JOHNA.SEAVERNS LECTURES ON HORSEMANSHIP, Wherein is Explained EVERY , ^ / NECESSARY INSTRUCTION FOR BOTH ''/ .LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, In the Ufeful and Polite A R T o F R I D I N G, WITH :a3E, elegauce, and safety, By T. S. Profeffor'of Horferaanlhip. LONDOKi M9Z' LECTURE ON HORSEMANSHIP. Addrefs to the Audience. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. PERMIT me to obfervc that the Horfe is an ani- mal, which, from the earliefl ages of the world, has been deftined to the pleafure and fervices 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 acquaint- ed with them, and found the means of applying them to the purpofes for which they were given : this is ap- parent 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 peo- ple who were entirely ignorant, or had but very im- perfedl notions, of other improvements anl arts of life; and even at this day *are unacquainted with them, yet faw and underftood the generous proper- ties of this creature in fo lironga light as to treat him with fondnefs and the greateft attention, fufficiently to declare the high opinion they entertained of his * Such as the Wild Arabs, Indians, &c. ^2 merit h / (4) merit and excellence ; nay in various regions, and in the moft diftant ages, were fo far from being ftran- gers to the many fervices of which the Horfe was capable, as to have left rules and precepts concern- ing them, which are fo true and juft, that they have been adopted by their fucceflbrs ; and as all art is progreflive, and receives additions and improvements in its courfe, as the fagacity of man at different times, or chance and other caufes happen and concur ; fo that having the Ancient's foundation to eredt our building, it is natural to fuppofe that the flrudure has received many beauties and improvements from the experience and refinement of latter times. It is generally fuppofed that the firfl fervice in which the Horfe was employed, was to affift mankind in making war, or in the pleafures and occupations of the chafe. XemphoUy who wrote three hundred years before the Birth of Chnft, fays, in an exprefs treatile which he wrote on Horfemcinfhip, that Cyrus hunted on Horfeback, when he had a mind to exer- cife himfelf and horfes. Herodotus fpeaks of hunting on Horfeback as an exercife ufed in the time of DariMS^ and it is proba- bly of much earlier date. He particulatly mentions a fall which Darius had from his horfe in hunting, by which he diflocated his heel : thefe and thoufands of quotations more, which might be produced as proofs of the utility of the Horfe, in remote ages, are truths fo indifputably attefted that to enlarge far- ther upon it would be a fiiperfiuous labour, and fo- reign to my prefent undertaking, ( 5 ) On Mounting Your Horse. FIRST we will fuppofe your horfc properly fad- died and bridled. Take your Bridoun-rein ( if you have Bit and Bridounjin your right-hand, fhifting it till you have found the center of the rein; then with your fwitch or whip in your left-hand, place your little finger between the renis, fo that the right rein iies flat in your hand upon three fingers, and your thumb preiling your left rein flat upon the right, keeping your thumb both upon right and left rein, firm upon your fore-finger ; and in this pofition you eafe your hand a little and flide it firmly down the reins upon your horfe's neck, taking a firm hold of a lock of his mane, which will aflift you in fpringing to mount: remember that when you attempt to mount, that your reins are not fo tight as to check your horfe, or to offend his mouth, fo as to caufe him to rear, or rein back, but that your ac1:ion is fmooih and light as pofTible. Your horfe being firmly flayed, you next take your Stirrup-leather in your Right-hand, about four inches from the flirrup-iron, and fix one third 0^ your foot in the flirrup, flanding fquare with your horfe's fide i next take a firm hold with your right- (6} right hand on the Cantlet or back part of the faddle, rather on the off fide of it, and with your left knee preft firm againft the horfe's fide, fpring yourfelf up perpendicularly, bending the fmall of your back and looking chearfully up rather than down. The next move you make is to remove your right-hand from the Cantlet and place it firm upon the Pummel, or front of your faddle, bearing your weight upon it, at the fame time bend your right knee, and bring your body round, looking fi:rait over your horfe's head, letting yourfelf firmly and eafily down into your feat, with the fhoulders eafily back, bent well in your waiil or loins, and your chefi: well prefented in front, with a pleafant uncontradted countenance. You of courfe next recover or take your fwitch, which is done by putting your right-hand over your left, and with a quick firm motion take it in your right hand, holding the fame perpendicularly. Proceed us next tothe adjufi:ing the Reins, which is of the utmoll ufe. Suppofing you ride with Bit and Bridoun, being four in number, place them all even and flat in your left hand, exacftly in the fame manner as defciibed in taking the Bridoun in mount- ing; that is to fay, your four reins placed even, the one upon the other, remembering always to place your Bridouns on the outfides, fo that you may any time lengthen or Ihorten them at pleafure, with- out putting the whole into confufion, and caufe the Bit to ad: alone, or Bridoun alone, or both Bit and Bridcun to adt too;ether. I have obferved before that only your little finger {liould be between the reins when only two, it is the fame now four, fo now your two reins on the right (7 ) right fide of your horfe*s neck lie flat upon yout' three fingers in your