from turning, 
 which their great weight would otherwife make them 
 do. The bridles are generally gilt and ornamented, but 
 otherwife very clumfy and ill made. 
 
 The Turks feldom ufe Spiirs, or carry a whip or 
 fwitch, neverthelefs they have an abfolute command 
 over their horfes, and make them do whatever they 
 pleafe. In riding, they ufe only a (lick of about three 
 feet in length, and as big as a large cane ; this they hold 
 by the middle, and ftrike the horfe with it on his neck 
 with either end, to direct: and compel him to turn j 
 making them run at full fpeed, and laying them out 
 fo rapidly, as almoft to make their bellies touch the 
 ground, the riders, at the fame time, flriking their darts 
 into a turban, or tofling them in the air, riding after, and 
 catching them before they fall to the ground. Others, 
 efpecially the ^rabs belonging to the Sultan, will leap 
 from one horfe on another, running at their utmoft 
 fpeed, others will creep under the belly, and up to the 
 faddle again, others will turn two or three times round 
 the horfe's neck, and others will ftand upright upon 
 
 6 the 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. i-i 
 
 J 
 
 the faddle, and turn their faces to the tail, the horfes 
 all the time going at their utmofl flretch *. 
 
 After the Arabian, the Ferfian horfes are the niofl 
 meritorious throughout the Eaft. The plains of Perfc- 
 polis, Media, Ardebil, and Derbent, raife annually a pro- 
 digious number, which are excellent in mod particu- 
 lars ; but thofe bred in Kurdi/lan (a province) are reck- 
 oned the beft, both in beauty and flrength f . The fa- 
 mous travel lerP/V^ro della Falle, prefers the common horfes 
 of Perfia to thofe of Italy, and even to the moft ad- 
 mired of the kingdom of Naples. 
 
 The Perfian horfes are generally of a middling iize j 
 there are fome which are fmall, but not lefs valuable 
 for vigour and goodnefs. Some alfo are bred of large 
 growth, and as big as our faddle horfes. They are in 
 general fmall-headed, have fine and long fore-hands, 
 are n arrow- chefted, their ears well-turned, and well 
 fet on, legs rather fmall and delicate, croups well 
 fafhioned, and their hoofs good and firm. They are 
 docile, quick, light, bold, full of fpirit, and capable of 
 enduring great fatigue ; very fwift, fure-footed, and 
 of fuch refolution as to perfevere to the laft gafp ; 
 hardy in their conftitution, and eafily nouriflied and 
 maintained. Their food is barley, mixed with cut 
 flraw, which they eat in a bag, tied upon their heads ; 
 in the fpring they are turned to grafs for fix weeks. 
 
 * Dumont's Voyage. f Bell's Travels. 
 
 S z They 
 
132 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 They wear their tails at full length, and are never 
 gelt ; are covered with cloths, and cleaned with tlie 
 niceft attention \ are managed with a fnaiEe, and ig- 
 norant of the fpur, the Perfians ufing none. Great 
 numbers of them are fent into Turkey and India. In 
 fpite, however, of thefe commendations fo lavifhly* 
 yet defervedly beflowed, all travellers agree in giving 
 the preference to the Arabian horfes, which are prized 
 even by the Perfians to the horfes of their own 
 country. 
 
 Thefe latter are apt to carry their nofes fo high, as 
 to flrike the rider's face with their heads, unlefs he is 
 much upon his guard to prevent it : for this purpofe, 
 they are generally rode with a martingale. The horn 
 of their hoofs is much better than of the European 
 horfes, either becaufe the climate is more favourable, 
 or becaufe the Perfians do not injure and deftroy their 
 feet by an injudicious method, or too frequent a prac- 
 tice of fhoeing them. A Perfian will make no diffi- 
 culty to tack on the firft Ihoe he finds, and adjuft it to 
 the foot, which is generally fo flrong and found, that 
 the nails may be drove in any part of it. The flioes 
 are light, flat, and made to fit exaftly even, without 
 cramps, or being turned up ; but when the ground is 
 hard and fmooth, the horfe is apt to flip, as well as 
 when it is foft and moift. It is a cuftom with fome m 
 mix fait with the barley, with which they feed their 
 horfes, to corre»5t the ranknefs of their dung, and 
 
 make 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 133 
 
 make it lefs offenlive when it is dried, and ftrewed for 
 litter under them. 
 
 They drefs and clean their fkins with a fort of Curry- 
 comb, which has no handle, and but four Graters, or 
 T'eeth: after having curried them, they clofe and 
 fmooth the hair, by rubbing it with a piece of felt. 
 
 The Perfians have great perfonal addrefs and acti- 
 vity on horfeback. They play at Mall mounted on their 
 horfes, and llrike the ball with certainty and furprifing ' 
 fkill. They place alfo upon the top of a tree, or high 
 pole, an apple, as a mark to fhoot at with arrows. 
 They fet oiF full fpeed, and when they are got beyond 
 the mark, turn themfelves round towards the croupe, 
 draw their bows, and in this pace, and this attitude, 
 feldom fail to hit the apple. 
 
 The India}i breed of horfes is in no degree good or 
 agreeable. The chief people of the country, for this 
 reafon, ride thofe which come from Perjia or Arabia. 
 
 Their keepers give them a little hay in the day time, 
 and at night feed them with peas boiled with fugar 
 and butter. This diet is the chief nourifliment they 
 have, and it keeps up their ftrength to a certain de- 
 gree, for without it they would decay and perifh ; the 
 climate being unfriendly, and ill adapted to the na- 
 ture of horfes. They fometimes alfo give them Tarns. 
 
 The breed of the country is very fmall, and it is 
 probable that thofe climates in which the heat is ex- 
 cellive, are very ill-fuited to the conftitution of the 
 liorfe ; for thofe which are found upon the Gold 
 
 Coaft>. 
 
134 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 Coail, Judda and Guinea, are as worthlefs and contempt- 
 ible as the Indian race. They carry their necks and 
 heads fo low, that they alraoft touch the ground ; and 
 are fo weak and tottering in their paces, that they feeni 
 as if they would fall every moment, and fo fluggifh, that 
 without beating they will not ftir at all, and with this 
 very Hubborn and indocile: fo that they are fit for no. 
 thing but to ferve for Food for the negroes, who relifh 
 mightily the flavour of their flefh, and have this tafte 
 in common with Arabs, T'artars, and Ch'mefe. 
 
 The people of this day, according to an elegant, ac- 
 curate, and judicious writer *, feed their horfes in the 
 rice fields, and when flefh is plenty, they boil the ofFal 
 to rags, and mixing it with butter, and fome forts of 
 grain, make balls, which they thruft down the horfes 
 throats. In afcarcity of provifion they give \h.^m.Op'mm, 
 which has the fame effect both on horfes and men, 
 for at once it damps their appetites, and enables them to 
 endure fatigue. The horfes of the country are natu- 
 rally fo exceedingly vicious, that they are not to be 
 broken and tamed, and cannot be brought to a(5l in 
 the field, with the fame regularity as a fquadron of 
 European cavalry. The Perfian horfes being more 
 gentle and tra<51:able, are often valued at a thoufand 
 guineas each, while thofe of India fell for fifty or one 
 hundred. 
 
 * Cambridge's introdudion to his Account of the War in India. 
 
 An 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 13^ 
 
 An * Italian traveller and writer fpeaks of having 
 feen between Balfora and Bagdat, a lingular breed of 
 green horfes, with yellow eyes. I am no voucher for the 
 truth of this account, but at the fame time dare not 
 venture to prefcribe any bounds to the variety in which 
 nature is known to delight ; as to the green colour it is 
 certainly unknown among horfes ; and fo were, at fome 
 time or other, and in diiFerent countries, many other 
 colours, which are now familiar; and as to iho: yellow 
 eyes, they feem to be no more extraordinary, than the 
 Ferret eyes, by which a breed of cream-coloured horfes, 
 belonging to his Majelly, and now in the royal ftables, 
 are peculiarly diftinguifhed. 
 
 The horfes of this laft nation ftand in no better 
 eftimation than thofe of India. They are weak, fpirit- 
 lefs, and ill-made ; in fome parts of the kingdom 
 they do not exceed three feet in height. Almoft all of 
 them are gelt, and are fo daftardly and timid, as to be 
 unfit for war; fo that it may be faid that this country 
 was conquered by the Tartar Horfes, which are a race ex- 
 tremely adapted to war ; and although but of a mode- 
 rate fize, are ftrong, nervous, proud, full of fpirit, 
 bold, and adive. They have good feet, but fome what 
 narrow, their heads are well-fhaped and lean, but too 
 fmall. The forehand long and ftifF, and their legs 
 over-long : yet with all thefe imperfections, they muft 
 be accounted good and ferviceable horfes, being uncon^- 
 
 * Viaggi de Gafparo Balbi, p. 31, 1590. 
 
 querable 
 
13^ THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 querable by labour, and endowed with prodigious 
 fpeed. The Tartars live with them almoft in the fame 
 manner as the Arabs do with their horfes ; when they 
 attain the age of feven or eight months, they make 
 their children ride them, who exercife them in fmall 
 excurfions, and fliort reprifes, dreiling and forming 
 them by degrees, and early and gentle difcipline ; 
 but inuring them to undergo (as the Parthians did 
 before them) hunger, thirfl, and many other hard- 
 fliips. They never put them to any ferious labour 
 before the age of fix or feven years, when they re- 
 quire of them the fcvereft fervices, and compel them 
 to incredible fatigue, as travelling two or three days 
 without refting, and paffing four or five with no 
 more, or better nourifhment, than an handful or two 
 of grafs, given every eight hours, and an entire day 
 without quenching their thirft. Thefe horfes, how- 
 ever, which are fo robuft, and endure fo much in 
 their native country, lofe their vigour, and decline 
 when removed into China, or the Indies^ but thrive 
 very well in 'turkey and Perjia, 
 
 They are of a good fize for the faddle, and are Fa~ 
 cers by nature. Their owners, like the ancient Geloni 
 and Sarmatians, make the animals fupply them with 
 food, for they eat their flefli at this day, as well as the 
 Curds, or lac concretum of the mare's milk, mentioned by 
 many ancient writers *. 
 
 ■ * Vid. Bell's Travels to Ifpahan. 
 
 The 
 
O F H O R S E M A N S li I P. 
 
 j/ 
 
 The Tartars have in all ages been famous, under 
 different names, for their love of horfcs, and fkill in 
 riding. 
 
 It is a practice with them, fays an author, who 
 wrote the Hiflory of the Conqueft of China, by this 
 people (Palafox) to tye the reins of their bridles to 
 their girdles, and by the motion of their bodies alone 
 to govern and direct their horfes ; putting them into 
 different attitudes, and making them perform a va- 
 riety of evolutions. By this method they have their 
 hands at liberty to ufe their weapons, which they ma- 
 nage with moil remarkable flcill, and for which they 
 have been diflinguiflied in all ages beyond other na- 
 tions. Some will hold their bows in the fame hand in 
 which they hold their bridles, and at the fame time 
 draw the bow, and guide their horfe with great ad- 
 drefs, always riding with their ilirrups very fliort, in 
 order to colleifl themfelves better, and be able to rife 
 up as it were, when they arc going to attack an 
 enemy, and flrike a blow. 
 
 The diilrid called Liit/e Tartary has a breed of fmall 
 horfes, wliich the inhabitants value fo much, as never 
 to permit them to pafs into the hands of flrangers. 
 Thefe horfes poffefs, in a fmall compafs, all the good 
 and bad qualities which are to be found in their 
 neighbours of Grand Tartary, and are an inflancc, 
 that cuftom and education will induce a fimilarity of 
 manners, and operate almoft as powerfully as nature 
 herfelf. 
 
 Vol. I. T Grc.^J/Ia, 
 
jcsS THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 o 
 
 Clrcajfia, Mlngrelia, and the adjacent parts, are flored 
 with horfcs, which are of a better mould, and jufter 
 proportions than thofe of Tartary, and confequently 
 are admired and vakied. The CircafTians are equal to 
 the greateft fatigue, and celebrated for it. 
 
 The breed of horfes in Greece have to a degree fhared 
 the fate of other valuable benefits, the produdlions of na- 
 ture, and the w^orks of art and induftry, which were for- 
 merly the portion of that once flourifliing and diftin- 
 guiflied country. All cruflied and extinguillied by the 
 oppreflion, violence, and ignorance of its favage con- 
 querors, the Greek horfes make no confiderable figure 
 in the modern catalogue, nor are the breeds much 
 cultivated ; it is faid, however, that there Hill are fomc, 
 particularly in 'Thejjaly, which belong to the Grand Sig- 
 ner. Some of the iflands in the Archipelago are fur- 
 nifhed with good and valuable horfes, efpecially CretCt 
 but none of eminence fufficient to make them prized 
 by other nations, or entitle them to particular notice. 
 
 The nations of Afia and Africa, except the Cbinefe, 
 never geld their horfes. Some kingdoms of Europe 
 likewife have not yet adopted the pravStice. Cajiration 
 deprives the animal of a confiderable partof his flrength^ 
 fpirit, and courage, robs him, in fatft, of his very 
 Soul, and leaves him a mutilated, daftardly, and unna- 
 tural creature ; but, at the fame time, makes him 
 mild, patient, more obedient, and confequently fitter 
 for many purpofes, and more agreeable to many 
 riders. 
 
 RvJ/la. 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 139 
 
 Rv[fia is not unfurnifhed with liorfes, but has never 
 yet been able to raifc a bi'ced that has been much re- 
 garded by other nations ; the country, as the Duke of 
 Newcaftle fays, being lefs adapted to breed horfes, 
 than to nourifh Bean^ of which animals it can boaft 
 very noble and capital races. This empire, how- 
 ever, and all its various dependent dates, is fo altered 
 and improved, fmce this great horfeman wrote, that 
 it feems at prefent to be entitled to a better chara6ler, 
 and' more confideration than he bellowed upon it. 
 
 The Ruffian horfes are fmall, but hardy, and able to 
 endure great fatigue, without fufl'ering much in their 
 fpirit, ftrength, or conflitution. In thofe places where 
 the foil is richer, and herbage more abundant, the 
 breed is larger, and of a llouter mould. The fovereign 
 and many of the nobility have Studs in various parts of 
 the country. There is an imperial one upon the river 
 Riiduia^ deftined to fupply the guards with horfes, 
 formed to contain four hundred mares and abovit fifty 
 horfes. The flallions are Danijlj horfes, and fomctimcs 
 Turks. The former are purchafed at a large price, ge- 
 nerally coiling eight hundred Rubels each, or one hun- 
 dred and fixty pounds fterling. Thofe of the Turkilh 
 breed are handfome, and finely fhapcd, but too flight 
 and weak for heavy cavalry. 
 
 The Kalmuck horfes are fomewhat higher than the 
 Ruffian common horfes, and fo tough and flrong in 
 their conflitution, as to be able to run three or four 
 hundred Englifh miles in three days. They fubfifl 
 
 T 2 fummer 
 
I40 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 fummer and winter folcly upon grafs in the great de- 
 farcs, which arc between the rivers Don, Folga, and 
 7~aik. In winter time they fcrape away the fnow with 
 their feet, and eat the dead grafs which is under it, and 
 the tops of young trees and flirubs. Tliey recover very 
 foon in fummer the damage they fuftaincd from the 
 rigours of the wintry feafon.. After Midfummer the 
 grafs becomes very dry and hard, when they retura 
 to the great meadows, which are on the banks of the 
 Volga, and other rivers. They go in great herds, of 
 four or five hundred, and even a thoufand horfe. Such 
 an herd is called in the Ruffian, and all the Tartarian 
 and Kalmuck languages, T'aboon. They are excellent 
 fwimmers, and pafs the river Volga, which is from one 
 to two miles in breadth, with great eafe ; fo that when 
 a Ruffian has bought one of them, and brings it on 
 this fide the river, didant an hundred miles (Englifh) 
 from the place where its firil raafter, the Kalmuck, lived,, 
 the horfe will pafs the river, and find its way to the 
 Taboon. They are fo cheap, as to be bought at firfl 
 for one Rnbel, or four fliillings flerling each horfe. 
 They are feldora put to draw carriages, but devoted 
 chiefly to the faddle. They are brought with difficulty 
 to eat barley, oats, or any kind of grain, preferring 
 to them grafs, either frefli, or dry and withered. 
 
 The Nogay horfes are a breed belonging to the Tar- 
 tars, which are of the Nogay tribe, and are fubjeds to 
 the Kalmuck Rban, but different from thofe Nogayan Tar- 
 tars, who are a part of the fubjeifls of the Tartar Khan 
 
 of 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 141 
 
 the Crlm, anci live between Bender and Otcha Kof, about 
 the Dniejier, and are called Tedfan, or Tedifan, in the Tar- 
 tarian language, wliich word fignilies leven thoufand 
 becaufc originally this horde amounted to that number. 
 
 The Nogay Tartars in Ruffia live between the Don, 
 rolga, and Talk, among the Kalmucks, having their 
 paftures afligned, as well as the Kalmucks, by the 
 Khan. They remove northwards during the fumraer ; 
 about Michaelmas they repafs the ro/ga, and live to the 
 fouih towards the river Ruban, and Tcherhjps. Thefe 
 horfes are extremely hardy, and live in the fame man- 
 ner as the horfes of the Kalmuck, but are (\ronQ;er, 
 higher, and trained to draw carriages : they are fold 
 to the Ruflians from ten to fifteen RiibeJs each. 
 
 The Turcomans, a free nation, living between tlie 
 CafpianSea, and the lake Jral, have horfes of the fame 
 nature as thofc of the Ncgay Tartars. 
 
 The Biffokirs are a nation fubjecft to the Ruflians, and 
 have a race of horfes ftouter and better than the 
 Nogr.y horfe, and accounted mofl excellent Amblers. 
 
 The better fort of thefe horfes will fell for fifty, 
 fixty, or feventy Riibels each, in proportion as their Am- 
 ble is efteemed. The common breed are bought at 
 twenty or thirty Riibels each, and deftined to mount tlic 
 dragoons in the Ruflian fervice. Many private Bajljkirs 
 keep Taboons- of three or four hundred mares. They go 
 fummer and winter in the fields, few horfes, which 
 are employed in the winter, to draw fledges, being 
 houfed, or fed with hay. 
 
 The 
 
142 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 The Kirghin Rhaijjaks arc a nation divided into three 
 Hordas, the great, middle, and little Horda. They are 
 reckoned, in fome degree, to be fubje(5t to the R.uffian 
 government, but pay no tribute, and may rather pafs 
 for a free and independent nation, living under ful- 
 tans, whom they themfelves ele6t. They have great 
 T^aboons of horfes, of the fame breed as thofe of the Brjh- 
 kirs : in fumraer the horfes are fed in the great defart, 
 bordering on the river Talk. In winter the T'aboons re- 
 move to fandy places, where the fnow never is fo deep 
 as on the reft of the defart. Some drive their Taboons 
 near the lake Jral, and the river Sir-Doria, where large 
 tracts of ground are covered with reeds, on which the 
 horfes brouze, and are nouriflied. The horfes of this 
 people are lighter, and more {lately than thofe of the 
 B-iPokirs. They ferve to mount the Ruffian cavalry. A 
 fair is held annually near Orenburgh, and the fortrefs of 
 TroitJJjoy, where many thoufands of thefe horfes are fold 
 to the Ruffians, or bartered againil other merchandizes. 
 Thefe horfes never eat hay ; they are ufed and fami- 
 liarized to the firing of guns, which the Khghin-RaiJJ'acks 
 employ in hunting and war ; many of thefe horfes 
 are as good Amblers as the Bq/bkirian horfes. 
 
 The T'cherkfijps are a nation which live in the Caucafus, 
 near the fources of the river Ruban and Terek, the 
 former of which falls into the fea of Azof, and the 
 latter into the Cafpian fea. Thefe people were formerly 
 fubjecls of the Crim Tartars ; but fince the year 1709, 
 . have been a free and independent people. Their horfes 
 
 4 are 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 143 
 
 are about the fize of the Kalmuck horfe, ill-made, with- 
 out elegance or proportion, and ewe-necked for the 
 mod part, but of fuch ftrong and hardy natures, as to 
 be able to run five or fix hundred Engliili miles in 
 three days. 
 
 The Step, or w^ild horfi^, is an horfe of the defart : 
 there are three different kinds of thefe wild horfcs. 
 The horfes of the defart about Azof, live between 
 the Pahs Maotis and the Dou. They owe their origin 
 to the fiegc oiAzof, in the year 1697, when the great 
 army being obliged to employ a prodigious number of 
 horfes to bring ammunition and food, were compelled 
 to fufFer their horfes to go deep into the defart, in or- 
 der to fubfiH them ; the animals availed themfclves of 
 this permifilon, flrayed to great diftances, became 
 wild, and created a new breed. They are generally of 
 one uniform colour, inclining to red, the hair of their 
 fkins being curled, and waved like a lamb-fkin ; but 
 when they grow old, it changes to a moufe-grey, their 
 manes and tails being black, and having a black lift 
 along their backs. They live in great Taboovs. The 
 ftone- horfes keep watch round about, and give a fignal 
 by neighing of the approach of man, or any object: 
 that alarms them ; upon which, the whole troop, with 
 inconceivable fpeed, run deeper into the defart. During 
 the winter, the Kofjacks of Bachmont, and other Donijfo 
 KoJJacks drive them into deep valleys, full of fnow, and 
 catch them with a noofe. The greateft part of them 
 they kill, with a fpear, the younger are kept for ufe, 
 
 and: 
 
144 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 and being coupled to a tame horfe by an baker, for 
 months together, grow gentle and obedient ; and arc 
 thus trained for draught, and are found to be infi- 
 nitely ftronger than a common horfe. The Khabmicks 
 fometimes hunt thefc horfes as their food, and ufe 
 their fkins for cloaths in winter. 
 
 The Tarpms are a kind of \yild-horfes, in the defart, 
 ead of the river IVik. They are of a middling fizc, 
 roundiih, (liorr, generally of a blueifli-grey colour, 
 with big heads, and ewe-necked. They are taken 
 v/ith a noofe, and broken to the faddle, by being 
 coupled to a tame horfe. 
 
 The Roolans, or Turchans, are another kind of wild- 
 horfcs, in the great defart. They are higher than the 
 T'arpans, nioufc-grey in colour, with long upright- 
 ftanding ears, their manes and tails thinner and 
 fliorter than the common breed, their coats long and 
 thick. They feed by thoufands together in one Taboon. 
 The Kirghii Rhaijfaks flioot them with guns, and cat 
 them. 
 
 All kinds of horfes are eaten by the Tartars and 
 Khalmucks. A foal is reputed a great dainty. Mares 
 milk is likewife a frequent drink, which, when kept 
 and fermented, becomes' intoxicating, once diflilled, 
 it is called Roomyfs, twice, Arekha, and is very ftrong 
 and inebriating. The TchcrejmJJ'es and Tcheiiuajfes, pagan 
 nations, near the foJga, in the government of Ragaij, 
 ufe the horfe in their facrifices, and chiefly white ones, 
 pfpecially in their great annual folemnities in autumn; 
 
 of 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 14^ 
 
 of which none can partake, unleis he firft has bathed, 
 and put on a clean Hiin. 
 
 The Kalmuck horfes are never Ihod, nor does it appear 
 that fliOes are neceflary, the cUmate being very dry, 
 and the ground generally firm and hard -, the hoof 
 likewife is fo folid and indurated, that nothing can 
 hurt it. As the Kalmucks never ufe flioes, who are 
 next in fltuation and connexion with the Ruffians, 
 neither do the more bai'barous and remote nations ; 
 inafmuch as that they would have received the pradlice 
 from the Kalmucks, as the Kalmucks from the RiiJ/ians. 
 
 Ail thefe people, as well as the Turks, and other 
 Eaftern nations, have folid Horfe-Jhoes, which cover the 
 whole fole of the foot, and not the margin only, like 
 the European flioes : the Ruffians ufe this fort of flioe 
 fometimes, but feldom. 
 
 The Stirrups of the Tartars, and other Eailern people, 
 are hung very fhort, and very broad at the bottom 
 where the foot flands, exactly like the Turkifj flirrup 
 already defcribed. 
 
 The Tartars of the Krlm never undertake an excur- 
 fion, without allowing three horfes to one rider. 
 Many ancient nations obfei-ved the fame method ; and 
 the ancient Gauls had a body of horfe called Trimarkijla^ 
 named thus becaufe each foldier had three horfes at- 
 tending him, fo that when one was either killed in 
 battle, or overcome by fatigue, he might immediately 
 mount another *. , In 
 
 * Vid. Gmelin's Voyage to Siberia. Vid. Muller's Hlft. CoL 
 
 Ritchkof 's Topograph, of the the Orenburgh Govern. Philofophical 
 
 Vol. I. 'U Tranfad. 
 
1^6 THE HISTORY. AND ART 
 
 In the empire of RnJJia, it is a law ordained, that 
 no horfe (hall carry above fifteen 'Bud, each of forty 
 pounds weight, KuJJian weight, in fummer, and in 
 winter, during the fnow, and ufe of fledges, above 
 twenty-five or thirty Viid ; by this rule we are fome- 
 what enabled to judge of the ftrength of the horfes, 
 and of the difference of the roads in fummer and 
 winter. 
 
 The VoTijh horfes are very hardy, flrong, and ufeful, 
 but have not many agreeable or dillinguifhed qualities. 
 They are generally of a middling fize ; thofe of Lithu- 
 ania are ftill fmaller, but have their merit for the pur- 
 pofes of eafy riding, many of them going the Amble^ 
 which pace is much approved by the Poles, Rujians^ 
 Tartars, and other Eaftern nations. 
 
 Some other adjacent tracts or regions are furniflied 
 likewife with horfes, which are too inconfiderable to 
 deferve a particular defcription ; or, to fpeak more pro- 
 perly, may be comprehended under thofe of the horfes 
 already mentioned. The Poles are reported to ufe no 
 flioes for their horfes *. 
 
 In the marfhy parts of FruJ/ta, in the IVerders, or Low 
 Countries, towards the mouth of the Vijlula, are a breed 
 of good, tall, ftrong horfes, refembling the Friejland 
 horfes, but not equal to them in conftitution and per- 
 
 ^ Tranfaft. 1766, — 67. — Specimen Hilt. Naturalis Volgenfxs, auftorc 
 J. R. Forfter, who fince has mod obligingly communicated many 
 particulars from his own obfervations. 
 
 * Vid. Voyage to Siberia, par Auteroche. 
 
 feverance 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 147 
 
 feverance in labour, having generally bad feet, and 
 feldora being well-fliaped and handfome. The Ruffians 
 and Pruffians buy large numbers of them for their ca- 
 valry, at the price of about eighty rixdollars each 
 horfe, which is about eleven pounds fterling. The 
 King of Pruffia has fome ftuds near T'ilfet, furnilhed 
 with foreign ftallions, valuable, and well chofen from 
 the beft breeds of Naples, Denmark, Spain, and Turkey. 
 Many of the FriiJJian noblemen have likewife ftuds upon 
 the fame plan as thofe eftablifhed by the King. The 
 breed are commonly graceful and well-moulded, but 
 are thought to fail in point of llrength, nor to have 
 that fire and fpirit which are fuch neceflary ingredients 
 in the compofition of a fine horfe. 
 
 The horfes of Sweden, from the barrennefs, and ex- 
 treme coldnefs of the climate, are low, and fmall : 
 the Norway breed come under the fame defcription, and 
 are nervous, adlive, and hardy, 
 
 Pontoppidan, in his natural hiftory of this country, 
 fays, that in the year 1302, a man, whofe name was 
 HuJeickfon, was the firft who gave his horfes oats in this 
 country ; whence he had the nick-name of Horfe-Corn. 
 
 ^od in Korvegia primus equos avena paverit. 
 
 The horfes here are not fubjeft to fo many difeafes as 
 in mod other countries, and in particular the Staggers. 
 
 It is not ufual to geld them, as in many other places, 
 for which reafon they are full of ftrength and fpirit, 
 and preferable to geldings. 
 
 U 2 The 
 
14S THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 The Norway horfes arc better for riding, than 
 draught ; their walk is cafy, they are quick, active, 
 full of courage, and very fure-footed ; fo as to be 
 able to go in the bad roads of this kingdom, where 
 the fine Danifli horfes would be fo embarralTed as to 
 endanger their own, and their rider's fafety. When 
 they go down a fteep cliff on ftones laying like Heps, 
 they firfl tread gently with one foot, to try if the ftone 
 they touch is faft ; and in doing this, they muft be 
 left to their own difcretion, or the beft rider would 
 run the rifque of his neck : when they are to go down 
 a very fteep and flippery place, they draw their hinder 
 legs under them in a furprifing manner, and Aide 
 down. They fliew great courage in fighting with 
 bears and wolves, which they are often obliged to do, 
 efpecially with the former ; " for when the horfe per- 
 ceives any of them near, he attacks his antagonift 
 with his fore-feet, which he ufes like Drumjlicks, to 
 ftrike with, and ufually comes off conqueror. Many 
 people would not believe this, till Stadtholder Uibe, 
 in the prefence of Frederick IV. made the experiment 
 with one of his coach-horfes at Frederickjhourgh. The 
 creature fell upon a bear let loofe againft him, and 
 foon difpatched his enemy. Sometimes, however, the 
 bear, which is twice as ftrong, gets the better, efpeci- 
 ally if the horfe turns about to ftrike with his heels. 
 If he attempts this, he is ruined, for the bear inftantly 
 leaps upon him, and fixes himfelf upon his back : in 
 this cafe the horfe gallops away with his enraged 
 7 • rider, 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 149 
 
 rider, till, by lofs of blood, he drops down, and ex- 
 pires. 
 
 Denmark, and the dukedoms of Ho^Jiein and Oldenburg, 
 boaft a large variety of horfes, which have fo mucli 
 vigour, pride, courage, and grace, that for the Coa:J.\ 
 the fervices of JFar, and the Manege, they can be fur- 
 pafTed by few, although they often fail in elegance of 
 limb, and fymmetry of parts, having thick Forehands, 
 Shoulders fomewhat heavy, Backs rather long, and Croups 
 too narrow to correfpond with the fore-parts, hi fpite, 
 however, of thefe defecfts, they have fuch generofity of 
 nature, fuch ftrength and brilliancy, together with 
 fuch animated and commanding ^fJ?/(3?z, that when they 
 can be found with the above-named imperfedions cor- 
 recle4, and more poliflied and juft in their con- 
 flrudlion, they become as bright an ornament as a fol- 
 dier or horfeman can wifh to pofTefs ; and for a na- 
 tural difpofition and capacity to perform the Ifigh airs 
 of the Manege, fliine diftinguiflied and praifed above 
 other nations. 
 
 In the illands of Fcrroe, fubjecl to the crown of Den- 
 mark, there is a race of horfes of fmall growth, but 
 ftrong, fvvift, and furc of foot, going with great eafe 
 over high hills, and other places with fuch certainty, 
 that a man may more furely rely upon them, than truft 
 to his own feet. They never are fliod, and feed abroad 
 both fummer and winter, without ever coming under 
 (helter. 
 
 In 
 
ISO THE HISTORY Ainx^ nKi 
 
 In Suderoe, another of thefe illands, they have a 
 lighter and fwifter breed than in any of the reft : t he 
 inhabitants catch their fhcep, which are wild, by hunt- 
 ing them with a dog. When they intend to take any, 
 they mount their horfes, knowing how to ride them 
 up and down hills in full gallop, through moorifh 
 places, and over rocks and ftones, fo that the horfes 
 fear nothing when they are in the chace, and when 
 the place is too difficult for them to ride over it to pur- 
 fue their game, they leap from their horfes, in the 
 midft of the courfe, and take their beft advantage 
 againll the fheep, the horfes running after them, till 
 they leap upon their backs again. Some of thefe 
 horfes are fo taught, that the man overtaking the 
 fheep on horfeback, the horfe will grafp, and hold it 
 between his fore-feet, till the man takes it up *. 
 
 The frozen and ungenial country of Lapland, has 
 alfo its horfes : they are fmall of ftature, like the men, 
 but aftive and willing, fomewhat eager and impatient, 
 but free from vice. They are ufcd only in the winter 
 feafon, when they are employed in drawing fledges 
 over the fnow, and tranfporting wood, forage, and 
 other neceflaries, which, in the fummer, are all con- 
 veyed in boats. In this feafon the horfes are all turned 
 into the forefts, where they live with fmgular order 
 and polity, forming themfelves into diftindl troops, 
 and keeping within their quarters, where their owners 
 
 * Feroce, et Feroa referata. — 1676. 
 
 2 arc 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 151 
 
 are fure to find them ; all returning of their own ac- 
 cord, when the feafon changes, and the earth no 
 longer fupplies them with food. In travelling, they 
 will frequently take large mouthfuls of fnow, which 
 melts into water, and mull be meant to quench their 
 thirft. When their maflers defign to flop them, they 
 lay hold of their T'aih ; this difcipline they underfland, 
 and obey implicitly *. 
 
 The ^Spaniards ftand very forward in the national lift 
 of noble horfes, fecond at leaft to the Arabians, and 
 placed by many, and with fair pretenfions, before the 
 Barb. Their forehands are long, fomewhat thick, and 
 cloathed with a full and flowing mane ; the head a 
 little too coarfe, and fometimes hawk-nofed, ears long, 
 but well -placed, eyes large, bold, and full of fire : 
 their carriage lofty, proud, and noble ; Shoulders often- 
 times thick ; Breaji large ; Loins often a little too low ; 
 Ribs round ; and the Belly frequently too full and fwell- 
 ing ; the Croup round and full ; the Legs well formed, 
 and clear of hair ; the Sinew at a diftance from the 
 bone ; the Pajiern joint frequently too long, and weak, 
 like that of the Barbs ; the foot long and deep, re- 
 fembling that of a mule, the Heel being high and 
 narrow. Thofe of the fineft breeds are generally well 
 trufTed, and well-knit horfes, adtive and ready in their 
 paces, of quick apprehenfion, have a memory rather 
 too faithful, obedient to the utmoil proof, wonderfully 
 
 * Voyage au Nord, par Outhier. 
 
 docile 
 
I j2 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 docile and affeclionate to man ; full of fpirit and cou- 
 rage, tempered with mildncfs and good nature, and 
 generally very eafy in all their paces ; of a moderate fizc 
 for the mod part, although fized horfes are fometimcs 
 to be found among them. Thofe which are bred in 
 Upper Andahifia are deemed the mod valuable, although 
 they generally have their heads too long, and difpro- 
 portioned ; but this blemifli, and many others which 
 may happen, and are not eflential, are all amply 
 atoned by numberlefs pleafmg, good, and great qua- 
 lities ; by the fweetnefs of their tempers, the beauty 
 and even majefty of their motion, and the affecliion 
 and fidelity with v/hich they ferve their mailers : fo 
 that enriched and adorned with thefe grateful qua- 
 lities and high accomplifhments, they are thought to 
 eclipfc the reft of their kind in the fervices of war, 
 the graceful airs of the manege, the pomp of caval- 
 cades and public folemnities *, and very juftly to merit 
 the title which that difcerning judge, the Duke of 
 Newcaftle bellows upon them, when he calls them 
 " the Kings of horfes." 
 
 ^ Lono- aco, and indeed at all times, they were fo efleemed, as to 
 be confidered as cfiTential to public entries, and folemn proceffions ; 
 other nations being dcfuous to procure them, and always employing 
 them upon thefe occafions. When Queen Elizabeth made her entry 
 into Oxford, fome Spanifli horfes were led in the proceffion.— 7;W«^i 
 fucrant aliqtioi AJlurcones, /inefejforihus^ auratis Sericifque Ephippiis inftrati. 
 
 Hearne's Tradls. 
 
 Tlic 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 
 
 J :} 
 
 The Fortugal Horfes, or rather Mares, were famous of 
 •old for being very fleet, and long-winded — whether 
 this character of them was really true, or only the 
 opinion of ignorant people, cannot now be deter- 
 mined. If it was true, the modern race is wonder- 
 fully changed and degenerated from the qualities of 
 their anceftors, for, at prefent, they are far from me- 
 riting much praife upon this account. 
 
 Portugal in general is a mountainous country, and 
 many reafons have concurred to injure the breed of 
 horfes in this kingdom ; when it was annexed to the 
 crown of Spain, the mother-country was preferred for 
 the eftabliflimant of Studs ; and the pradtice theji was to de- 
 vote the very few diftriifts in Portugal which are pro- 
 perly fupplied with herbage and water to breed horned 
 cattle for the fliambles and plough, and mules and alTes 
 for many other laborious tafks. — Hence horfes in Portu- 
 gal (although the natives are exceedingly fond of 
 them) have been confidered rather as creatures of 
 pomp and pleafure, than of fervice and utility, except 
 in war, and as fuch the king and nobility, fmce the 
 independency of the kingdom, have always chofen to 
 fupply their wants from Spaiii, as far as the mounting 
 of the troops, and the purpofes of parade and amufe- 
 ment require. If the Portuguefe, however, fliould 
 turn their thoughts to Breeding, there is no doubt but 
 their country would produce precifely the fame fpecies 
 of horfes, as that for which Spain has always been fo 
 diftinguiflied. At prefent the Portugal horfes are in 
 
 Vol. I. X no 
 
ISA- THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 no repute, and differ as much from their neighbours 
 the Spaniards, as Crabs from apples, or Sloes from 
 grapes» 
 
 The Italian horfes were formerly more beautiful, and 
 of greater fame, than the prefent race are thought to 
 be ; this degenerate alteration is faid to be owing to a 
 neglecft of the breed, and a decay of that fpirit whicli 
 formerly animated the Italians, the fathers of modern 
 horfemanfhip. Neverthelefs this country is not defli- 
 tute of many generous and beautiful breeds, dif- 
 perfed in ftuds, which arc formed in different flates. 
 and diftrii5ts. 
 
 The Neapolitan horfes have always been renowned,, 
 and iliine both in the Saddle and the Traces, Great 
 numbers are bred in Sicily, a kingdom always extolled; 
 for the fuperiour merit of its horfes — The Neapolitans' 
 are fubje(3: to have great heads, and thick forehands,, 
 are untradlable, vicious, and confequently dilEcult xa 
 be fubdued and dreffed, this being their national cha- 
 izditr : to balance thefe faults, they are large and 
 Ilrong, and charm the fpe(5lator with their animated 
 carriage, and majeftic action. They have a wonderful: 
 genius for the Piaffer, and excel on all occalions of 
 pomp and parade. Thofe of Sardinia and Corfica are: 
 fmall, but nimble, bold, and full of fpirit. 
 
 The Swijs horfes partake of thefe qualities, and 
 were formerly accounted ferviceable in war. 
 
 Ger- 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 155- 
 
 Germany is by no means deftitute of generous and 
 noble horfes, ufeful for many different purpofes ; yet 
 they arc reckoned to be heavy, and not to be good- 
 winded, although the finer breeds come from Turks 
 and Barbs, which are kept as ftallions in many parts 
 of that extenfive country, as well as from Italians and 
 Spaniards. They do not fucceed fo well in the chace 
 and running as the Humgarian and Tranfylvanian horfes ; 
 which are of a lighter llrudlure, cleaner limbed, of 
 good wind, and able to run at a very confiderable rate. 
 Bohemia produces a variety of horfes j but, whether from 
 natural defe<5ls, or the want of care and culture, they 
 are not diftinguifhed by any eminent qualities. 
 
 The HuJJ'ars and Tranfylvanians are accuftomed to flit 
 the noftrils of their horfes, under a notion of giving 
 the breath a freer paflage, and improving their wind, 
 as well as to render them incapable of neighing, which 
 in war is oftentimes inconvenient and improper ; this 
 operation perhaps will not totally deprive them of the 
 power * of neighing, but will certainly make the found 
 fofter and more feeble. 
 
 The Croatian horfes are nearly allied to the Hungarian 
 and Bohemian, in all the leading qualities and outlines 
 of character. Thefe, as well as the Poles, are re- 
 markable for being, as the French term it, Begiit, or 
 keeping the mark in their teeth as long as they live. 
 
 * The old writers recommend a cloth or lift to be tied round the 
 tongue for this purpofe, which if it can be kept on without injury, 
 nnay anfwer the delign more efFedually. 
 
 X 2 Hol^ 
 
1^6 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 Holland furnifhes a race of horfes, which have much 
 fame, but their beft fervice is in the coach — They are 
 in much repute in their own, France, and fome other 
 countries. The beft come from Frifeland. The coun- 
 tries of JuUers and Bergue alfo raife fome, which are 
 much approved. The FlemiJJj horfes are inferiour in 
 value to the Dutch, having big heads, with a channel 
 towards the noftrils, like a Pike, and are therefore 
 named by the French 'Tete de Brochet. Their feet are 
 unreafonably large, and flat, and their legs fubjeft to 
 watry humours, and fwellings in the heels. 
 
 France abounds in horfes of all kinds, but neverthe- 
 lefs knows but few, which, as a breeding country, 
 do honour to her foil and climate, although great 
 pains have been taken, and very fkilful men em- 
 ployed at various times, to eftablifh and cultivate a 
 generous breed. Some parts of the kingdom, how- 
 ever, produce horfes, which they need not be afhamed 
 to rank with thofe of places more famous, and fuch 
 as would incline us to think, that the fault is not 
 alone, if at all, in the Climate. The beft of thofe which 
 are fit for the faddle come from Limojin -, they refcmble 
 the Barbs in many particulars, and, like them, are 
 fitteft for hunting : they are flow of growth, demand 
 much care and nurfmg in their infancy and youth, 
 nor ripe for work till they are eight years old. There 
 are alfo very good Bidets or Bonies to be found in An- 
 vergne, Poitou, and Burgundy, but after Limofm, Nor- 
 mandy claims precedence, for its handfome, generous, 
 
 and 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 157 
 
 and ferviceable breed ; which, if they do not excel fo 
 much as fome in hunting, yet are fuperiour in war, 
 being llouter, and better moulded, and arriving at the 
 fulnefs of their growth in fliorter time. Lower Nor- 
 mandy and the diftridl of Cotentin give a very good fort 
 for the coach, which are nimbler and have more ela- 
 fticity in their motions than the Dutch horfes — Franche 
 Compte and the Bouknnois raife numbers likewife for 
 common ufes — It is remarked that the French horfes 
 are apt to have their ihoulders too loofe and open, as 
 thofe of the Barbs are too confined and narrow. 
 
 Navarre, which borders upon Spain, has a kind of 
 horfes which partake of the properties of both thefe 
 countries, and although not celebrated or fought after, 
 have notwithflanding their Ihare of merit ; being 
 light, adlive, and nervous, efpecially the finer fort, 
 which are better and more valuable, in proportion as 
 the Spanjjh blood prevails in their compofition. 
 
 The finer and better fort of the more modern Eng- 
 lifli horfes, are defcended from Arabians and Barbs, 
 and frequently refemble their fires in looks and ap- 
 pearance, but diflfer from them confiderably in fizc 
 and mould ; being more furniflied, flout, and lufty. 
 In general they are ftrong, nimble, of good courage, 
 capable of enduring excefiive fatigue, and, both in 
 perfeverance and fpeed, furpafs all horfes in the world 
 — At the fame time it is objected to them, that they 
 are void of grace, and want that Expreffion, if I may 
 
 ufe 
 
Ij8 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 life the word, in their figure and carriage, which is fo 
 -confpicuous in Foreign horfes, aud fo beautiful and at- 
 tradtive, as even to be eflentially requifite upon all oc- 
 calions of pomp and parade : but inftead of difplaying 
 a dignity of motion, and a confcious air of checrful- 
 nefs and alacrity, as if they fliared in the pleafure and 
 pride of their riders, and were almoil fenfible of hu- 
 mian pafTions, they appear in all their a^flions, cold, 
 indifferent, unanimated. This is fo apparent that the 
 mofl heedlefs and ignorant fpe(5lator, who fliould, 
 upon any occafion, fee them contrafted with horfes of 
 ABioiif would be flruck with the difference ; would 
 be uninterefted with the tame and lifelefs behaviour of 
 the one, and ravifhed with the fenfibility and well- 
 tempered fire of the other ; which, like the Sparkling of 
 generous wine in the glafs, at once charms the eye, 
 and gives a proof of innate fpirit and goodnefs. — Be- 
 fides this, the Englifh horfes are accufed, and not un- 
 juftly, of being obflinate and uncomplying in their 
 tempers, dogged and fullen, of having ftiff and inac- 
 tive flioulders, and wanting fupplenefs in their limbs : 
 which defedls make their motions conflrained, oc- 
 cafion them to go near the ground, and render them 
 unfit for the Manege. 
 
 This is the charadcr of the Englifh horfe ; to which 
 it may not be improper to add fome remarks and 
 anecdotes, which may tend farther to open and fet 
 forth the national hiflory of the animal. 
 
 Eng- 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 1^9 
 
 England has at all times, even in its rudeft ftate, 
 been pofleflcd of a breed of horfes fufEcient to anfwer 
 every purpofe for which they were given. Cafar^ 
 when he invaded this ifland, found its inhabitants 
 not only well furnifhed with horfes, but alfo very 
 dextrous and expert in the management of them. * He 
 fpeaks of their fcythed chariots, and celebrates their 
 fkill and addrefs in driving them j fo that it is certain 
 the ufe of horfes muft have been long familiar to 
 them, and the creature much valued, if, in a ftate 
 bordering on favagenefs, they knew the art of taming 
 it fo well. From thefe early and dark times the horfe 
 has always flouriflied and been cheriiLed with lingu- 
 lar attention in this kingdom. 
 
 I4 is neverthelefs impolTible to trace or give any de-^ 
 fcription of the fpecies ; for, as a judicious and 
 learned f naturalift obferves, " Thofe which exift 
 «« among the Indigena of Great Britain, fuch as the 
 « horfes of Wales and Cornwall, the Hobbies of Ire- 
 ** land, and the Shehies of Scotland, though admirably 
 " well adapted to the ufes of thofe countries, could 
 " never have been equal to the work of war." 
 
 This is probably true j but we cannot hence con- 
 elude that tliere might not have been a ilouter and 
 larger breed in feveral other parts of England, where 
 the paftures are rich, and afford more nourifhment, 
 
 * Strabo fays they ufed ornaments df ivory in their bridles. Lib. iv. 
 
 -^ Pennant's Brit. Zoolog. 
 
 iir 
 
1 6o THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 it being certain, that the fize of animals may be re- 
 tarded or advanced, by the quantity and quality of 
 
 o 
 
 the food on which they are fupported ; as it is known 
 that in lean and barren foils, cattle of all kinds, are 
 fmall *, while, on the other hand, generous land 
 abounding with herbage, will produce animals of a 
 much larger growth. Nor is it unlikely, that the 
 Englifli had in early times, as now, horfes of different 
 fizes and charaders, and perhaps as various, as the parts ' 
 of the kingdom in which they were bred. Although it 
 is more probable, as the fame curious and accurate ob- 
 fervers of nature inform us, that thofe which were 
 employed in the fervice of war, as well as for draught, 
 in latter times were the offspring of German or FkmiJIj 
 breeds, mended by our foil, and a judicious culture, 
 and that the prefent race are defcended from them. 
 
 The venerable Bede, fays, that the Englifh began to 
 ufe faddle horfes about the year 631, when prelates 
 and others rode on horfeback, who till then were 
 wont to go on foot ; but that, if upon urgent occa- 
 fions, they were obliged to ride, they ufed mares t 
 only. 
 
 In the reign of Atheljlan the Englifh became fo jea- 
 lous of their horfes, and entertained fo high an opi- 
 
 * Bio Nitaus, fpeaking of the Britons in the north part of the ifland, 
 fays their horfes were fmall and very fwift. Vid. Camden Brit. 
 
 •^ As a mark of humility, the mare not being fo full of pride and 
 fpirit as the horfe, 
 
 nlon 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 16 1 
 
 nion of their merit, that a law was made by this 
 King to prohibit their exportation, unlefs deligned for 
 prefents. This law feems to prove, that even in thofe 
 times they were much prized in other countries, and 
 that the demand for them mull have either been very 
 large, or the breed not numerous at that time ; fince 
 otherwife that monarch, as well as fome of his fuc- 
 ceflbrs, inftead of preventing the exportation, would 
 have done better to have encouraged the breed, fo as 
 to have kept pace with the demand, and brought con- 
 fiderable fums of money into this country ; but pride 
 and jealoufy forbad ; which, equally blind and jirong, 
 ftill operate in Spain, in "Naples, in Turkey, and other 
 places, from which it is not lawful at this day to re- 
 move an horfe into another country. Befides this, 
 trade at that time had made but little progrefs, nor 
 were its advantages duly confidered ; the commerce of 
 the time being chiefly limited to Germany. This is a 
 reafon alledged by the above-cited writer, why the 
 horfes of thofe days mull have been purely natives, 
 becaufe, as he fays, the Germans could not have been 
 in want of horfes of their own breed. 
 
 This conclufion, however, though plaufible, is not 
 certain : for although they could not have been in 
 want of horfes with which their own territories could 
 have furniflied them, yet they might have been de- 
 firous of having horfes which were bred in England, 
 although defcended on one fide, if not on both, ori- 
 ginally, from horfes of their own country, mended 
 
 Vol. I. Y and 
 
i62 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 and improved by the foil and climate, "W-hich operate 
 very powerfully, and produce all the variations and 
 diflindlions which we fee in the animal and Vegetable 
 worlds. With refpedl to the horfes of this country, 
 this is really the fadt at this day, and has immemorably 
 been fo ; for admired and valued as they are, and have 
 been, there is no pure and unmixed blood among the 
 finer, if among the middling breeds, as among the 
 Arabs, but all of the firft clafs are diredlly or remotely 
 allied to foreign blood. The foil and climate, there- 
 fore, mull be thought greatly to contribute in form- 
 ing their merit ; otherwife, rich and curious perfons 
 of other nations would adl more wifely to raife a 
 breed of their own, to fupply their wants from thofe 
 very countries, where the anceftors of the Englilh 
 horfes are brought ; but they find by experience, that 
 the defccndants of thefe horfes do not thrive and fuc- 
 ceed fo well in other countries as in this nation, owing, 
 no doubt, to the fecret operations of nature, and to 
 the more apparent efFedts of foil and climate, or, to 
 what the French call in Fruity the Gout de Terroir. 
 
 •^lippe folo natttra fubeji. 
 
 Notwithftanding the fondnefs which Atheljian difco^ 
 vered for Englifli horfes, and his jealoufy of their be- 
 ing fent into other countries, it is certain that he en- 
 tertained a good opinion of fome Foreigners, and received 
 fcveral as prefents, which were fent from the conti- 
 nent. 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 163 
 
 nent. It is probable many came from Germany ; of 
 fcveral foreign horfes he was, however, undoubtedly 
 polTefled, for in his Will * he bequeaths the horfes 
 given him by T'burbrand, together with the white horfes 
 given him by Liefbrand ; and it may reafonably be pre- 
 fumed, that as the perfons who gave thefe horfes were 
 Saxons^ the Gifts likewife came from the fame country : 
 although it appears that he had horfes from many 
 different parts of the continent ; for it is reported of 
 this monarch, that his charaiSler and fame were fpread 
 fo far, that fundry Princes ■\ fought his alliance and 
 friendfhip, and fent him " rich prefentjj, precious 
 *' ftores, perfumes, and the fined horfes, with golden 
 « furniture." And it is to be prefumed, that a wife 
 mionarch, and lover of horfes, would avail himfelf of 
 tljis foreign afliflance, to diverfify and improve the 
 breeds of his own kingdom. 
 
 The Conqueror brought many horfes with him from 
 Normandy, and fome, perhaps, of other countries, 
 which contributed ftill farther to augment the variety 
 of breeds in this ifland ; but Roger de Belefme, created 
 Earl of Shrewfbury, by the victorious monarch, rendered 
 a moft eflential fervice to the nation, by introducing 
 the ftallions of Spain into his eftate in PowiJJand, and 
 through them a more generous and noble breed than 
 this kingdom, perhaps, had ever known. Giraldus 
 
 * The will is in Latin, and in the pofleffion of Thomas Aftell, Efq; 
 f Anderfon's Orig. of Commerce, p. xlix. vol. i. 
 
 Y 2 Cani' 
 
164 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 Camhrenjis takes notice of them, and Drayton, the poet, 
 celebrates their excellence. 
 
 This race feems to have been calculated at once for 
 the purpofes of war, and the exhibitions of public fo^- 
 lemnities, of which horfes are always a very effential: 
 and ornamental part : for it is not known that at this- 
 time, nor till a much later period, that horfe-races 
 were introduced into England: although this agreeable 
 and ufeful diverfion, if confined within certain regu- 
 lations, might have been cultivated with great pro- 
 priety among a people fond and proud of their horfes, 
 and that at a time, when bodily exercifes alone were 
 the amufements of all forts of men ; and efpecially, 
 as the Englifli had opportunities of being inftrucfted in 
 them by the Romans, who generally kept their own 
 euftoms wherever they came, and left their impreflion 
 behind them, when they departed. We may, there- 
 fore, reafonably conclude, that they were either ig- 
 norant of thefe fports, or, what is more likely, pre^ 
 ferred the parade and magnificence of tilts and tour- 
 naments, in which the ftrength, a(5livity, fpirir, and 
 beauty of the horfe, as well as the fkill and courage 
 of the rider, could be more ufefuUy employed, and. 
 more gracefully difplayed. 
 
 h appears, however, from a fingular and curious 
 Latin tradl, that in the reign of Henry II. both tourna- 
 ments and horfe-races, or fomething very like races, 
 were cultivated with much earneftnefs and care. Smitb- 
 jield was then the chief theatre for thefe fports, as well 
 
 as 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 165 
 
 as the firft market for all forts of horfes. This place 
 was originally -called Smooth-field, planus cam-pus & re & 
 nomine, from its being a fmooth level piece of ground, 
 and therefore fet apart as a proper fpot, on which to 
 Ihew and exercife horfes. Without one of the gates 
 of the city, fays the hiftorian, is a certain field, plain 
 ov fmooth, both in Name and Situation. Every Friday (as 
 at prefent) except fome greater fellival intervene, there 
 is a fine fight of horfes brought to be fold. Many come 
 out of the city to buy or look on j to wit, earls, bar- 
 rons, knights, and citizens. It is a pleafant fight to 
 behold the horfes there, all gay and fleek, moving up 
 and down, fonae in the Amble, and fome in the Trot, 
 which latter pace, although rougher to the rider, is 
 better fuited to men who bear arms. Here alfo are 
 colts, yet ignorant of the bridle, which prance and 
 bound, and give early figns of fpirit and courage. 
 Here likewife are maneged, or War-horfes, (DextrariiJ of 
 elegant fhape, full of fire, and giving every proof of 
 a generous and noble temper. Horfes likewife for the 
 cart, dray, and plough are to be found here ; mares 
 big with foal, and others with their colts wantonly 
 running by their fides. 
 
 Every Sunday in Lent, after dinner, a company of 
 young men ride out into the fields on horfes which are ' 
 fit for war, and excellent for their fpeed. Every one 
 among ihem is taught to run the Rounds with his 
 horfe. The citizens fons ifTue out through the gates 
 by troops, furnifhed with launces and fliields : the 
 
 younger. 
 
\66 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 younger fort have their pikes not headed with iron, 
 and make reprefentation of battle, and exercife a fkir- 
 mifh. To this performance many courtiers refort when 
 the court is near, and young ilriplings, yet uninitiated 
 in arms, from the families of barons and great per- 
 fons, to train and pradlife. They begin by dividing into 
 troops, fome labour to outftrip their leaders, without 
 being able to reach them ; others unhorfe their anta- 
 gonift, without being able to get beyond them. At 
 other times two or thre-e boys are fet on horfeback to 
 ride a race ; the fignal being given, they fet off, and 
 pufli their horfes to their utmoll fpeed, fparing neither 
 whip nor fpur, urging them, at the fame time, with 
 loud fhouts and clamours, to animate their endeavours, 
 and call forth all their powers *. 
 
 The next period in which any particular mention is 
 made of horfes, is in the reign of Edward II. It ap- 
 pears from the annals of this prince, written by John 
 de Trokelow, in the year 1307, that Edward was very 
 fond of horfes, and fent for them to Chaiiipagne in 
 France. He alfo gave a commiffion, in the fecond 
 year of his reign, to Bynde Bonaventure, and his brother, 
 pro viglnti dextrariis et duodecim jumentis emendis in partibus 
 
 •*«• See the account of London by Stephanides, at the end of the 
 8th vol. of Leiand's Itinerary. The fame paffage, inferted in Stow's 
 Survey of London, is full of moft fhameful inaccuracies, which have 
 been complained of already by Burton, in his commentary on Anto- 
 ninus's Itinerary, 
 
 Lorn- 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. \6^ 
 
 Lombardia: and requires all his friends and loving fub- 
 je(51:s to affift them in this important commiffion *. 
 
 The genius of Edward III. naturally inclining him 
 to war, confequently made him fond, as he is re- 
 ported to have been, of its images and reprefentatives, 
 tilts and tournaments ; horfes are too efTentially ne- 
 cefTary to both, not to have been deemed by him ob- 
 jects highly deferving his care and attention. He v^^as, 
 therefore, cautious and provident to be well fupplicd 
 with them ; and his own kingdom not being able to 
 anfwer his wants, as well may be prefumed, he pur- 
 chafed from time to time from other countries. We 
 find him indebted to the count of Hainault 25,000 
 florins for horfes, which he had furniflied. The horfes 
 which the King had bought, were all 7narked, fo as to 
 diftinguifh the property. 
 
 This prince likewife fends to France, pro quatuor dex- 
 trariis, feu magnis eguis "j". 
 
 The fort of horfes then in ufe for princes, military 
 perfons, and others of rank and diftind:ion, were called 
 Dextrarii, Edward bought thefe horfes to equip him- 
 fclf for a war, in which he was engaged againft Scot- 
 land, and to folemnize a Tournament which he was tO; 
 give at Werks ; for which fervices thefe Dextrarii were 
 accounted moft fit, and always deftined to them. 
 
 * Rymer, vol. i. p. 135. f Ibid. vol. ii. p. ^6. 
 
 Ibid. vol. ill. p. 1 10. Ibid, p, 181. 
 
 They. 
 
i68 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 They were ranked at the head of all other fpecies 
 of horfes, and anfwered for the moft part to what is 
 meant at prefent by a maneged horfe, or one drcjjed and 
 difcipHned for war ; to which, and the exercife of the 
 tournament, they were fet apart ; for, upon common 
 occafions, perfons of rank and conlideration always 
 rode upon horfes of inferior degree, diflinguiflied by 
 the names of Courfcrs, Amhkrsy Palfreys, Hackneys, Nags, 
 and Poneys, recommended by their eafy paces, and 
 quiet temper. In feveral countries, it was a cuflom 
 rigoroully obferved, that no knight of chivalry, or 
 other gentleman, fhould ride upon a Mare, it being 
 thought difhonourable and vile. 
 
 The mares were always devoted to the cart, and all 
 the ignoble fervices ; and whether upon this account 
 it was thought difgraceful in a gentleman to ride them, 
 or whether they were put to thefe fervile tafks merely 
 bccaufe they would not ride them, is a quellion hi- 
 therto undetermined. The Spaniards, Turks, and fome 
 other nations, Hill adhere to this abfurd notion, upon 
 all occafions. 
 
 The moft obvious and natural reafon which can be 
 afligned for this partiality againft the mare, feems to 
 be, that the female fex is thought (^mong horfes at 
 leaft) not to have the ftrength, fire, and dignity of the 
 male, and therefore is not fo correfpondent to the 
 chara(5ler and pomp of a Knight, or warriour, as the 
 horfes ; nor, as it was not a general cuftom to geld 
 liorfes, could they have been trufled among the op- 
 
 pofite 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. i6c, 
 
 •pofite fex. In other refpec^s there is no reafon to 
 think them inferior to horfes, and, cateris paribus, al- 
 ways fuperior, as being perfedt in nature, to Geldings. 
 
 The horfes known by the name of Dextrarii in 
 Latin, Dejiriere in Italian, and Dcjirier in the French 
 languages, were fo called from the word Dextra, figni- 
 fying in the Latin, the Right-Hand ; they all having 
 been carefully handled, drelled, or maneged, as we call 
 it, from the Italian word maneggiare, which, in its lite- 
 ral fenfe, means no more than fmiply to handle. Others 
 fay, that it is to be taken in ^ Jigurative {Qn{e from the 
 word Dextra, importing the Dexterity and readinefs with 
 which they work under their riders ; and others, that 
 they are fo denominated from being led by grooms, 
 when they attended their mailers into the field or lifts, 
 by the Right-hand. The firfl: explanation feems to be the 
 mod clear and juft. 
 
 Thefe Dextrarii were alfo called magni Eqiii, or great 
 liorfcs, becaufe they were required to be of the largeft 
 fize, and were always intended to ferve in war, or in 
 the exercifes of the T'ournament, which were nearly al- 
 lied to it. As the riders were cloathed in complete ar- 
 mour, they were of a prodigious weight, and confe- 
 quently demanded very flrong and able-bodied, as well 
 as tall horfes, to carry them through their enterprizes : 
 great and Jized. horfes were therefore required, in oppo- 
 fition to Palfreys, Courfers, Nags, and other common 
 horfes : and forafmuch as thefe great horfes were all 
 required to be drejfed or taught, that they might per- 
 
 Vo L. I. Z form 
 
I70 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 form their tafks with more readinefs and fidelity ; and 
 as it is neceflary that the rider fliould have knowledge 
 and fkill to guide his horfe^ thofe perfons who pro- 
 fefTed the fcience of arms were obliged to learn the 
 art of managing their horfes, in conformity to certain 
 rules and principles ; and hence came the expreflion 
 of learning to ride the great Horfe. 
 
 Thefe heavy-armed troops were called in dqffical 
 Latin CataphraSli : the light-armed cavalry were ftiled 
 in unclajjical Latin, Hobkarii, fi'om their riding Hobbies, or 
 fmall horfes, in French called Habbin, or Jlubin, from 
 the Italian word Ubino, fignifying a fmall horfe, as the 
 word Hackney is derived from the French, Haqiiinee, and 
 that from the Italian Acbinea, which means a quiet ordi- 
 nary horfe. 
 
 Modern horfemen will, perhaps, be furprized to 
 hear, that thefe tilting and war-horfes were all taught 
 to amble ; an ufurping pace, which, for fome cen- 
 turies, almoft univerfally depofed th€ T'rot. 
 
 In the account of the expences of purchafmg and 
 bringing into England the horfes which were bought 
 for Edward in France, among other articles, in the 
 difburfements of his wardrobe, upon this occafion we 
 find 'Trammels (Traynellii, for the accounts are written 
 in Latin) charged as an article, and with the follow- 
 ing addition, explanatory of their ufe, in teaching 
 horfes to amble. Hand aliter fciUcet appellabant injlrumenta. 
 ilia, qidbus ufi funt fabri ferrarii, Jive folearii (anglice far- 
 riers), ut eo faciliiis ad tolJutim incedendwn redderentiir eqiti, 
 
 qnem 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 171 
 
 qiiem qnidem incejjum mollem (ambling) lingua vocitamus verna- 
 cida. The word Traymells, or TrayneUs, feems to be taken 
 from the Italian word 'tramenarey to Jloake^ to wriggle ; 
 which term is very exprellive of the motion of the 
 amble. Thefe were made of yarn, or ftrong lift, and 
 frequently of iron, like chains, or fetters : in forming 
 of which laft, it was neceflary to employ, fabri ferrarii, 
 or fmiths, and Solearii, thofe who fhod horfes with 
 iron ftioes, with a long point coming from the toe, 
 being put upon the hinder feet, to teach horfes to 
 amble, which fhoes might be comprehended under 
 the word T'rammels, as producing the fame cfre(5l. 
 
 In the reign of Henry VII. (for in a work like this, 
 there muft be wide gaps) Polydore Firgil reports, that 
 the Englifli were wont to keep large herds of horfes 
 in their paftures and common iSelds ; and that, when 
 the harveft was gathered in, the cattle of different 
 owners fed promifcuoufly together, for which reafon 
 they were obliged to caftrate the horfes : for as a large 
 number of Mares went together, as well as geldings, 
 \iJioned horfes had been admitted among them, much 
 diforder and mifchief muft have happened. No horfes, 
 therefore, were allowed to mix with them, and it is at 
 this day contrary to law, to turn a ftoned-horfe into a 
 common pafture. Hence the neceflity of gelding. 
 Thofe horfes which were kept to cover mares, were 
 always confined in fafe and inclofed grounds, but 
 more frequently in the Stable, and were called Equi ad 
 Stabulum, by contra(5lion Stallu??i, Whence the Italian 
 
 Z 2 term 
 
172 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 term Stallone, the French E talon, the Englifli, Stallion, or 
 jialled horfe, are derived ; which expreffion prevails, 
 and is in ufe at prefent with regard to the ox, ^?lfhich 
 fometimes being kept from the pafture in order to be 
 fattened, is called thejiall-icd, and Hailed ox. 
 
 The fame writer fays likewife, in confirmation of 
 the cuftom of ufmg ambling horfes, " that the Englifli 
 " were not given to trot, but excelled in the fofter 
 '• pace of the Amble" 
 
 The prince above-mentioned was fo fenfible of what 
 advantage a llrong and generous race of horfes is to a 
 kingdom, that he earneftly promoted, and encouraged 
 the culture of them. It feems to have been at all pe- 
 riods of time, an univerfal defire to have large horfes, 
 for fraall and weaker forts could not have executed 
 the bufinefs required of them ; and it appears by an 
 adt of parliament of the eleventh year of this reign, 
 that the number of Englifh horfes fent abroad was fo 
 exceflive, that it was neceflary to attend ferioufly to 
 this grievance, and prohibit all farther exportation. 
 The acH: recites, that not only a fmaller number of 
 good horfes were left within the realm, for the defence 
 thereof, but alfo that great and good plenty of the 
 fame were in parts beyond the fea, which in times paft 
 were wont to be within this land ; whereby the price 
 of horfes was greatly enhanced here, to the lofs and 
 annoyance of all the king's fubjctfls within the fame. 
 To remedy this, an adl was made, by which no owner 
 of an horfe fhould prefume to tranfport it out of the 
 
 kingdom, 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 173 
 
 kingdom, upon pain of forfeiture of the fame ; nor 
 any mare of the value of fix fliillings and eight pence, 
 without the king's fpecial licence, upon pain of for- 
 feiture of the fame mare, the owner, or his deputy, 
 receiving for the faid mare, the fum of fix fliillings 
 and eight pence at the time of feizure: the mare or 
 mares to be fold openly, by the proper officer, for the 
 beft price offered, and the half or all the over-price to 
 be to the king, and the other part to him who feized : 
 and farther, that no mare fliall be fent out of the land 
 which is above the value of fix and eight pence, and 
 under the age of three years, without paying the king's 
 cullom of fix and eight pence per mare, the king's 
 fpecial licence being firft obtained. Befides this, ano- 
 ther claufe follows, which muft have been fo effe»5lual, 
 as almofl: to make the preceding regulations totally 
 ufelefs. It enadls, that if any perfon will give for any 
 of the mares fo to be carried, feven JJjillings, it fhall be 
 lawful for him to take away the faid mare for his 
 own ufe, if flie had not been taken before by the 
 king's officer, nor the king's licence firfl obtained ; it 
 being lawful for any denizen notwithftanding, to 
 tranfport an horfe abroad, without the king's licence, 
 provided fuch horfe be for his own ufe, and he de- 
 clares upon oath, at the time of Ihipping, that he does 
 not intend to fell them. 
 
 Another acft was made to prevent the felling, ex- 
 changing, or fending horfes or mares into Scotland, 
 
 wliich 
 
174 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 which availed itfelf confiderably at this time of the 
 fuperior Englifli breed *. 
 
 Thus it appears from the meafures taken to keep 
 the Englifh horfes in their own country, that they 
 were always fo valued and admired by other nations, 
 that England had not a number fufficient for her own 
 demands. Two things were neceflary to preferve to 
 this kingdom exclujively^ the benefit of its own horfes. 
 
 The prudence of feveral fucceeding kings, attended 
 ferioufly to this work, and by prohibiting exportation 
 on one hand, and encouraging a numerous breed on 
 the other, applied a twofold remedy, and did almoft 
 all that the cafe could require. Nor would any thing 
 have been wanting to the completion of their wifhes, 
 but (which was done in after times) the appointment 
 of public rewards and gratifications, as an incitement 
 and recom pence to thofe who fliould moft effedlually 
 advance the breed. Chambers, in his Di»5lionary, under 
 the article Saddle, fays the Englifli did not ufe them till 
 the reign of this king, who iflued an order enjoining 
 their ufe. This alfertion, however, is not counte- 
 nanced by any adt of parliament, or proclamation. 
 
 In the reign of the fucceeding prince, a particular 
 regard was paid to the raifing a breed of good and 
 flrong horfes, and laws were made for the more cer- 
 tain attainment of that defign. The only method of 
 fecuring ftrength and fize in the progeny, is to feledl 
 the fires and dams, of a certain proportion, fize, and 
 
 * Thefe ads were repealed by Charles II. 
 
 mould, 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 175 
 
 mould, and to permit no mare, or ftallion, to breed» 
 but under thefe reftridions. 
 
 A law was accordingly made, which directed, that 
 every brood mare Ihould be, at leaft, fourteen hands 
 high *-. 
 
 This produced a very natural and juft efFecl, and 
 gave the kingdom many ftout and ufeful horfes, in- 
 fomuch that Carew, in his Hiftory of Cornwall, fup- 
 pofes this law to have been the occafion of lofmg al- 
 moft entirely the fmall breed of horfes, which were 
 peculiar to that country ; and it is the fame in the 
 principality of IVales, where the little breed, once fo 
 abundant, is now almoft extindt ; their fcarcity being 
 a proof what changes air, food, and a mixture of blood, 
 can produce in the animal world. The lofs, however, 
 
 •* In a period fomewhat earlier than the commencement of this 
 prince's reign, a book was printed, probably the firfl: of its kind ever 
 feen in England, entitled, Properties and Medeycines for an Horfe, 
 ^to, printed by Wynkyn de Worde, about the year 1500. 
 
 In Ames's Hiftory of printing, the 4 to edition, 1749, he gives a lift of 
 fome books, printed by Wynkyn de Worde, at Weftminfter, or in • 
 Caxtonh houfe ; they are without date, but he fays they were printed 
 before the year 1500. 
 
 The above-mentioned book of medicines for horfes is certainly prior 
 in time to Fitzherbert's book on Huft^andry, which Ames fays was 
 printed in izmo, in 1548 : and in page 263, he mentions another 
 edition of it. This book has been generally thought to have been 
 written by Judge Fitzhcrbarde, but miftakenly, for the author was one 
 Fitzherbarde, an horfe-courfer. The book is extant. Vid. certain 
 ancient trads concerning the management of landed property — Re- 
 printed for Charles Bathurft, 1757. 
 
 - J cf 
 
176 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 of thefe Pigmies, which Mr. Carew regrets, was well 
 repaired by a race of larger, and more able-bodied 
 horfcs ; for ihefe little animals, however pleafmg and 
 ufeful in their own craggy and mountainous country, 
 could not extend their merit beyond its bounds, being 
 too inferior to the taflc of war, the fpeed and fa- 
 tigue of hunting, the fplendour of tournaments, 
 and the magnificent pageantries of the times, efpe- 
 cially of this reign *, which all writers agree were 
 excellive. 
 
 There is alfo a particular entry in the Journals of 
 the Houfe of Lords, which fhews how much they had 
 this caufe at heart. Hodie (viz. 15 June, 1540) tandem 
 leBa eji bil/a educationi equonim procerioris jlatura <£ ccmmuni 
 omnium confenfii, nemine difcnpante, expedita^ 
 
 By another a<5t of parliament of this king, we may 
 perceive what anxiety there was for having large horfes. 
 Some of the regulations are rather fmgular, but judi- 
 cious, for the law is framed fo as to confider indivi- 
 duals in a comparative view of their rank and cireum- 
 • fiances. Every archbifhop and duke are obliged under 
 penalties, to keep feven trotting ftoned-horfes for the 
 laddie, each of which is to be fourteen hands high, at 
 the age of three years. There are afterwads very mi- 
 nute dire(5tions, with regard to the number of the fame 
 kind of horfes, which are to be kept by other ranks 
 and degrees, each in proportion to their circumftances 
 and ftation. 
 
 * Vid. Sir T. More's Poems. 
 
 Each 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 177 
 
 Each perfon having benefices to the amount of one 
 hundred pounds yearly, or a layman, whofe wife fhall 
 wear any French hood, or bonnet of velvet, are obliged, 
 under the penalty of twenty pounds, to keep one fuch 
 trottynge flonehorfc for the faddle. This flatute con- 
 tinued unrepealed till the 2 i ft of James I. though, in 
 fa(51:, repealed by the eighth of Elizabeth, as to the 
 Ifle of Ely, Cambridgelhire, and many other counties, 
 (which the preamble recites), which, on account of 
 their rottennefs, unfirmnefs, moifture, and waterifh- 
 nefs, were not able to breed, or bear horfes of fuch a 
 fize. 
 