left-hand, your two left reins placed flat upon the right, and your thumb prefixed flat upon all four. This is the only fure method to keep your reins firm, free from confufion, and to caufe them to adt properly ; which any lady or gentleman will be convinced of if they will only give themfelves the pleafure to pradife, as I cannot call it a trouble. If it fliould be demanded why the horfe would not ride as well with only the Bridoun, without the Bit ? my anfwer is that fuppofe your horfe becomes hard and heavy in hand, on being rode by both Bit and Bridoun, where they have both a6led together : you on this fliorten your Bit-reins whereby they ad: alone the Bridouns becoming flack, your horfe in- ftantly becomes light in hand, as though touched by 2i magickjlick, reining his neck properly, is imme- diately light before, gathers himfelf upon his haunch- es, and what appeared, but nozv a garronly fluggifti beafl: wears the appearance of a well dreflTed horfe. Well and thorough broke horfes with mouths made fine and to anfwer the niceft touch of feeling, are in general rode by the Bit alone, the Bridouns hanging loofe and feem more for ornament than ufe ; but yet in the hand of a flkillful horfeman are of the greatefl: utility; for by handling your right Bridoun-rein light- ly with your whip hand at proper times ; you can always raife your horfe's head if too low, you may take the liberty of eafing your Bit-reins at times, fo that playing upon his mouth, as it were an Infiru- ment of mufick, you will always keep his mouth in tune. I cannot find a jufler fimile than, that the Horfe is the Inflrument and the Rider the Player ; and ( s ) , t- .i^^hnrfe is well broke and tuned properly, and when the horle is wen ^^^^ ^^^^^ and the n^- k--^h;;,;;„%'P him ; but if fuffer- he IS never at a lofs to play P ^^ ^^^ ^^^ edtogo o"^«f ^"^^^Jbad habits, the horfeman horfeman, and to imbibe bad nao , ^.^^ ^^ notbeingabe tofcrew him up ana ^^^^^^^^ ^^ before: the Inft^ument is thrown y^^^ .^^^ may be fold for a triHe. ana °y ^ ^ j, m able hands, that k"«\h°:,J°Xeomes as ^good as once more together; he again becomes g ^^^^ rch^oftS^iiSerf^x^ The Horseman's Seat: THE principles and -les ^^ich ^^^^^^ been given for the horfeman s feat are ^ even oppofite, ^-^^^^l.^.Tn different countries, by different mafters and taugM m ^ ^^^^^^ almoft by each mafter ^^^^^^'j ^Jeir own. Let having certain "^"^^ ^^^^ J^^fcovered nothing that us fee, however, if a" has au ^^^.^^^^ ^^^ is certain and invariably "ue. ^n ^^ Spaniards, the French and ma ^-^^''J^^^ ^hich /here Riding is in rep^je adopt eac^ P^^^ „f ,i,eir is peculiar to themfelves the ^^^^ ^^^^ fS^r^t£^P^lng^\Uanonthefaddle. This contrariety o^j^Z jX^J:^^^^:^^^ origin more in prejudice than in tr j- i^.i^ns, g,v"en rife to many va'^re^J^^^^^g^X^ if truth was ?ach Syftem having irs f°\l°'^,^^;',^"ble. but at liber- not always the fame, and unchangeaDie. ^^ ( 9) ty toiffume various and even oppofite Ihapes ; fome- times one opinion prevailed, fometimes another, in- {cmuch. that thofe who undcrfland nothing of the fubjedt, but yet are dcfirous of being infoimed, by fearching it to the bottom, have hitherto been loll in doubt and perplexity. There is neverthelefs a fureand infallible method, by the adiftance of which it would be very eafy to overturn all thefe fyftems; but not to enter into a needlefs dftail of the extravagant notions, which the Seat alone has given rife to ; I will here endeavour to trace it from principles by fo much the more fo- lid, as their authority will be fupported by the moft convincing and felf evident reafons. In order to fucceed m an art v/here the mechanifm of the body is abfolutely necelTary, and where each part of the body has its proper fundions, which are peculiar to that part; it is moft certain that all and every part of the body fhould be in a natural pofture : were they in an imperfecfl fituation they would want that eafe and freedom which is infeparable from grace ; and as every motion which is conftrained being falfe in itfclf, and incapable of juftnefs, it is clear that the part fo conllrained and forced would throw the whole into confuiion; becaufe each part belonging to and depending upon the whole body, and the body partaking of the conltraint of its parts, can never feel that fixed point, that jull counterpoife and equality, in which alone a fine and juil execution confifts. The objedls to which a maflcr, anxious for the ad- vancem.ent of his pupil, fhould attend, are infinite. To little purpofe will it be to keep the flrideft eye B upon ( 10 ) upon all the parts and Limbs of his pupil's Body? in vain will he endeavour to remedy all rhe defecfls ^nd faults which are found in the polture of almofi: ev'v ry fcholar in the beginning, unlefs he is intimately ac- quainted with the clofe dependance and connexion there is between the motions of one part of the body "W'ith the reft; a correfpondence caufed by the reci- procal CitYion of the mufcles, which govern and dire6l them : unlefs, therefore, he is mafter of this fecret, and has his clue to the labyrinth, he will never attain the end he propofes; particularly in his firft lefTons, upon which the fuccefs of the reft always depend. Thefe principles being eftablillied we may reafon in confe- quence of them with clearnefs. In horfemanfliip, the Body of man is divided into three parts ; two of which are moveable, the third immoveable. The firft of the tw^o moveable parts is the Trunk or Bod^, down to the Waift; the fecond is from the Knees to the Feet ; fo that the immoveable part is between the waift and the knees. The parts then which ought to be v/ithout motion are the Fork, or Twiftof the