 The reafon for enjoining ftone-horfes to be kept, 
 muft have been for the fake of breeding, and for the 
 fuperior labour they are thought to be able to un- 
 dergo ; and as they were more expenfive to maintain 
 than mares or geldings, it being necefTary to feparate 
 and keep them apart, the rich and noble only are re- 
 quired to keep them in numbers proportioned to their 
 rank and ability ; while the lower people ufed Geldings^ 
 for the advantage of turning them to grafs. Brood- 
 mares, two at leaft, were ordered to be kept by thofe 
 who had parks, enclofures, and other convenicncies. 
 
 Baked bread, known by the name of Horfe- bread, 
 was the ufual food of horfes, inftead of oats and 
 other grain: regulations were made concerning it in 
 this reign, by parliament. Peafe likcwifc were given 
 in food. 
 
 Vol. I. a a It 
 
178 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 It may not, perhaps, be unentertaining to the 
 reader, to perufe the following lift of horfes, as it 
 will give him a notion of the times, and fet before 
 him the different forts then in ufe among the nobility 
 and others. The extra6t is taken from a manufcript, 
 now in the poiTeffion of his Grace the Duke of Nor- 
 thumberland, and lately printed, under the title of 
 " The Regulations and Eftablifhment of the Houfhold 
 " of Algernon Percy, the Fifth Earl of Northumberland^ 
 " Begun anna I s I 2 . London, printed i 768." 
 
 It begins, *' This is the ordre of the chequir rout 
 " of the nombre of all the horfys of my lordis and 
 " my ladys, that are apoynted to be in the charge of 
 ''• the hous yerely, as to fay : gentill hors, palfreys, 
 " hobys, naggis, cloth-fek hors, male-hors. Firft, 
 " gentill hors, to^ Hand in my lordis liable, fix. Item, 
 " palfreys of my ladys, to wit, one for my lady, and 
 *' two for her gentill-women, and ©one for her cham- 
 " berer. Four hobys and naggis for my lordis oone 
 " faddill, viz. oone for my lorde to ride, oone to lede 
 •' for my lorde, and oone to flay at home for my 
 « lorde. 
 
 " Item, chariot hors to ftond in my lordis flable 
 " yerely. Seven great trottynge hors to draw in the 
 *• chariott, and a nagg for the chariott man to ride ;: 
 " eight. Again, hors for lorde Percy, his lordfhips- 
 " fon and heir. A grete doble trottynge hors for my 
 " lorde Percy to travel on in winter. Item, a gret do- 
 »* ble trottynge hors, called a Curtal, for his lordlhip 
 
 " to 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 179 
 
 « to ride on out of towncs. Another trottynge 
 ^* gambaldynge hors for his lordfhip to ride upon wh^n 
 " he comes into townes. An amblynge horfe for his 
 " lordfhip to journey on dayly. A proper amblyng 
 " little nagg for his lordfliip when he gaeth on hunt- 
 " ing or hawking. A gret amblynge gelding, or trot- 
 *' tynge gelding, to carry his male." 
 
 Such were the horfes of ancient days, ranked into 
 clafTes, and allotted to different fervices. 
 
 The gentll horfe was one of a fuperior and diflin- 
 guiflied breed, fo called in contrail to fuch as were of 
 a mean and ordinary extrafftion. The Italians at this 
 day call their noblefl breeds, Razza gentile. Gentleman 
 is underflood in this fenfe, fignifying a perfon of better 
 birth and family. Nemejian ufes the very word in this 
 ^fenfe. 
 
 » — Gentili f anguine jirmus. 
 
 Palfreys were an elegant and eafy fort of horfes, 
 which, for their gentlenefs and agreeable paces, were 
 ufed upon common occafions by military perfons and 
 others ; who referved their great, or managed horfes 
 for battle, and the tournament. Their pieaiing qua- 
 lities foon recommended them to the fair fex, who 
 having no coaches, ufed thefe palfreys, and always tra- 
 velled on horfcback. 
 
 Hobys were flrong, active horfes, of rather a fmall 
 fize : they are reported to have been originally natives 
 
 A a 2 of 
 
i8o THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 of Ireland, and were fo much liked and ufed, as to 
 become a proverbial cxprellion for any thing of which 
 people are extremely fond. Nags come under the fame 
 defcription, as to their fize, qualities, and employ- 
 ments, 
 
 Clothfek, was a cloak-bag horfe, as male-horfe is one 
 who carried the portmanteau. Horfes to draw the 
 Chariott were JVaggon horfes ; from the French word 
 Cbarrette, whence the Englifli word Cart ; for coaches, 
 nor Chariots (in our acceptation), were not known at 
 this time. A gret doble trottynge horfe, was a tall, 
 broad, and well-fpread horfe, whofe bed pace was the 
 trot, being too unweildy in himfelf, or carrying too 
 great a weight, to be able to gallop. Dobk or double fig- 
 nifies broad, big, fwelled out ; from the French double, 
 who fay of a broad-loined filleted horfe, that he has 
 les reins doubles — ^ double bidet. The Latin adjedlive du- 
 plex, gives the fame meaning ; Firgil fpeaking of the 
 horfe fays, at duplex agitur per lumbos fpina, Georg. iii. 
 and Horace, Duplice jicu. A Curtal is an horfe whofe 
 tail is cut, or fliortened — in the French Curtaud. A 
 gambaldynge horfe, was one of fliew and parade, a ma- 
 naged horfe from the Italian Gamba, a leg. An ajn- 
 
 blynge horfe is too well known, to need an explanation. 
 The Amble long before this time, as well as for a long 
 while after, was fo favourite a pace, and fo much liked 
 for its eafe and fmoothnefs, that almoft every faddle- 
 horfe was taught to perform it, efpecially thofe which 
 were rode by the rich, the indolent, and infirm : fo 
 
 that 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. i 8 1 
 
 that Markham, who wrote in the reign of James I. 
 fpeaking of ambling horfes, fays, " take away thefc 
 " horfes, and take away the old man, the rich man, 
 " and the weak man's, nay generally all men's tra- 
 " vels ; for coaches (then known) are but for llreets, 
 " and carts can hardly pafs in winter." 
 
 Henry was undoubtedly very fond of horfes, and 
 fo thoroughly convinced of what advantage they are to 
 a kingdom, that he did every thing, both by his 
 authority and example, to introduce and fupport a ge- 
 nerous breed, of which the nation was at this time 
 fliamefully unprovided. Sir Thomas Chaloner, in a 
 Latin poem, entitled De Republicd Anghruvi injlaurandu^ 
 I S7 9i which he compofed in the early part of the 
 reign of Elizabeth, while he was embailador from the 
 queen to the court of Spain, cenfures the ignorance 
 and folly of his countrymen, in neglecfling to pro- 
 mote a race of valuable horfes in their own country, 
 which, from the many fuperior advantages it enjoys, 
 he fays, was capable of furnifliing more beautiful and 
 ufeful breeds, than thofe of foreign parts, from which 
 they were fo fond of being fupplied: he reproaches them 
 for their want of Stallions, fet apart, and kept merely as 
 fuch ; and fays, that they had no Horfes, but what were 
 vile and ordinary, which were fufFered to run proraif- 
 cuoufly in the paftures with mares, producing a worth- 
 lefs and defpicable breed : he therefore recommends a 
 reparation from the mares, which fhould be confined in 
 
 parks 
 
t82 the history and ART 
 
 parks and enclofures, where they may run fecure and 
 immolefted. Hence he takes occafion to proclaim the 
 praifes of Henry Vill. for the attention which he paid 
 to horfes, and for his zealous endeavom'S to flock this 
 nation with a variety of breeds for different purpofcs, 
 by importing the fined, both horfes and mares, from 
 Turky, Naples, Spain, and Flanders ; extolling him at 
 the fame time for his addrefs and fkill in bodily exer- 
 cifes, particularly horfemanfhip, in which, he fays, 
 this monarch was confummate, and equal to Cajior 
 himfclf. From the concurrent teftimonies of other 
 writers, and from the time when this poem was pub- 
 liflied, which was not till after Henry's death, there is 
 great reafon to think thefe praifes were fmcere, unlefs 
 the author may be thought to have complimented 
 Elizaleib in the commendations he fo laviflily beflows 
 upon her father ; which mode of panegyrick may be 
 termed flattery once removed. 
 
 Nor was this monarch only folicitous to introduce 
 and eftablifli a generous and ferviceable breed of horfes 
 in the kingdom, but he extended his cares farther 
 and endeavoured to make his plan flill more ufeful, by 
 providing experienced and fkilful perfons to prefide in 
 his llables, and fpread by their means the rules and 
 elements of horfemanfhip through the nation. This 
 ufeful and becoming art, as the Duke of Newcaftle 
 fays, began, or rather revived, about this time in A^^- 
 pks. The perfon who firft taught it there was named 
 PignatcIU. Henry invited two Italians, who had been 
 
 I his 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 183' 
 
 his fcholars, into England, and placed them in his fer- 
 vice. From one of thefe were defcended the Alexanders, 
 who were riding-mafters, mentioned likewife by the 
 Duke, and whofe fcholars filled the kingdom with 
 horfemen. 
 
 The King likewife had an Italian farrier, named. 
 Hannibaky who was looked up to by his EngliQi brethren 
 as an oracle ; and who did notdifcover great rayfteries, 
 but yet taught them more than they knew before. 
 
 Sir 'Philip Sydney, in Elizabeth's reign, introduced the 
 Signers Profpero and Romano. Robert Dudley, Earl of 
 Leicefter, and Matter of the Horfe to the Queen, re- 
 tained in his fervice an Italian horfeman, whofe name 
 was Claudio Curtio. He wrote a book on the Jrt, which 
 is ftill extant. Thefe, and fome v/ho came afterwards,, 
 at different intervals, formed many horfemen, and 
 laid the foundation of the Manege in England. 
 
 Nothing remarkable concerning horfes happened in 
 the fliort reign of Edward VI. but it appears from an 
 2iOi of parliament, made in the firft year of his reign,, 
 that horfes were highly valued ; for this ad confiders 
 the Healing of them among the blackeft crimes, and 
 takes away the benefit of clergy from horfe-ftealers, to- 
 gether with thofe convi6led of Houfebreaking, Sacrilege, and: 
 Murder. All other offences and felonies indeed, except 
 treafon, were afterwards entitled to this benefit, thought 
 excluded, by later atfls of parliament 
 
 * 
 
 Obfervat, on t.he Stat, p. 4.64, 3d edit. 
 
 By 
 
1 84 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 By thefe prudent and judicious meafures, the 
 Engliili breed of horfes was not only improved in 
 ilrengfh and fize, but alfo greatly increafed'in number. 
 
 The ufe of coaches was not known in England till 
 the year 1580 (in Queen Elizabeth's reign) when 
 they were introduced by Filz-AiJen, Earl of Arundel *, 
 
 Till this period, I'addle-horfes and carts were the 
 only methods of conveyance "for all forts of people ; 
 and the Queen rode behind her Mafler of the Horfe, 
 when llie went in Hate to St. Paul's'. This falliion, how- 
 ever, prevailed only in the former part of her reign, and 
 was totally extinguiflied by the appearance of coaches. 
 Their introdudion occafioned a much larger demand 
 of horfes, than former times had wanted ; and fuch 
 was the number of them employed in this fervice, 
 that at the latter end of the Queen's reign a bill was 
 propofed in the Houfe of Lords, to reftrain the fuper- 
 fluous and ejceffive ufe of coaches. It was rejected 
 upon the fecond reading: the Lords, however, di- 
 rected, that the Attorney General fliould perufe the 
 ilatiues for promoting the breed of horfes, and con- 
 lider of fome proper bill in its room f . 
 
 The invention of gunpowder being known, and fire 
 arms generally ufed, the heavy armour fell into dif- 
 repute, and a light fort was only ufed : a lighter and 
 more adtive horfe therefore became neceflary, and 
 
 * Anderfon's Orig. of Comm. p, 421, vol. i. 
 ' ■\ Journals, Nov, 7, 1601. 
 
 were 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. i8^ 
 
 were accordingly cultivated and ufed. Sir John Smytbe, 
 in his treatife on the good effedls of archery in armies, 
 written the year after the attempt of the Spanifli 
 Armada, fpeaks of this fort of armour and horfes with 
 difapprobation and contempt, and fays, " their horfe- 
 " men alfo ferving on horfeback with launces, or any 
 " other weapon, they think very well armed with feme 
 " kind of head-piece, a collar, and a deformed lights 
 '♦ M/Vibeaft." 
 
 This was the origin of the light and fleet breed of 
 horfes in this country, which became as neceflary 
 when the weight of the riders was fo confidei'ably 
 IcfTened, as the flrong and flower fort were, when 
 heavy armour was worn. 
 
 t Thofe diftinguiflied trials of fpeed and vigour be- 
 tween horfe and horfe, were not as yet eftabliflied and 
 praftifed, in the manner in which they are exhibited 
 at prefent. Nor were any horfes kept merely for the 
 purpofe of difplaying their fpeed upon certain occa- 
 flons, at ftated feafons, and confecrated, like the run- 
 ning horfes of latter times, folely to the turf. It is 
 neverthelefs certain, that this comparative method of 
 proving the goodnefs of horfes, was known in thefe 
 times -, and that private matches were made between 
 gentlemen, who, <lepending upon their own fkill, rode 
 their horfes themfelves. 
 
 Lord Herbert of Cherbury mentions thefe races, and 
 fpeaks of them with a groundlefs and abfurd difap- 
 probation. 
 
 Vol. I. B b " The 
 
i8^ THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 "■ The exercife * I do not approve of, fays he, is run- 
 *' ning of horfes, there being much cheating in that 
 " kind : neither do I fee why a brave man fliould de- 
 " light in a creature whofe chief ufe is to help him to- 
 **- run away" as if cheating was incident to any fport, 
 or more fo to this than to others ; or that a man, be- 
 caufe he is mouatcd on a fwift horfe, muft be a pol-- 
 troon, and run away. This quaint Lord might, with 
 equal reafon, have objected to a man's legs for being 
 flrong and active. 
 
 As hunting was the chief amufement of the nobir 
 lity and gentry, they had a method of trying the. 
 fpeed and goodnefs of the horfes deftined to that 
 fport. 
 
 It was called the Trahi-fcent, and fo denominated, 
 becaufe the fcent which the hounds hunted, proceeded 
 from fome animal which had previoufly been trained 
 along the fields, and over hedges and ditches, accord- 
 ing to the pleafure of the perfon who trained or drag- 
 ged it after him. The rival horfes were to follow the 
 hounds which hunted this fcent, and give proofs of 
 their fpeed and merit, in competition with one another. 
 Of all chaces this was reckoned the fwifteft and moft 
 trying, becaufe the Scent lies the hotted ; fo that the 
 hounds run all the time at the utmoft ftretch, and the 
 horfes muil have been exerted to their utmoft powers 
 to keep pace with them. Befides, ia this manner of 
 
 * Life of Lord Herbert, publifhed by Mf. Walpole, p. 51. 
 
 hunting^ 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 187 
 
 "hunting, the fport was always ready, wh en a fox or 
 hare might not eafily be found ; and this way of 
 matching and running hunters, in order to try their 
 fpeed againfl one another, while they followed the 
 dogs, was thought to be more cheering, both to the 
 riders and horfes, than to make them run fnnply 
 againft one another, or againfl T'ime, as the prefent 
 praftice is. 
 
 There was likewife another Chace, called by horfe- 
 men the IVild-Goofe chace, and thus defcribed *. This 
 chace is never ufed but in Matches only ; where neither 
 th€ hunting the hare, nor the running iTmn-fcents, are 
 able to decide which horfe is better. In this cafe horfe- 
 men found out this chace, which is called the Wild- 
 Goofe chace, from its refemblance to the flight of }Fild- 
 Geefe, which, for the moft part ever fly after one another, 
 and keep an equal diftance as it were from one another. 
 So in this chace, after the horfes are ftarted, and have 
 run twelve fcore yards, then, which ever horfe can 
 get the leading, the other is bound to follow wherever 
 he goes, and that too within a certain diftance, as 
 twice or thrice his length, or elfe to be beaten up 
 (whipped) by the triers (judges) which ride by to fee 
 fair play : and if either horfe get before the other 
 twelve fcore yards, or according as the match is made, 
 then the hinder horfe lofes the match ; and if the 
 horfe which at the beginning was behind, can get before 
 
 ^ Markham's Cavalarice, lib. iii. p. 1 1. 
 
 B b 2 that 
 
i88 THE HISTORY ANI> ART 
 
 that which f>ji led, then is he likewife bound to fol- 
 low, till he can either get before, or elfe the match 
 be loft and won. It is well known that this chace ftill 
 preferves its name in a common proverb, and that many 
 people follow it, •without knowing that they do fo. 
 
 In the fucceeding reiga of James, horfemanfhip be- 
 gan to difplay and enlarge itfelf more confiderably 
 than in any former time ; having received many ad- 
 ditions and refinements from the different matters who, 
 taught and pra6lifed it throughout Europe. 
 
 Public races were now eftabliflied, and fuch horfes 
 as had given proofs of fuperior abilities, became 
 known and famous, and their breed was cultivated^ 
 and their pedigrees, as well as thofe of their pofterity, 
 in imitation, perhaps, of the Arabian manner, pre- 
 ferved and recorded with the greateft exadtnefs. Ga7'~ 
 terljy in Yorkfhire, Croydon, near London, and fome* 
 times Theobalds, on Enfield Chace, when the King was re- 
 fident, were the fpots where the races were run. 
 
 They were performed very nearly under the fame 
 rules, and upon the fame principles as at prefentj and 
 the horfes were prepared for running, by all the dif- 
 cipline oifood, fhyfic, airing, fweats, and clothing, which 
 compofes the prefent fyftem. 
 
 The weight alfo which each horfe was to carry, was ri- 
 gidly adjufted, the ufual weight of the riders being ftated 
 at ten ftones, who were put into fcales, and weighed 
 before they ftarted. All, or the larger part of the moft 
 famous races through the kingdom, were called Bell" 
 
 Courfes, 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 189 
 
 Courfei, the prize and reward of the conquering horfes, 
 being ?i.* Bell ; and it is fubmitted as a ConJeBure, whethet 
 
 the 
 
 * Camden expredy mentions this, as likewife the cuftom of laying 
 large wagers upon the fpeed of the contending horfes — Calateiium 
 7wnus {th.t forell of Galtres j — Hodie equorum folenni curfu, in quo vi£lor^ 
 equo Camipa.nu\a. aurea. prcemio proponitur, celeberrimum : vix enim credibilc 
 quanta hominum muUitudo ad bxc certamina undique confluat, ^ quantis de~ 
 pojitis pignoribus de equorum velociiate cancer tetur. Vid. Camden's Britan. 
 fub Tit. Yorkfliire. 
 
 It has been faid in the foregoing part of this work, that the an- 
 cients were wont, among other ornaments and devices, to deck 
 their horfes with Bells. The following paflages feem to confirm this 
 aflertion. 
 
 Capijira fifiuhfa cami, quibus appenfa funt tintinnabula, in qua infpi- 
 rantes equi vocem tuba mittunt. Bulledgerus from Hefychius. 
 
 Ibid, from Euftathius. Fijtulati cami habuere adjun^a tintinnabula, 
 
 quibus infpirantes equi fonitum tuba edidere. 
 
 Apuleius. Phaleris aureis, fucatis epbippiis, purpureis tapetis, frcenis 
 argenteis, piSlilibus balibeis, tintinnabulis perargutis exornatum equum. 
 
 Bulengerus from the Greek, cap. 17. jErea alligata fronti cum mulds 
 imimmbvXi^ terror em facit. 
 
 Virgil. Primus equi labor eji animos atque arma videre 
 Bellantum, lituofque pati, traSluque gementem 
 Ferrerotam, (^ Jlabulo fnenos audire (onantes. 
 
 Propertius. Sifrxna fonantia/cJ?^ 
 
 Serviet afpir equus 
 
 From fimilar authorities, we have equal reafon to believe, xhzt Bells 
 
 were ufed as an article of horfe-furniture among the moderns, in this 
 
 and other countries. Chaucer, in his Canterbury Tales, fpeaking of 
 
 the Monks, fays, 
 
 « Full 
 
ipo THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 the phrafe of hearing the Bell, which implies being 
 comparatively the befl, or moft excellent, and corre- 
 Iponds with the expreffion of bearing the Palm among 
 the ancients, as a reward decreed to the fwiftefl horfe 
 
 « Full many a dainty horfe had he in liable, 
 *' And when he rode men might his Bridle hear 
 " Gyngelyn in a whiftling wind als clere 
 " And eke as loud as doth the chapel bell." 
 
 Cotton, Virgil traveftied. 
 «* Mean time queen Dido was not idle, 
 *' And ^z«^/^ ^/«f/^ went her bridle." 
 
 Rabelais makes Pantagruel take the Bell out of a fteeple, and hang 
 it upon his mare's neck, which moft probably alludes to the cuftom of 
 horfes wearing Bells. The laft, but ftrongeft inftance, becaufe it is 
 very recent, is from Congreve's play of the Old Batchelor ; where com- 
 paring a new married man to a race-horfe going to ftart, he fays, 
 
 «' With gaudy plumes, and gingling Bells made proud, 
 »' The youthful fteed fets out, and neighs aloud." 
 
 After reading the above paflages, and more particularly the laft, 
 few people, it may be prefumed, will doubt of the cuftom that once 
 prevailed of dreffing horfes with bells. At Naples they ufe them occa- 
 fionally for pleafure and parade at this day, and to a kt of coach-horfes 
 will add 2i feventh, hung round and covered with Bellsy which ring 
 and gingle, as the horfe proudly moves on. 
 
 However true the fafts may be, neverthelefs, although I have been 
 neither idle nor inaccurate in my enquiries, I have hitherto been unable 
 to gain any particular information upon the fubjed -, and with refpeft to 
 the lines quoted from Congreve, I have been fo unfuccefsful as never to 
 find any paflage from hiftory, oral tradition, or any account whatever 
 concerning it, although there muft be people ftill living who were con- 
 !temporary with the author, and may well be fuppofed to have fcen and 
 known the faft to which he fp plainly alludes. 
 
 in 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 191 
 
 in a race, is not more aptly deduced from this cuftom, 
 and more forcibly applied, than from the method of 
 tying a Bell round the neck of the Sheep, which leads 
 the flock, and is therefore accounted the bell. 
 
 This King bought an Arabian horfe of one Mr. Mark- 
 ham, a merchant, and gave the large price of 500I. for 
 the purchafe. He was the firft of that country which 
 England had ever feen; and it is furprifing, coniidering 
 the feveral expeditions to the Holy Land, and other 
 parts of the Eaft, that none had ever been imported 
 before. 
 
 The Duke of Newcaftle, who fpeaks from his own 
 knowledge, which was confummate, defcribes him 
 to have been of a bay colour, a little horfe, and no 
 rarity for fliape ; no more than was the famous horfe 
 fince known by the name of the Godolph'm Arabian. As 
 to the horfe bought by King James, it is to be fuf- 
 pedled that he was bad and worthlefs in himfelf, or 
 elfe his country cannot have all that merit which is fo 
 laviflily beftowed upon it, for its natural properties in 
 producing fuch fuperior horfes. He was trained for 
 a Courfcy but difgraced his country, and was beat by 
 every horfe which run againfl him. This account 
 is given by that eminent judge of horfes and horfe- 
 manfhip, who feems not to confide in the relations 
 given of the Arabian horfes, by travellers and com- 
 pilers of voyages, which, from the ignorance of the 
 reporters, are generally too fuperficial and extrava- 
 gant, to deferve much attention, and never give any; 
 
 ^. infor?- 
 
i()2 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 information, which is fufEciently clear and authentic, 
 to enable us to decide upon their merit, which, it is 
 probable, if it could be exadly tried and ftated, wOuld 
 not be found to be fo fuperior to the Englifli horfes, as 
 it is reprefented, either in fpeed, refolution, or pati- 
 ence of fatigue. 
 
 The fon and heir apparent of James, Henry Prince 
 of Wales, had an early and eager difpolition to thofe 
 exercifes, which tend at once to engage and employ the 
 mind, form the body, and add grace to ftrength and 
 adlivity. For thefe reafons he cultivated horfemanfliip 
 with equal pleafure and application, and the art would 
 have boafted in him its greatefl ornament and fupport, 
 had not an untimely death deprived the world of this 
 amiable prince, and the Manege of an affectionate and 
 zealous protedtor. All that is known of him, is, that 
 he loved it extremely, that he procured feveral foreign 
 horfes, as the fitted to be employed in it from their 
 natural talents, and the gracefulncfs of their motion ; 
 and that Henry IV. of France fent an experienced and 
 eminent horfenian, whofe name was St. Antoine, to in- 
 {lru(5t him in the art, There was a riding-houfe in St. 
 James's palace, in which this young prince exercifed 
 himfelf, and received his leffons. 
 
 Several other writers upon the fubjedt of horfes, 
 fpeak of his love and fondnefs of them, both in the 
 Manege and hunting, and conceived great hopes of the 
 advantages which the kingdom would reap from the 
 Smds which he formed, and the Races he eflabliflied. 
 
 Hence 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 193 
 
 Hence Withers introduces Britannia thus lamenting 
 his death : 
 
 " Alas, who now fliall grace my tournaments, 
 " Or honour me with deeds of chivalrie *? 
 
 hi this reign alfo the merit of the Englifli horfes 
 began to be fo acknowledged, that many w^ere pur- 
 chafed, and fent into France, where they continue to 
 be fo much valued and admired, that a great com- 
 merce is flill carried on, and numbers yearly fent into 
 that kingdom, as well as into Germany, Holland, Po- 
 land, and other places. 
 
 Bajfompiere f, in his memoirs, gives an account of 
 their introduftion, and of the name given to them, at 
 their firft appearance in France. He fays, that the 
 court being at Fontainbleau, it was the fafhion to play 
 for large and ferious fums, and the Circulation being 
 very brifk, they called the counters which reprefented 
 money, i^uinterots, becaufe they palTed and repafled from 
 one player to another, with as much quicknefs and 
 rapidity, as the Englifh horfes were known to run, 
 and which were called ^linterots, from the name of 
 the perfon, who the year before had brought them into 
 France ; which (he adds) were fo admired for their 
 fpeed, that Englifli horfes have, fnice that time, been 
 
 * Prince Henry's Obfeq. Eleg. ai, page 3(8. Lond. 1617. 
 -f- Menooirs, vol. i. page 206. 
 
 » 
 
 Vo L. I. C c always 
 
1 94 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 always employed in hunting and journeys ; a practice 
 till then unknown. 
 
 Towards the latter part of this reign it appears, 
 that the Englifli method of keeping and ordering their 
 horfes was thought fo proper and judicious, as to be 
 recommended and copied in France, and, perhaps, 
 elfewherc. It is fafeft to houfe and rub an horfe after 
 being heated, as the Englifli hunting and running- 
 horfes are, fays a French writer upon this fubjed:. 
 Surfleet's Tranilation of Lietand's Maifon Ruftique. 
 The tranflation of this book was publiflied in the year 
 1616; and the original mufl have been a book of 
 fome credit at that time, otherwife, it is to be fup- 
 pofed, an Englifhman would not have thought it 
 worth while to give a tranflation of it. 
 
 The reign of Charles was embroiled and diftra(fted by 
 fcenes which were brought too home to his own bufi- 
 nefs and bofom, to allow him to attend to thofe arts 
 and improvements which are the children of peace, 
 and muft be nurfed by leifure and tranquillity. 
 
 This King, like his brother Henry, was neverthelefs 
 very fond of the Manege, and, according to the tefti- 
 monies of Hillorians, a very judicious and accom- 
 plifhed horfeman. 
 
 As an * inftance of his attention to the Jrt of 
 riding, confidered in a public and national light, he 
 ifliied a proclamation in the third year of his reign, 
 
 ■^From the original in the Coll. of the Society of Antiquar. No. 74. 
 
 2 which 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 19^- 
 
 which enjoins the ufe of Bitts inftead of fnaffles, which, 
 at that time, were ufed in the army. The procla- 
 mation fets forth, that his Majefty iSnding by experi- 
 ence, that fuch horfes as are employed in the fervice, 
 are more apt and fit to be managed by fuch as fliall 
 ride them, being accuftomed to the Bitt, than the Snaffle^ 
 he, therefore, ftridtly charges and commands, that no 
 perfon (other than fuch only as his Majefty, in refpe<5l 
 of their attendance on his royal perfon, in times of 
 Difport, or othewife, fliall licence thereunto) £hall in 
 riding ufe any Snaffles, but Bitts only. 
 
 This regulation was judicious, for bitts were more 
 becoming, and better fuited to the troops, as fnaffles 
 are in general fitter for times of Difport, by which (it 
 is prefumed) racing and hunting were meant, and for 
 which they were referved. 
 
 The fondnefs for Englifli horfes among the French, 
 which began in the preceding reign, continued in this, 
 and the Englifli underftood the merit of their own 
 horfes fo well, as to be prudently jealous of their ex- 
 portation, and encreafe in the French dominions, as 
 appears from the following extracSt from the lately 
 primed journals of the Houfe of Lords ; viz. 
 
 " Die Sabbati 16 Die Jnlii, 1645. Dom. Proc. 
 
 " It was moved, at the requcft of the French agent, 
 *' that a pafs may be granted, for tranfporting twelve 
 " horfes and two mares into France for the Duke of 
 '' Orleans : and it is ordered, that he fliall have leave to 
 
 C c 2 " tranfport 
 
ig6 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 ' tranfport twelve hoifes, but no mares, as there is a 
 " ftatute againfl it ; and the conctirrence of the Houfe 
 " of Commons is defn-ed therein." 
 
 In fpite, liowever, of this jealoufy and {lri»5lnefs, not 
 to let Englifli horfes be fent into France, it fhould feem 
 that there was no unwillingnefs to let foreign horfes 
 be brought into England ; for we find that this Prince, 
 in the fixth year of his reign, granted a fpecial licence 
 to William Smith, and others, to import horfes, mares, 
 and geldings into this kingdom : the faid Wiliiarn 
 Smith, and others, are alfo enjoined to import Ccacl- 
 horfes. Coach-mares, and coach-geldings, which are not 
 to be under fourteen hands in height, nor under the 
 age of three years, nor exceeding feven * : and from 
 the frequent importation of horfes by our kings, it 
 feems probable, that they fet a greater value upon fo- 
 reign horfes, than on thofe of their own country ; 
 and there are not the lead traces of the Englifh horfes ' 
 being efteemed in the early parts of Rymers Collection. 
 
 We learn likewife from a memorial prefented to 
 Charles by Sir Edward Harwood f, touching the ftate of 
 the kingdom, that there was a great deficiency of good 
 and {lout horfes for its defence, infomuch that it was 
 "a queftion if it could have fur nifhed 2000, that would 
 have been equal to 2000 French: the caufe of this 
 
 * Rymer, vol. 8. p. 131. 
 
 ■\ Haikian Mile. vol. 4, p. 2^0. 
 
 evil, 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 197 
 
 evil, the memorialift takes to have been, the ftrong 
 addiction which the nation had to racing and hunting 
 horfes, which, for the fake of fwiftnefs, were all of a 
 lighter and weaker mould ; and he propofes, as a re- 
 medy of this grievance (and moH infallible it would 
 have been), that noblemen and gentlemen, inftead of 
 making races for Bells * (as before mentioned), fliould 
 keep ftronger horfes, which might be fit for war, and 
 train them and their riders in military exercifes. This 
 wholefome advice would probably have been purfued ; 
 but the remainder of the reign was fo ftormy, that 
 men were forced to fell the pafture, to buy the deed,, 
 and no regard could be paid to any improvement or 
 iifeful defign, the advancement of which generally de- 
 mands much preparation, and fofter times than this 
 period was able to boafl. 
 
 "When Charles II. was reftored, the arts, fciences and 
 pleafures followed in his train, and were reftored to a 
 nation, from which the troubles of the preceding 
 reign, and of Cromwell's Interregnum, had driven them 
 away. This pleafure-loving monarch greatly encou- • 
 raged that branch of riding, which is called Racing. 
 
 * About the latter end of this King's reign, it was cuftomary to 
 have races performed in Hyde- Park. This appears from a comedy 
 CdWtd the. Merry Beggars, or Jovial Cre^x;, written in the year 1641 — 
 " Shall we make a fling to London (fays one of the charafters of the 
 " piece), and fee how the fpring appears there in the Spring Garden^ 
 " and in Kyde-Park, to fee the Races, horfe and foot." 
 
 Dodjlefs ColUmon of Old Plays. 
 
 He 
 
1 93 TPIE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 He gave public rewards and prizes, and delighted to 
 be a witnefs of the contells of the courfe ; and when 
 refident at JVindfor, had races run at Datchet Mead ; but 
 the moil diilinguiflied fpot for thefe trials was New- 
 market, which, from the fitnefs of the ground, was firft 
 chofen, and has ever fince been facred to thefe Sports^ 
 which are itill as fuperior in England, as thofe of 
 Olympla are faid to have been in Greece *. 
 
 The glory of this place now burfl out in the 
 brighteft fplendor. The king ufed to honour the 
 races with his prefence, and ellablifhed an houfe for 
 his reception. He condefcended fo far as to be a 
 
 * Long before the inftitution of races, this chofen piece of ground 
 was frequently honoured by the prefence of thofe kings who loved 
 hunting, it being remarkably favourable to that fport. The manfion 
 now called the King's-Houfe, was their refidence, when they went to 
 Newmarket for the purpofe of hunting ; and it was not till fome time 
 before the troubles of the reign of Charles I. that this traft was deftined 
 to be an horfe-courfe ; but the races eftablifhed here felt the miferies of 
 the times, were difcontinued during the civil wars, nor revived till the 
 reltoration of thefbn and fucceflbrof the monarch who had firft diftin- 
 guifhed and prote£ted them. It Iliould fcem likewife, from the follow- 
 ing exrraiSt, that the fcience of racing was well underflood in this reign, 
 and advanced to a degree, almoft equal to the refinement of thefe en- 
 lightened times. Mejfieurs Hamillon envoyerent (fays the author) des 
 ■Cbevaux a M. le Due de Chevreufe, pour aUer voir la courfe de Monfieur 
 Germain neveu de Milord St. Alban^ le quel fur un petit cheval noir fut en 
 55 minutes a neuf milks loix du lieu dont il partita et on il revint ; fi bien 
 qu'en une heure (moins cinque minutes) il fit 1 8 milles, et g^.gna la gageurt 
 qu'il avoitfait. Un autre en mefme terns fit vingt milles^ et voulut de gager de 
 refaire a I'injiant la mefme chafe fur le meme cheval. 
 
 Monconny's Travels, tome i. page 23. 
 
 Can- 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 199 
 
 Candidate, kept and entered horfes in his own name, 
 and by liis attention and generofity, added dignity, 
 importance, and luftre to the inftitution, over which 
 he prelided. Bells, the ancient rewards of fwiftnefs, 
 were now no longer given, but in their flead a filver 
 Bowl or Cup, of the value of one hundred guineas. 
 Upon this royal gift, the exploits of the fuccefsful 
 horfe, and his pedigree, were generally engraved, to 
 publifh and perpetuate his fame ; and feveral of thefe 
 trophies are now in the polTefTion of different people. 
 The cuftom of keeping race horfes at Newmarket is ftill 
 continued by the fuccefTors of this king -, but the fum 
 of one hundred guineas is given in the room of the 
 filver bowl *. Charles is reprefented by the duke of 
 Newcaftle, as having had much knowledge in horfes, 
 and as an experienced and able rider f- In his reign 
 the adl of Henry VII. before recited, for prohibiting the 
 exportation of horfes, was repealed, and another 
 paffed, by which horfes were permitted to be fent 
 abroad, upon paying a duty of five fliillings each. 
 
 James the fecond has the honourable teilimony of 
 the above-mentioned duke of Newcaftle, as being a 
 good horfeman ; but his reign was too unquiet and 
 
 ■^ It is difficult to reconcile this charaft^r with an account of Charles 
 given by the above- cited author. " Je paflai par les ecuries du roy 
 qui font fort mal garnies, aufll n'aime t'il point les chevaux du manege. 
 
 P- 35- 
 
 f Some allowance is due to the duke of Newcaftle from his con- 
 nexion and fituation. 
 
 fliort, 
 
200 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 fliorr, to have allowed him to difcover his fentiments 
 and inclinations upon the fubjecSt of liorfes — All that 
 is known farther of him, is, that he loved hunting, 
 and for that purpofe preferred Englifli horfes, of 
 .which he had fcveral always in his ftables in France ; 
 and exprefled a peculiar fatisfacftion in having them, 
 and that at a time, and in a fituation, in which it is 
 natural to think, they were rather likely to have given 
 him uneafmefs and mortification, than to have afforded 
 him pleafure. 
 
 When nWiam III. was advanced to the throne, he 
 not only added to the plates given to different places in 
 the kingdom, but rendered a more necefTary and im- 
 portant fervice to the nation : he founded an Academy 
 for riding, and invited from France a very capable 
 and experienced horfeman. Major Foubert, to prefide 
 over it. 
 
 It is to be prefumed, that this prince mufl have ob- 
 fcrved that a general difregard to the art, and almoft 
 a total ignorance of its principles prevailed at this time 
 throughout the nation ; and he no fooner was fenfible 
 of the difeafe, than he applied the remedy, and did^ 
 at leafl in his prudent and generous intentions, what 
 fo long had been wanting in the plan of his predecef- 
 fors, to render it confiftent and cfTedual. It is afto- 
 nifhing to think how this work, fo immediately ne- 
 cefTary, could have been deferred fo long ; and that 
 while rewards were given, publick trials appointed, 
 and laws enacfted, to promote an ufeful and generous 
 
 breed 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 2oi 
 
 breed of liorfes, no ftep fliould have been taken on 
 the other hand to qualify and inllruc5l the youth of 
 the kingdom in the fuperiour art of riding : for the 
 getting upon the back of an horfe, to be conveyed from 
 one place to another, without knowing what the ani- 
 mal is enabled by nature, art, and pra(ftice to perform, 
 is not Riding : the knowledge and utility of which 
 confifls in being able to difcern, and dextrous to em- 
 ploy the means by which the horfe may be brought 
 to execute what the rider requires of him, with pro- 
 priety, readinefs, and fafety ; and this knowledge in 
 the man, and obedience in the horfe, like foul and 
 body, fliould be fo intimately conne<5ted, as to form 
 One Perfect Whole; this union being fo indifpenfably ne- 
 ceflary, that where it is not, there is no meaning be- 
 tween the man and horfe, they talk different lan- 
 guages, and all is confufion. — While many and fatal 
 mifchiefs may enfue; the man may be wedged in the 
 timber which he flrives to rend, and fall the viiSlim 
 of his own ignorance and raflmefs. 
 
 Queen Anne continued the bounty of her prede- 
 cefTors, with the addition of feveral Plates. Her royal 
 confort George prince of Denmark is faid to have been 
 remarkably fond of horfc-races, and to have obtained 
 from the queen the grants of feveral plates, allotted to 
 different places. The author of a work in 12 mo. re- 
 lating to the antiquity and progrefs of horfe-races, 8cc. 
 printed in the year i 7 69, fays, that in the reign of this 
 princefs, gentlemen bred their horfes fo fine, for the 
 
 Vol. I. Dd foke 
 
202 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 fake of fpeed only, that they became quite ufelefs, 
 when a public fpiritcd gentleman obferving this error, 
 left thirteen hundred guineas, for thirteen plates, to 
 be run for at fuch places as the crown fliould appoint, 
 whence they were called royal plates ; upon condi- 
 tion, that each horfe ihould carry twelve Hones weight, 
 the belt of three heats over a four-mile courfe : no 
 authority, however, is cited to fupport this account, 
 and the regiflers of the lord chamberlains, at the 
 Jewel-office, and of the king's mafter of the horfe, 
 evince the contrary, and prove the plates to be yo/(?/y the 
 royal bounty. 
 
 George the Firft, towards the end of his reign, dif- 
 continued the P/ates, and gave the fum of one hun- 
 dred guineas in their room. The royal bounty, con- 
 veyed in this fliape, was certainly more judicioufly 
 conferred, if confidered in a public and national light, 
 inafmuch as it was more ufeful and efficacious : for,, 
 notwithflanding that a nobleman, or perfon of fortune, 
 might eye the Czip upon his fide-board with a confci- 
 ous pride and pleafure, the Guineas will fpeak more 
 perfuafively to the private perfon and farmer, as they 
 will help at leaft to repay the expences of keeping the 
 horfe which won them ; and anfvver many other ne- 
 ceflary purpofes. 
 
 In the thirteenth year of his late majefly, an acft was 
 paired for the fuppreffion of races by Poiieys, and other 
 fmall and weak horfes ; by which all matches for any 
 prize -under the value of fifty pounds are forbid j and 
 
 4 ^Y 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 203 
 
 by which each horfe entered to run, if five years old, 
 is obliged to carry ten ftone j if fix, eleven ; and if feven, 
 
 twelve This fl;atute had a two-fold intention, and was 
 
 framed not only to prevent the encouragement of a 
 vile and paltry breed of horfes, but likewife to re- 
 move all temptation from the lower clafs of people? 
 who conftantly attend thefe races, to the great lofs of 
 time, and hindrance of labour j and v/hofe behaviour 
 Hill calls for fl;ri^5ler regulations, to curb their licenti- 
 oufnefs, and correct their manners. 
 
 The Scotch nation, from early times, pofTefi^ed a 
 breed of horfes which they much efteemed, and which 
 were held fo much in repute by other countries, 
 that it became necefTary to hinder their exportation, 
 by laws and reftri^tions. By an a6l of parliament of 
 James the firft, 2d. parliament, chap. 31. no horfe that 
 was not paft three years old could be fold out of the 
 kingdom, under pain of forfeiture to the king. By 
 another a(ft of the firft parliament of James the Sixth, 
 chap. 22, it was forbid to tranfport any horfe out of 
 the realm, upon pain of forfeiture to the king of fuch 
 horfe, and the lliip and goods of the tranfporter. The 
 preface of this act particularly mentions tranfporting 
 of horfes to Bourdeaux, from which place there was a 
 great demand, as well as from other parts, fo as to 
 make a fcarcity and dearth. 
 
 hi the tenth parliament of James the Third, a juft 
 and wife act was pafiTed, whereby every Fairier who fliod 
 an horfe, and pricked his foor, through ignorance or 
 
 D d 2 drunk- 
 
204 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 (Irunkenncfs, was obliged to depofit the price of tlie 
 horfe till he was found, and furnifh the owner with 
 another ; and, in cafe the horfe could not be cured, 
 the Farrier was obliged to pay the price, and indemnify 
 the injured owner. — By another aft of James the Sixth, 
 pari. 7, chap. 122, it is fet forth, that among other 
 occafions of Dearth of Visuals, which then prevailed in. 
 the realm, there was one particularly hurtful, which' 
 was tlie keeping of horfes all the fummer upon hard' 
 meat, ufed commonly by perfons of mean eilate, Cowp-- 
 pers, (dealers) with intention to make merchandize 
 of the faid horfes, being for the moft part fmall nags, 
 and not horfes of fervice, it it ordained that no fub^ 
 jeft, not being an earl, prelate, lord, or great baron, or 
 any of his highncfs's privy-council, feflion, or landed 
 gentleman, that can fpend of his own one thoufand 
 marks of yearly rent, all charges deduced, fliall keep 
 any fort of horfes at hard meat yearly, longer than the 
 15th day of May, nor take them from grafs, before 
 the 15th of Oftober, under the pain of forfeiting the 
 faid horfes, or paying the value of them to the king. 
 By an aft likewife of the faid king, to correft the too 
 great addiftion to horfe-races, and the laying large 
 wagers upon horfes, it is ordained, that if any man 
 win above the fum of one hundred marks, the fur- 
 plus fhall be given to the poor ; and if the colleftor, 
 iherilF, or juftices, are empowered to profecute for the 
 recovery of the fame, and in cafe of failure or negleft 
 fo to do, ai-e liable to be informed againil, and pay 
 
 double 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 205 
 
 double thereof, half to the informer, and half to the 
 poor. 
 
 This kingdom, at prefent, encourage a fleet breed 
 of horfes, and the nobility and gentry have many fo- 
 reign, and other llallions of great value, in their pof- 
 feffion, with which they cultivate the breed, and im- 
 prove it with great knowledge and fuccefs. Like the 
 Englilli, they are fond of Racing, and have a celebrat- 
 ed courfc at Lciib, which is honoured with a royal 
 plate, given by his prefent majefty. 
 
 The wifdom and generofuy likewife of the nobility 
 and gentry have lately ere(5ted a riding-houfe in the 
 city of Edinburgh at their own expence, and fixed a 
 falary upon the perfon who is appointed to diretfl it. 
 This kingdom has been famous for breeding a pecu- 
 liar fort of horfes called Galloways.. 
 
 Tradition reports that this kind of horfes are fprung 
 from fome Spanl/h llallions, which fwam on fliore from 
 forae of the fhips of the famous Spanifh armada, which 
 were wrecked on the coaft, and coupling with the 
 mares of the country, peopled the kingdom with their 
 pofterity. They were much efleemed, and of a mid- 
 ling lize, llrong, adlive, nervous, and hardy, and were 
 called Gallouays, from being firil known in the county 
 which bears that name. They are commended by 
 the duke of Newcadle. From the care and attention 
 paid at prefent to the culture of horfes in this nation, 
 it is to be expected that it will foon be able to fend 
 forth numbers of valuable and generous breeds, def- 
 
 tined 
 
2o6 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 tined to a variety of purpofcs, and equal to all : the 
 country being very capable of anfwering the wifhes 
 of the judicious breeder, who need only remember 
 that colts require to be well nouriflied in winter, and 
 fheltered from the feverity of a rigorous and change- 
 able fky. 
 
 The kingdom of Ireland has, for many centuries, 
 boafted a race of horfes called Hobbles, much admir- 
 ed and valued for their eafy paces, and other pleafmg, 
 ufeful, and agreeable qualities *j of a middling fize, 
 flrong, nimble, well-moulded and hardy: — many forts 
 of good and ferviceable horfes are bred in this king- 
 dom, which anfwer the pleafurable and neceflary pur- 
 pofes of life perfectly well, and are capable of mount- 
 ing the Light troops very properly. The nobility and 
 perfons of fortune have flallions of great reputation 
 belonging to them ; but chufe to breed for the 'Turf, in 
 preference to other purpofes ; for which, perhaps, their 
 country is not fo well qualified, from the moiflure of 
 the atmofphere, occafioned by excefs of rain, and other 
 caufes, which hinder it from imparting that elaftic 
 force, and clearnefs of wind, fo necelTary for the exer- 
 tion and continuation of extraordinary fpeed ; and 
 which are folely the gifts of 2idry foil, and an air more 
 pure and refined. This country, neverthelefs, is cap- 
 
 * Cafnden fays they are very excellent, and go not as other horfes 
 do, but pace very foftly and eafily. 
 
 Camden's Tranfl. by Gibfon, Vol. II. p. 1312. 
 
 able 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 207 
 
 able of producing fine and noble horfcs, if feconded 
 by a judicious care, and other requifites, which its in- 
 habitants are very able to beftow. 
 
 The horfes of the Ifle of Man are generally lefs than 
 thofe of England ; but as the land improves, fo do they j 
 and, of late, forae have been bred of no inconfiderable 
 fizc. This is the account given of them by Camden, as 
 they were at the time when he wrote. 
 
 They have a particular dwarfifh breed in the moun- 
 tains, which are very hardy, whofe fmallnefs alone re- 
 commends them to the pleafure and ufe of chil- 
 dren. 
 
 There were, feme years ago, a very particular breed 
 of tight, ftrong, and very little horfes, between Pen- 
 zance in Cornwall, and the Lizard Point, called Goon- 
 ellies, and fo denominated, from a large traft of land 
 where they were bred, known by the name of 
 Goonelly. 
 
 In many parts of that extenfive continent of the 
 Weft-Indies, a variety of horfes are to be found both 
 in a tame and favage Hate. It is generally thought 
 that the horfe is not an indigenous animal of the 
 Weft-Indies, but was introduced by the Spaniards, 
 whofe horfes were the firft the natives had ever feen. 
 Some learned and curious perfons however have en- 
 tertained doubts concerning this opinion, and pro- 
 duced weighty and plaufible arguments to prove that 
 thefe creatures exifted in America before it was known 
 to the Europeans. — As a farther difcuftion would be 
 
 need- 
 
2oS THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 needlefs, and foreign to the prefent fubjed, we will 
 leave the matter undecided ; obicrving only, that the 
 general and more probable notion is, that America is 
 indebted to Europe for the horfe *. 
 
 The territories belonging to Spain have, at this day, 
 a noble and elegant breed, little inferiour to their SpaniJJj 
 anceilors, which firfl peopled this fourth part of the 
 globe. — Their incrcafe has been prodigious, and feve- 
 ral of the Indian tribes are acquainted with their ufe, 
 and employ them to their pleafure and advantage, as 
 we find in the account of the late difcovery of Pata- 
 gonia. — When Sir Walter Raleigh went thither, they 
 were in fuch abundance, wild in the woods, that 
 the Indians killed them merely for their fkins, which 
 were beautifully marked and fpotted, and of uncom- 
 mon colours. 
 
 All who have feen, or give any defcription of 
 them, are very flowing of their praifes. — Commodore 
 f Byron fpeaks of them as having uncommon merit, 
 and X Ulloa fays, that the boafted fwiftnefs of the Eu- 
 ropean horfe s is DuHnefs, when compared to the cele- 
 rity of thofe of South America. One fort of thefe 
 horfes, called Jguilillas, not only excel in the amhJe, a 
 pace univerfally pradifed here, but are fo fuperiour in 
 their gallop, that no other horfes . can contend with 
 
 * Vid. Johannes de Laet notas ad difTertat. de gentium American, 
 origin. Hugonis Grotii. pag. 12. 
 
 -j- Byron's Narrative. % Voyage to S. America, p. 236, 464, 
 Vol. II. 
 
 thcm^ 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 20^ 
 
 them. The author fays, that he was pofTcfled of one 
 of this breed, which often carried him from Callao to 
 Limay which is two meafured leagues and an half, 
 through a very bad and Honey road, in twenty-nine 
 minutes, and brought him back again within a minute 
 or two of the fame time, without taking off the bridle. 
 This fpecies is not handfome, but eafy to the rider; 
 very gentle and docile, yet full of fpirit and intrepi- 
 dity. In the kingdom of Chili, the women are par- 
 ticularly famous for their fkill in horfemanfhip. 
 
 The province of Kew England has a very peculiar 
 fort, originally brought from England, which are faid 
 to amble naturally ; this pace they perform with great 
 fpeed, and with fuch fafety and exacT:nefs, that, altho' 
 otherwife valuable, they are chiefly efteemed for pof- 
 fefllng this talent, which they exert in a degree very 
 fuperior to all other horfes. 
 
 In taking a review of the flate of horfes in Eng- 
 land, from early times to the prefent, they feem to 
 have been divided but into two general cI^l^qs, vjhxch. 
 may be ranged under two diftinifl periods of time. In 
 the firft sera, as it was an univerfal cuftom for horfe- 
 men to fight in arm.our ; the burden was fo heavy, 
 and the fervice fo fevere, that none but large a.ndJ?ou( 
 horfes were equal to the tafk ; neither, from the bad- 
 nefs of the roads, could horfes of a much lefs fize, 
 and inferior ftrengtb, have been difpenfed with either 
 for journies, or in the cart. It was therefore the con- 
 ftant endeavour of this nation to raife fuch a breed 
 
 Vo L. I. E e as 
 
^lo THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 as fliould be able to anfwer the purpofes required 
 of them ; inllances and proofs of which have been 
 cited in the foregoing part of this work. This prac- 
 tice began about the time of Henry II. or fomewhat 
 earlier, and continued till towards the end of the 
 reign of Elizabeth ; at which period I bound the firft 
 asra, and range under it the firft Divijton, or clafs, 
 of horfcs, univerfally called Great. The conflant aim 
 of the legiflature was to flock the kingdom with 
 horfes of this character ; and although it appears to 
 have been difficult in the execution, from the many 
 a(^s of parliament and proclamations to fupport and 
 enforce it, yet it is not eafy to know from what 
 caufes this difficulty could fo frequently occur ; fince, 
 if this country did not naturally produce large or Great 
 horfes, ftallions and mares of a luftier growth might 
 have been, and were frequently imported from various 
 pans, cfpccially from Flanders, Holland, and Germany; 
 from the horfes of which country, the black breed of 
 coach horfes (now worn out) as well as thofe ufed 
 in our troops, which, in many engagements, from 
 their weight and ftrength, have been almoft irrefift- 
 ible, are known to be originally defcended : neither 
 can it be admitted, that England cannoi produce 
 large horfes, for the herbage is fo abundant, and 
 the ground fo various, that it can raife horfes of 
 the largeft ftature, and almoft of any intermediate 
 fize, at the will of the breeder ; and it is known 
 that the draught-horfes of Lincolnfliire, StafFordfliire, 
 
 Leicefter- 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 211 
 
 LeicefterjQiire, Northamptonfhire, and fome other coun- 
 ties are the Giants of their kind. The duke of New- 
 caflle complains that our horfes are often tco big, by 
 reafan of the moifture of the air, and wetnefs of 
 the ground : fo that when the contrary effeds ap- 
 peared, they muft have proceeded either from want of 
 judgment in the choice of the mare or ftallion, or both, 
 or from negledt of the foals, in not fupplying them 
 with good and fufficient nourifliment in winter, and 
 expofmg them in a weak and tender ftate to the va- 
 rious cruelties of that feafon. 
 
 About the reign of James, armour, being rendered 
 ufelefs by the invention of fire-arms, was laid afide, 
 and the Great horfc not only ceafed to be neceffary, 
 but, upon many occafions, became even improper. 
 Lighter and more nimble horfes were therefore brought 
 into ufe ; and here begins the ara, which comprehends 
 the fecond clafs of horfes, called the light or fwift 
 breed. 
 
 To encourage and promote a race of thefe horfes, 
 proclamations indeed were not iffued, nor flatutes en- 
 abled, but more powerful methods were adopted, and 
 employed perhaps with too much fuccefs. Public re- 
 wards were given, wagers allowed to be rifked, and 
 races inftituted ; which, from the curiolity they excite, 
 and the plcafure they afford, always draw an in- 
 credible number of fpedators, fo as almoft to fupply 
 the place of an Olympic triumph to the owner of the 
 victorious fteed ; and from thefe concurrent caufes, 
 
 E e 2 prove 
 
212 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 prove a mod powerful excitement to felf-intereft and 
 V cnaulation ; too powerful perhaps for tlie advancement 
 of that plan which they were originally intended to 
 promote : for, as if mere fpecd were the only requifite 
 in an horfe, all other properties and qualities have 
 been facrificed to it ; and it is almoft incredible to 
 what a degree of fwifcnefs the firft-rate breeds of this 
 kingdom have been Urained and wrought up ; but, 
 lofmg on one hand what they gain on the other, and 
 -jDeakened as refined, they become lefs ferviceable from 
 the excefs of the very quality which is reckoned their 
 chief recommendation : whereas, if ftrength and fpeed 
 were to go hand in hand, and join in due proportion, 
 the nation would foon fee a race of horfes capable of 
 fliining upon other ground than a Green Carpet, and 
 equal to every fervice which ufe or pleafure can de- 
 mand. Neverthelefs, however highly gifted the horfes 
 may be, there are duiies incumbent alfo lipon thofe 
 who are to ride them, without an attention to which, 
 all the talents of the horfe, inllead of being called forth 
 and improved, will be cruQied, extinguiflied, and 
 nature have been kind in vain. — Thefe Duties are 
 comprehended under one head, the Art of Riding. 
 This art has fo long been negleded and defpifed, that 
 one would almoft be prompted to conclude that a 
 fatality had conftantly attended it in this country ; 
 favoured as it is with every advantage for breed- 
 ing, nourifhing, and procuring the fmeft horfes of 
 all forts J and with a nobility and gentry, whofe 
 
 love 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 213 
 
 love of cxcrcife, atStivity, courage, perfonal endow- 
 ments, and commanding fortunes, v/ould qualify 
 them to take the lead, and •witch the JJ^orld uith r.obJe 
 Horfemanjljip ; yet, with all thefe high privileges, they 
 have fuffered it to languifli, and almoft perifli in their 
 hands : for a length of time it has been able to boaft 
 but a very few perfons who have flood forth as its 
 avowed friends and protectors. The duke of Nsw- 
 caftle honoured it with his pra^lice, and greatly enrich- 
 ed it with his knowledge. His treatife is a proof of 
 the vafl fcience he pofTefled, which, neverthelefs, from 
 the random manner in which it is wrote, the want of 
 method and perfpecuity, the redundancy and tau- 
 tology in which it abounds, has done juftice neither 
 to the art, nor to the Urong fenfe and infallible pre- 
 cepts with which it is replete. Fortunately for horfe- 
 manfhip, and for all who love and praiTtife it, its other 
 pride and fupport flill lives and rides. He never yet 
 has thought proper to convey his knowledge to others 
 by means of the Vrejs^ but, (like the Athenian of old) does 
 more than other people 'wrhe. His Horfe is his Pen, up- 
 on which he difpenfes fuch noble ocular inftru6lions ; 
 that if the duke of Newcajile thought himfelf entitled to 
 the homage of the Hor/^'-kind *, the -nobler applaufe 
 and acknowledgments of all Hv/emeii^ mull be confeft 
 to be equally due to Sir Sidney Medows. Sir JJllliam Hope 
 laid his ofl^ering upon the altar of horfcmanfhip, and 
 
 * Vide two prints at the head of the book publiflied by T. Sol- 
 Jeyfel. 
 
 gave 
 
214 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 gave the world a tranflation of a French work much 
 efteemed at that time, and rendered ftill more valuable 
 by the notes and additions which he made to it. 
 
 The prefent Henry earl of Pembroke, (non corpus Jine 
 peSlore) is an illuftrious labourer in this vineyard : he 
 has honoured the art by compofmg a treatife upon 
 ** The Method of breaking Horfes ;" and pradiling what he 
 preaches, inflru(5ls the world both by precept and 
 example. 
 
 Such long has been the ftate of horfemanfliip in 
 
 this kingdom ; but fmce the acceflion of his prefent 
 
 Majefty, the profpecT: has brightened, and better times 
 
 begin to dawn. Since this happy event, the Art has 
 
 raifed itfelf a little, and given fome figns of recovery » 
 
 public riding-houfes have been opened, which are 
 
 largely encouraged, and frequented by the youth of 
 
 the nation: many are calledy and it is to be hoped, many 
 
 v/ill be chofen. — Several private Maneges have likewife 
 
 been eredled by the Princes of the blood, fome of the 
 
 Nobility and Gentry, and, to crown all, his Majefty has 
 
 cre(5ted one for his immediate ufe, where, in his own 
 
 perfon, he cultivates, prote(5ls, and honours the Art, in 
 
 fo diftinguifhed a manner, that under the influence of 
 
 his illuftrious example, we may expect to fee the golden 
 
 age of horfemanfliip revive, and that men will not 
 
 much longer ''complain * of the want of excellent 
 
 " horfes, nor the horfes groan for want of worthy 
 
 " riders." 
 
 * C Morgan's Perfe<5b. of Hoifeman. 1609. 
 
 4 Thus 
 
OF HORSEMANSHIP. 215 
 
 Thus have I endeavoured to trace the hiftory of the 
 equeflrian art from its earliefl appearance among men, 
 but more immediately from its two great fources, Greece 
 and Rome. 
 
 The invention of bridles and faddles, the general 
 rules for riding of modern races, which are a copy of 
 the ancient, and almofl whatever elfe relates to the 
 animal, cannot without injuftice be afcribed to any 
 other origin. Such as it was received from the an- 
 cients, it is thought to have continued till fome time 
 in the fourteenth century, when the famous PignatelU 
 arofe in Naples, who engrafting his own fuperior me- 
 thods upon the ancient flock, opened a fchool, and dis- 
 played his knowledge to the equeftrian world. What 
 additions the Art has fince received, and what the ele- 
 ments are which compofe it, I will attempt to fet forth, 
 in the fubfequent volume, under ihe comprehenfive 
 title of the Manege ; firft begging the reader's permif- 
 lion, to lay before him a tranilation of the treatife of 
 Xenophon upon horfemanfhip : a work not only refpcc- 
 table for its antiquity, and for being the only one which 
 has furvived the ravages of time, but ftill more valu- 
 able, as coming from one who as a General, Hijiorian, and 
 Pbilofopher, flione with diftinguiflied lullre, in a very 
 polifhed and difcerning age. 
 
 To this I am happy to be permitted to join a dilTer- 
 tation on a kindred fubje(5l, the ancient method of coup- 
 ling horfes in a chariot. A method hitherto fo httle 
 
 under- 
 
2i6 THE HISTORY AND ART 
 
 underftood, as to have been almoft unknown. — I flatter 
 myfelf, likewife, that the reader will be pleafcd no lefs 
 with the accuracy with which it is fet forth, than with 
 the erudition which it contains, and will join the 
 honour of his praifes, to the acknowledgments which 
 are due from me to Governor PownalL 
 
 Fkciit eqms curruque volans dat jrcenajecundo. 
 
 Virg. iEn. i. 
 
 XENO- 
 
X E N O P H O N's 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 O N 
 
 HORSEMANSHIP. 
 
 From the Greek. 
 
 Vol. I. Ff 
 
X E N O P H O N's 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 O N 
 
 HORSEMANSHIP. 
 
 From the Original Greek. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 AS it has happened that much of our time has 
 been fpent in riding, and we think that we 
 have thereby acquired a fkili in horfemanfhip, 
 we are defirous of informing the younger part of our 
 friends, what method we judge the moft proper for 
 them to ufe in the management of their horfes. A 
 treatife on this fubjeifl has been written by the fame 
 Simon *, who dedicated a brazen flatue of an horfe in 
 the Eleujinium f at Athens, and carved upon the bafis a 
 
 * Little is known of this horfeman and writer, but what is preferv- 
 ed of him by Xenophon. — His Treatife quoted by our author is lofl:. 
 He is mentioned likewife by Julius Pollux, Apfyrtus, and others. 
 
 -f- The Temple of Ceres. 
 
 F f 2 re pre- 
 
2ZO XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 re pre fen ration of his own performances. Whenever 
 we happen to be of the fame opinion with him, in any 
 particulars, we fliall not erafe them from our book, 
 but deliver them with greater pleafure to our friends, 
 as thinking ourfelves more worthy of credit, for hav- 
 ing the concurrence of his judgment, who was fo ex- 
 pert in the art: whatever he has omitted, we fliall en- 
 deavour to fupply. 
 
 I 
 
 C H A P. I. 
 
 N the firft place, wc will fhew how any one 
 may be leaft liable to impofition in buying an 
 horfe. 
 
 In a colt that has not yet been broken, it is plain 
 that the Shape muft chiefly be confidered ; for, having 
 never been backed, he can give but very uncertain 
 ligns by which to judge his temper. 
 
 The firft part to be attended to is the Foot ; for as an 
 horfe would be of no ufe though the upper parts were 
 very beautiful, if the foundation were infufficient to 
 fupport it; juft fo a war horfe would be good for no- 
 thing, how much foever he excelled in all other points, 
 if he had bad feet ; for that alone would difable him 
 from uiing his other advantages. 
 
 Upon examining the feet, firft obferve the Hoofs : the 
 thick are much preferable to the thin. In the next 
 place, take notice whether they are high, or low and 
 
 flat, 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 221 
 
 flat, and this both behind and before. The hoofs that 
 are high have the yro^, or rather the fole, at a diftance 
 from the ground ; whereas an horfe whofe hoofs are low 
 moves equally on the ftrongeft and tendered part of his 
 foot, like a bandy, or bow-legged man. 
 
 Simon is right in affirming, that a good foot may be 
 known by the found * — The hollow hoof rattles againft 
 the ground like a drum. 
 
 Having begun from below, let us proceed regu- 
 larly to the higher parts of the body. 
 
 The bones of the Pajiem muft neither be too ftraight, 
 like thofe of a goat, for fuch a iliffnefs in the joint 
 would be uneafy to the rider, and the legs are more 
 fubjeft to inflammation ; nor, on the contrary, fhould 
 they be too much bent and low, left the fetlock fhould 
 be galled, and lofe its hair, when the horfe is ufed in 
 clayey or ftoney ground. 
 
 * Monfieur Bourgelat, in his preface to the fecond volume of Les 
 Ekmens Hippiatriques, reprehends this remark as trifling and falfe -, and 
 if our author is to be underftood literally, and the words feem to per- 
 mit no other conftrudlion, the criticifm is certainly jufl. — It may be 
 but candid, nevertheleis, to think that Xenophon could mean to fay 
 no more than that the feet, if well formed, and in good condition, could 
 bear to be ftruck againft the ground fo forcibly as to make it ring and 
 found ; and that this noife was a proof of their foundnefs, otherwife the 
 horfe could not bear the fhock, fo as to make his Beats firm and 
 diftind. 
 
 ^adrupedante putrem foniiu qualit ungula campum. 
 
 Virg. 
 
 Let 
 
222 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 Let the bones of the leg be large ; they are the pil- 
 lars of the body; yet not over-burdened with veins or 
 flefh *; for in going upon rough grounds, it happens 
 that a defluxion of blood and hard tumours are brought 
 on, the legs grow large and fwolen, and the ikin 
 widens ; which having once loft its tightnefs, the Fibula, 
 or fmaller bone of the leg, frequently gives way, and 
 makes the horfe lame. 
 
 If the colt, in moving, bend his knees j- freely, you 
 may conclude he will do fo when he comes to be rode; 
 for all of them, by time and ufe, acquire a greater 
 freedom of motion in their knees. — This is an excellent 
 quality, and thofe horfes which want it, are more apt 
 to ftumble, and fooner tire. 
 
 The Thighs X under the fhoulders, if they are large, 
 appear ftronger and more graceful, as in the human 
 form. 
 
 A wide cheft is to be preferred for beauty and 
 flrength, as it enables an horfe to continue § the fame 
 
 motion 
 
 * The author means, that the legs fliould be lean and dry, and the 
 veins and finews diftinft, firm, and compacfl. 
 
 -f- This is fo clear and evident, that the rule is obferred by the judi- 
 cious to this day. — As it is certain that no horfe, which has not a fup- 
 plenefs in his joints, and can bend his knees, can go either with fafety 
 or grace. 
 
 t Thefe are now called the Arms; they begin from the Ihoulder, 
 and reach to the knee. 
 
 § This is owing to the fpace being larger, ano the limbs confequent- 
 ly enabled to move with more fpring and play, than if they were confined 
 
 ^ in 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 223 
 
 motion of his legs for a longer time, without inter- 
 miflion. 
 
 Let the neck differ fo much from that of a Boar, 
 that it rather may refemble the fliape of a Cock's ; it 
 fhould not hang Hoping downwards from the chell,. 
 but rife eredl towards the fummit of the head ; and 
 be light and eafy in its flexible parts. — The head, in 
 general, (hould be boney *, but the cheek bones fliould 
 be fmall. The horfe's neck will then be carried di- 
 re(5lly in front of his rider, and his eyes be fixed on 
 what is before his feet. One of fuch a mould will be 
 lead able to overpower his rider, though he has ever 
 fo much fpirit, for horfes do not make fuch an attempt 
 by arching their necks, and bringing their heads near 
 their chefts, but by turning up their nofes, and ftretch- 
 ing out their necks. 
 
 It is proper alfo to obferve, whether the Jaws f or 
 Bars are tender or hard, or whether they are of dif- 
 ferent tempers ; when that happens, their mouths are 
 generally bad. 
 
 in narrower room; and the maxim is fo juft, that it is praftifed by all 
 horfemen, though perhaps unknown to fome, that this dodlrine was 
 preached and pradifed fome thoufand years ago. 
 
 * That is to fay, the head Ihould not be flefhy, but lean and dry ; 
 and thefe properties, added to fmall bones, will compofe a link Head, 
 which is efteemed the moil: beautiful. 
 
 f I have added the word Bars, as explanatory of what Xenophon 
 calls the Jazvs ; although it muft be confefled that the good or bad 
 temper of an horfe's mouth depends much upon the formation of the 
 yaws, and the fetting on of the Head. 
 
 2 An. 
 
224 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 An Eye which ftands out from the head, has more 
 appearance of quicknefs, and of diftant fight, than one 
 which looks hollow, and feems to be funk in the head. 
 Wide Nojlrih afford room for freer breathing, than clofe 
 ones ; and, at the fame time, give a nobler and fiercer 
 look: for when one horfe quarrels with another, or 
 grows warm and animated under his rider, you may 
 obferve that his noftrils fwell and widen. 
 
 The Head is properly large towards the top, and the 
 Ears fmall. 
 
 If the point of the fhoulder is high, it gives the 
 rider a fafer feat, and makes the connedion ftronger 
 between the fhoulders and the body. If this part is 
 Broady the feat is better, and it is more beautiful to be- 
 hold. 
 
 When the Side is deep, and fwelling towards the bel- 
 ly, for the moft part, it makes the rider's feat more 
 eafy, and the horfe appears ftronger and fuller of 
 
 ilclh. 
 
 The fhorter and broader the 'Loim are, fo much more 
 eafily he raifes his fore-parr, and brings his hinder 
 forwards, or und'^r him : befides, in fo doing, his belly 
 will appear fmaller, which, when it is large, partly dif- 
 fio-ures him; renders him to a certain degree weaker, 
 and lefs able to bear any burden or weight. 
 
 The Haunches fhould be broad and well-furnifhed, 
 and in proportion to the fides and cheft. 
 
 When 
 
O N HO R S E M A N S H I P. azj: 
 
 When all parts of an horfe are firm and folid, he 
 is lighter for the courfe j and confequently more 
 fpeedy. 
 
 If the Thighs * under the Tail, or Hocks, are diftinclly 
 feparated, he will extend his hinder legs a great way 
 under his belly ; and, in fo doing, will carry his rider 
 with more flrength and fwiftnefs, and be better in 
 every point. — Of this any one may be convinced, by 
 confidering that a man, when he takes a thing from 
 the ground, Hands with his legs aftride and open. 
 
 The Tefiicks f of an horfe Ihould not be large ; but 
 their proper fize cannot be determined in a colt. 
 
 What has been faid upon the Pajierns, the Legs, the 
 Fetlocks, and the Hoofs, of the fore-part of the Horfe, may be 
 applied to the fame parts beUnd. 
 
 I will now fubjoin by what means any man Inay 
 make the beft guefs at theyfoe of a colt : that which is 
 foaled with the hngejl legs will be the talleft ; for the legs 
 of all four-footed animals do at no time increafe much 
 in fize ; but the other parts grow fo ^ to become pro- 
 portionable to them. 
 
 * By this we are to underftand that the Hocks, which he calls the 
 thighs under the 'Tail, fhould be at a proper diftance from each other, 
 in oppofition to that fhape or mould of an horfe in which they turn /a, 
 and almoft touch each other ; tlie French call horfes fo formed Crochu, 
 and we Cat-ha?mned, from their refemblance in thefe parts, to the hinder 
 legs of that animal. 
 
 j Apfyrtus fays they fhould be fmall. 
 
 Vol. I. ^S He 
 
326 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 He who examines the fliape of a colt by thefe rules, 
 feems to us to have the beft chance of getting a good 
 horfe ; one that is well-footed, well-bodied, llrong, 
 handfome, and large. And although it fometimes 
 happens that colts alter as they grow, yet we may, with 
 afTurance, rely upon our judgment formed upon thefe 
 obfervations ; for many more change from worfe to 
 better, than from better to worfe. 
 
 CHAP. 11. 
 
 Wl E will now proceed to the right method of 
 breaking a colt. Thofe who are appointed to 
 ferve in the cavalry among us, are men of large pro- 
 perty, and fuch as bear a confiderable part in the go- 
 vernment of the ftate ; and it is furely then much 
 more becoming the young men to attend to the good 
 management of themfelves, and the art of horfeman- 
 fhip; or, if they^nderftand that already, to continue to 
 exercife themfelves therein, without being profefled 
 riding-mafters ; while the old will be more properly 
 employed in ferving their families, friends, and coun- 
 try, either in its civil or military concerns. 
 
 Thus it is plain, that whoever is of my opinion, in 
 this refpeft, will fend his colt * out to be broken; and, 
 
 in 
 
 * It is to be inferred from this expreflion, that in our author's time, 
 if not long before, there were certain perfons who profefled to break 
 
 coksy 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 227 
 
 in the fame manner, as when one fends a fon out to be 
 inftrud:ed in any art, he will put into writing in what 
 he requires his colt fliould be prai5tifcd, before becomes 
 home again. For this will be a direiflion to the horfe- 
 breakcr; to which he ought principally to attend, if he 
 expe(fts to be paid. 
 