horfeman, and his thighs; now that thefe parts ftiould be kept wdthout motion, they ought to have a certain hold and center to reft upon, which no motion that the horfe can make can difturb or loof- ten; this poin: or center is the bafis of the hold which the horfeman has upon his horfe, and is what is called the Seat.; now if the feat is nothing elfebut this point or center, it mull follow, that not only the true grace, but the fymmctry and true proportion of the whole attitude depend upon thofe parts of the body that are immoveable . - Ut ( II ) I^t the horfeman thci'i place himfelf at once, up- on his Twiit, fitting exadi V in the middle of tiiC Sad- dle ; let him fupport this porjure, in which the Twiit alone feems to fullain the weigh't of the whole body, by moderately leaning upon hib buttock. Let the Thighs be turned inward, and reft flat upon the lides of the faddle ; and in orcier to this let the turn of the thighs proceed diredly from the hips, and let him employ no force or ftrength to keep him- felf in the faddle, but truft entirely to th6 weight of his body and thighs; this is the exadl equilibrio; in this and this only confifts the firmnefs and fup- port of the whole building; a firmnefs which young beginners are never fcnfiole of at firft, but which is to be acquired, and will always be attained by exercife and pradife. I demand but a moderate ftrefs upon the butcocks, becaufe a man that fits full upon them can never turn his thighs flat to the faddle ; the thighs (hould always lay flat to the faddle, becaufe, the flelhy part of them being infenfible^ the horfeman would not otherwife be able [o nicely to feel the motions of his horfe : 1 infift that the turn of the Thigh muft be from the Hip, becaufe it can never be natural, but as it proceeds from the hollow of the hip bone. I infift farther that the horfeman never avails him- felf of the ftrength or help of his thighs, except he lets his whole weis^ht reft upon the cen':er, as before defcribed ; becaufe the clofer he preffes them to the faddle, I he rnore v/ill he be lifted above the faddle on any fudden or iregular motion of the Horfe. Having thus firmly placed the immovable parts, 1 now pais on to the firft of the Mova!?Ies, which is B 2 as ( 12 ) as I have already obferved the body as far as to the waiil* I comprehend in the Body, the Head, the Shoulders, the Bread, the Arms, Hands, Reins and Waift of the Horfeman. The ^ead fnouid be free, firm and eafy, in order to be ready for all the natural motions that the horfe- man may make in turning to one fide or the other. It thould be firm, that is to fay, ftrait, without lean- ing to the right or left, neither advanced nor thrown back; it (nould be eafy becaufe if otherwife it would occafion a itiffnefs, and that ftiffneis aifeding the different parts ot the body, efpecially the back bone, the whole would be without eafe and conftrained. The fiioulders alone influence by their motions that of the breaft the reins and waift. The horieman (hould prefent or advance his breaft, by that his whole figure opens and difplays itfelf; he fhould have a fmail hollow in his reins, and pufti the waift forward to the pommel of the faddle, be- • caufe this pofition correfponds and unites him to all the motions of the horfe. Now only throwing the fiioulders back, produces all thefe effects, and gives them exadly in the degree that is requifite; whereas if we were to look for the particular pofition of each part feperately and by it- felf, without examining the connection that there is between the motions of one part with thole of an- other, there would be fuch a bending in his reins that the hcrfaniian would be, if 1 may fo fay, hollow backed; and as from that he would force his brqaft forward and his waift towards the pommel of the lad- die, he would be Bung back, and muft fit upon the • rump of the horfe. The ( 13 ) The arms fliould be bent at the elbows, and the elbows fhould reft equally upon the hips; if the arms were ftrait, the confequence would be, that the hands would be too low, or at too great a diftance from the body; and if the elbows were not kept fteady, they would of confequence, give an uncertainty and ficklenefs to the hand, fufficient to ruin it for ever. It is true that the Bridle-hand is that which abfo- lutely ought to be fteady and immoveable; and we might conclude from hence, that the left elbov/ only- ought to reft upon the hip; but grace coniifts in the exa6t proportion and fymmetry of all the parts of the body, and to have the arm on one fide railed and ad- vanced, and that of the other kept down and clofe to the body would prefent but an aukward and dif- agreeable appearance. It is this which determines the fituation of the hand which holds the whip; the left hand being of an equal heighth with the elbow; fo that the knuckle of the little finger, and the tip of the elbow be both in a line, this hand then being rounded neither too much nor too little, but juft fo that the wrift may direct all its motions, place your right hand, or the whip hand, lower and more forward than the bridle hand. It (liould be lower than the bridle hand be- caufe if it was upon a level with it, it would reftrain or obftrud: its motions ; and were it to be higher, as it cannot take fo great a compafs as the bridle hand, which muft always be kept over againft the horfeman's body: it is abfolutely neceifary to keep the propor- tion of the elbov/s, that it ihould be lower than the other. The legs and feet make up the fecond diviilon of what I call the moveable parts of the body: the leg3 ( 14) legs ferve for two purpofes, they may be u(ed as aids m or corredtions to the horfe, they fhould then be kept ^ near the fides of the horfe, and in a perpendicular line with the horfeman's body; for being near the part of the horfe's body where his feeling is moft delicate, diey are ready to do their office in the inftant they are wanted. Moreover, as they are an apendix of the thighs if the thigh is upon its flat in the faddle, they will by a neccffary confequence be turned juft as they ought, and will infallibly give the fame turn to the feet, becaufe the feet depend upon them, as they de- pend upon the thighs. The toe fhould be held a little higher then the heel, for if the toe was loweft the heel would be too near the fides of his horfe and would be in danger of touching his horfe with his fpurs at perhaps the very inflant he fhould avoid fuch aid or corredion* Many perfons notwithftanding, when they raife their toe, bend and twift their ankle as if they were lame in the part. The reafon of this is very plain ; becaufe they make ufe of the mufcles in their legs and thighs, whereas they fliould only employ joint of the foot for this purpofe. Such is in fliort the mechanical difpofition of all the parts of the horfeman's body. ,^ Thefe ideas properly digefled the praditioner will be able to prefcribe rules for giving the true and natural Seat, which is not only the principles of juft- nefs, but likewife the foundation of all grace in the horfeman, of courfe, the firft endeavour of thofe who willi to become horfemen, Ihould be to attain a firm and graceful feat : the perfedion of which, as [ 15 ] as of mofl other arts and accompllfhrnents depend I Upon the cafe and fimplicity with which they are ex- ecuted, being free from affedation and conftraint as to appear quite natural and famihar. Therefore the immoveable parts as before obferved ought to be fo far without motion as not to wrigo-le and roll about fo as to diflurb the horfe, or render the feat weak and loofe : but the thighs may be re- laxed to a certain degree with propriety and advant- age, when the horfe hefitates and doubts whether he Ihall advance or not ; and the body may hkewife, upon fome occafions, become moveable and change its pofliure to a certain degree, as when the horfe retains himfelf, it may be flung back more or lefs as the cafe ^requires ; and confequently inclined forward when tiit^ horfe rifes fo high as to be in danger of falhng back?yards; what keeps a fliip on the fea fleadyi BALLAS"^^ by the fame rule, what keeps the horfe- man steaoPY } trufting to the weight of his body : it is for this rcc^ibn that beginners are firft made to ride without ftirrups ;^ for were they allowed to ufe them before they hid ace^uired an equilibrio and were able to ftretch their legs an.d thighs well down, fo as to fet firmly in the faddle, and r-iofe to it, they would either loofe their ftirrups by not being able to keep their feet in them ; or the ftirrups n?uft be taken up much too (hort, in which cafe the rideT would be puftied upwards from the faddle, and the Seat deftroyed throughout; as the parts of the body liice the links of a cham depending upon one another, fafety likewife requires they fliould ride without them at firft, as ill cafe of falhng tis lefs dangerous. It ( i6 ) It is the general praclice of thofe who undertake to teach horfemanfliip, when they put a fcholar upon a fiorfe, to mix and confound many rules and precepts togedier, which ought to be diftind and leperate ; fuch as making him attend to the guidance of the Iiorfe,, demanding an exadnefs of hand, and other particulars, which they croud upon him before he is able to execute^ or even underftand half of them. I would recommend a flower pace at iirft being hkely to^gain marc ground at the ending pofl:, and not to perplex the fcholar with Aids, of the effeds^ of the Hand^ and more nice and eiiential parts of the arti lill the^sEAT is gained and com firmed. For this purpofe let the feat alone be cultivated for fome time, and when the fcholar is arrived at a certain degree of firmnefs and confidence fo as to be truflied, I would always advife the mailer to take hold of the longeing rein- and let the pupii intirely leave the governing of his horfe to him, going fufhci- ently to both hands holding his hands behind him. This will, I infill: upon it very Toon fettle him with lirmnefs to the faddle, will place his head, will ftretch liim down in his laddie, will teach him to lean gently to the fide to which he turns fo as to unite himielf to Ills horfe and go with him and will give that firmnefs eafe, and juft poize of body, which conflitute a perfed Seat, founded in truth and nature and upon principles fo certain, that whoever Ihall think fit to reduce thfm to pradife will find them confirmed and juftified by it. Nor would it be improper to r.ccuitom the fcholar to mount and difmoiint on both fides of his horfe, as many things may occur to make it necefiary, as well as that he cannot have too much ( 17 ) much aftivity and addrefs, for this rcafon tis a pity that the art of Vaulting is difcontinued. — -And there is another duty too effential to be omitted, but hitherto not performed by mailers^ which is to in- flruft their pupils in the principles diVid theory of the jirt, explaining how the natural paces are performed, wherein they differ from each other, and in what their perfedion confifts; which, by not joining theory with pradice, are unknown to many, who may fhine in a menage, but work as mechanically and luperfi- cially as the very horfc thay ride. Havifig thus far faid what with pradice will be fufficient to form the feat of the Horfeman, I fhall next endeavour to defcribe xh& ufe of the bridle hand and its effcds, 8c c. Of The Bridle Hand, THE knowledge of the different