 Care fliould be taken that the colt, which you de- 
 liver to him, be gentle, temperate, and fond of man. 
 Of this the owner may be informed at home, chiefly 
 by means of his groom ; who ought to reflect:, that 
 hunger, thirll, and other things which provoke the 
 colt to rage and uneafinefs, come upon him of them- 
 felves ; but that he is fupplied with food and water, 
 and delivered from what offends him, by the affiftance 
 of man. If the groom conliders this, and a(fts ac- 
 cordingly, the colt will be brought not only patiently 
 to endure and perform what is required of him, but 
 will alfo conceive a fondnefs for man. 
 
 Let the perfon to whom his education is intrulled, 
 ftroke and rub the colt in thefe parts of his body 
 ■where he is likely to receive moft pleafure ; thefe are 
 thofe which are moft covered with hair, and where he 
 is leaft able to aflift himfelf, when any thing difturbs 
 him. The groom likewife Ihould be ordered to lead 
 him through crowds, and familiarife him to fights and 
 noifes of all kinds ; and when he is alarmed at any 
 
 colts, and were public riding-mafters ; which proves that the Art was 
 much confidered and cultivated in Greece, even in thofe early ages. 
 
 Gg 2 of 
 
228 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 of them, let him convince him, not by force and fe- 
 verity, but by patience and gentlenefs, that he has 
 nothing to fear. Thefe are the rules which we re- 
 commend to the unexperienced, having (as we think) 
 faid enough concerning the methods to be taken in 
 breaking of colts. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 T F the horfe to be bought has already been rode, wc 
 "^ will give fome diredlions, which a man Ihould ob- 
 ferve, who would efcape being deceived in his pur- 
 chafe. 
 
 Firft of all, be fure to know what is his age. One 
 who has no longer the marks in his teeth, neither 
 affords much room for hope, nor is fo eafily fold 
 again. 
 
 When it is evident that he is young, then let it be 
 obferved how he bears the bit to be put into his 
 mouth, and the head-piece about his ears. This may 
 beft be known, if the buyer fees the bridle put on and 
 taken off. 
 
 The next attention muft be to his behaviour, when 
 he receives his rider upon his back : for many horfes 
 will not fubmit, without difficulty, to bear fuch things 
 to be done to them ; which being done, they know 
 would bring them under fubje<5tion, and be the means 
 ©f compelling them to work. 
 
 Another 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. azp 
 
 Another thing to be noted, is whether, when the 
 rider is mounted, the horfe is ready and wilHng to go 
 forward, and leave his companions, if they are near 
 him ; but rather hefitates, and cafts his eyes upon them, 
 as refufmg to leave them. 
 
 There are others who, from not being entirely re- 
 duced, and made obedient, when they were firfl under- 
 taken, grow fo headftrong and furious, as frequently 
 to run away with the rider, and leave the place of 
 exercife *. 
 
 Mouths which are bad, and have loft their feeling, 
 from the imperfedlion of the Jaws, or hardnefs of the 
 Bars, may be discovered by riding the horfes with a 
 Bit, called the Chain f ; but the better method is en- 
 tirely 
 
 * From this exprefllon it is to be inferred, that the Greeks exercifed 
 and taught their horfes out of doors, and knew not to avail themfelves 
 of the advantage of a covered Manege. 
 
 •\- It is very difficult to form any idea of the author's meaning, with: 
 refpeft to this word. — The original Greek term, niSn, fignifies a Chain, 
 Shackle, or Fetter-, and a chain, without much in:ipropriety, might be 
 put into the mouth of an horfe, and be ufed as a fort of a Bit, or elfe 
 it may be underftood to be placed on the outfide of the mouth, in the 
 hollow of the Chin, or upon the Beard, as it is called, in the manner of 
 our bits, or over the nofe, as a cavezon. Thefe fuggeftions, however, 
 are mere conjeflure, and as fuch are left with the reader. The au- 
 thor's meaning, in general, as to this paffage, is likewife fomewhat ob- 
 fcure ; for although he tells us that the badnefs of the horfe's mouth 
 maybe known by riding him with this Chain, yet he fays, immediately 
 after, that it is better that the method fiiould be totally changed; but 
 does not inform us what that method is which he wifhes we fhould purfue. 
 
 None. 
 
230 
 
 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 tirely to change the way of working. For many horfes 
 do not attempt to run away, unlefs they have a bad 
 mouth; or are, at the fame time, going homeward, and 
 eager to get thither. It is necelTary likewife to know, 
 whether, when the horfc is animated and exerted to a 
 briflc pace, he will flop readily, turn back, and obey the 
 rider. 
 
 He ought alfo to be put to the trial of his obedience, 
 by being now and then roufed, and provoked by a 
 blow ; which, if he receives it without refentment or 
 anger, it is a mark of a good and generous temper. 
 An army which refufes to obey its general, or a fervant 
 who will not fubmit to his mafler, are both entirely 
 ufelefs ; but a refratftory and difobedient horfe is not 
 only of no fervice, but will degenerate into a traitor, 
 and bring his rider to deflrudtion. 
 
 As we take for granted, that the horfe to be bought, 
 is defigned for war, he ought to be examined in every 
 particular, which that fervice requires. — Such as, his 
 vigour and adlivity in fpringing acrofs a ditch, leap- 
 
 None of the Commentators take any notice of thefe difficulties. — Stephem 
 indeed explains the word Uih, to be a method of exercifing horfes by 
 means of a Chain, and quotes our author, adding that it was ufed to 
 make the horfe turn to either fide ; and then it might eidier be the rein 
 of the bridle, or rather a longe, with which the horfe was pulled and 
 worked, to make him fupple to either fide; for which purpofe, it 
 might be cuflomary to ufe a Cbain. All this, however, is but fuppofi- 
 tion, and 1 muft confefs my inability, to give any certain infor- 
 mation. Vid. infra. 
 
 ing 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 2ji 
 
 ing over walls, rufhing upwards againft a bank, and 
 jumping down from the top of one. He fhould like- 
 wife be tried in mounting up, and defcending from a 
 fteep hill, or running acrofs it. — Thefe experiments 
 will prove whether his fpirit be good, and his body- 
 found and ftrong. 
 
 Neverthelefs, it is not to be concluded, that an horfe 
 who is not equal to all thefe trials, is abfolutely to be 
 rejeded; for many may fail in thefe attempts, not from 
 want of fpirit or ability, but for want of ufe and ex- 
 perience ; which, when they have been taught and 
 difciplined, will perform thefe exercifes perfeftly well, 
 provided that they are found, and endowed with cou- 
 rage and refolution. 
 
 A fufpicious and timid horfe muft be abfolutely 
 avoided. For with this cowardly difpofition, he will 
 not advance to charge an enemy ; and, from his fear 
 and fliynefs, may be fo troublefome as even to fling 
 the rider, and expofe him to great danger. 
 
 The qualities and temper of the animal fhould like- 
 wife be examined, that it may be known if he has 
 any vices, of what kind they may be, and whether he 
 Ihows them towards men, or other horfes ; likewife 
 how he bears being handled or dreffed ; fmce from his 
 behaviour, in thefe circumftances, he becomes valu- 
 able or ufelefs to his owner. 
 
 A furer judgment may alfo be formed of his docility 
 and patience, to be bridled and mounted, as well as in; 
 
 per- 
 
.232 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 performing his different exercifes ; if, after having 
 gone through his labours, you make him repeat the 
 tafk, and begin again ; for, if after having finiflied his 
 work, he w^ill renew and go over it again with chear- 
 f ulnefs and good-will ; he gives a notable proof of his 
 obedience and fubmiflion. 
 
 In fhort, when an horfe has good feet, is gentle, fuf- 
 ficiently fpeedy, willing and able to undergo fatigue, 
 and, above all, is obedient, it may be concluded, that 
 he is poffelTed of all the qualities neceffary for military 
 fervice, and will prove moft fafe and ufeful to his 
 rider. 
 
 On the other hand, fuch horfe s, which, from a cold 
 and fluggifli nature, demand much beating and infti- 
 gation ; or fuch, which from a fiery and capricious 
 temper, require fuch attention as to keep the rider al- 
 ways upon his guard, are not to be valued or chofen, 
 inafmuch as they are not to be trufted, and may ex- 
 pofe the rider to great mifchief. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 TH E next care a man fliould take, after he has 
 found an horfe to his mind, and purchafed 
 him, fliould be to provide a flable fo fituated, with 
 refpedl to his houfe, that he may fee him very fre- 
 quently ; and to have his Hall fo contrived, that it may 
 be as difficult a tafk to fleal the provender out of the 
 2 manger, 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 233 
 
 manger, as to take his own vidluals out of the 
 Larder. 
 
 He that neglects thefe things, feems to negletfl him- 
 felf ; fince it is plain that, in times of danger, the fafety 
 of the matter is oftentimes intruded to the horfe. — Such 
 a ftall is not only fafe againll theft, but fliows alfo 
 when an horfe feeds, or leaves his food uneaten. 
 When this appears to be the cafe, either that he is 
 furfeited, and his body is too full, fo as to require evacua- 
 tion, or elfe that he has been over-worked, and demands 
 repofe, or that fome diforder is coming upon him. 
 Now it is the fame with horfes as with men, all dif- 
 tempers taken in time are more eafily cured, than when 
 they have been fuffered to fix themfelves, and have 
 corrupted the conftitution. The fame attention which 
 is given to fupply an horfe with food, and to let him 
 have due exercife, that he may be healthy and ftrong, 
 is alfo requifite to be obferved, in order to keep his 
 feet in proper condition. Moid or fmooth floors will 
 injure even thofe hoofs, which are by nature good and 
 found. The firft evil is to be remedied by a declivi- 
 ty, or flope in the floor ; the fecond may be prevented 
 by making a Stone-pavement, each Stone, of which it is 
 compofed, being about the fize of the horfe's hoof. — 
 This fort of pavement will cool, harden, and improve 
 his feet, merely by his fl:anding upon it. The groom 
 mufl remember to lead the horfe out of the flable, when 
 he is to be cleaned and drefled ; and after the firft 
 
 Vol. I. Hh - -•• meal, 
 
2 34 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 meal, to remove, or turn * him from the manger, that 
 he may return to his food, to his fecond or evening 
 feed, with frefli appetite. 
 
 In order that the Stable-yard may beft anfwer the piir- 
 pofe of hardening \ and ftrengthening the horfes feet, 
 
 let 
 
 * Our method of keeping a large quantity of litter and dung under 
 the horfes feet is wrong and injudicious. The litter, mixed with dung,, 
 heats the feet and legs, and makes the hoofs become dry and brittle. 
 Befides this, the horl'c is not fo much tempted to lie down at night, as 
 he would be, if it were removed, and fpread under him again at 
 proper fealbns. The fame error prevails in keeping the rack conti- 
 nually crammed with hay, which the horfe being obliged to fmell 
 continually, is brought to naufeate and loath it.— A certain portion 
 fhould be given at a time, of which, if the animal leaves any part, it 
 ought to be remove^ ■■, that by having wanted food for a certain time, 
 his appetite may call for it ; he will then relifli what he eats, and 
 thrive better upon a fmall quantity thus dealt out, than on a much, 
 larger improperly given. 
 
 -j- As much isfaid in the preceding chapter concerning the beft method 
 of preferving the hoofs, and rendering them hard and tough, by the 
 means of a Jlone pavement on which the horfes were to ftand when in 
 the ftable ; it may not be thought foreign to the fubjeft, to add a more 
 particular account of the ancient method oi Jhoeing horfes, if that term 
 may be ufed, for an occafional covering of their feet. Mention is made 
 in fome * ancient authors of this praftice. Yet it is certain, that if we 
 undcrftand the coverings of the feet in ufe among them to be the fame 
 as the modern Jhoes, or like them in any refpefl, we labour under a 
 palpable miftake. The ancients did not Jhoe their horfes-, that is to fay> 
 tiiey did not nail upon their hoofs any pieces of iron, or of other metal, 
 in the form and (hape of the modern horfejhoes; but when they intended 
 
 * Catullus, Appian, Pliny, Suetonius. 
 
 to 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 23^ 
 
 let four or five loads of round ftones, of about a pound 
 weight, be thrown down in it, having a ridge, or bor- 
 der 
 
 to defend them from any thing that might annoy them in travelling, or 
 the hardnefs of the ground, they faftened upon their feet^ by means 
 of ftraps and ligatures, a fort of Snndal-f, Stocking, or what -we call BoolS' 
 Thefe were made ofSeJges twifled together like zMat, or elfe o^ Leather^ 
 and were fomecimes ftrengther.ed with plates of iron, and adorned by 
 rich and oftentatious people with filver and gold, as in the inftances of 
 Nero and Poppxa. In the colledtion of the late Baron Socks, Paftes of 
 antique ftones, now in the Britifh Mufeum, there is one which repre- 
 fents a foldier binding, or tying, on this fort of fhoe, which, being add- 
 ed to other authorities, proves the faft to demonftration, as the above 
 pafTage of Xenophon, and the contrivance of the ftone-pavement, make 
 it clear that fhoes were unknown in his time. 
 
 It is remarkable that the Japanefe, at prefent, have a fimilar kind of 
 fhoes with the common fort ufed by the ancients. They are twifted, 
 of ftraw, with ropes, likewife of ftraw, hanging down from them, with 
 which they are fattened about the horfe's feet, inftead of the European 
 iron fhoes, which are not ufed in this country. They are foon worn 
 out in flippery and ftoney roads, and muft be often changed for new. 
 For this purpofe, the men who look after the horfes always carry 
 a competent ftock with them, though they are to be found in every 
 village, and offered to fale by poor children begging along the road. 
 
 The horfes of Japan are generally fmall, but fome of them not in- 
 feriour in fhape and fpeed to the Perfian breed. They are ufed both 
 for the faddle and draught. Vid. Kempfer's Hiftory of Japan, tranf- 
 lated by Scheuzer. 
 
 I have not been able to difcover in what sera, or in what country, 
 the modern art of fhoeing took its rife. The earlieft proof I have 
 met with, is the fhoe faid to have belonged to the horfe of ChilJerk, 
 who lived in the year 481, and is preferved in Montfaucon's Anti- 
 quities of France. It perfedtly refembles the fhoes in ufe at prefent. 
 
 t Rei Ruflicx Scrip. Editio Gefner. 
 
 H h 2 It 
 
23<5 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 der of iron, that they may be kept together, and not 
 fcattered and loft. The horfe being obliged to Hand 
 upon thefe ftones, will procure the fame advantage to 
 his hoofs *, as he would, if he went upon ftoney 
 Toads every day : and when he is rubbed down, or 
 curried, it muft neceflarily happen that his hoofs 
 will be ufed in the fame manner * as if he walked 
 
 It is to be remarked, that it was a cuftom among the ancients, which 
 defcended to the early modern ages, to bury their horfes with their 
 owners, and to prefer fuch as were moft valued and beloved. In 
 Homer, Achilles facrifices fix to the manes of Patroclus. The grooms, 
 or equerries, or favourite fervants, were alfo devoted to the fame fate- 
 Vid. Herodot. Lib. iv. In the year 1710, a tomb was dug up at Bloisy 
 in which were found the bones of an horfe and dog. Vid. Montfau- 
 con's Antiq. de France, p. 14. Vid. alfo Effai's Hift. fur Paris, p. 
 234, vol. iii. 
 
 It may not be impertinent, with reference to this fubjecSt, to relate 
 the following odd particular belonging to the caftle of Oakham, in 
 Rutlandlhire, which is maintained and in force at this very time. This 
 caftle was built foon after the Conqueft, by JVakelin de Ferrariis, 
 who, as he gave fix Horfe-flooes for his arms, obtained the following 
 grant j viz. the firft time any baron of the realm pafTes through Oak- 
 ham, he forfeits a ftioe from his horfe, unlefs he chufe to redeem it, 
 which generally is the cafe, by finding one in its place. The forfeited 
 fhoe, or that made in its ftead, is fixed, with the nobleman's name, on 
 the caftle-gate. Sometimes they are made very large, and gilt, in pro- 
 portion to the fum of money given in lieu of the real fhoe, (which is 
 permitted to be done) and great numbers are to be feen on the gate. 
 This Wakelin de Ferrariis came into England with the Conqueror, and 
 was created by him earl of Ferrers and Derby. Vid. Brook's Difco- 
 very of Errors, in the Catalogue of Nobility, p. 198. 
 
 * Vegetius fays, that the floor of the ftable fhould not be made of 
 foft wood, but of folid hard oak, which will make the horfe's hoofs as 
 hard as rocks. 
 
 abroad. 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 237 
 
 abroad. Thefc ftones will likewife harden his 
 feet. But when fo much pains are likewife taken 
 to harden his hoofs, let it not be forgot to form 
 and make his mouth tender. This is to be done 
 by the fame methods which are obferved to foften. 
 human flefh f. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 "IT THOEVER underftands horfes himfelf, will take 
 ^ ^ care to have a groom that has been taught to 
 treat them properly. — In the firft place, he fhould fee 
 that the knot of the halter, which confines the horfe 
 to the manger, fhould not hurt his head j for, as he is 
 often moving his head to the manger, if the halter is 
 not eafy about his ears, it may gall him ; and that 
 having once happened, may render him lefs trac- 
 table, both in bridling and drefling. Let the groom 
 have orders to remove the litter and dung every day ;, 
 this will give him lefs trouble, and be better for the 
 horfe; 
 
 He ought alfo to put a muzzle upon the horfe, 
 when he takes him out to clean, or for other pur- 
 
 -f- By doing nothing to injure or hurt it, fo as to make it infenfible 
 and callous, and then it will naturally be foft and tender. 
 
 pofeSj, 
 
2 3§ XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 pofes *, and in general wherever he goes, and is not 
 bridled ; for the muzzle prevents his biting, without 
 interrupting his breath, and hinders him from exe- 
 cuting any vicious defigns. 
 
 The halter with which the horfe is tied fhould be 
 fixed above his head, becaufe, when any thing offends 
 his face, it is natural for him to try to get rid of it, 
 by toiling his head upwards ; and if he is thus tied, 
 that motion, inflead of tightening, will flaken his 
 halter. 
 
 In dreilmg the horfe, it is right to begin with the 
 head and mane ; for if the upper parts are not clean, 
 it is in vain to make the lower ones fo. Let the reft 
 of his body be cleanfed with all forts of dreiling in- 
 flruments, and the duft wiped off the way the hair 
 lies. But the hair on the back-bone fliould not be 
 touched with an inftrument, for fear of injuring it, fo 
 as to make it unfit to bear the rider.— -It fliould be 
 rubbed with the hand only, and fmoothed down the 
 way it naturally grows. 
 
 * In the original and literal fenfe, it is, when he takes him to the 
 Rolling-place. It means, that the horfe (hould be muzzled when he is 
 turned out of the liable into a field, yard, or other place, where he may 
 tumble and roll himfelf. The Greeks thought this a wholefome prac- 
 tice, and very refrefhing after fatigue. Apfyrtus recommends it; and 
 Vegetius fays, when an horfe forbears to roll himfelf, it is a fymptom 
 of his not being well. "Let this horfe roll himfelf upon the fand, and 
 " then lead him to the ftable," fays a Charailer in the Clouds of Arifto- 
 phanes, A6t i. Se£l. i. 
 
 The 
 
 ^ 
 
ON HORSE M ANSHIP. 239 
 
 The head mud be waflied with water : as there are 
 many bones in it, it would hurt the horfe to rub them 
 with iron * or wood. 
 
 The Forelock fhould be wafhed alfo : this tuft of hair, 
 though pretty long, does not obftrui5t his fight, but is 
 a defence to his eyes. Providence certainly has fur- 
 nifhed the horfe with it, inilead of the long ears which 
 alTes and mules have for the fame purpofe. 
 
 The T'ail and Mane fhould like wife be wafhed and 
 cleaned, that the hair may grow ; for the longer the 
 tail is, the farther the horfe is able to reach f, in 
 bruiliing ofi whatever may difturb him ; and the Mane 
 
 is 
 
 * This implies that the Greeks ufed Inftruments for the purpofe of 
 cleaning their horfes, as we do Curry-combs ; and perhaps the moderns 
 are indebted to them for thefe utenfils. 
 
 •f- Thefe obfervations are fo true and juft, that one would almofl 
 think it needlefs to dwell upon them -, yet fuch is the cruelty and ab- 
 furdity of our notions and cuftoms in cropping, as it is called, the ears- 
 of our horfes, docking and nicking their tails, that we every day fly in 
 the face of reafon, nature, and humanity. Nor are the prefent race of 
 men in this iOand alone to be charged with this folly, almoft unbe- 
 coming the ignorance aud cruelty of favages ; hutxhtn fore-fathers, fe- 
 veral centuries ago, were charged and reprehended by a public canon, 
 for this abfurd and barbarous praftice : however, we need but look in- 
 to the ftreets and roads to be convinced, that their dcfcendants have 
 not degenerated from them; although his prefent Majejly^ in his wif- 
 dom and humanity, has endeavoured to reclaim them, by iflliing an 
 order that the horfes which ferve in his troops fhould remain as nature 
 defigned them : 
 
 Who never made her work for vwn to mend, Dryden. 
 
 The 
 
240 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 is of ufe in giving a better hold to the pcrfon who is 
 to mount him. 
 
 Befides, the Mane, Forelock, and Tail, are bellowed upon 
 the horfe as a grace and ornament. A proof of which 
 may be, that Brood Mares do not fo eafily admit the em- 
 braces of JJes, till the breeders of Mu!es have purpofely 
 fti ipt them of thefe beauties *. W.ifliing of the legs 
 
 The title of the canon is, 
 
 Ui reliquias riluum poganorim qui/que abjiciat. 
 Equos vejlres turpi confuctudine detriincatis, nares finditis, awes copulatis^ 
 Vitum etiam et fur das redditis, caudas amputatis, et quia illos ilUfos habere 
 potejlis, hoc nolenles, cunffis odibiles redditis. Equos eliam plerique in vcbis 
 comedmit, quod nullus Chriflia)!orum in Orientalibusfacit, quod eliam evitale. 
 Concilium Calchutenfe. Vid. Spelman's Councils cf England, where are 
 the decrees of the council of Calchut. vol. i. p. 293. See alfo Collier's 
 Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, vol. i. p. 137. 
 
 " From the influence of a vile and unbecoming cuftom, you deform 
 and mutilate your horfes. You flit their noftrils, tie their ears together, 
 and, by fo doing, make them deaf: befides this, you cut off their tails; 
 and, when you may enjoy them uninjured and perfeft, you chufe rather 
 to maim and blem.ifh them, fo as to make them odious and difguftful 
 objefls to all who fee them. Numbers of you likewife are accuftomed 
 to eat your horfes ; a praftice of which no Chriftians in the Eaft were 
 ever "uilty. — This alfo you are hereby admoniflied to renounce en- 
 tirely." 
 
 The French call an horfe whofe tail is cut, nn Cadogan, from the 
 name and title of lord Cadogan, who ferved under the duke of Marl- 
 borouo-h in the reign of queen Anne ; and is faid to have firfl introduced 
 this cuftom of docking the troop-horfes. 
 
 It is thought by fome, that the cutting of the tail diminiflies the fwift- 
 nefs of the horfe ; it certainly does in grey-hounds and birds, efpecially 
 in turning. 
 
 ■*(■ This is a ftrange aflertion to come from the pen of fo grave and 
 exa£t a writer as Xenophon. The reader is left to form what opinion 
 
 he 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 241 
 
 we do not mention, becaufe it is fo far from being 
 of fervice, that the hoofs are even injured by being 
 
 he pleafes of it ; many other authors likewife mention this particularity, 
 which tends only to make the account more ftrange. Julius Pollux 
 lays, that the mares were made confcious of their own deformity, by 
 feeing themfelves in fountains and clear waters. — Vid. alfo Anatol. 
 HjTrn-iosTfixtov, lib. i. cap. 14. — Pliny, lib. viii. cap. 42. — Ariftoc. lib. 
 vi. cap. J 8. — iElian. lib. ii. chap. 18. Notwithftanding this humane 
 doftrine preached by Xenophon, it appears that it was a cuftom among 
 fome nations, to fheer the manes and Ihorten the tails of their horfes, 
 as we learn from Camarcrius *, who quotes Plutarch and others, in 
 thefe words. — Plutarch, fpeaking of the Sicilians, fays. Hi enim vic- 
 iores equis lauro ccronatis, caftivi vero ionjis crinibus ulebantur. Hoc etiam 
 Fazellus tejiaiur mnfine caufd igitur prater infolitavz rem, viirati funt Itali 
 equitatum Germanicum Cafaris MaximJliani, quum contra Vmetos helium ge- 
 reret, quoad pkrifque equis Juha detovfa cauda mutilate ejfeni : nejcie7ttcs vi- 
 delicet id fieri, ut equi hdc mutilatione alacriores et fpind dorfi robujiiores fi- 
 erent. Sic legimus apud Paulum Venitum Tartaros equis fuis, qiics hc.bent 
 prteftantijfimos, auferre folere de ojfe caiida nodos duos vel tres, ne equusfef- 
 foremferiat, et ne caudam nunc hue, nunc illuc fle3ere pojfit. Turpe nam hoc 
 judicant. ^ 
 
 The Sicilians, when viflorious in battle, ufed to adorn their horfes 
 with crowns of laurel ; but, if defeated, they ftieered their manes. Fa- 
 zellus fays, that in the war between the emperor Maximilian and the 
 Venetians, the Italians were exceedingly furprifed to fee the German 
 horfes without manes, and with (hort or docked tails ; not knowino- 
 that this was done under a notion of rendering them ftronger in the 
 loins, and more alert. Paulus Venetus fays, likewife, that a certain 
 nation of the Tartars cut off two or three joints of the tails of their 
 horfes, of which they have a very valuable breed, to prevent the animal 
 •from moving his tail from fide to fide, and ftriking the rider, which 
 thing they did not approve. 
 
 * Horse fubcifivas. 
 
 Vol. I. Ii wetted 
 
242 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 wetted every day. One fhould be fparing too in 
 cleaning the belly; it is troublefome and difagreeabl^ 
 to the horfe, and the part, by being clean, is more 
 likely to attradt fuch things as may be ofFenfive to it ; 
 and, notwithflanding all the pains that may be taken, 
 the horfe is no fooner led out, than he will be made 
 as dirty as before. — Wherefore, entirely omit it, and 
 let it fuffice to have his legs rubbed with the hand. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 WE will now iliow which is the beft manner of 
 cleaning and drefling an horfe, and, at the 
 fame time, fafefl to the groom. If he Hands in a 
 line * with the horfe while he is cleaning him, he 
 runs the rifque of being flruck in the face with his 
 knee or hoof. But if he {lands fide-ways, and places 
 hirafelf out of the reach of his foot near the flioulder, 
 he is fecure, and may take up the foot and examine 
 and pick it. This rule fhould be obferved in hand- 
 ling his hinder legs. In general, let it be obferved, 
 that whatever he intends to do to the horfe, he (hould 
 go as little as poflible to the head, or tail ; for then, if 
 the horfe is inclined to be villous, he has an advan- 
 tage over him. But if you approach him fideways, 
 you have it in your power to treat him as you will, 
 
 * That is, if he Hands direftly oppofite to the horfe. 
 
 without 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. i.^% 
 
 without danger. The fame is to be obferved with re- 
 fpe<ft ta the hinder legs. 
 
 In general, let it be obferved, that whatever the grooni 
 wants to do with the horfe, he fhould be very cautious 
 in coming near his head or heels, for, if he is difpof- 
 e4 to be vicious, he has the man in his power ; but if 
 the man approaches the horfe fideways, he is in a fe- 
 ciire pofition, and cannot be hurt. 
 
 We do not advife the perfon who has the care of 
 condufling an horfe from one place to another, to go 
 behind him, becaufe, in this fituation, he is leaft able 
 to defend hirafelf, and the horfe is more at liberty to 
 difobey him ; neither fhould he go before, and by 
 holding a long rein, endeavour to compel the horfe to 
 follow, for he may then be mifchievous and unruly, 
 turn round to either fide, get the man within reach of 
 Jiis heels, and do him an injury. Nor, when many 
 horfes arc led together, is it eafy to prevent them 
 from interfering with one another. But an horfe that 
 is led by a man going at his fide, is lefs able to do 
 hurt, and readier to be mounted on a fudden, if occa- 
 fion requires. 
 
 In order to put the bridle on moft conveniently, the 
 groom fhould go to the Near fide, and put the reins 
 over his head, letting them fall upon his fhoulders. 
 
 Then having the Headjiall in his right-hand, and the 
 Bin in his left, if the horfe receives the latter in his 
 mouth, he has nothing to do but to fix the bridle : if 
 he refufes, he mufl hold the bitt to his teeth, and put 
 
 I i 2 his 
 
244 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 his middle finger into his mouth, to prefs his Barrs ( 
 upon this, generally fpeaking, the horfe will open his 
 mouth ; but if he refills, he fliould fqueeze his lip 
 againll the Dog-tooth, or tufk ; and this feldom fails of 
 having the defired effeft. 
 
 Let the groom be fure never to lead the horfe with 
 the reins, leaft he fhould diforder and fpoil his mouth ; 
 and obferve alfo to fix tlie bit fo juftly, that the horfe 
 may feel it properly, without having any uneafinefs 
 from it, which would happen, if the bit were placed 
 too high : on the contrary, if it were to hang too low 
 upon his barrs, he might get it between his teeth, and 
 be able thereby to elude its efifecfts. 
 
 In thefe particulars the groom fhould be very exadl, 
 for if the horfe cannot be brought to receive the bit in- 
 to his mouth, he is utterly ufelefs ; but if he is accuf- 
 tomed to be bridled, not only when he is going to be 
 rode, but alfo for fome time before he is fed, and the 
 bridle is left upon him for fome time after, it may be 
 expefted that he will readily receive it whenever it is 
 offered to him. 
 
 It will likewife be requifite, that the groom fhould 
 learn how to place another on horfeback after the 
 Perfian * manner ; fo that in cafe his mailer fhould 
 
 be 
 
 * We muft here remind the reader, that the ufe of ftirrups was not 
 Jcnown, and confequently the methods praftifed in the time of our au- 
 thor, to get on horfeback, were to Vault, to mount from an Horfe-block, 
 or after the Perfian manner, which Volaterannus informs us was done 
 
 by 
 
 .>>-•• 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 245 
 
 be fick, or grown old or infirm, he may have fome 
 body at hand who can lift him on, or may fupply his 
 friend with one who can perform that office. 
 
 But there is one rule to be inviolably obfcrved 
 above all others j that is, never to approach the horfe 
 in a paffion ; for anger never thinks of confcquences, 
 and forces us to do what we afterwards repent. 
 
 When an horfe is Ihy of any thing, and will not 
 come near it, he fhould be taught that there is no 
 room for his apprehenfion, efpecially if he has cou- 
 rage and fpirit. If this cannot be otherwife done, the 
 rider fliould take hold of the thing which is the caufe 
 of his fright, fhould fliow it to him, and then endea- 
 vour gently to lead him up to it. On the contrary, 
 if he fhould force him by blows and feverity, they 
 would encreafe his terrors, and the horfe would think 
 that what he then fuffers is abfolutely occafioned by 
 the thing of which he is afraid. 
 
 The groom like wife fhould underfland how to place 
 his horfe commodioully and fafely, when he prefents 
 him to the rider to mount. It is, however, like wife 
 necelTary for the rider to know how to get up, altho' 
 the horfe fhould not prefent himfelf in the eafieft and 
 moft favourable poflure j becaufe one is not only oblig- 
 
 by the help of a fervant or flave, who accompanied his mafter, and 
 bending his back, his mafter mounted from it, and likewife got down 
 from his horfe upon it, and thence to the ground. Xenophon men- 
 tions this method likewife in his inilAPXlKos. 
 
 edl 
 
z^6 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 ed to ufe different horfes at different times, but even 
 becaufe the fame horfe is not always equally quiet and 
 patient to be mounted. 
 
 CHAP. vn. 
 
 OUR next bulinefs fliall be to give fome direAions, 
 which fhould be followed by every good rider, 
 when he is going to mount his horfe. 
 
 He mufl firft, with his left-hand, gently take hold o£ 
 the rein, which is fattened to the lower part of the bit, 
 or to the chain that goes under the chin, handling it 
 fo lightly as not to check the horfe, if he raifes him- 
 felf in mounting, by taking hold of the mane near 
 the ears ; or if he fprings from his lance *. "With his 
 right-hand let him take hold of the bridle near the 
 fliouldcr, and of the mane at the fam.e time, that he 
 may in no refpedt pull the bridle as he rifes : when 
 he makes his effort to fpring up, let him raife l^is 
 
 * This manner of getting on horfeback from the lance or fpear, 
 has, till lately, puzzled all the antiquaries and commentators, who have 
 not been able to give any fatisfadtory account of it. In the colleftion 
 of the Pales Jntiques, belonging to the late celebrated baron Stecb, there 
 is one which reprefents a foldier as going to mount his horfe by the 
 afTiftance of his fpear. The fpear is planted at the fide of the horfe, 
 and has an Hook upon the fhaft, on which the man placing his foot, 
 cafily beftrides the horfe. This, at firft fight, explains the above paf- 
 fage. Livy mentions likewife this method of getting on horfeback, 
 as practifed by the Roman foldiers. 
 
 6 body 
 
3 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 247 
 
 body with his left hand, and flretching out his right, 
 lift himfelf up, for by thus mounting, his figure will 
 appear graceful even behind. Let him keep his leg 
 bent, and avoid touching the back of the horfe with 
 his knee : his leg being brought clean over to the 
 Off-Jide, let him then feat himfelf upon his horfe. 
 
 It feems an excellent cuftom to pra6tife mounting 
 on the Off-fide *, that he may be able to do it if at any 
 time he Ihould happen to have the horfe in his hft- 
 hand, and the fpear in his right. For this purpofe 
 nothing more is required, than to do with the left 
 parts of the body what was done with the right, and' 
 "vice verfa. 
 
 This method is alfo farther ufeful, becaufe no fooner 
 is the rider mounted, than he is prepared to charge- 
 the enemy, if there fhould be occa£on. 
 
 Whether he ufes a Cloth f, or rides upon the bare- 
 back, we would not have him fit in the attitude of one 
 who drives a chariot |, but as if he was (landing 
 eredt with his legs fomewhat aflride, for thus his 
 
 * Another gem, in the fame collcftion, gives us the figure of a fbldier 
 ftanding by an horfe in the attitude of a man going to mount him on 
 the Right-^\dc; and there are many other ancient impreflions which 
 jhow the fame thing. 
 
 N. B. This colledtion is now in the Britilh Mufjeum. 
 
 •f- It is to be remembered that the Greeks, inftead of Saddles^ ufed 
 Cloths or Houfmgs^ and the lower fort often rode without any. 
 
 X That is, not as he would fit in a chair, but uppn his twift or 
 fork. 
 
 thighs 
 
248 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 ihighs will cling clofer to the horfe, and, being up- 
 right, he will be better able to wield his lance, and ^' 
 llrike with more force. 
 
 The leg, below the knee, muft hang loofe and eafyj 
 if it is kept llifF, and (hould ftrike againfl any thing, 
 it might be hurt or broken ; but being at liberty, 
 whatever it encounters it will give way, while the 
 T'bigb remains unmoved. Indeed the whole of the 
 rider's body fhould be, above the knees, as pliant as 
 pollible, that he may be able to endure more fatigue, 
 and be lefs liable, when he is attacked, to be either 
 pulled or puflied from his feat. 
 
 When he is feated, the horfe muft be taught to con- 
 tinue quiet till he has got every thing he wants, 
 gathered the reins even in his hand, and placed his 
 fpear in the moft convenient manner. 
 
 Let him keep his left-arm clofe to his fide, which is 
 the moft becoming pofture, and that in which he can 
 exert the greateft power. The reins fhould be of equal 
 length, ftrong, not llippery nor thick, in order that the 
 fpear may occafionally be held in the fame hand. 
 
 When the rider direds his horfe to go forward, let 
 him begin at a flow rate, for this prevents confufion. 
 
 If the horfe carries his head low, let the rider hold 
 the reins high ; and, vice verfa, this makes the moft 
 graceful appearance. 
 
 The horfe will fooner make his body fupple and 
 pliable, by being fuffered to go his own pace for fome 
 time, which will prepare him to be exerted and ani- 
 mated 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 249 
 
 mated with the whip. To begin or fee off to the left- 
 hand, is generally moll approved : this may beft be 
 done, if the horfe, at going off turns to the right *; 
 and the fign is given him with the wand or whip. 
 He who prefers the Left, fliould begin from the Right ; 
 and when the horfe is ready, and in a proper pofture, 
 the rider fhould make the Change, and wheel off to the 
 left. The horfe being thus turned to the Left, will 
 Lead with his Left-Foot, and to the Right with the Right- 
 Foot. 
 