charaders, and different natures of horfes, together with the vices and imperfeftions, as well as the exad and juft pro- portions of the parts of a horfe's body, is the founda- tion upon which is built the theory of the art of horfemanfliip ; but this theory will be ufelefs and even unneceffary if we are not able to carry it into execu- tion. This depends upon the goodnefs and quick nefs of feehng; and in the delicacy which nature alone can give, and which flie does not always beftow. The C iirft ( i8 ) firfl fenfation of the hand confifts in a greater or lefs degree of finenefs in the touch or feehng ; a feehng in the hand of the horfeman, which ought to com- municate and anfwer to the lame degree of feehng in the horfe's mouth, becaufe there is as much difference in the degrees of feehng in men as there is in the mouths of horfes. I fuppofe then a man, who is not only capable to judge of a horfe's mouth by theory, but who has likewife by nature that finenefs of touch which helps to form a good hand; let us fee then what are the rules which v/e fhould follow in order to make it per- fed^ and by which we mufl dired ail its operations. A horfe can move four different ways; he can ad- vcinccy go hack, turn to the Right and to tht Left; but he cannot make thefe different movements except the hand of the Rider permits him, by making four other motions which anfwer to them ; fo that there are five different pofitions for the hand. The hrft is that general pohtion from which proceed the other four. Hold your hand three inches breadth from your body, as high as your elbow, in fuch a manner that the joint of your little-tinger be upon a right line with the tip of your elbow ; let your wrifh be fufhciently rounded fo that your knuckles may be kept diredly above the neck of your horfe ; let your finger nails be exadly oppofite your body, the little finger rather rearer to it than the others ; your thumb quite flat upon the reins, feparated as before defcribed, and this is the peratlons (hould be gentle and liglit, and in order to this, it is neceflary that the Wrist alone (hould diredt and govern all its motions> by turning and (leering it as it were, through every motion it is to make In confcquence then of thefe principles, I infift that the wrift be kept fo round that your knuckles may be always diredly above the horfe's neck, and that your thumb be always kept flat upon the reins. In reality were your wrift to be more or lefs rounded than in the degree I have fixed, you could never work with your hand but by means of your arm, and befides it would appear as though you were lame ; again were your thumb not to be upon the flat of the reins, prefled hard upon your fore finger, they would be conftantly flipping away, and length- ened, and in order to recover them you would be obliged every minute to raife your hand and arm, which would throw you into diforder and make you lofe that juftnefs without which no horfe will be obedient and work with readinefs and pleafure to himfelf. It is neverthelefs true, that with horfeswell drefl^ed one may take liberties; thefe are motions called defcentsofthehand; either by dropping the knuckles diredly and at once upon the horfe's neck, or by taking the reins in the right hand about four inches above the left, letting them Aide through the left, dropping your right hand at the fame time upon the horfe' s neck, or elfe by putting the horfe under the button as it is called : that is by taking the end of the reins in your right hand, quitting them intirely with your left hand and letting the end of them fall upon your horfe's neck, thefe motions however, which give grace to the horfeman, never (liould be made ( " ) iliade but with great caution, and exaftly when your horfe is well together and in hand ; and take care in counterbalancing by throwing back your body, that the weight of the body lie upon his haunches. The Bit and Snaffle were they to be kept conftant- ly in one place in his mouth, would of courfe dull the fenfe of feehng, and become benumbed and cal- lous; this {hews the neceffity of continually yeilding and drawing back the hand to keep the horfe's mouth frelb and awake. It is therefore felf evident that a heavy handed horfeman can never break a horfe to any degree of nicety, or ride one which is already broke to any degree of exaelnefs. Befides thefe rules, there are others not lefs jufl and certain ; (but whofe nicenefs and refinement is not the lot of every perfon to tafle and underfland) my hand being in the firfh pofition, 1 open my two middle fingers, I confequently eafe and flacken myright rein; I fhut my hand, the right rein operates again, refum- ing its place as before, I open my little finger and carrying the end of it upon the right rein, I there- by llacken the left and fhorten the right ; I fhut my hand entirely and im^miediately open it again, I thereby lefTen the degree of tenfion and force of the two reins at the fame time ; again I clofe my hand not quite fo much, but flill I dole it. It is by thefe methods and by the vibration of the reins, that I unite the feeling in my hand with that in the horfe's mouth, and thus I play with a fine and MADE mouth, and frefhen and relieve the two bars in which the feeling rcfides. Therefore C 23 ) Therefore, it is that correfpondcnce and fenratioii between the horfe's mouth and the hand of the rider, which alone can make him fubmit with pleafure to the conftrainc of the bit. Flavin g thus explained the different pofitions and motions of the hand, permit me in a few words to iliew the effects which they produce in horfeman- fliip? The hand dire6ts the reins, the reins operate vipoiii the branches of the bit; the