 We recommend that manner of exerciling an horfe, 
 which is called IlsJrj f, becaufe it ufes him to turn to 
 either fide, and fupples him both to the Right and 
 Left. 
 
 The horfe alfo fliould be worked ftraight forward, as 
 well as upon a circle, as the change from one to the 
 
 * The meaning of this feems to be, that when the rider intends to 
 go to the Left, he fhould firft turn a little to the Right, in order to take 
 a compafs, and turn the horfe to the left with more freedom and 
 grace, 
 
 -f- This has already been mentioned, but here the word Uih feems 
 more plainly to indicate a chain, which was ufed to make the horfe 
 work to both hands, and probably was intended to operate in the 
 fame manner as the Loiige in our maneges j or elfe it might be a Side 
 rein, which was ufed according to the hand to which the horfe was 
 worked. Vid. Julius Pollux, Lib. i. cap. 2. — He and Stevens men- 
 tion two methods of working, flraight forward, and upon circles, to 
 either hand, and cite the above mentioned paflage. Mefychius feems 
 to explain it in this manner ; others think the mh was a fhackle, or 
 chain, faftened to the feet, in order to form the pace, and make the 
 horfe lift his legs, and acquire a lofty adion. Aldrovand. 
 
 Vo L. I. Kk other 
 
 k 
 
2^0 X E N O P H O N's T R E A T I S E 
 
 other will make him ready in both, and pleafe and 
 relieve him from fatiffue. 
 
 It is neceflary to pull the horfe in and fupport him 
 while he turns ; for it is neither eafy nor fafe for him 
 to turn fliori, when going faft, efpecially if the ground 
 is rugged or flippery. 
 
 When the rider thus pulls up and fupports his horfe 
 iipon the turn, he mufl; remember to do it with great 
 exadnefs and delicacy, and to fit (leady and even him- 
 felf ; as he may be fure a fmall matter may difcompofe 
 and endanger both himfelf and the horfe. As foon as 
 the horfe has finifhed the turning, and is upon a ftrait 
 line again, pufh him forward * vigoroufly, and put 
 him to his fpeed. Thefe exercifes will fit him for the 
 exigencies of war, in which it will be neceflary for 
 him to wheel and turn, both for purfuit and retreat, 
 as well as to go forward with fpeed and readinefs. 
 
 When the horfe appears to have been exercifed 
 enough, it will be proper to let him reft a certain 
 time, and then fet ofi" at once into full fpeed again ; 
 and that to and from other horfes that may be with 
 him. This being done, ftop and let him remain quiet 
 for fome time, and then put him to his exercife again j 
 for many occafions may happen in which thefe prac- 
 tices will be ufeful, and infure readinefs and obedi- 
 ence to the rider. 
 
 * This method of working an horfe is called, by the French writers,, 
 the Envje d'alUr, and is moft ufeful. 
 
 Laftly, 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 2^1 
 
 Laftly, when the time of difmiffing him. comes, 
 and the man is to alight, let him take heed not to do 
 it among other horfes, nor among the fpeiflators, but 
 in the place in which he has been worked ; in that 
 very fpot let him receive the reward of eafe and 
 repofe. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 THERE being frequent occafions to ride an horfe 
 up and down lleep grounds, and on the fides of 
 them ; as alfo, to leap over ditches, and upon high 
 places, and down from them ; it is neceflary that all. 
 thefe things fhould be learnt and pradliifed both by 
 man and horfe ; who may thus become a mutual pre- 
 fervation, each to the other, and rendered thereby more 
 ufeful to the public. 
 
 If here we ftiould be accufed of unneceflary repeti* 
 tion, becaufe we have made mention of thefe qualities 
 already, we deny the charge : for then we recommend- 
 ed the examination of the horfe, as to thefe particu- 
 lars, before he was bought ; whereas now we affirm, 
 that a man fhould teach them the horfe, which is al- 
 ready his own ; and we will Ihew him how it ought 
 to be done. The right way then for one to proceed 
 who has a raw horfe, and quite ignorant of leaping, is 
 to hold him loofely by the rein, and get over the ditch 
 firll himfelf J and thus by leading the horfe, endeavour 
 
 K k 2 to 
 
252 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 to make him leap over and follow. If he will not 
 obey, let fome body behind flrike him with the whip 
 or fwitch ; whereupon he will leap, and not only the 
 necelTary diftance, but much farther than was requir- 
 ed. For the future, there will be no need to beat him, 
 for, if he does but fee a man coming behind him, he 
 will immediately leap. When he has been accuftom- 
 ed to this for a certain time, let him be mounted and 
 tried, at firft, at fmall leaps, and put by degrees to 
 larger; and juft as he is going to rife, let him be prick- 
 ed with the fpurs. This alfo fliould be done upon 
 other occafions, when he is required to leap, inafmuch 
 as that the fpurs will quicken and animate him to rife 
 and gather up himfelf clofely and compacftly, and pre- 
 vent him from dragging his hinder parts, which would 
 be unfafe and dangerous to the rider. 
 
 As hills and inequalities of ground will often occur^ 
 the horfe fliould be praftifed firft to go down hill, and 
 fhould be taught this lefTon in foft ground; when he 
 is ufed to do this, he will go down more readily than 
 upwards. Nor need any one apprehend that his 
 Ihoulders will be hurt, when they are informed that 
 the Ferjians and Odnjians * keep their horfes as found 
 and healthy as the Grecians, although it is their cuftom 
 to ride races down hill. 
 
 We will now mention what is to be done upon 
 thefe occafions by the rider. When the horfe raifes 
 
 * A people of Thrace. 
 
 his 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 255 
 
 his fore-part, in order to leap, he fhould lean forward, 
 by which means the hinder-parts will be relieved, and 
 the man feel the fhock lefs forcibly; and in the mo- 
 ment that the horfe is coming to the ground, he fhould 
 throw his body back, by which means he will, in fome 
 degree, elude the violence of the motion, and prcferve 
 the juftnefs of his feat. 
 
 When the horfe leaps over a ditch, or llretches up 
 a rifmg ground, it is a good pracT:ice for the rider to 
 take hold of the mane *, that the horfe may not have 
 the incumbrance of the bridle to ft,ruggle with, as well 
 as the difficulty of the ground. But when going down 
 a fteep or declivity, the man Ihould fling his body back, 
 and fupport the horfe with the bridle, to prevent him 
 from falling headlong down the hill. 
 
 It is proper to exercife the horfe fometimes in one 
 place, fometimes in another, aod more at one time 
 than another -, by this he will not be fo apt to con- 
 ceive a diflike to his tafk, as he would, if he were al- 
 ways to be worked in the fame place, and for the fame 
 fpace of time. 
 
 Since it is neceflary to be able to ride readily upon 
 all forts of ground, to have a fure and firm feat, and 
 
 * Whatever notions the Greeks might have of this method, and al» 
 though it is prefcribed by Xenophon, it feems to be flatly againft truth 
 and the principles of the Jrt. For the bridle, inftead of being an in- 
 cumbrance to the horfe, will be of great afliftance, if feafonably and 
 judicioufly ufed; and by guiding and fupporting, will prevent him from 
 falling. 
 
 ta 
 
254 X E N O P H O N's TREATISE 
 
 to be able at the fame time to handle one's arms dex- 
 teroufly ; the pradice of hunting, where the country- 
 will permit it, is very proper and commendable : where 
 there is no opportunity for this, the following expedient 
 may be fubilituted in its place, and performed by two 
 horfemen. One fliould a^l the part of an enemy who 
 flies from his purfuer through all kinds of places, and 
 as he retreats, fling his javelin, and try to annoy him ; 
 the other, having his weapons blunted, whenever he 
 comes within reach, fliould aim at him, or if he over- 
 takes him, ftrike him with his fpear ; and if they clofe 
 with each other, let one of them pull his adverfary 
 towards himfelf, and fuddenly pufh him back again, 
 which is the way to difmount him. It will then be 
 the bufmefs of him who is pulled and puflied in this 
 manner, to fpur his horfe forward ; by doing which, 
 he will probably unhorfe his antagonifl, and efcape 
 himfelf. 
 
 If two armies being near each other, a real fkirmifh 
 fhould enfue, and one party Ihould purfue, while the 
 other retreated, and fo perhaps alternately attacking 
 and defending as circumftances require ; upon fuch 
 occafions, it is requifite that an horfeman fhould have 
 his horfe in fuch obedience, as to be able to depend 
 upon him in whatever he may require, inafmuch as 
 by his addrefs and docility, he will be enabled to an- 
 noy his enemy, and provide for his own fafety. 
 
 In 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 255 
 
 In fine, Providence has granted to men the advan- 
 tage of communicating their thoughts, and inftrudting 
 one another, by the means of Speech ; but it is obvious 
 this gift is denied to horfes. The beft method then of 
 conveying your intentions to them, and, as it were, of 
 declaring your mind, is to reward them when they do 
 as you wifli, and to punifh them when they are difo- 
 bedient. This rule is exprefled in few words, but is of 
 univerfal ufe in horfemanfhip. 
 
 For an horfe will certainly be more willing to receive 
 the bridle, and refign himfelf to his matter, if he is re- 
 compenfed for fo doing, and will leap and perform all 
 his exercifes with alacrity, if he is taught to expecfk that 
 his compliance will be rewarded with eafe and refrefh- 
 irient. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 THUS having fhewn how you are to proceed in 
 the choice of a colt or horfe, when you intend 
 to purchafe, as well as how they are to be treated 
 when bought, particularly if they fliould be deflined 
 for war ; we will farther direct what is beft to be done 
 when you undertake one that has too much fire, or one 
 that is cold and fluggifli. 
 
 Confider then that fpirit and ardour are in the tem- 
 per of an horfe, what pallion is in the mind of man ; 
 and as he who fays and does nothing offenfive, is leaft 
 liable to provoke a man fubjed to anger ; fo he who 
 
 avoids 
 
25^ XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 avoids freting and teazing an horfe is moft likely to 
 make him quiet, and reconcile him to his duty. 
 
 When fuch an horfe therefore is to be mounted, all 
 polTible care fliould be taken not to alarm or offend 
 him ; and after he is mounted, he (hould be fuffered to 
 fland flill a longer time than ufual, and be directed then 
 to go on by the moft gentle figns. Let him begin at a 
 flow rate, and increafe his pace by fuch fmall degrees, 
 that he may pafs to a quicker motion almoft without 
 perceiving it. 
 
 Horfes which are quick and hoc in their temper 
 like men, are difturbcd by any thing that affeds them 
 fuddenly, and apt to be furprifed by unufual fights and 
 founds. When you wilh therefore to flacken the pace 
 of an eager horfe, which hurries on too faft ; and to pa- 
 cify his fury, fo as to make him go temperately, or 
 even oblige him to flop, you fhould not attempt to do 
 it at once, and with violence, but artfully and by de- 
 grees, gently pulling him in, then yielding the bridle, 
 and playing with his mouth in fuch a manner as if 
 you intended rather to win his Confent, than /or^re his 
 
 obedience. 
 
 In forming an high-fpirited horfe, it fhould be 
 known that, in order to make him gentle and quiet, 
 he fhould be rode ftrait forward, and be put to make 
 fhort Turnings as feldom as polTiblej he fliould like- 
 wife be kept to a flow and calm pace for a long time 
 together j by this prudent and mild treatment, his im- 
 petuofity will moft probably abate, and his temper be 
 
 foftened 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 257 
 
 ■ foftcncd and rendered more tradable. Such an horfc 
 lliould be worked with a fmooth and eafy bit, rather 
 than with a rough one. However, if the latter is ufed, 
 its feverity may be mitigated by the gentlenefs of the 
 hand which holds it, and which may make it as eafy 
 as the Smooth one *. 
 
 If any one, on the contrary, thinks that by riding 
 faft for a great while, and tiring his horfc, he fhall . 
 fubdue his fpirit ; his opinion is diredtly oppofite to 
 truth. In thefe cafes, the horfe always endeavours to 
 get the better by main force, and, (like an angry man) 
 through the violence of his paffion, often brings irre- 
 parable mifchief upon himfelf as well as his rider. 
 Horfes of this difpolition fliould alfo be withheld from 
 going at their utmoft fpeed, and upon no accotint be 
 fuffered to run againft others j for the horfe that is 
 moft eager to contend, is alraoll always moft fiery, and 
 fuch contention would encreafe his impatience. 
 
 The Smooth bit is more convenient to be ufed to thefe 
 horfes, than fuch as are harfli and Rough ; but if a 
 rouo-h one is ufed, the hand of the rider fliould be 
 fo light and delicate as to qualify its force. 
 
 The rider alfo fliould remember to keep a firm feac 
 upon a fpirited horfe, and to fit evenly and quietly, fo 
 
 * This obfervation is moft juft : it is from the manner of managing 
 them alone that bits are eafy or fevere to the mouth of the horfe; other- 
 wife, as the duke of Newcaftle fays, the bit-makers would be the beft 
 horfemen. 
 
 Vo L.I. hi as 
 
2i-8 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 CIS not to difcompofe the animal by the motion of any 
 part of his body, and to balance himfelf fo truly as 
 not to be obliged to lay hold of any thing f to pre- 
 ferve his feat. — An horfe fhould likewife be taught to 
 know the different founds made with the tongue ; in- 
 afmuch as they are a kind of Jids or direcftions of the 
 rider, and ferve to animate or pacify, according to their 
 different Tones. The rider fliould alfo remember to 
 perfevere in retaining the fame founds ; for were he to 
 change them, and fometimes ufe one, and fometimes 
 another, arbitrarily, the horfe would be confounded, 
 and jiot underfland him, as he can alone be inflrudled 
 in his meaning by pra(5tice and repetition. 
 
 If you are to approach an horfe who is alarmed 
 at the found of the trumpet, or any other noife, take 
 care to do it in fo calm and cautious a manner, that 
 you yourfelf may not difcompofe him, and add to his. 
 fear, but fo as to gain his confidence, and then you 
 will be able to footh and reconcile him; and for this 
 purpofe, if you have opportunity, you may bribe him,, 
 by giving him fomething to eat. 
 
 After all, an impetuous and fiery horfe is unfit for 
 tlie purpofes of war, and fhould, upon account of his 
 lemper, be rejefted. 
 
 f It was necefTary to keep the mofl exaft equilibre of the body, and 
 the firmeil hold upon the horfe, as they had not the advantage of faddles' 
 and ftirrups, as nientioned before. 
 
 As- 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 2^9 
 
 As for a fluggilh bead, the befl; manner of treating 
 him will be, in mod inftanccs, to obferve a method di- 
 redly contrary to that which is prefcribed for the 
 management of one of an oppofite charadler *. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 IF any one wiflies to have an horfe poflefTed of all the 
 qualities requifite for war, and, moreover, ftately and 
 beautiful: he muft take care not to oflend or harafs his 
 mouth, by a rafh and indifcreet hand; and, likewife, 
 never to ufe the IVbip or Spur, but with great modera- 
 tion and judgment. Ignorant people exped to make 
 the horfe appear more brilliant and beautiful by thefe 
 violences, whereas the contrary effeft is fure to hap- 
 pen, for the horfe becomes fo difordered and irregu- 
 lar by thefe provocations, that he no longer attends 
 to his manner of going, no longer fees the way be- 
 fore him; but being interrupted, vexed, and diftreffed, 
 and falling into confufion, hurries his rider and him- 
 felf into manifeft danger; and that appearance he will 
 make in this fituation, far from being graceful, will 
 be very unbecoming. 
 
 * In forming horfes to different purpofes, thofe who are employed 
 about them Ihould deal with them as Pbyficians treat difeafes ; viz. by 
 Contraries. — ^. fluggifli horfe fhould be animated and rouzed ; and one 
 which is of a fiery nature, fliould be pacified and reftrained. 
 
 LI 2 But 
 
a6o X E N O P H O N's TREATISE 
 
 But when an horfe is taught to go regularly and 
 fmoothly, with a rein rather loofe and eafy, to bear his 
 neck alofr, and to Curl it fomewhat towards his head, 
 he then does thofe very things in which he himfelf 
 delights, and takes the greateft pleafure. A proof of 
 this may be, that when lie is at liberty in a paflure, 
 and meets with other horfe s, and efpecially Mares, he 
 will erzd: his head and neck, raife his tail towards his 
 back w^ith courage and vigour, trots high and ftately, 
 rejoicing in his courfe, and proud of himfelf. If 
 therefore the horfeman can prevail upon him to ap- 
 pear, when mounted, in the beautiful attitudes he na- 
 turally afTumcs when at liberty, he will make him 
 become fond of being rode ; and whenever he appears, 
 he will exhibit a moil ftriking and pleafmg figure to 
 the fpciflators, from his pride, fprightlinefs, and acti- 
 vity : we will now point out what is to be done, in or- 
 cer to attain thefe defixable ends. 
 
 In the firft place, the horfeman fhould be furniflied 
 with two bits at lead. Of thefe, let one be fraooth and 
 eafy, with large knobs or rings * ; the other fhould have 
 heavier rings, not Handing fo high, and armed with 
 fliarp points or Teeth. When this is put into the 
 horfe's mouth, he will be offended, and diflike it, but 
 will hereby be taught the, difference between the two, 
 and be induced to relifh the fmooth bit with double 
 
 * Julius Pollux mentions thefe orbs or rings, and our Olive bits feem 
 to rcfemble them, 
 
 7 plea- 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 261 
 
 pleafure; with this latter he fiiould ufually be rode, 
 after having had his mouth made and fettled by the 
 fougb bit. 
 
 If, however, he fhould pay no regard to this, but be 
 hard upon the hand, there mull be an addition of 
 Rijigs, to bring his mouth under ftri(5t command. 
 
 The rough or Sharp bit is made to operate in a 
 greater or lefs degree, according to the JVorking of the 
 horfeman's hand, and as the reins are flackened, or 
 pulled tight. Whatever number of bits are necefTary, 
 it is better they fhould be eafy and flexible ; for, when 
 an horfe has a Solid and Stiff one in his mouth, the whole 
 of it bears upon his bars, juft as one cannot take up 
 any part of a fpit, without lifting the whole ; whereas 
 the other refcmbles a chain, the only part of which is 
 firm and hard, which is pulled and llretched ; the refl 
 is flexible and hangs loofe. 
 
 The horfe feeling this hang in his mouth, endea- 
 vours to catch it with his teeth; and by twifting his 
 tongue and jaws about for that purpofe, lets the bit 
 drop lower down than it ought. To remedy this, fome 
 rings are fallened in the middle, v;ith which the horfe 
 playing * with his tongue and teeth, endeavouring to 
 
 ■^ We have a fmall chain in the upfet, or hollow part of our bits, 
 called a Placer, with which the horfe playing with his tongue, and roll- 
 ing it about, keeps his mouth moid and frefh. And as Xenophon hints, 
 it may ferve likewife to fix his attention, and prevent him from writh- 
 ing his mouth about, or, as the French call \t,f aire fes forces. 
 
 catch 
 
2^2 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 catch them, and the bit remains in its proper place j 
 and the horfe forbears to try to diflodge it. Left any 
 one fhould be ignorant of what we mean hy flexible and 
 Jiiff bits, we will explain ourfelves. A bit is flexible, 
 or eafy, which is compofed of broad and fmooth joints, 
 fo that it may eafily be bent, and every bit is eafier in 
 proportion as its joints are large and pliant. But if 
 the parts of the bit do not move eafdy, it is ill put to- 
 gether, and becomes fharp and fcvere. But whatever 
 fort of bridle is ufed, the horfe fhould be fo formed by 
 it, as to perform all that is required of him, or elfe he 
 will not be fuch as we have defcribed. 
 
 The hand muft neither be held fo ftri(fl; as to con- 
 fine and make the horfe uneafy, nor fo loofely as not 
 to let him feel it. The moment he obeys and anfwers 
 it, yield the bridle to him ; this will take off the ftrefs, 
 and relieve his bars, and is in conformity with that 
 maxim, which fliould never be forgot, which is to carefs 
 and reward him for whatever he does well. The mo- 
 ment that the rider perceives that the horfe begins to 
 place his head, to go lightly in the hand, and with cafe 
 and pleafure to him ('elf ; he (hould do nothing that is 
 difagreeable, but flatter and coax, fuffer him to reft a 
 while, and do all he can to keep him in this happy tem- 
 per. This will encourage and prepare him for greater 
 undertakings. 
 
 There is a plain proof to be given, that an horfe takes 
 pleafure in going faft. When he is at. liberty, he fel- 
 dom chufes to go flow, but naturally delights to run 
 
 and 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. -6^ 
 
 and bound along, if he is not compelled to continue 
 t longer than he likes ; in which cafe he would grow 
 difgiitled, for nothing in excefs is pleafing eiiher to 
 horfe or man. As foon as he is brought to perform 
 his exercifes with truth and grace, after a turn or two, 
 let him be exerted and urged to a fwifrer pace. When 
 he is fufficiently frank, and prompt to fet off at once ; if 
 in that moment when he is going in confequence of 
 the rider's aid, he reftrains his ardour, by pulling him 
 in to a certain degree, the horfe being on one fide urg- 
 ed to go forward, and yet held back at the fame time 
 by the hand, his pride and courage will be fo rouzed 
 and animated *, that, as it were in a rage, he will 
 advance his cheft, fhift his legs, and lift them from 
 the ground, but not with all the eafe and pliancy that 
 is requifite, and to which he will arrive, when prac- 
 tice has taught him to bend them, with more coolnefs 
 and regularity. 
 
 Y/hen he is thus inflamed, and his courage called 
 out, if the hand is yielded to him, miftaking the loofe- 
 nefs of the rein for a deliverance from all reftraint, 
 he will immediately bound forward, exulting, and 
 confcious of his own qualities, as if he had a pride in 
 difplaying his graceful motions and attitude, and 
 imitating the manner and gait which he affumes when 
 
 * This is what, in the Modern Mamge^ is called the XJnicn, or putting. 
 together, and tends at once to try the refolution of the horfe, raile his 
 Ariion, and improve his figure. 
 
 he 
 
H 
 
 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 he approaches any of his own fpecies. The fpeclators 
 conceive a thoufand good qualities to belong to fuch 
 an horfe, and bellow large praife upon his fpirit, refo- 
 lurion, courage, and beauty. 
 
 Thus have we tiniflied this part of our fubjed, hav- 
 ing faid enough, we hope, for the fervice of thofe who 
 delight in this fort of horfes. 
 
 C H 
 
 P. 
 
 XI, 
 
 HEN any one chufes an horfe for Parade, he 
 muft take care to procure one whofe carriage 
 and Jclicn is lofty, and brilliant. Such horfes are not 
 over eafily found, but the cffential qualities are cou- 
 rage and ftrength. The power of rearing the body 
 does not fo much depend upon the pliancy of the 
 legs as fome think, but upon the fliortnefs of the 
 loins, and ilrength and fupplenefs of the haunches. 
 An horfe of this mould will be able to extend his hin- 
 der legs far forward under him. To teach him to 
 riic, and balance himfelf ^upon his haunches, the horfe- 
 man fhould pull him up with the bridle, and fupport 
 him a little at firil in his hand; upon this hint, he 
 probably will rife, and, in the moment in which he is 
 up, the bridle lliould be yielded, that he may feem to 
 do it willingly, and his attitude appear unconflrained, 
 and more graceful to the fpedators ; and he Ihould 
 
 (land 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 26^ 
 
 fland in fiicli a poilure as to difplay his belly to thofe 
 who are oppofite to him. 
 
 There are fome who teach horfcs to rife, by (Irik- 
 ing the fetlocks with a ftick; others order a man, 
 who attends for that purpofe, to hit them upon the 
 upper part of the legs * We, however, look upon it 
 that the beft way of teaching them is to follow our 
 fore-mentioned rule : that whenever they anfwer the 
 horfcman's wiflies, and obey him chearfuUy, they 
 fliould inflanily be rewarded by a cefTation from toil ; 
 for what they do by conftraint (as Simon fays alfo) they 
 do without underftanding, and with no more grace or 
 pleafure than an adlor would perform his part upon 
 the ftage, if he was whipped and beat all the time- 
 The man and the horfe would certainly make but very 
 difagreeable figures. The only true method is, to, 
 inftrudt an horfe in his bufinefs by figns and Aids, and 
 to engage him to perform it with good-will and alacri- 
 ty. If, therefore, when he has been worked fo feriouf- 
 ly, as to fweat and be fomewhat fatigued, and you per- 
 ceive that he rifes up, and complies with all that you 
 demand of hun, you inftantly get off, and difmifs him, 
 there is no queflion but he will joyfully accept every 
 occafion of repeating the fame, whenever you fhall re- 
 quire it of him. 
 
 * This method ftands juftified by the praftice of modern horfe- 
 men. 
 
 Vol. I. Mm Thefc 
 
2^6 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 Thefe are the horfes upon which gods and men are 
 reprefented fitting ; and fuch men as are able to ride 
 them v/ith judgment and fkill, are looked up to with 
 admiration. For an horfe in this attitude, is a fight fa 
 very beautiful, fo delightful, fo attradting, that it en- 
 gages the attention of all who fee it, both old and 
 young. No body leaves him, or is tired with gazing 
 upon him, fo long as he continues in this moft becom- 
 ing pofture *. 
 
 However, if the perfon who is pofTeft of fo valua- 
 ble a creature, happens to be an officer, and is to ufe 
 him in the troops, he ought not to be fatisfied with 
 enjoying fuch a diftini5tion alone, but fhould endea^ 
 vour to have his troop mounted as nobly as himfelf,. 
 that the general appearance may be more beautiful, 
 from being uniform and alike. Now, if an horfe of 
 this kind fhould go at the head of a troop or regiment, 
 ftepping, in exa(5l Time and Cadence, with lofty a<5lion, 
 and full of fire ; and if the horfes which accompany 
 him in the march, fliould not be equal to him in thefe 
 qualities, they would undoubtedly appear mean and 
 contemptible. But if they are all equal, and ftep to- 
 gether in juft time, there arifes fuch an harmony from 
 the truth of their motions, enlivened by their neigh- 
 ing and Bloining, that the whole exhibits a moll liriking, 
 fpe(5tacle. 
 
 * This attitude is known to modern horfemen by the term Pefade.. 
 
 Laflly, 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. ^6^ 
 
 Laftly, if a man buys good horfes, trains them to 
 fervice, forms their motions, and prepares them with 
 Ikill and prudence, not only for the purpofes of v/ar, 
 but likewife for pomp and pleafure ; nothing but the 
 irrefiftable power of ill fortune can hinder him from 
 making them Hill more valuable. They will rife in 
 merit and price, and he will be famous and admired 
 for his talents and fkill in the equeftrian art. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 THE laft thing we have to do, is to defcribe what 
 armour is neceflary for one who is to fight on 
 horfeback. 'The firft article is the coat of mail, which 
 fliould be made to fit the body exadlly, and which will 
 then be able to carry it : whereas, if it is too large, 
 the flioulders alone muft bear it ; and if too fmall, it 
 will be rather an incumbrance than a defence. As 
 the neck is a mortal part, let a covering like a coat of 
 mail be made proportionable to it, it will not be un- 
 graceful, and, if properly made, will receive the rider's 
 face, when he pleafes, as high as his nofe. 
 
 We efteem the Boeotian helmet above all other; for 
 without obllruding the fight, it moft efFe6lually pro- 
 t€6ls every part above the coat of mail. The breaft 
 plate fliould be fo contrived, as not to prevent a man 
 from fitting down or {looping. 
 
 M m 2 About 
 
2^8 
 
 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 About the middle, and the hips, and the adjacent 
 parts, let there be a fufficient number of Ikirts to de- 
 fend them. 
 
 If the left-arm is wounded, the rider is difabled: 
 we therefore recommend the piece of armour lately 
 invented, and denominated from the hand ; for it co- 
 vers the flioulder, the arm, the elbow, and the hand, 
 as low as the bridle ; it will alfo ftretch out and bend, 
 and, moreover, fecures the part under the arms, which 
 is left defencelefs by the coat of mail. 
 
 The right-arm muft be lifted up, when the horfe- 
 man intends to fling his lance, or llrike the enemy. 
 It fhould not be confined with the breaft-plate, but, in- 
 ftead thereof, fhould have jointed armour, which may 
 unfold upon flretching the arm, and clofe upon con- 
 tra6ting it. It feems better alfo that it fhould be 
 drawn upon the arm, as boots are upon the legs, than 
 fattened to the mail. The part that is bared, upon 
 raifmg the arm, fhould be covered with calves fkin, or 
 brafs ; otherwife a dangerous confequence might hap- 
 pen. 
 
 As the fafety of the rider depends, in a great de- 
 gree, upon that of the horfe, let him too be furniflied 
 with an head-piece, breaft-plate, and armour for his 
 fides, which will likewife cover the rider's thighs. 
 Above all, the belly and flanks fhould be guarded, for 
 they are dangerous parts, and liable to be mortally 
 wounded. 
 
 The 
 
ON HORSEMANSHIP. 269 
 
 The bandage, or Girth, which confines the Cloth to 
 the horfe's back, muft be fo contrived as not to hurt 
 the rider who fits upon it, nor gall the horfe. 
 
 This is the complete armour of an horfeman and his 
 horfe ; but as the legs and feet of the former will like- 
 wife require to be defended, as they will not be fuf- 
 ficiently guarded by the covering of the thighs, leather 
 boots will be very convenient, and ferve at once for ar- 
 mour for the legs, and fandals for the feet. 
 
 Thefe are the defevjive arms : a fufficient guard, with 
 the afliftance of heaven. With refpeft to offevfive wea- 
 pons, we prefer the fcymiter to the fword ; for the ad- 
 vantage which the horfeman has from his height, re- 
 quires a cutting rather than a pointed weapon. 
 
 Inftead of a fpear, which may be broken, and is in- 
 convenient to carry, we advife two javelins of cornel 
 wood, becaufe a fkilful warriour may throw one, and 
 ufe the other in front or rear, or on either lide, as well 
 as that they likewife have the advantage of the fpear 
 in being ftronger, and more eafy to be carried. 
 
 The greater the diftance from which the javelin is 
 thrown the better ; as it affords a man more time to 
 turn about, and recover his arms. We will defcribe, 
 in few words, the right way to throw the lance. 
 
 If a man, advancing his left-fide, drawing back his 
 
 right, and rifing upon his Thighs, call the lance with 
 
 its point a little upwards, it will fly with the greareft 
 
 force, and to the greatefl diftance, as well as with the 
 
 2 furefl 
 
270 XENOPHON's TREATISE 
 
 fureft aim, provided it be in the diredion of the mark 
 it is defigned to reach. 
 
 Thus have we finifhed our rules and inftru(?lions, 
 founded upon experience, and compiled for the ufe of 
 young horfemen. 
 
 D I S S E R- 
 
DISSERTATION 
 
 ON THE 
 
 Ancient Chariot; the Exercife of it in the Race; 
 
 AND 
 
 The Application of it to real Service in War, 
 
 Thomas Pownall to Richard Berenger^ 
 
 AS you defired, in confequence of a converfation 
 which we had together upon the fubjedt of that 
 ancient armament, the Military Chariot, that I would look 
 out fome papers which I had formerly put together 
 on that fubjedl ; I have obeyed your commands, and 
 can only fay, that if you think they may prove matter 
 of curiofity or amufement to any of your readers 
 they are very much at your fervice, to make that ufe 
 of them which your judgment fhall fugged ; and if, 
 by way of explanation of the fubjeifl, they fliould prove 
 of the fame ufe to others, which (I conceive) they have 
 been to me in the courfe of my reading, the utmoft 
 end that can be expeded from them will be anfwered. 
 
 The defcriptions of this armament, the horfe and 
 chariot, which one meets with in the ancient poets 
 and hiilorians, referring to a thing of common ufe 
 and notoriety, miglit indeed become to ihofe who were 
 
 couver- 
 
27^ DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 converfant with the thmg itfclf, fufflciently explanatory 
 of the pecuhar ufes, properties, and actions fpecified ; 
 but, to a reader, in thefe diflant days, when the thing 
 no longer exifts, they are too vague and obfcure, not 
 to want a regular, full, and dhlinct explanation. 
 
 In fearching through the fcholiafts and annotators, 
 we find nothing precife and fatisfaiftory, and the draw- 
 ings from coins and marbles leave us equally unin- 
 formed — Thcfe feldom mark any particulars of the 
 harnefs or carriage, or of the manner of joining the 
 horfes to it. It was not the intention of the artifts, 
 who wrought thefe defigns, to mark the detail. It 
 was fufficient that they charaderifed the fpecific a6lion 
 meant to be exhibited. Befides this, their inattention 
 in thefe general defigns to the minute rules of per- 
 fpecT:ive, added confufion to indecifion. 
 
 In confequence of this date of darknefs and doubt, 
 I put together, on a few fheets of paper, all the paflages 
 which in the courfe of reading had occured to me on 
 this fubjeft, with fuch remarks as the prefent moment 
 fuggefted : and I did it with a view of trying how they 
 might elucidate each other ; and as I foon found, as 
 further opportunities occurred to me, that there were 
 feveral marbles and coins which afforded fpecimens of 
 pares in many particulars of this fubjed, I form- 
 ed the defign of comparing the defcriptions in thefe 
 paflages with fuch reprefentations of this equipage as 
 
 I might 
 
 t 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 273 
 
 I might hereafter meet with in coins or marbles, or 
 drawings made from them. 
 
 The refuU of this inveftigation enabledme to draw up 
 fuch a particular detail of this military equipage, as left 
 me in no difficulty of underllanding any defcription or 
 narrative which I met with of the ufe or application of 
 the chariot, either in war, or in the race. 
 
 In treating the fabjedt, I Ihall avoid that parade of 
 literature, which crouds the margin with quotations, 
 and fhall confine myfelf folely to the refult of my in- 
 quiries, referring, in my alTertions, to fuch authorities 
 only, and in my defcriptions to fuch pafTages only, as 
 are abfolutely neceflary to the explanation. 
 
 The ancient military chariot had but two IVheels. 
 The height or diameter of thefe, in no inftance that I 
 have met with, exceeded the height of a man's knee. 
 There are fome inftances of thefe wheels being of one 
 plain difc, firmly compa^led with iron ; but the com- 
 mon form was fuch as our wheels of the prefent day 
 bear, having fometimes four, fometimes fix, and fel- 
 dom more than eight fpokes or radii ; the fellies being 
 armed or fhoed with brafs. 
 
 The ufual length of the Jxel-tree was * feven feet in 
 carriages of burden, as well as in thofe of war, drawn 
 by one yoke or pair or horfes. When there were more 
 horfes abreaft, the axle extended to the extreme breadth 
 of the whole rank, or at leaft to the interval between 
 
 * Hefiod. 
 Vol. I. Nn the 
 
274 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 the outfide hoife, and that next to him There 
 is a particular defcription of this matter in the 
 Military Chariot, defcribed by Zenophon *. " They had 
 " ftrong compadt wheels that could not eafily be 
 " broken, and long axle-trees which would not be 
 " liable to an overturn." This dimenfion of the 
 wheels, and this length of the axle tree, accounts for 
 every action of the chariot, which would be otherwife 
 inexplicable ; namely, the driving in full career upon 
 all kinds of ground, over heaps of arms and flaugh- 
 tered bodies, without being expofed to (otherwife a 
 common accident) an overturn. It is from this length 
 that we meet with defcriptions of the axle groaning 
 under the weight of two fuperiour heroes. — It is this 
 length of the axle which allows room for fuch a 
 breadth in the car, as gives fpace for a warrior to 
 ftand and acft on either fide the driver. But this mat- 
 ter is put out of difpuie by the examples to be found 
 in the ancient coins and marbles ; you there fee the 
 wheel on the fame perfpeclive bafe with the outfide 
 horfe. The head of the axle was capped with a nut 
 or box to fecure the wheel upon it, which nut was 
 ufually in the form of a Lion's, or Leopard's head. 
 
 The Temo, or pole, called by the Greeks 'Pujuo? t> was 
 fixed to the axle-tree, and tied to it by two ftrength- 
 ening cheek-pieces, as at c in fg. A, which I have taken 
 
 * Zenophon CyripcEd. lib. vi. 17. 
 ■j- Iliad, V. 729. 
 
 8 from 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 275 
 
 from profefTor Scheffer de Re Fechiculari ; this form is con- 
 firmed by feveral palTages defciibing it. The end next 
 to the axle-tree is therefore called the furca, or, in 
 Greek, Xrn^h^ and ^iirXh ^vXov. The other end, which 
 lay upon the yoke, was called d)(pog *, and by Curtius, 
 fummns teino ; that the temo was inferted into the axle- 
 tree, is plain from Ovid f defcribing the wreck of 
 Phaeton's chariot. 
 
 IlUc frana jacent, illic tetnone revulfus, 
 Axis . 
 
 The body of the chariot was fixed upon this part where 
 the axis and the temo united, and fo ftrongly were all 
 compa6led together, that while we frequently read of 
 the yokes being torn oflf from the temo by the violence 
 of accidents, yet we never meet with an account of 
 the temo being wrenched off from the axis, except in 
 the one inftance of the chariot of the fun driven by 
 Phaeton. 
 
 At the other end, there was either a hole through the 
 folid body of the pole (or a ring affixed to it) through 
 which a pin (fet eredl in the middle of the yoke) pafT- 
 ed in the harnefiing the horfes by this yoke to the 
 chariot, as will be feen prefently. This hole or ring, 
 (<rin/^. A,) is called by Homer, Iliad xxiv. 272, y.pixav. 
 In the original ufe of thefe chariots, each pair or yoke 
 
 * Iliad, V. 729. f Metamorph. lib. iii. 
 
 Nn 2 of 
 
^1G D I SS E RT AT I O N ON TH E 
 
 of horfes were liarnefled to the chariot by a feparatc 
 tcmo or pole. — When there were one pair — there was 
 only one temo. — When two or more yoke, tv/o or more 
 poles. In the firft cafe, the temo was fixed in the 
 middle of the axis as before-mentioned ; in the fecond 
 cafe, the two temones were io fixed as to leave two 
 fourths of the whole length between them, and one 
 fourth towards each end of the axis. There is in one 
 of Mr. Hamilton's drawings from the ancient Tufcan 
 mns and vafes, Plate 130, vol.1, an example of this 
 cafe, where each temo forms each fide of the frame of 
 the body of the chariot. When there were three pair 
 or yoke of horfes abreaft, of which alfo there are in- 
 ftances in the antique marbles, &c. there is fuppofed 
 to be three temones : you will in Zenophon read of 
 rsl^oi^vfJLOc ix Xitii^v cxjw, and oxjoi^v{/.oc. But you muft 
 not underftand that in all thefe inftances, and in all 
 cafes, the feveral yokes, or pair, were abreaft ; in 
 fome inftances, they were a-head of each other, with a 
 temone perpetuo. The length of the temo was ac- 
 commodated to the length of the horfes, leaving no 
 more fpace between the hind quarters of the horfe and 
 the chariot, than was fuflScient for the horfe to move 
 his hind legs clear of the carriage. 
 
 The Carriage thus defcribed, the Body of the chariot 
 comes next under confideration : in the firft place, it is 
 clear that in the military equipage the body was not a 
 feparate diftinft part moveable, but fixed, and adlually 
 
 a part 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 277 
 
 a part of the whole compared together infeparably, as 
 is above faid of the example in Mr. Hamilton's draw- 
 ings. The body of the chariots of ftate and parade 
 were moveable, fo as they were taken off from the car- 
 riage and fet carefully by, when not in ufe, and only 
 put on and hung by braces, when wanted for ufe, as 
 we read of Priam's chariot in the 24th book of the 
 Iliad. The carriage is there called ajua^a, and the body 
 'rsrsi^iv^oi. All thofe chariots which we read of in Ho- 
 mer, as being fo occaCLonally hung on upon, or with 
 braces, are of that fort ; but in the military chariot, 
 the body and the carriage were but different parts of 
 the fame, one infeparate compadled whole. We find 
 that, when Pallas returned from the engagement, the 
 body of her chariot is not taken off from the carriage, 
 but the whole oc^y.oiTX fet up inclining againft the 
 wall *. When Jupiter returns from the battle to 
 Olympus, the whole x^i^oirx is fet upon a bafe or 
 altar. Whereas Priam's chariot is an example of the 
 firft fort, as is that of Juno mentioned in the fifth 
 book of the Iliad ; where, being a ftate or parade cha- 
 riot, it is faid of the body, called ^i<p^oc, that 
 
 Braces of gold fufpend the moving Throne. 
 
 The carriage is there called oxoc- Although thefe 
 parade chariots might be fo hung upon braces, and 
 fixed occafionally on the carriage} yet thofe ufed in 
 
 * Iliad, lib. yiii. 
 
 war. 
 
278 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 war, and in the race, could not have flood the violent 
 (hocks to which they muft have been liable, if they 
 were not firmly compared and fixed ; and they appear 
 fo to be in all the examplars which I have feen, 
 
 Mr. ProfelTor Scheffer has defcribed the parts of the 
 body of the chariot with the exadlnefs of a mechanic, 
 .yet he has not touched upon the article of the hang- 
 ing or bracing it upon the carriage : nor has he taken 
 any notice of the difference above defcribed, between 
 the Parade chariot thus braced on, and the MilJary cha- 
 riot. The form of the body of the chariot is fo well 
 known, that it would be a mere wafte of words to de- 
 fcribe it, and a needlefs expence to give a drawing of 
 it. I will only obferve, that the front of the body was 
 made breaft high, and rounded like a fliield, fo as to 
 anfwer to the driver the purpofe of that defence, and 
 was for that reafon called dcr7n^icr-)(Yi, or the fhield part. 
 The fides of the chariot floped away backwards almoft 
 to the bottom, or floor of the body, but differently, and 
 by various lines in different bodies. The hinder part 
 was open, and although not higher from the ground 
 than the height of a man's leg, yet there was fome- 
 thing of a ftep to it called 'ufls^voi. Whether the body 
 of the chariot was extended in breadth to the full ex- 
 tent of the axle-tree, is no where fpecified ; I think that 
 in no cafe it extended further than to the interval be- 
 tween the two outermoft horfes. However, from the 
 ufe made of it in actual fervice, it muft have been of 
 a breadth fufl^icient to allow the oflicer to ftand either 
 
 on 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 179 
 
 on the right or left of the driver, as the nature of the 
 fervice fliould require : on the coins and marbles we 
 find the officer fometimes on the right, fometimes on 
 the left : in the impreffion of a coin given by Scheffer, 
 the officer is on the left-hand ; in a baflb releivo in 
 the church of St. Felix at: Spalatro, as publiflied by Mr. 
 Adams, the officer is on the right. 
 
 The bodies Hyperteria or Capfas, ufed in the race, were 
 merely adapted to the carrying one perfonj the diffe- 
 rence of thefe are plainly difcernable in the various 
 defcriptions of them. There is in fome of the exemp- 
 lars of the chariots in the race, an appearance of the 
 charioteer's being bound or braced in by a belt, or 
 fomething like it, vfhich may perhaps have been of 
 ufe in that cafe; and indeed fome of the accidents 
 which we read of in the race, feem to confirm this 
 fuppolition. But this could not be the cafe in military 
 fervice, for neither the acTtions nor the accidents in 
 battle, fo frequently defcribed, could have been fo per- 
 formed, or have happened, if the charioteer, or officer 
 ferving in the chariot, were fo tied in. I refer to fuch 
 a<5lions and accidents, as the officers difmounting and 
 remounting, and tumbling headlong to the ground out 
 of the chariot when flain. 
 
 The next confideration will be to examine the har- 
 nefs of the horfes, and the manner of tackling them 
 to the yoke, and of fixing the Toke to the Temo of the 
 carriage. The only parts of harnefs which I have 
 met with in reading, or feen in drawings, are the col- 
 lar 
 
28o DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 lar and body-girth : the one called * >.B7txhx ; th e 
 other MaaxoiT^KTTn^ic. The Lepadna^ or Collar, was a 
 thick broad leathern belt, confifting, to all appearance , 
 of feveral folds fluck together, and bound at the edges ; 
 fo cut and fhaped as to fit the neck and breaft, with- 
 out prefling or pinching in one part more than in an- 
 other, when buttoned on. This collar, and the man- 
 ner of buttoning it, may be feen in the drawing, {Fig. 
 C a,") taken partly from the horfes over the great gate 
 of St. Mark's church at Venice, and partly from a bafTo 
 relievo in the temple of Jupiter at Spalatro. The fame 
 collar, with fcarce the leafl: change of form, may be 
 feen in numberlefs examples, although not perhaps 
 with the fame diftinftnefs. 
 
 The body-girth, or Mafchalifteris, {Fig. C b,"" was alfo a 
 broad leathern belt ; this alfo may be feen in almoft 
 every exemplar of the chariot and horfes. 
 
 {FigXc.) Both thefe were fixed to the yoke which lay 
 upon the withers, bound to it by xhefubjugia, ox jugalia 
 hra. The collar was more particularly applied in 
 drawing ; the latter in keeping fteady, and flopping the 
 carriage. From the manner in which the horfes were 
 harnefled to the yoke, no other tackling was neceflary, 
 or ever ufed, unlefs fome trappings, or ornamental ad- 
 ditions ; but, flridlly fpeaking, the collar, girth, hra 
 jugalia, and yoke, were all the harnefs properly fo 
 called. 
 
 * Iliad V. 729. 
 
 The 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. iSt 
 
 The yoke or Ji/gum was of wood, of a length fufE- 
 cient to reach from the withers of one horfe to thofe of 
 the other, leaving a proper diftance between them for 
 the temo. It was of fuch a breadth, and fo curved and 
 hollowed in its form,/^. J, e,e, that the refpedive ends 
 which refled on the Aoipog, or withers of each horfe, 
 might lie there with eafe to the horfe, and with fecu- 
 rity to the carriage. Each end of the yoke was va- 
 rioufly carved and ornamented. The middle part of 
 this yoke was fo curved, ^^. A J, and hollowed, as to re- 
 ceive (the oiK^oc) the end of the temo, which was laid 
 upon it. In the middle of which concavity a pin or 
 peg called by Homer \£Vx<;^,j%. A a, was fixed ereft, fo 
 as to pafs through either the folid body of the head 
 of the temo, or through a ring called by Homer K^iKog, 
 affixed to the end of it. I have taken notice of this 
 hole or ring in fpeaking of the temo. When the temo 
 was affixed as above to the yoke, it was faftened and 
 bound to it by the long leather thong called Ztvyo- 
 S'ecrfxoc, or mejfabos. The length being generally be- 
 twixt fifteen and eighteen feet; that mentioned by Ho- 
 mer is nine cubits, or thirteen feet and an half. This 
 thong was of crude or white leather, in order that it 
 might be more pliant in its ligatures. That thefe liga- 
 tures might be fecured againft flipping or giving way, 
 the yoke had three or more groves, J?^. A t^r, or niches 
 cut in it, called o^(p«Ao<, in which this thong is funk 
 
 * Iliad, xxiv. 
 Vo L. I. Oo ia 
 
sSi 
 
 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 ill the tying. There were alfo affixed upon the yoke 
 hooks or rings, (Fig.Albbb) called ou£?, through which, 
 fays Euftathius, the reins which guided the horles were 
 pafiTed. The drawing in the plate will beft defcribe 
 this jugum, for every part of which there is fufficienc 
 authority even in this palTage alone of Homer. The 
 method of harneffing the jugal horfes was as follows : 
 The charioteer firft put on upon the horfes the lepadna 
 or collar, and the mafkalifteris, or body-girth. They 
 then laid the yoke acrofs their necks upon the lophos 
 or withers, where it was tycd to the lepadna and maf- 
 kalifteris by the jugalia lora f. He then brought them 
 thus yoked to the chariot, and laid the pole of the cha- 
 riot upon the yoke, paffing the eftor through the krikos, 
 the hole or ring at the end of it, after which he 
 bound (Fig. DJ both firmly together, tying them trebly 
 or threefold $ on each fide, (Fig. Cd). After which the 
 reins, which came from the horfes' head, were pafi^ed 
 through the rings fixed upon the yoke. In a baflb re- 
 lievo on a fepulchral urn, exhibited in Piranifi, there 
 is an exemplar of the adt of harnefiing the horfes to 
 the jugum. If the reader is curious enough to turn to 
 the pafFage above cited from Homer, of which I have 
 
 f It appears from Homer, in the paflage above cited, that this was 
 done in the ftable before the jugum was fixed to the temo; but the 
 ufual way was, after having harnefled the horfes, to tye the jugum to 
 the temo, and then bring the horfes to the jugum thus fixed, and tackle 
 them to the jugunu 
 
 ;t Homer. 
 
 made 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 2S3 
 
 made fo much ufe in this defcription, as alfo to that 
 in the fifth book of the Iliad, v. 7 i 9, — and to refer his 
 eyes to the many examples which he may fee in draw- 
 ings from antiquities, (many very fine examples of 
 which he may fee in Mr. Adams's drawings from the 
 remains at Spalatro ; two in the compartments of the 
 frize of the temple of Jupiter, and one in a bafTo re- 
 lievo in the church of St. Felix,) he will find eveiy 
 thing moll minutely confirmed, which I have above 
 defcribed : he will fee from this defcription of the 
 harnelling the horfes to the chariot, the reafon why 
 no traces or harnefs, according to our idea of fuch, 
 are ever feen, and why even the pole or temo is fcarce, 
 if ever, feen. — This defcription of the manner of af- 
 fixing the yoke to the temo or pole, and of harneffing 
 the horfes to the yoke, will explain every paflage that 
 occurs in common reading, fo far as relates to the bi- 
 jugae, or chariots drawn by a pair, or one yoke of 
 horfes. 
 
 Before I proceed to the more mixed kind of equi- 
 page, I will juft mark, as I pafs, that the ancients fome. 
 time ufed carriages drawn by one horfe, which had 
 fliafts as our prefent common carts have. Which 
 fhafts were tackled to the collar or Lepadna, in the fame 
 manner as at this day ; how the weight of the fhafts 
 and carriage were fupported, I have no where feen or 
 read. The only inftance which I remember, at prefent, 
 to have feen of this fort of carriage, does not particu- 
 larize the manner in which this weight was born. 
 
 Oo 2 The 
 
284 
 
 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 The reader will find the inftance which I refer to in 
 one of the paintings found at Herculaneum ; it reprefenis 
 a grotefque, or emblematic carriage, being one of 
 thofe fingle cars drawn by a hawk or parrot, and 
 -driven by a grafshopper. Here, as in the drawing 
 from the Tufcan vafes, the fide pieces of the floor or 
 TovoQ of the body of the chariot continued make the 
 fliafts. 
 
 It has been remarked above, that the ancients, in the 
 moll early ufe of the chariots, ufed as many poles as 
 they had yokes, or pairs of horfes in the carriage 
 abreaft ; but this was not always fo, for we read in 
 Homer, in the cafe of Achilles's chariot, of an additional 
 extrajugal horfe 5 as alfo in that of Priam's chariot, of 
 two extrajugal horfes. I fhall therefore proceed to de- 
 fcribe the manner in which they harnefled thofe ex- 
 trajugal horfes, when they ufed one or two additional 
 harnefled in this manner. It was very fimple, and will 
 therefore be the more eafily explained and underftood : 
 . It appears that the ancients wifely ftudied in thefe ar- 
 maments, to avoid every unneceflary matter that might 
 become the occafion of embarraflTment or entanglement 
 in the execution. 
 
 As to the harnefs of this extrajugal horfe, it does 
 not appear that any other was ufed (as indeed not ne- 
 ceflary) than the lepadna or collar. For this horfe bore no 
 part of the weight of the chariot, nor was he in any 
 way concerned in flopping it, but fimply for drawing j 
 and he drew by a trace called a|WT^ov, inftead of a pole. 
 
 ^ This 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 28^ 
 
 This oiy.zpov is feen, belidcs the temo, in plate 130, of 
 vol. I. of the drawings of Mr. Hamilton's Tufcan vafes. 
 This trace was extended, between the jugal horfe and 
 extrajugal horfe, from the riapyjop/a to the axis. It will 
 appear that this pareoria was not attached to the yoke, 
 but was limply a trace by which the collar of the 
 extrajugal horfe (called therefore Iloifriopoc) was joined 
 to that of the next jugal horfe. 
 
 In the inftance of three horfes harnelTed to the cha- 
 riot of Achillesy lent to Patrochis, we read that after Juto- 
 medon had harnelTed the two immortal ileeds, Zanthos 
 and Balios, under the yoke, he harnefled Pedafos by 
 the UxpYjopix, or extrajugal traces. This extrajugal 
 horfe was called, from this particular harnefs, Hoccriopog^ 
 or, from the long trace by which he drew, called Xsipoiy 
 I,£ifOCOC, or I,sip(X<pof>oc, which the Latins tranflated fu- 
 nalis. 
 
 The effed of the accident which befell this horfe, 
 as defcribed by Homer, proves that this horfe was not 
 harnelTed to the yoke. He fays, that upon this horfe's. 
 being wounded and falling down dead, the jugal horfes 
 were diftradted, or drawn afunder as far as the yoke 
 would permit without breaking, for although the yoke 
 creeked with this flrefs upon it, it was not broken, 
 nor were either of the horfes feparated from it. The 
 coupling reins, called, by Virgil, concordia frsna, were 
 confounded and entangled. But the moment that this 
 extrajugal horfe was feparated by cutting the trace, 
 the jugal pair flood again in their due order, and the 
 
 reins- 
 
 ^^ 
 
-86 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 reins were righted. If the traces by which this extra- 
 jugal horfe was faftened had been any way tackled to 
 the yoke, he muft, by his falling, have pulled both the 
 horfes the fame way, and not afunder ; but by his pul- 
 ling them afunder, it is clear that he was joined by the 
 harnefs to the horfe, and not to the yoke, as 1 have 
 above defcribed, drawing by a trace which pafTed be- 
 tween this outfide horfe and the jugal horfe to which 
 he was tied. This again accounts for our not feeing 
 in the drawings even the body-girth, or any drawing- 
 trace on the outfide horfe of the quadriga, in thofe 
 cafes where extrajugal horfes were ufed. 
 
 Neflor alfo had an extrajugal horfe in his chariot, 
 which Paris killed; and being flain, the old man, in 
 like manner, difencumbered his equipage of him, by 
 Cutting the Pareorla. 
 
 The defcription of this one extrajugal horfe ferves 
 likewife for the other on the other hand, as that 
 was intirely limilar. 
 
 This defcription of thefe extrajugal horfes will an- 
 fwer to the explaining every adlion or evolution of the 
 chariot, both in battle and in the race. 
 
 With refpe6t to the harneffing four horfes abreaft, 
 the two on the outfide might be extrajugal ; but 
 1 am convinced (efpecially as I read it in Zenophon) 
 that when more pairs were put abreaft, each pair 
 had a temo or pole j and a peculiar fort of carriage 
 for carrying great burthens is adlually fo defcribed ; 
 but the quadrigse, which were moft in ufe, were 
 7 certain- 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 287 
 
 certainly moft commonly drawn with a pair of jugal 
 horfes, and a pair of extrajugal horfes coupled on each 
 fide. The bufmefs of guiding, keeping fleady, and 
 flopping the carriage, depended chiefly on the jugal 
 pair; that of wheeling up each extreme axle depended 
 on the ftrength and adtivity of the refpedive outfide 
 extrajugal horfe, as will be feen prefently. 
 
 The conftruftion and the compolidon of this equi- 
 page of the Bij'uga, the Irlg^e, and ^adriga, being thus 
 defcribed, the exercife of thefe in the games, and the 
 application of them to fervice in war, is the next point 
 to be inquired into. This inquiry will flill more il- 
 luftrate the matter. 
 
 The whole of this is contained in one line in Homer, 
 
 which Mr. Pope tranflates thus : 
 
 Praftis'd alike to turn, to flop, to cliace. 
 To dare the ftiock, or urge the rapid race. 
 
 If we view this line in the light of fcience, we fhall 
 find that it does very minutely defcribe every manoeuvre 
 ufed in the evolutions of the chariot, the advancing 
 and retreating, and thofe fudden rapid wheelings to 
 the right or left, by which they make their almoft ir- 
 reliftible attacks ; which motion, as I fliall afterwards 
 explain it, is appropriated, of very ancient time, to the 
 movements of the knights in the game of chefs. 
 
 ♦ Iliad viii. 107, 
 
 In 
 
288 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 * In gyrum greffiis magno impete lunat 
 Curvatos. 
 
 The great excellence and perfeftion of this manege 
 •was firil f ^o to bit the horfes, that their necks might 
 be pliable and obedient to the reins : the next confilt- 
 ed in teaching the horfes to move by fuch X meafured 
 fleps, that the whole equipage, when two, four, or fix, 
 were joined together, might move as one body with- 
 out confufion : Thirdly, to train them to run with ve- 
 locity, and to inure them to courage and hardinefs, in 
 either attacking by an impetuous flaock, or in receiv- 
 ing firmly the attack. The laft was in dreffing them 
 to execute the various evolutions of wheeling with 
 docility, activity , and velocity: in fhort, fays Zenophon, 
 to do all other things which they would have occafion 
 to perform in adtual fervice, to run over all kind of 
 ground, to llretch up the fleepeft afcents, and to rufh 
 down the fliarpeft declivities. 
 
 The chief excellence in driving v:ra.s Jieadinefs, fo as to 
 proceed whether moving in the right or curve line, 
 in one uniform diredion, and not to and fro by a va- 
 cillating and finuous motion. But the great excel- 
 lence of the horfes, as well as the highefl fkill of the 
 driver was called forth, in performing the wheelings 
 to an exaA given curve, under full fpeed. 
 
 The chariot race was inftituted for the exercife of 
 this military fkill, to encourage and afford opportuni- 
 
 ^ Vids Sacchia Ludus, f Zenophon. 
 
 .^ Which you fee dcfcribed in all the ancient coins and baflb relievos. 
 
 ties 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 28^ 
 
 ties of difplaying it j and was fo regulated as to re- 
 quire the beft horfes, the higheft finiOied manege, and 
 the moft perfed: Ikill in driving. To complete the 
 noble competitors in this moft difficult manoeuvre of 
 the wheeling, the courfe was always fo laid out, that 
 the race depended chiefly on the performing this dif- 
 ficult evolution. He that will read with the eye of 
 fcience old Neftor's advice to his fon in the Iliad, Book 
 XXIII. v. 306, will need no other explication of this 
 matter. 
 
 . The courfe was generally of that length that the 
 race was finifticd by going once round ; although 
 fometimes, in the more confined circus, the chariot 
 went four times round, making feven wheelings, rec- 
 koning thofe round both termini taken together. The 
 route of the race was from the right wheeling to the 
 left, round the extreme meta or terminus and then re- 
 turning back to the fame ground, fo as that the meta 
 or terminus from which they fet out fliould be upon 
 their right -, and, if the courfe confifted of more rounds 
 than one, then wheeling to the right round this meta, 
 and fo alternately in a line, making the Arabic figure 
 of 8. Now four rounds thus performed will make 
 juft feven wheelings. I am confcious that this opinion 
 is new ; but being pcrfuaded that I am grounded both 
 in the nature of the thing, and by fufiicient authority, 
 as will be feen prefently, I venture to give it out. 
 
 According to the opinion commonly received of the 
 chariot race, that the competitors ftarted from the 
 
 Vol. I. P p right 
 
290 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 right of the barriere, and wheeling to the left round 
 
 the meta, always went the fame way, always wheeling 
 
 to the left in every circuit, whatever the number of 
 
 rounds were, there arifes a moil inexplicable injujlicey 
 
 as to any chance that the merit of fwiftnefs in the 
 
 horfes, or of fkill in the driver could have, except what 
 
 they derived from their place upon the right or left, 
 
 which mere lot gave them. For when there were from 
 
 ten chariots to forty at fometimes, all arranged abreaft 
 
 at the barrier -, that upon the left, and that upon the 
 
 right, would run courfes of very different lengths, in 
 
 the proportion of the leffer or larger circle that their 
 
 lot deflined them to. 
 
 The explication of this difficulty given by Mr. Weft, 
 in his difcourfe on the Olympic games, only adds con- 
 fufion to it. The whole flcill and courage of the cha- 
 rioteers were (he fays) employed to obtain the point of 
 advantage at the wheeling, and he defcribes them in 
 this attempt all driving foul of one another, by direc- 
 tions all converging to this point ; this, I fay, may add 
 to the confufion, but does not relieve the difficulty, for 
 ftill the chariot, which was placed upon the right of all, 
 had, in this firft attempt, the hypothenufe, or longeft 
 fide of the triangle to run, while the chariot upon the 
 left had only one of the Legs of the fame right-angled 
 triangle, and fo the reft in gradation ; and what a 
 fcene of unavoidable inextricable wreck muft all thefe 
 chariots rufliing together, in converging lines, have 
 made. This feems fo abfurd, that one cannot but re- 
 
 jea 
 
 i 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 29! 
 
 jeJl it at firft fight, from the nature of the thing itfelf. 
 But this attempt of running foul on one another, and 
 crofTmg upon each other, is contrary to faB, is con- 
 trary to the laws of the courfe, which forbad all fraud, 
 all croffing or joftling, as our modern racers term it. 
 And we find in the 23d book of Homer's Iliad, that 
 Antilochiis was deprived of the prize he claimed (which 
 prize was given to Menelaus) becaufe he (Antilochus) 
 had crofTed upon, and attempted to run foul of the 
 chariot of Menelaus. 
 
 All this perplexity is relieved, and the difficulty 
 cleared up, by the explication which I have given 
 above : for by that route of the race, he that was outer- 
 moft at the fetting oif, returning to the fame gi'ound 
 with the ftarting-poll upon the right, would be inner- 
 moft at the coming in ; and if the race confilled of 
 more circuits than one, the competitors would be al- 
 ternately outermoft and innermoft at each alternate 
 wheeling. So that he who ran the largell circle in the 
 firfl circuit, would run the leifer in the fecond, and 
 vice verfa. 
 
 Whoever will read the account of the chariot race 
 in the Elecira of Sophocles, and will particularly attend 
 to the nature of the accident which happened between 
 the Thracian and Lybian cars j and to the fatal one 
 which befel Orejles at the clofe of the race, will be con- 
 firmed in this opinion. The narrative tells us, That 
 the chariots having finiflied the third iiratit, and run- 
 ning the fourth, fome of them had made the feventh 
 
 P p 2 wheeling, 
 
292 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 wheeling, and were got again into the ftraight right 
 line, at that moment of time the JEniaii charioteer com- 
 ing up to the Meta, in or near the point where the 
 route of the courfe muft crofs ; and his horfes, hard 
 of mouth, breaking from him, fwerved and run foul, 
 with their front direct, upon one of the Lybian cha- 
 riots. This is an accident that could not happen, if 
 the returning line did not crofs upon the outgoing 
 line, by the chariots running the courfe in the figure 
 of eight. But the circumftances of the difaller of the 
 car of Oreftes puts the matter out of all doubt. 
 
 The narrative proceeds, and fays. That this accident 
 between the Lybian and iEnian chariots drew after it 
 an almoft general wreck of the chariots then running. 
 But that the Ikilful Athenian, who was lafl but one, 
 obferving his time, bore to the right out of the courfe, 
 and fo avoided them. That Oreftes, who lay by in 
 the race, as having horfes of that rating way of go- 
 ing, that he depended upon the pufh at the lafl: for 
 his fuccefs y finding that now was the time to make 
 his pufh, bore ftill more to the right, in order to 
 pafs the Athenian J and, for this purpofe, having given 
 the left-hand rein to his horfes, moft unfortunately 
 run with the end of his axle-tree againft: the Terminus, 
 at the coming in. Now unlefs this terminus had been 
 upon his right at the coming in, this accident thus 
 defcribed could not have happened ; but being upon 
 the right, every previous accident naturally leads to it. 
 
 8 How- 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 293 
 
 However, as the route of the race generally conCfted 
 but of one long courfe, returning again to the ftarting- 
 poft, the only wheeling performed in it was to the 
 left ; but to make that matter even and fair, the cha- 
 riots came in upon the left of the ftarting-poft, as 
 above defcribed ; fo that thofe who were outermoll ac 
 the wheeling round the meta, and had there the dif- 
 advantage, were innermoft at the coming in, and had 
 that difadvantage made up to them. 
 
 As in thefe courfes of one circuit, which were the 
 moft common, the only wheeling performed was ta 
 the left round the meta * ; the horfe of the higheft 
 vigour and greateft velocity was harnelled extrajugal' 
 upon the right : and for the like reafon, the bed ma- 
 neged and moft flexile horfe f was harnelTed extra- 
 jugal on the left, becaufe the firft was to bring round 
 th€ chariot in the ac^ of wheeling, and the latter to 
 maintain a kind of equably moving fulcrum, upon 
 which the whole motion of the wheeling depended ; 
 fo that each had his perfe6lion, and each was firft and. 
 moft excellent in his refpeflive property; the attending 
 to which diftinftion might have cleared Scheffer's dif- 
 ficulties. The horfes of the quadrigce were generally, 
 though not without exception, mentioned in the follow- 
 ing order. Firft, the extrajugal on the right: Second, 
 the extrajugal on the left. Third, the jugal on the 
 
 * Vide Scholiaft in Antigone Sophocles. 
 f Vide Sophocles Eledram. 
 
 • right. 
 
294 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 i-ight. Fourth, the jugal on the left. T mention this, 
 as it will be necefTary to explain fome terms which the 
 reader will meet with in Homer, in Sophocles, and in feve- 
 ral of the other claffics. 
 
 Let the reader be led next, by this inquiry, into the 
 application of this equipage ; thus compofcd, and thus 
 exercifed to adlual fervice in war, he will find thefe 
 chariots acfting as diftindl fmgle bodies, in ruihing 
 upon and breaking the ranks of the infantry, fome- 
 times by a dire(51: perpendicular attack upon the front, but 
 more commonly by wheeling fuddenly to the right 
 or left, and bearing down in a tranfverfe line along tlje 
 front, fo as to elude the points of the enemy's fpears 
 advanced in front. He will find them fometimes Hop- 
 ping fliort upon a fudden halt, and (landing unmoved; 
 while the officer, who was carried in them, jumps 
 down upon the ground, and puts himfelf at the 
 head of the infantry, or engages in fingle combat. 
 At other times he will find them coming fhort about, 
 and retreating. He will find them, upon other occa- 
 fions, a(Sting in a compaft corps, formed into a rank in- 
 tire, in order to break the enemy's front, and then, by 
 their various evolutions, making way for the infantry 
 to pafs up to action ; at other times he will find them 
 drawn up in a body upon the wings, and fometimes 
 as a corps de referve in the rear. In fliort, if we 
 confider thefe chariots, trained as they were with fuch 
 fkill and difcipline, and exercifed to fuch great per- 
 feiJtion, in wheeling to right and left with fudden and 
 
 impetu- 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 295- 
 
 impetuous velocity, we fliall eafily perceive how every 
 evolution of the cavalry might be performed in the 
 fame manner as the modern cavalry perform the mo- 
 dern evolutions of wheeling by fours ; as alfo, how 
 they might change their fronts, refolve themfelves into 
 lefTer bodies, and unite again into one. I could quote 
 inftances of all thefe manoeuvres, but I think it will be 
 more pleafing to the reader to apply thefe obfervations 
 himfelf to the many inftances which he will meet with 
 in the courfe of his ftudies. 
 
 Various were the methods taken and pracftifed to 
 evade this attack, which could not be rejijled by the in- 
 fantry, fuch as wheeling back and opening to the 
 right and left ; but the only one I fhall take notice of 
 is the manoeuvre mentioned by Polyanus * in his flratage- 
 mata. He fays that Alexander, having learned that the 
 Thracians had a powerful body of this chariot cavalry^ 
 trained his Macedonians to couch upon the ground, and 
 with their fhields thrown over them to form a teftudo, 
 over which the chariots of the enemy might pafs with- 
 out effeifl. 
 
 As this Britifli ifland was, in the very early ages of 
 antiquity, and prior to the fiege of Troy, planted by co- 
 lonies from the great commercial nations in the eaflern 
 piirts of the Mediterranean fea ; fo the learning and 
 arts of thefe polifhed people flouriflied in this land : 
 the aftonifhing monuments of the Druids, who were 
 the priefts of thofe colonies, are proofs of a knowledge 
 
 * Lib. iv. c. 3. §. II. 
 
 in 
 
296 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 in mechanics, which we of this enlightened day only 
 wonder at, but are at a lofs to account for. This ufe 
 of the chariots pradifed only by the Afiatics and Ly- 
 bians, v/as the peculiar art of war in which the Bri- 
 tons excelled, and was peculiar to them. Although 
 thefe colonies, and indeed almoft the remembrance of 
 them, had been, in the time of Julius Csefar, over- 
 whelmed by the barbarifm of the natives, and of other 
 uncultivated people, who had tranfmigrated from the 
 continent of Europe ; yet this peculiar Afiatic art 
 .<Sif war, the fame as that ufcd at the fiege of Troy, 
 continued to be ufed even fo late as the time of his 
 invafion, by the then inhabitants : in this manege wc 
 find they excelled to a very high degree of perfection. 
 Diodorits fays cxprefsly, that they ufed chariots in war 
 exatSlly in the fame manner as the heroes in the Tro- 
 jan war * are faid to have ufed them. They ufed the 
 fame method of forming the line of battle, the fame 
 method of attack, and particularly that of the tranj- 
 verfe attack, which is what Cicero, in the 6 th epiflle 
 of his 7th book, refers to in the caution he gives Tre- 
 batius to guard againft thefe fudden unexpeded mo- 
 tions. The Britifh order of battle, which Cafar de- 
 fcribes in the 24th chapter of his 4th book of the 
 Gallic war, ConcUio Romanorum cogntto, premijfo eguitatu et 
 ejjedariis quo plerumque genere in praliis uti confueverant, reliquis 
 copUs confeculi funt, is exactly the fame as that formed by 
 
 * Lib. V. 
 
 the 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 297 
 
 the Greeks defcribed in Iliad IV. I could quote other 
 paflages to the fame purpofe, but this is fufficient. 
 
 As this was the peculiar art of war amongfl the an- 
 cient inhabitants of this country, fo had they the fame 
 folemn races, to train and exercife their youth to this 
 difcipline, and to maintain the fame honour towards 
 thofe who excelled in it. There are, to this day, remain- 
 ing in England fome veftiges of the Curfus in which they 
 ran thefe races ; which races, being attendants on the 
 folemn meetings of religion, the curfus were near their 
 temples. The mod remarkable is that near Stone- 
 henge, which is a long tracSl of ground, about 350 
 feet (or 200 Druid cubits) wide, and better than a 
 mile and three quarters (or ^000 Druid cubits) in 
 length, enclofed quite round with a bank of earth, 
 ftretching direftly eaft and weft. The goal and 
 career are at the eaft end. The goal is a high bank 
 of earth, raifed with a Hope inwards, whereon the 
 , judges are fuppofed to have fat. The line of this 
 bank is north and fouth, diredly acrofs the curfus, 
 beginning from the fouth bank of the curfus, not 
 reaching quite to the north, but leaving a fpace there 
 for the chariots to pafs to the career, between this goal 
 and the north bank, or fide of the curfus. The metaj 
 are two tumuli, or little barrows, at the weft end of 
 the curfus : 
 
 Some tomb, perhaps of old, the dead to grace, 
 
 Or then, as now, the limit of a race. Pope's Homer. 
 
 Vol. I. Q^q As 
 
 / 
 
21^8 DISSERTATION ON THE 
 
 As old Neftor defcribes the meta of the curfus on the 
 plains before Troy. 
 
 From the very (late and form of this hippodrome, or 
 curfus, my conje6lure, as to the manner in which the 
 race was performed, is confirmed in faift. Here we fee 
 that the chariots fet out from the career, on the right 
 (or northward) of the goal, and ran to the weft end j 
 whence, wheeling to the left round the metse, they re- 
 turned again eaftward and muft pafs again to the north- 
 ward, or left of the goal, keeping it on their right in 
 their coming in to the career, at the end of the race, as 
 I have before explained the race mentioned in Sophocles. 
 
 Doctor Stukely, not adverting to this route of the 
 race, but feeing that it muft end to the northward of 
 the goal, at the eaft end, has been led to imagine, con- 
 trary to the fad of conftant practice, that the chariots ran 
 from the eaft along the fouthern fide, and then wheel- 
 ing to the right, north about the meta^, returned on the 
 north fide, and fo ended to the northward of the goal. 
 But the explanation which I have given is agreeable to 
 pracflice, and confirmed by this exifting fadl. 
 
 The hyppodromes, or curfus, were called, in the 
 language of the country, rhedagua ; the racer rhe- 
 dagwr, and the carriage, as we find, rheda. 
 