branches upon the mouth- piece and the curb, the mouth-piece operates upon the bars, and the curb upon the chin of the horfc. So far for the management of the bridle hand upon thorough-broke and well-drelled horfes. But in breaking young horfes for any purpofe, the reins in all cafes ought to be feparated, nothing fo unmean- ing, nothing fo ineffectual as the method of working with them joined or held in only one hand, this is very evident in the inftances of colts, and of fliff necked, and imworked horfes of all kinds, with them it is impoffible to do anything without holding a rein in either hand, w^hich rein operates with cer- tainty and governs the fide of the neck to which it belongs, and furcly this is a fliorter way of working than to make, or rather attempt to m.ake the left rein determine the horfe to the right, and the right guide him to the left. In the above inftances of ftiff awkward horfes this can never be done ; and altho it is conftantly pradifed with thofe which are Dreji, yet it is certain they obey, and make their Changes rnore from docility and Habit ^ than from the influence of ( M J of the outward rein, which ought only to aft, to bal- iance and fupport, while the inner bends, inclines, and guides the horfe to the hand to which he is to go. This can never be done fo fully and truly with the reins joined, as when they are feparated into each hand, and if double or Running reins were ufed inflead of lingle as with a fnaffle or'^Meadozv's bit, they would afford more compafs and power to the horfeman to bend and turn his horfe. The manner of holding the reins high as condem- ed by fome writers, poifeiTnig themfelves with a no- tion that they ruin the hocks of the horfcs. For my own part I do not know what thofe writers mean, unlefs by them we are to underftand the haunches ; and then this method inflead of ruining, will work and affifl them, for the head and fore quarters are raifed up, his weight of courfe is thrown upon his haunches, for one end being raifed the other muft be kept down. It is nothing more than a natural caufe, which will always produce a natural effeft, for inftance, bal lance a pole upona wallfo that it a6ls in equilibrium, only raife one end, the other of courfe muft be lowered, it is the fame with a horfe, as }'0u cannot rife his fore parts but by bringing his haunches more under him. I would here wifh to remark that horfes fhould never be compelled by force untill they know what you wifh from them, for let them be however difobedient in their difpofition, yet are all of them more or lefs fenfible of good and bad ufage from their mafters; the beft method then to convey your intention to them (o that they fliall underftand you, is to reward them when * Ufcd by Sir Sidney Meadows. ( ^5 ) when they do well, and to punlfh them when dlfobe- dient, this rule though contained in few words yet is of univerfal ufe in horfemanfhip. And Xenophon, who wrote a treatife on Horfe- manlhip, more than twothoufand years ago, among other notable remarks, when fpeaking on horfe-break- ing, wherein he concludes thus : ''But there is one *^ rule to be inviolably obferved above all others ; **" that is, never approach your horle in a paffion ; *^ as anger never thinks of confequences and forces us *^ to do what we afterwards repent." Begging pardon for this (liort but ufeful digreffion, I again obferve that fuch are the principles upon which the perfe^ion and juftnefs of the aids of the hand depend ; all others are falfe and not to be regarded • — Thus far for the bridle hand^ and its effedls. D LECTURE ( 26 ) LECTURE ON HORSEMANSHIP, Addrefled to the Ladies. AMONG all the various writers on the art of horfemanfhip, notwithflanding, fide-faddles have been known and in life in England more then fix hundred years ago, even in Richard's time, for in the reign of this prince fide-faddles were iirft known here, as it will appear from the following anecdote, by a W^arwick hiftorian, in which he fays. (C " And in his days alfo began the deteflable cuftom of wearing long pointed flioes, faftened with ^^ chains of filver, and fometimes gold, up to the *^ knees, likewife noble ladies then ufed high heads, ^' and robes with long trains, and feats or fide»faddles " on their horfes, by the example of the refpedlablc " queen Anne, daughter of the king of Bohemia, *^ who firfh introduced this cufhom in this kingdom: *^ for before, women of every rank rode as men do, ^^ with their legs aftride their horfes.'* Thus fays our Warwick hiftorian, fo that fide faddles appear to have been ufed many cen- turies ago, and that formerly the female fex took tl-ue fafhion of riding like men, for which they are repre- hended ( 27 ) hended, by a Greek hiftorian, and hard indeed is the equeftrian fituation of the ladies, for if they are to be accufed of indehcacy for riding after the man- ner of men, they are greatly to be pitied in hazard- ing their fafety as they do, in riding after the manner ot Women* However as no one hath ever yet lent a helping hand in putting pen to paper on the fubjedl, by way of adding, if poffible, to the ladies, elegance, eafe and fafety on horfe back ; I fliall without any other apology then alluring thofe ladies who may pleafe to read what I write on the matter, is well meant, and are fuch ideas that have occured to me in many years fludy, and pradice in the manage. DIRECTIONS IN MOUNTING. LET the oftler or fervant being on the off fide the horfe, with right hand holding the bridoun reins, to properly ftay the horfe, and his left hand on the part of the faddle called the crutch, by this method both horfe and faddle will be kept firm and fteady, it is the riding mafler's duty