 One of thefe hippodromes, about half a mile to the 
 louthward of Leicefter, retains ftill, under the various 
 corruption of fpeaking and writing, the old name 
 
 Rhedagua ', in the corrupted one Rawdikes, 
 
 6 Dodor 
 
ANCIENT CHARIOT. 2^9 
 
 Docftor Stukely fays there is another of thefe near 
 Dorchefter ; another on the banks of the river Lowther, 
 by Perith in Cumberland ; and another in the valley 
 jufl without the town of Royfton. 
 
 Such were the equeflrian fports of the ancient Bri- 
 tons, who even in their PaJIimes encouraged a warlike 
 fpirit and emulation, and advanced the public welfare; 
 for by making pleafure fubfervient to fcience, and con- 
 fidering the race only as an exhibition of military Ikill, 
 they dignified the fport, and made their cavalry no lefs 
 the delight and ornament of peace, than the fupport 
 and terror of war." 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 PAGE 14. " Their manner of riding," &c.] In 
 latter times, however, Arrian, fpeaking of them, 
 fays, that Saddles were not in ufe among them, nor had 
 they Bridles made after the fafliion of the Greeks and 
 Celts ; but, inftead of them, they governed and guided 
 their horfes with a thong or flrap, cut from the raw hide 
 of a bull, which they bound acrofs their nofes -. on the 
 infide of this Nofe-band, they fixed certain little pointed 
 pieces of iron or brafs, moderately fharp; the richer 
 fort ufed ivory. In the mouth a fmall piece of iron 
 was put, like a Bar, or Spit, to which the reins were 
 tied : when thefe were pulled, the mouth-piece ope- 
 rated, and the fmall teeth which were on the Nofe-band, 
 pricking the horfe, obliged him to obey, and anfwer 
 the will of the rider *. The modern inflruments, called 
 
 * Arrian Hift. Indie, lib. 17. 
 Vol. I. R r CavefonSf 
 
': 
 
 30Z APPENDIX. 
 
 Cavefoiis, from the Italian word Cavezza, an halter, Col- 
 
 lar, or Head-ftrain, may probably be derived from this 
 
 invention. JElimi likewife, who wrote poflerior to Ar- 
 
 rian, fpeaks of the I-iidians as expert horfemen ; and fays, 
 
 that they rode and managed their horfgs by means of 
 
 a Bridle, but not of that fort which is called the Lupa- 
 
 tum, with (harp points of iron fixed to it, in order to 
 
 prick and harrafs the mouth j but that they neverthelefs , fl 
 
 were fo fkilful, as to make their horfes perform as well 
 
 as if they had been rode with it, and awed by its feve- 
 
 rity *. 
 
 Page 2 0. " As we learn from Strabo."] Callration 
 was pratftifed long before Strabo wrote, but he feems 
 to fpeak of it as being a cuftom more peculiarly be- 
 longing to the Scythians and Sarmatians than to any other 
 nations. His words may be rendered thus: It is pecu- 
 liar to all the Scythian and Sarmatian nations to cailrate 
 their horfes, for the better management of them ; for 
 though they are but fmall, they are neverthelefs met- 
 tlefome, and difficult to be governed f- 
 
 Page 38. " Many of the terms," 8cc.] Much learning is 
 difplayed, and much information may be gained upon 
 this fubje(ft from the following extraft, entitled, 
 " DifTertation Litteraire, fur Une Colonic Egiptienne, 
 '• etabli a Athenes, Sec. par Fred. Samuel Schmidt de 
 
 * yElian, lib. 13. f Strabo, lib. 7. 
 
 2 '' Berne." 
 
APPENDIX. 303 
 
 «' Berne," printed in a volume called Archxologia, 
 or Mifccllaneoiis Trad:s, lately publiflied by the learned 
 body of Antiquarians, London, 1762. 
 
 The intention of the moil ingenious author is to prove 
 that colonies came from Egypt to fettle in Athens, 
 which brought the arts and fciences in their train, and 
 planted them in Greece, among \ivhich the art of riding 
 was introduced and eftabliflied. The author fpeaks of 
 two different colonies, under two different leaders 
 which came from Egypt and fettled in Athens : thefe 
 were Cecrops and Ericlhomus. Having related the hiflory 
 Df Cecrops, he proceeds to give an account of the other 
 colonift) Eri5lbonius, Hiflorians and chronologifls, con- 
 tinues our author, mention two different kings who 
 were known by the fame appellation, and were fome^ 
 limes miflaken for each other. Their names were 
 Erecitbeus, or EriBhonius ; according to the fcholiafls of 
 Homer both were the fame. One of thefe chiefs was 
 the fourth, and the other the fixth king of Athens. 
 
 The firft of thefe, as we are told by Diodoriis Siaihis, 
 was of Egyptian origin, and Attica being defolated by a 
 famine, fupplied it with corn ; in confideradon of the 
 friendfliip and alliance which formerly fubfifted be- 
 tween its inhabitants and the Egyptians, that is, for 
 the fake of the colony which was eftabliflied in Athens, 
 under his predeceflbr Cecrops. 
 
 The ridiculous and abfurd etymologies by which 
 the grammarians pretended to explain the name of 
 
 R r 2 EriBbonius, 
 
304 APPENDIX. 
 
 EriBhonius, fo as to make it be derived from the Greek 
 
 language, engaged our author to fearch for it in the 
 
 Egyptian, the language of that country whence this 
 
 hero originally came. He flatters himfeif with being 
 
 able to give at leaft a very probable reafon why this 
 
 king was diftinguifhed by this name, whofe derivation, 
 
 he fays, is this. The old Egyptian word is Ericko, whence 
 
 the Greeks formed Erichthonius ; as from Jpol/o, Apollo- .: 
 
 •nius. This name is compofed of £r/, facere ret aliciijus 
 
 auSlorem ejfe ; which fignifies, to become the inventor, 
 
 or author of any thing ; and Cbto, or ichlo, egiius, egui- 
 
 tatus, an Horfe, or Cavalry. Thefe two compounded 
 
 ma.'ke Erichto, that is, the Inventor or Author of Horfes. 
 
 This is the charader and employment which the an- 
 cients unanimoufly gave to Erkhthonhu. Virgil ex- A 
 prefly *: 
 
 Primus Erichthonius currus & quatuor aiifus J- 
 
 Jiingere equos, rapidifque rotis injijiere viBor. 
 
 Firft Erichthonius dar'd with rapid fkill 
 To yoke four Heeds, and guide the vigor's rapid 
 wheel. Warton. 
 
 Servius, Arijiides, and other commentators, confirm this 
 account, arjd afTert that this hero was the firll who drove 
 
 * Georg. iii. verf. 113. 
 
 horfes 
 
APPENDIX. 305 
 
 horfes in a car, or chariot, and introduced the art into 
 Greece, as the Tbejfalians are faid, by the author above- 
 mentioned, to have been the firft pra(5tifers of the art 
 of riding, and of fighting on horfeback. 
 
 To perpetuate the memory of fo great a benefit, and 
 fo noble an invention, Eri6thonius, after his death, was 
 placed in heaven, and is reprefented in the ancient 
 fphere, under the names of Juriga and Jgitator, viz. 
 Driver, or Charioteer. 
 
 But what moft tends to confirm this etymology, and 
 fliews this colony in a clearer and fuller light, is, that 
 Ericbthonius or Erichtheus, is one of the titles of Neptune. 
 Lycophron, Tzetzes, Hefychius, and other ancient writers 
 affirm, that with the Athenians Erichthonhu is Neptune. 
 Plutarch, in two places, makes mention of Neptune 
 Ericbthonius, fo called, as our author conjedures, from 
 an opinion entertained among the Greeks, that he was 
 the firft who made them acquainted with the horfe, and 
 taught them how to manage him. Sophocles and Dio- 
 dorus Siculus atteft the fame thing, Paufanias fpeaks of 
 an Equejirim ftatue of Neptune, which was erecfted in 
 Athens ; and to account for the title of '{TrTCt©^^ or 
 Horfeman, being given to Neptune, has recourfe to equi- 
 tation, the invention of which art he proves to have 
 been attributed to him. The hymns of Homer afcribe 
 likewife two employments to this deity, Equitation and 
 Navigation. 
 
 1 In 
 
3o6 APPENDIX. 
 
 In Italy the fame creed prevailed. The ETrufcans rc- 
 prefented Neptune fitting in a car, drawn by horfes, as 
 may be feen on a monument, among other antiquities 
 of that nation, publifhed by Dempller. Upon the fame 
 account, Romulus dedicated the games called Confualiu, 
 in which it was cuitoraary to crown the Horfes, to this 
 deity. 
 
 The Jncients go ftill farther with them, Neptune was 
 deemed not only the inventor of the art of riding, but 
 alfo the Creator of the horfe. Nothing is more known 
 and common in their mythology. Virgil and Lncan 
 dearly prove it. He appears, therefore, to have the 
 juftell title to the name EreBbeus, which belonged to 
 him in its fulled fignification, not only as being the 
 author of riding, but likewife as having given the horfe 
 to man for his ufe and pleafure. He is therefore moil 
 properly fliled by Pamphus, the mod ancient hymno- 
 grapher, Yttttuv ^olrj^oi, the Giver of horfes. 
 
 In this place, two doubts probably may occur ; it 
 may be afked, why this Egyptian colonift is called Nep- 
 tune or EreBheiis ? and why the invention of horfeman- 
 fhip ftiould be attributed by the ancients to both I and if 
 it might not be upon this account, that the Egyptians, who 
 came by Sea into Greece, were the firll introducers of 
 equitation in that country. This folution is not fatif- 
 fa6lory, another more juft be advanced ; Equitation, with 
 txiQ. ancients, was always the emblem of Navigation^ 
 The truth of this has been demonftrated by Monfieur 
 
 Freret, 
 
APPENDIX. 307 
 
 Freret, in his ingenious refledlions upon the fable of 
 Bellerophon. The Pegafus, or winged horfe, of this hero, 
 being, according to this author, a Slip, in which h.e 
 failed upon his expeditions, which was given to him by 
 Neptune. This god is faid Hkewife, in the Greek, mytho- 
 logy, to have called forth an horfe from the bofom of 
 the earth, in the well-known difpute he is reported to 
 have had vn'xth Minerva ; that is to fay, he recommended 
 Navigation to the Athenians, as Minerva, by producing 
 an Olive-tree, intimated to them the benefits of Jgricul- 
 ture. Hence Erichthonius gained his name, bccaufe he 
 brought the corn 'in Ships, defigned for the relief of the 
 Athenians, aiHidled with a famine. Hence the fable of 
 the Trojan Horfe, which was a Ship filled with foldiers. 
 Hence Plautus fays, 
 
 Nempe Equo Ugneo per vias ccerukas 
 Fe5li efiis 
 
 You are carried over the fl^y-coloured Roads (waves) 
 upon a woodeji horfe. 
 
 Page 45". " The Theflalian horfes," &c.j King Alfred, 
 in his tranflation of Orofms, fays, that Philip of Mace- 
 don's view in undertaking to conquer the TheiTalians,. 
 fb as to make them at leaft his allies, was becaufe they 
 excelled all other nations in fighting on horfeback. 
 This is cited from Alfred's verfion, not only becaufe it 
 is Royal authority,, but becaufe it is more flrongly ex- 
 
 t preffed 
 
30 8 APPENDIX. 
 
 prefTed than in the original, which runs only Ambitione 
 habendorum equitiim T'heJJ'alonun, Orof. lib. iii. cap. i 2. This 
 is taken from a manufcript, given to the Society of 
 Antiquaries by their late moil amiable and worthy Pre- 
 fident, Dr. Charles Lyttelton, Bifliop of Carlifle. 
 
 The Mafter of the Horfe to this King, is the firfl of 
 whom any mention is made belonging to any Britifli 
 Prince. His name is Ecgiief; he was Hors-The?i, or Horfe- 
 Tbane, Equorum Magijler^ to Alfred *. 
 
 Page 59. " Men of military eminence,'' &c.lThe old 
 feudal barons reprefented themfelves on horfeback upon 
 their feals, and none below the degree of a Chevalier had 
 a right to the horfe. There are in the pofTeilion of 
 Thomas Aflle, Efq. two original feals of Robert Ferrers, 
 fome time Earl of Derby. While he was Earl of Derby, 
 his feal was a reprefentation of himfelf on horfeback, 
 in armour, brandifliing his fword ; and bearing upon 
 his fhicld, and the caparifons of his horfe, his coat of 
 arms, raire, Or and Gules ; but after he was deprived of 
 his earldom and eftatcs (50 Hen. UI.) for raifing forces 
 a fecond time againft the king, he ufed upon his feal 
 his family arms alone, without the horfe. 
 
 Paae 6 8. "Their chief employment," 8cc J The allotted 
 fpace the horfes were to run in thefe trials of fpeed 
 
 * Gibfon's Saxon Chronicle, p, 97. 
 
 and 
 
APPENDIX. 30^^ 
 
 and vigour, was feven times round the Circus. Aufo- 
 nius fays of Pbofphorus^ 
 
 Septenas foUtus viBor ahhe vias. 
 
 It appears likewife from the fame authority, that 
 thefe fmgle racers were ufed to contend with the ^la- 
 driga, or chariots drawn by four horfes. Aufon. Epitap. 
 3J-. See this alfo confirmed by Sidonius Apollinaris, 
 Carmen 23. lib. 373. 
 
 Page 73." The Etruvian, or Tufcan breed, is praifed 
 by Oppian."] Volaterrannus celebrates thofe of Sardi- 
 nia. Non enimfcimus quaks Mulos Clodius habiierit^ aut mulas 
 'Titus An^iius Milo ; — aut iitrum Tufco equo federit CataUna an 
 Sardo. Flavius Vopifcus in Firmo, cap. 6. 
 
 Page 77. " Inftead of a curry-comb, they put a co- 
 vering upon their hands."] The Greeks made ufe of an 
 inftrument of iron for the fame purpofe, called Marnica, 
 and explained by Hefychius, to be an Irc7i Hand. 
 
 Page 78. "To tie rollers of wood."] This is no un- 
 frequent thing in the prefent fyflem of Horfemanfliip, 
 and to a certain degree will have a good effedr. Ploi/ghed 
 fields were alfo thought to conduce to the fame end ; in 
 which it was ufual to break and exercife horfes, till of 
 late ; the utility of working in riding-houfcs having al- 
 VoL. I. S f moft 
 
510 APPENDIX. 
 
 mod fuperfeded them : the Parthian method, defciibed 
 in page i 7, was intended for the fame purpofe. 
 
 Page 97. " The IFbite fliould always be reje6ted."] 
 A notion has always prevailed, that thofe animals 
 whofe fkins are entirely white, are lefs valuable than 
 thofe af other colours, efpecially hoifes. An ele- 
 gant and curious obferver of nature, decides very 
 confidendy againft this colour in horfes. " II ell 
 " bien vrai," fays he, " qu'on a obferve, depuis plus 
 •' de dix huit cent ans, que Ics quadrupedes dont . la 
 " robe eft blanche, fans bigarrure, ei fans melange, 
 " font moins vigoureux, moins robufces que leur ana- 
 '* logues d'un poil pcint ou bariole : il n'y a pas tant de 
 " force vive^. ni tant de refiftance dans les mufcles et les 
 " nerfs d'un Cheval ne blanc, que dans ceux que dans 
 ••- ceux d'un Cheval noir ou bai.'.' 
 
 
 
 In other animals particular opinions have likewife 
 been received and maintained, with r^fpedl to different 
 Co/ours, which are thought to influence the qualities of 
 the animal. " En HoUande," fays the fame author,. 
 " on a reconnu, par ime longue fuite d'obfervations, 
 *' que les vaches rouges font d'un temperament infe- 
 «« rieur, et moins fecondes que les vaches noires, ou 
 " tachetees de noir et de blanc, auili I'efpece rouge a 
 ** t'elle ete entierement bannies des paturages de ce pays *." ' 
 
 *■ Recherches Philofoph. fur les Americains, 1770. 
 
 On 
 
E N D I X. 
 
 311 
 
 On the contrary, the red cow's milk is the raoH cfteem- 
 ed in this country, 
 
 Page I 26. " Dr. Shaw aflerts," &c.] The author's 
 words are, " The horfes here are very fine, efpecially 
 " thofe of Upper Egypr, being of the Arab and Barbary 
 '* race. They have one great fault, which is that 
 ** their necks are generally too fliort, and the people 
 " value their horfes, as they do their women, for the 
 " largenefs of their bodies.'' 
 
 Page 138. " Never geld their horfes," Sec] This 
 cuftom, now fo frequent, feems to have been intro- 
 duced by the Turkijlo or Hungarian nations, who took 
 pofleflion of ancient Pannonia. It is remarkable, that 
 the French call a gelding, un Cheval Ongre, that is an 
 Hungarian horfe, which feems to indicate, that the Franks 
 firft learned the art and cuflom of caftration from the 
 Hungarians. The Germans call a gelt horfe a JJV.lack, 
 which feems to prove, that they were made acquainted 
 with this practice from a nation which is called Jl''aJ~ 
 lochia J and it is certain that the Huns and the Hungari^ 
 ans, or, as they call themfelves, the Madgians, and after- 
 wards the Patzinaks (all which are Turkifli tribes) or 
 branches of that nation, which was called 'Toukotie by 
 the Cbincfe, and Turks over all the Orient, were fettled, 
 for fome time at leaft, in IVallacUa. The Poles call a geld- 
 ing OgbJer, to indicate that they firft got the art of geld- 
 ing horfes from the Ougburs, one of the ancient Hunnic 
 
 S f 2 tribes 
 
3 12 APPENDIX. 
 
 tribes, mentioned by Pnf. Rhetor, fo that there is much 
 reafon to conclude that the Jrt came originally from 
 the Huns and Hungarians. What is more remarkable, is, 
 that to this very day, a great many Hungarians travel 
 every year into Germany and Poland, in order to caf- 
 trate any animal that is offered to them, which they 
 do for a fmall reward. They come to the very Ballick 
 every fummer, and are very expert in their bufmefs. 
 
 Page 141." They are fold to the Ruffians," Sec] The 
 horfes of this people are purchafed by the Ruffians, 
 who every year buy fo great a number as forty thou- 
 fand, which are brought to Mofcow, and fold at a low 
 rate. They are pot-bellied, lean, their fkins being 
 hard and coarfe ; their necks flefliy and clumfy, with 
 large heads, and would be defpifed and rejefted by all 
 who fee them, were they not known to be endowed with 
 great fpeed, and able to bear labour and want of food 
 to a great degree. Iter in Mofchov. Auguftini Baronis 
 de Mayerberg, A. D. i 6 6 i , p. 32. 
 
 Page r47. "The horfes of Sweden," &c.] Englifh 
 horfes, fays an author who wrote many years ago; 
 efpecially for the Pad, are of great efteem in Sweden ; 
 the horfes of the country being generally of a fmall 
 breed, and 'Trotters, fomewhat like our Welch and Scotch 
 nags : the Queen and fome great Lords have a breed of 
 large and handfome horfes, but not many of them. 
 
 Moft- 
 
APPENDIX. 313 
 
 Moft of their horfes for the coach and fled, and war, 
 are brought out of Denmark and Germany, where they 
 have llore of good ones, but none for beauty, mettle, 
 and the fervice beyond the EngUfli. A. D. 16 5 3. 
 Whiielock's EmbafTy to Sweden, vol. i. p. 257, which 
 is printed by Dr. Morton, and will foon be publifhed. 
 
 Page 154. " In Sicily, a kingdom always extolled,'' 
 &c.] The nobleil and moft excellent horfes are bred in 
 this country (Calabria), of large fize, and exceeding 
 fwiftnefs. Gabrielis Bai. de Antiquitate Sc Situ Cala- 
 bria", Romse, 1737, Folio, cap. 21. 
 
 Page 161. " Except defigned for prefents," &c.] In' 
 the fame reign a common horfe was valued at half a 
 pound ; but a fine horfe was to be rated according to 
 his beauty. 
 
 The following particulars, which fliew what at- 
 tention the ancient Britons paid to their horfes, may 
 not perhaps be improper to be added, nor difpleafin^ 
 to the curious reader. 
 
 We find from Howel Dda's Laws *, that amono- the 
 ancient Britons, the king's villani were obliged to 
 furnifh him with horfes, to carry his baggage in his- 
 armies ; and every perfon who held lands in villanage, 
 was obliged to attend with a horfe and an axe, 
 
 ♦Eol.. 166. This prince compiled his code of laws about the year 876.. 
 
 and. 
 
314 APPENDIX. 
 
 and to aflifl in building the king's camps and forts, 
 being maintained at the king's expence f. In the fame 
 Laws X are many curious particulars concerning 
 horfes : amongft others, I fhall mention the following. 
 A colt under fourteen days old was valued at 4d. Under 
 a year old, the value was 2 4d. From the time he en- 
 tered his fccond year, his value was 48d. In his third 
 year he was worth 6od. and he was then to be deemed 
 fit for ufe. The value of a palfrey was i 2od. A 
 pack-horfe was of the fame value. A cart, or plough- 
 horfe was worth ^od. A perfon that fold a horfe was 
 to anfwer for his being free from the three following 
 iqward complaints : a giddinefs for three days before 
 the time of fale ; a broken wind for three months ; 
 and a dropfy for a year -, and he was not to tire when 
 upon a journey with others : and he was further to 
 warrant, that he neither loathed food nor water ; and 
 if he was fubjeft to thefe failings, the feller was either 
 to take the horfe back, or to return a third part of the 
 price. The qualities of a horfe of burthen are thefe, 
 viz. that he fhould carry a load, draw a carriage up or 
 down hill, and not to be refty. 
 
 If a perfon lamed a horfe, he fliould forfeit the va- 
 lue of the horfe ; and if he mutilated him, he fliould 
 forfeit the third part of the value to the owner. 
 
 He that cut off the hair from a horfe's tail, v.^as 
 obliged to maintain him till it was grown again, and 
 
 -f lb. 167. j; lb. 230. 
 
 4 in 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 oM 
 
 in the mean time to furnifh the owner with another. 
 Bur if a perfon cut off the hair from a ftalHon's tail, he 
 he fliould forfeit 240!. and if the tail was cut off, the 
 horfe was deemed unfit for fervice. He that galled 
 the back of a borrowed horfe was ro pay 4d. and if the 
 Ikin and flefli were rubbed off to the bones, he was to 
 pay I 6d. 
 
 He that mounted a horfe without the owner's con- 
 fent was to pay 4d. and 4d. more for every Rbandir * 
 that he rode him. 
 
 Whoever was fufpe6led to have killed a liorfe pri- 
 vately, and denied it, was to purge himfelf by the 
 oaths of twenty-four compurgators. 
 
 Stoned horfes were not to be fliut up from the mid- 
 dle of April, till the middle of June. Fol. 289. 
 
 The matter of the horfe was to hold his lands free. 
 The king was to find him a horfe and cloatlis ; and the 
 queen, linen. 
 
 His lodging was to be near the granary, that he 
 might more conveniently infpeft the corn. He was to 
 have a double portion of corn for his own horfe. 
 When the King made a prefent of a horfe, he was to 
 have 4d. 
 
 When horfes were taken from enemies, the mafler 
 of the horfe and the grooms were to have the colts un-- 
 der. two years old. 
 
 *■ Thought to be nearly equal to a league. 
 
 TJie 
 
3i<^ APPENDIX. 
 
 The king's grooms were to have the king's old riding 
 ^aps, gilt faddles, fpurs, boots, and other riding fur- 
 niture. The chief groom was to officiate for the mailer 
 of the horfe, in his abfence -, and when he mounted or 
 difmounted he was to hold his flirrup. 
 
 Page 164. " In the reign of Henry II." Sec] Foreign 
 horfes were imported by this prince, as appears from 
 the allowance made for the fubfiftence of the king's 
 horfes, which were lately brought from beyond fea, 
 by the treafurer. Madox's Hillory of the Exchequer, 
 page 2^2, 
 
 Page 207. " Variety of horfes,'' &c.] There were no 
 horfes in Virginia before the Englifli fettled there ; but 
 now they have good flore, though negligent in the 
 breed. It is true, that there is a law that no ftoned 
 horfe (hall be kept under a certain lize, but it is neg- 
 ledted. Such as they are they fell cheaper than in Eng- 
 land, being worth about 5I. a piece. They never flioe 
 them, nor ride them in general ; yet when they do, 
 they ride pretty fharply ; a Planter % pace is a proverb, 
 which is a good hand-gallop. The Indians have not yet 
 learned to ride ; only the King of Pomoukil hath three or 
 four for his own faddle. 
 
 Clopton's Account of Virginia, in the Philofophical 
 Tranfa(5i:ions, vol. iii. p. 593. wriuen in, or near the 
 jSime of Charles 11, 
 
 Page 
 
A P P E N D i X. 317 
 
 Page 209. " Full of fpirit," &c.] The author of an 
 elegant work, lately publifhed, confirms this account. 
 The American horfes, which are increafed prodigi- 
 oufly, are fo far from degenerating from their Spaniih 
 ancellors, that they furpafs them even in merit j they 
 are fo fpirited and hardy, as to go fixty leagues with- 
 out Hopping, or taking food ; and will travel three days 
 fucceflively, without eating or quenching their thirft. 
 In fpite of this, they retain their vigour, and are adlive 
 and light beyond imagination. I have produced proofs, 
 fays the author, in my voyage to the Malouine IJJands, after 
 having been an ocular witnefs of all I relate. Diflerta- 
 tion fur L'Amerique, par Dom. Pernety, Berlin 1770. 
 
 The following is the account to which the author 
 alludes. The horfes of Paraguay are famous and cele- 
 brated throughout the New World; they form a great 
 part of the wealth and fubflance of Morae-Video, being 
 indifcriminately in ufe with the White people, the Mu- 
 lattos, and the Negroes ; and their number at lead equals 
 that of the human fpecies. 
 
 It is neverthelefs certain, that however valued they 
 be at Monte-Video, this place may properly be lliled an 
 Hell, or place of punifhment, to ihefe «dmired ani- 
 mals ; for the people frequently will work them for three " 
 days together, without giving them either food or 
 water, and treat them with as much cruelty as the 
 Arabs do their camels-. • 
 
 Vol. I. T t The 
 
3i8 APPENDIX. 
 
 The horfes neverthelefs are very valuable ; they have 
 all the vigour and vivacity of the Spanifli race, from 
 which they are defcended, are very (ure-footed, and of 
 furprifing agility. The ftep of their walk is fo quick, 
 yet fo extended, that it is equal to the fwiftell trot, or 
 the hand-gallop of other horfes. Their pace is the 
 Anbk, and the hinder-foot accompanies and goes be- 
 yond the fore-foot fo far, as to be in a line, if not be- 
 yond the fore-foot of the oppofite fide, which makes 
 their motions twice as rapid as thofe of other horfes, 
 and more eafy and agreeable to the rider. Beauty is 
 not their portion ; but they are entitled to every com- 
 mendation for their lightnefs, courage, and calmnefs 
 of temper. Their owners never trouble themfelves to 
 procure either hay or ilraw to feed them, but make 
 them live in the fields throughout the year ; the fea- 
 fons never being fo hard as to know any froil fufficient 
 to freeze the rivers, or deftroy the plants and other 
 things upon which they fubfift. 
 
 Thefe horfes are never fhod. Their faddles are very 
 different from thofe ufed in Europe : a coarfe and thick 
 piece of (luff, which is fofr, is firft put on, called Scbu- 
 aderos ; a girth is tied over this, then a piece of flrong 
 leather is added, of the fize of the faddle, which co- 
 vers the croupe, and ferves as an houfing : this the 
 inhabitants call Carne'ros. Upon this leather they place 
 the faddle, which refembles our pack-faddle, and upon 
 it they gut one or more flieep-fkins, covered with their 
 
 wool. 
 
APPENDIX. 319 
 
 wool, and ftained or dyed with one or more colours, 
 which they name Peilhon, and fecure the whole with a 
 fecond girth. The llirrups are fmall and narrow, as 
 they never put the foot beyond the toe, even thofe 
 whofe feet are bare and naked. 
 
 Their bits are of iron, without bofTes, and formed of 
 one piece. The reins are compofed of many fmall flraps 
 of leather joined together, and are at leaft fix or feven 
 feet long, being intended to ferve for whips as well as 
 for reins. A piece of iron, in the fhape of half a cir- 
 cle, furrounds the lower jaw, afts as a curb, and pro- 
 duces the fame eflfeft. Riding is fo common and fre- 
 quent at Monte-Video^ that the women are as praftifed and 
 fkilful as the men ; and by their addrefs and a(5tivity 
 feem to juftify the ancient hiftory of thofe renowned 
 female warriors, the Amazons *. 
 
 Page 241. " You chufe rather to maim,"] &c. 
 HoUinfhed fpeaks of an Englifli nobleman's Bob-tail- 
 ings as he calls it, a fine horfe, that his friends might 
 not afk it of him ; which proves what a detriment and 
 blemifli it was to an horfe at that time (the reign of 
 Elizabeth) not to have his tail full and complete. 
 
 • Hiftoire d'un Voyage aux Ifles Maloiiines, &c. a Paris, 1770. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
ERRATA in the FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 Page I, line 1 5, for to It made, read to have hen made. 
 
 II, 1. to, ior horfemau, TtiA horfeman. 
 
 15, note, I. 4, for Varmer, read s'armer. 
 
 17, 1. 7, for or, read on purpofe. 
 
 17, 1. 16, for augufiat, read angujiat\ 1. 14, for peccaverat Orphius, read pacaverat 
 Orpheus. 
 
 »8, 18, iot Libya, red Lydia; Ae\e mentioned above. 
 
 41, note, 1. 3, for Tidor. Hijp. read I/dor. Hifp. 
 
 48, 1. 24, for except •which, read luhich, excepting. 
 
 53, 1.24, ior luhere, read •whence. 
 
 66, 1. 17, for ^ij </<jr/, read its dart. 
 
 79, 1. s4, for permitted to fend, read permitted them to ftnd. 
 
 99, 1. 19, for deceived, read received. 
 i»7, 1.7, for foreheads, read forehands. 
 129, 1. ult. for climats, read climates. 
 J 60, 1. 12, for obfervers inform, vezd obfer'ver informs. 
 405, 1.3, for encourage, rezd encourages. 1. 17, for are, read ;V. 
 ao8, 1. 18. for 0/", read w. 
 
 »i3, 1. penult, for t'wo prints at the head of the book, read of his. 
 »ao, I. 17, (oT horfe, read houfe. 
 
 »i4, 1.21, for in»f J AiV hinder under him, read An'/;^ A« hinder legs under him. 
 J35, 1. 9, for baron Socks, read baron Stoch. 
 241, note 1. 9, for Camarcrius, read Camerarius, 
 2j6, 1, ult. for Confeculi, read Confecuti, 
 
EXPLANATION of the PLATES 
 
 AND 
 
 REFERENCES TO THE RESPECTIVE PAGES 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 Frontispiece. A Centaur. 
 
 At the head of the dedication. A white horfe, being the arms of the 
 houfe of Hanover, page ^6. 
 
 Plate r. Suppofed to reprefent Darius^ faluted king of Perfia, when 
 he had gained the empire by the neighing of his horfe ; — and given 
 here only to fhew the conformity of the manner of riding between 
 the ancient and modern Eaftern nations, page 14. 
 
 Plate 2. No. i. A Parthian horfeman, page 16. 
 No. 2. A Sarmatian horfe, page 21. 
 
 Plate 3. No, i. A Roman foldier pulling a Numidian from his 
 horfe. 
 No. 2. A Mauritanian horfeman, page 23. 
 
 Plate 4. Two Grecian horfemen, taken from the freeze of the temple 
 of Minerva in the Acropolis of Athens ; the whole extent 
 of which is one continued bas-relief: and, according to 
 Mr. Sleuart, (who obligingly furnifhed me with jhis defign) 
 reprefents the Panathenaic pomp, or a proceffion in honour 
 of Minerva; as the above learned gentleman will more 
 particularly explain in his fecond volume of the Antiquities 
 of Athens, page 45. 
 
 The Lances, fhield and vafe, at the bottom of this print 
 
 given by the fame perfon, are taken from the wall of an 
 
 Vol. I. U u an- 
 
 ^ 
 
EXPLANATION of the PLATES, Sec; , 
 
 ancient building (now a church) near the Gymnafium of 
 Ptolemy at Athens : the three lances have thongs of lea- 
 ther faftened to them, by which the foldiers mounted their 
 horfes, and clearly explain the exprefllon of Xenophon, 
 when he fays one of the methods of mountingwas 'nr\ $u^x- 
 T(^, or from the fpear, page 246. 
 
 Plate 5. No. i. The emperor Trajan ; meant to fhew the Roman 
 manner of riding, page 58. 
 No. 2. The emperor Theododus, with a faddle on the 
 horfe, not unlike thofe now in ufe, page 62. 
 
 Pi ATE 6. No. T. Ancient bridles, page 40. 
 
 No. 2. An ancient horfedioe, fuppofed to have belonged to 
 the horfe of Childeric, king of France, Anno. 481. found 
 in his tomb, and preferved ia Montfaucon's Monum. de la 
 Monarc. Fran, page 255. 
 
 No. 3. An ancient bitt, from Montfaucon, page 40. 
 
 No. 4. An ancient fpur, from the fame, page 40. 
 
 No. 5. Ancient whips, from Scheffer, page 41. 
 
 Plate 7. No. i. Figure of an horfe, among others, fuppofed to have 
 
 belonged to the king of the ^adi, in the time of Marcus 
 
 Aurclius, and given here to fliew a little fort of Saddle, re- 
 
 fembling the pad of thefe times, page 62. 
 
 No. 2. The ficrure of an horfe faddled and bridled in the 
 
 time of William the Conqueror, as reprefented in the Ba- 
 
 yiux tapcftry in Dr. Ducarers Journey through Normandy. 
 
 No. 3. and No. 4. An ancient Britifli or Roman fpur (the 
 
 rowel wanting) and bitt: both dug out of a large burrow, 
 
 in the road from London to Bath, called Silbury Hill •, and 
 
 fuppofed, by antiquaries, to have been the tumulus, or 
 
 place of burial, of the Britifh king Coel, whofe daughter 
 
 Helena was the mother of Conjlantine the Great. Commu- 
 
 oicated by Guftavus Brander, Efq. 
 
 Plate 8^ 
 
T/i?re Tiiiwo ro///n/ i\i(V/ S/i/r iifn^, 
 D7n?m ntf tf^ Pinifuvi- . 
 
 t^C't/(/l 
 
 a. GtTxer, o. The IrotU. oThe Meia. 
 
 A ii.Edtin- tAe Pi/>?y err PL^fa. 
 
 bnu OiJc£t! rifi/fit, f/tjv n^/i^A l/ic K^ii/it) inn. 
 
 d.Th^Beftd intrT^/iicA /^k^I'ff/^cn'Jifnc lat/. y ^f/ 
 
 B a.T/u^4erO(i, Suniyf/iiui Te7/u^. ip-fpoin^ oft/zePi/^g^. 
 
 t'T/ii'F/irai been^^ two (Aec^firi£&> h/ n>/uc/i t/iej'if/e'wcuf /'iavt:/ iZ/rnlmade'.iiieada/ tv tA^'.Aax/trxe, d/. 
 
 ,"'^.'. . Tj, x>/ {nt^et/n/j befiTV'%^l7^:Ai/nd ifJfTl/ie^i) oft/t^Jltnve'n^^'>yfiA/>urt>^'rV'^(Htnd/b^^ 
 
 cSecfurtv oftkeY^£e /a^tn^ ufHm'tAe f[7^^v. 
 
 dTAr J£znni'7- i7ft/i^ tTet^nt> 7rcti/ni'n^ t/i^/vni^/i- t/i^ f't-n^o of tJie/YoA^e^. 
 
 to ii Yoke. 
 
E|X P L A N A T I O N of the P L A T E S, &c; 
 
 PtATE 8. Two perfons about an horfe, one holding up one of his 
 
 legs, the other being fuppofed to be going to bind on a 
 
 fort of Stockings ufed in the place of the modern Shoes, 
 
 page 235- 
 
 No, 2. A foldier going to mount on the Right Side, 
 
 page 247- 
 No, 3. A foldier mounting from his Lance, page 246. 
 Thefe three reprefentations are taken from baron Stoch's 
 CoUeftion of Pates Antiques, in the Britifh Mujeum. Vid. 
 alfo Winkleman's Monum. Antiq. lUuftrati, &c. 
 
 Plate 9, Horfe and harnefs, &c. Vid. DifTertat. on the ancient 
 Chariot, &:c. 
 
 Tajl Piece. Equus Noricus, {landing before a pillar, crowned with 
 three palm branches, exprefiive of three viftories ob- 
 tained in the race. 
 
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