to examine the bridle whether it is properly placed, the curb, chain, or chin chain in due order, the faddle in a proper place, and the girths fufHciently tight, fe'c. Dired the lady then to take her whip, or fwitch in the right hand, the fmall end of it turned towards the horfe's croup, then with the right hand take a firm hold of the pommeil of the faddle (landing upright with her D 2 right ( ^8 ) right fhoulder fquare, and in a line with the horfe's left, fhe then bending the left kjiee pretty much, the mafter or gentleman who afifts her ftanding facing the lady, he Itooping a little receives the lady's left foot in his hands being clafped firm together, the laJy mufl: then be directed to llraiten her knee, be- ing now bent, with a firmnefs and elafticity prefT- ing her left hand on the man's left ihoulder, making a little Ipring at the fame time, by which the riding- mafler, genileman, or fervant, if permitted, by paying due attention to thefe rules will fpring the lady on the laddie with the greatefl: eafc and fafety. ^he method of adjufting the pstticcats ; I then place the lady's foot in the ilirrup tho' it is a wonder if a proper length, being guefs work, as we are now to fuppofc this to be the hrft leifon, and the ftirrup can- not be properly fixed, till the lady is in her feat, I fay I then give her the ftirrup, dii'ecting fhe may take a firm hold with the left hand of a lock of the horie's mane, at the fame time flie having a firm hold of the crutch with the right, by which means fhe rifes herfelf up from the faddle, ftanding firm in the ftirrup, looking rather over the off fide of the horfe's neck, the intention of this is that the attendant fhall adjuft the coats ft) as they lit fmooth and eafy, by pulling them round a little to the right, then on returning to the faddle, or feat, and while incoming down fhe muft put her right knee over the pommel of the faddle, and by thefe fimple rules flie will find all comfortable and eafy ; in regard to the adjuft- ment of the biidle reins, and the managing and directing the horfe by them, pay ftridl attention to thofe fet down in the firft lecture addrefTed to the gentlemen ; let the whip be placed firm and eafy in the right hand, with the taper or fmall end down- ivard$. C 29 ) wards, and the arm hanging carelefsly down without contradion, and when the whip is made ufe off let Jt be by means of the wrift, without hfting the arm from the body, and be careful not to touch the horfe with the whip too backward as many of them will kick on their bemg flogged in that part, which if it (hoiild not occafion a fall, would much alarm the young icholar, before flie has acquired any degree of Daiiance* DIRECTIONS FOR THE LENGTH OF THE STIRRUP THE Stirrup fhould be fuch length as when the kdy fits upright and properly on her feat, with the knee being eafily bent, the heel kept back w th he toe rai ed a little higher than the heel, fo tha^ the heel h,pandthefl.oulder, are in a Hne and as up! right as when walking along, for if other wife it is uniifft and not agreeable to nature ; for fuppofe you are forS "Pk'^I 'T'^r^' '^'' ^°°' ""^k out and fo for^.,d as the horfes front of his fhoulder, as is not uncommon to fee girls riding in this manner along he road ,n the country, as tho' they were direftin! with their foot which road their horfe ftould take" I lay this method is not only very unbecoming but ^^rf '•' /T 'f'""'' 'f ''ding carelefsly flong to n.f! f a t ^°°' """^ '^g '" ^his attitude bein| to pafs fo.ne ftubborn or inflexible objeft on the left or near fide, perhaps before you are aware or apprifed (3o) apprifed of the danger you might have your foot and leg forely bruifed, nay even dragged from your horfe, I have feen fimilar inftances to this, happen more than once,* even v/hen the foot has been in a good fituation by ladies who unthinkingly have endeavoured to pafs objects to the left when they could as ealily have paflbd thofe objects to the rights which ladies iliould make an invariable rule fo to do at all times, if polTible ; for reafons which muil be plain to any one, who will tliink one minute on the matter; another inconvenience will frequently arife by fufFering the leg and foot to be in this horrid form, which is, the ilirrup leather will frequently prefs againfl the leg, fo as to hurt it very much, this I have often had beginners complain of, by faying the buckle of the ilirrup hurt them, when behold 1 never ufe a buckle to my ftirrups on the left fide, as they are always faftened and buckled on die off fide, for two particular good advantages which arife from it; the principal of which is, that as the prelTure or bearing coming from the off fide, it greatly affifts in keeping the faddle even, efpeciai- ly with thofe ladies through a bad habit who accuiloni themfeivesto bear hard on the ftirrup which is nothing more then a habit, and want of learning to ride the right way at fi rft. The other reafon is, you can lengthen or fhorten the ftirrup at pleafure, without difturbing the lady at all, and without even difmounting yourfelf, if you are riding on the road^ as the bulinefs is done on the off fide the horfe, nay 1 have altered the ftirrup often without ftopping at all. I infift upon it therefore if the ftirrup docs not hang perpendicular, or the fame as when left to itfelf and no (3^ J no one on horfcback, the end is totally deflroyed, for what the fLirriip was defigned ; which is in the firjl place to carry the weight of, and only the weight of the rider's leg, without which fupport it would foon become fatigued and tired : zndfecondly, if you accuftom yourfeif to carry your foot properly, as before diredled, that is your heel in a line with your hip and fhoulder, letting your foot reft even in the ftirrup, carrying only the weight of your leg, with the toe a little raifed, it will never fail to aflift you in your balance, if you happen to lofe it to the left, it is aifo ready to fave you if you fhould happen to lofe your balance to the right, by prefling the calf of your leg ftrongly and firmly to the fide of your horfe, anJ being always near your horfe*s fide it is a quick aid in fupporting him, and to force him for- ward, it is alfo of the greateft ufe, by preffing it flrongly to his fide, in affifting to turn your horfe to the left, and likewife in throwing your horfe's croup off when you wiili to make him go into a canter, by which means he will be forced to go off with the right leg foremoft. And lajilyy it is of the utmoft utility in fupporting you in the continuance of the Spring Trot, a pace now greatly in fafhion, and fhould be pradtifed by all who accuftom themfelves to ride any length of journies, as it enables them to make fome degree of fpeed, and by changing their paces often from walk, to trot, and gallop, their journey becomes lefs tedious to them. Of (32 ) Of The Seat, And Form of the Side Saddle. In the firfl place I would flrongly recom- mend a large feated I^addle, very high on the cant- let or back part, and a regular fweep from thence to the front or pommel!, for fome faddles, more Ihame be it fpoken, are fo fmall, and the feat fo rounded in the middle, that to fit on them is next to balanc- ing themfelves on a round pole, a comfortable iitua- tion truly for a lady ! I fay again let me recommend a large feated faddle ; I mean let it be large in propor- tion to the fize of the lady, and high in the cantlet, nay I am confident that they might be contrived to advantage, were they conflrudted with peaks, and the peak carried on from the back part of the faddle to within four inches of the front on the off fide ; this with the addition of a Burr, as it is called, to fupport the left knee, would greatly affift the lady in keeping the body on a good balance and fuffici- ently back: which might prevent many accidents. If thefe hints ihould ftrike any lady or gentleman as being reafonable, and ihould they be inclined to have a faddle, fo conftrudied, I fhould think myfelf happy in explaining myfelf more fully on the fub- jed. Now in regard to the Seat for a Lady^ I iincerely wifh I was able to prefcribe a more firm one than the prefent falliion will admit of, however I will do my C 33 ) my cndc perfor n this, fh'^ niul't feel his mouth lightly and firmly with the bridle hand, at the fame time making ufe of fome of the helps ufed to force him to go toiward, fuch as clicking with your voice, a gentle touch with the whip, or the heel, fo (he flays him a little by the bridle hand at the fame time he is forced forwards by the ether helps or aids and if properly timed, by doing enough without over doing, he will be put together, and of courfe kept on a light proper adion which muil be in the real adion of a trot, that is with his two corner legs in the air at one time and two on the ground, by fuch means the horfe will always be kept on a fure ballance and never be in danger of falling, on the other hand if the horfe is fufferd to go loole and unafiiled by the bridle hand, and the other aids as before defcribed, when going down a fteep hill he will moil commonly go into that unnatural pace called the amble which is movino; his fide le2:s together inilead of his corner legs, this pace is very unfafe notwithftanding the ancients ufed arts in breaking the horfe to the amble, on account of its being fo much eafier than the trot, but as it is a known maxim in phyiic that giving eafe and performing a cure are tvyo different things, fo here an eafy pace and a fafe one are as diametrically oppofite, and that the amble is an unfafe pace is eafy to be conceived by the horfe lofmg fo large a por- tion of his ballance, to prove which only try thefe fimple experiments. Take a wooden horfe let his two corner legs be taken away and he will fland, but take away his two fides leg and he falls, again. one often fees at a farrier's fhop when a horfe is want- ed to be (hod in hade, two fmiths can work at the fame time, by taking each of them a corner leg, therefore • ( 46 ) therefore how careful Ihould we be to keep our liacfc- neys on a fafe adion, 'and awake under us oh -all occafions. The lady fliould endeavour to make herfelf ac- quainted with thofe objeds' which horfes are'moft (libjecl to be aiarmed at, and firil of all is a wind- mill in full fail, next foine can never be brought to go comfortably by a tilted waggon, efpecially if meet- ing it, others diflike aifes very muclv, i^omQ difiike to face a man wheeling a barrow or an umbrella ex- tended, an arch drain which is frequeratjy {cqr ro carry the water away thro the banks m a turnpite road, its laying low and of courfe prefents itfelf very fuddenly, will fadly alarm fome, and any objedl fuddenly prefenting itfelf is almoft fure to affright and alarm any horfe infpirits, I once faw a lady get a fall, by a cow ftiddenly prefenting its head over a hedge, yet a more fteady animal never was, as 1 ufcd her four years and never knew her ftart either before or after; let it be remembered that horfes are more apt to be Ihy or ftart in the duik of the evening than in broad daylight, horfes with bad eyes are almoft fure to ftart, yet ftarting is not a fure fign of bad eyes, as man) imagine it, I mention thefe few obfervations in regard to ftarting becaufe horfes which are moft free from thofe faults, jt may happen to fome times ; as horfes like men a^not alway in^fehe lame temper t never jide