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.AVAEARICEj
Or |
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17-
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THE ENGLISH HORSEMAN:
Contayning all the Art of Horfe-manfhip,
afmuch as is neeeflary for any man to vnderftand, _
whether heebeHcrfe.breeder,horfe-ryd«j
horfc-hunter,horfe-runner, horfe-ajn-
bler,horfc-farrier,horfe-keeper,
f^gjuyjjg^JS. Coachman, Smith,
or Sadler.
Togtther, with the difcettery of
the fubtil tr ade or rayftery of horf-
courfers, and an explanation of
xhe excellency of a horfes to-
der{landing; or how to
• teach the to dotrickes
like Banket his
Curtail:
And that Horfes may bemadeto draw dry'foot like
aHound. Secretsbeforevnpublifhedj&now
carefully fetdownefor the profit ofthis
whole Nation :
Newly imprinted,corre«acd & augmented,with
many worthy fecrets not before kriowne: |
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XI&
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-4
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To the moft High and mightie,
CHARLES,Princcof^/^, Dakeof Cornewattjorke, Albtnie and 2?<tf £/^,MarquefTe of
Ormoun^Eide of Roffc and C^r,Baronof
*Arm*nocb: Great Marfhall of Scotland, and
Lord of the IJlgs thereof, and Knight
of the moft Noble order of
the Garter.
T* is nop out of ambition
(moft excellent Prime) to get vnto my
felfea more particular Name', then the meanejl Greome m your Highnes Sta- ble ^which hath moonedmee to offer vn- |
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<^s\
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% toyoftrfocredhandes, thispoore volume
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of mine experience in this Arte s which
et*enfrom mine infamie I hauepurfued Jo farre forth, as either ^tne abilitie or objeuritie hadpower to extend it j elfe. But be- Auje it hath pleafed God through the glory of your countenance °Slue a new life to this Arte, which not long agoe wasfo much tygk8cds that Itkt»ke(ifitbadbeenepofsible for ziertue to **e weiuedfo great afiaine) it wouldhaue drawntneareto ■pl~im&er °f^i{fifing j fo many vnfurnifhed Stables tlike vnpeo- ac7' T6?*J'tesyrl"fo many worthy fpirits (ignorant in the noblefl JeusU- ?in&?rofieU<lueflgnes of following defolution, but by vp if'& .f*uours ** *s not repayred(for that were but to peice r^aeRuinesJ but there is (as itwere) a newandaneternaU. A 2 foundation
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foundation hide, which wtll continue titt all the corners of the
world be con/umed t which as tt hath inflamed me to offer i<p this
tribute of my z>eale and knowledge, fo Iwifh it would Itkewife
kindle fomefparkes in others, who hatting attayned the top and
height of all befl perfection, might leaue vnto the worldfome
famous records ofther wort hie admirations •> and not by their
negleB,fu/feradiuineguifttoperi/h with their naturall' bodies y
knowing that if either Xenophon, Ruflius, orGtifonhad
beene (o uncharitable, they (bould themfelues with much more
difficulty haue attayned to that in which now they haue no equal;
and being by them manifefted vnto the world, they /ball not one-
lybUffe and make happy pofleritie, but alfo fo acertaine,vncer-
taine refolutiom, that how euer the world (hall boafi either
SpaitiCj France or lta[ie,yetitfballthen beknowne, that they
haue not broughtfoorth fo good Horfe-men as haue beene bred,
and are now liuingm this Empire of great Bri tt aine, to whome
albe the world may imagine I haue broken the way wtth too great
boldne/fe, yet mine humble (ouleknowes, I haue done it with
Juch care and zeale, that they/hall neither taske me for abfurdi-
tie,or mif-applicat'ton, to which I willnot be able either by Arte
or demonf ration to giue an account or fatisfa&iott \ holding it
in myfelfe a fmne 'unpardonable to offer to yourgraciouspre-
fence that which (ball not tafie both of true Art, and true duety:
and how euer the fir ft may bee mifiaken, yet the latterfbaltbe
fomuch vnblcmifbed, that (though a wormejyet
my faith/hullnot bee exceeded, but 1 will
Hue and dye your Htghnes
Beades-man and
vaffaile:
Gervasb Markham.
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CW^
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*Io the three great Columbesofthis Em-
pire; the Nobilitie, the Genrrie, and Yto-
manric afGitxtBrittaine.
Nk Ofoonerfhall this worke of mine breake foorth
into the world, but I knowe it will ftirre vp many thoughts in many perfons: fome wondring what new matter I haue to fpeake of 5 fome fearing olde rcpe- titionsjand fome refting fatisfied in their opinions with that fmall treatife which I formerly publifhed j but to all thefe 1 knowe the worke itfelfc will giiie indifferent fa- ^fa&ion: onely touching that fmall treatife of Horfe- n^nfhip, which about fixteene yeares agone ( when J^ineexperience was but youngly fortified) I brought °"h into the world: giue me leaue to dcliuer you thefe lewreafons. Firft it was not gathered for any publique view or benefit, but onely at the intreaty of a dearekinf- *?an (in thofe dayes much inamored with delight in ry- oing)was as cflaies or taftes colleaed for his priuatevfc: and that hee might with lelTe difficulty attains the perfe- ction at which heaymed. Next,being intended for him, who was well grounded in the Arte before, I waslefle ^refulltoobierue thofe plaine rules of demonftration, «enotherwayes I would haue beene, my thoughts not «en plotting the benefits of any fuch as were ignorant, «d fo I muft confelfe I let pane the worke with more oicuntie and darknes then otherwife I fhould haue and6' Lai^V,acoppie thereof being corruptly taken, couetor,fl;. outed to the printing without my Icnow- S A? ledge, |
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ledge, I thought it as good my felfe to publifh it with his
naturall wantcs, as to let it come abroad by others with vildet deformities: and hence proceeded the appea- rance of my firftEpitomie in the world j which becaufc it hath found fauour both amongft my rriends and (Gran- gers, and thebetter to fatisfie them, who hauedoneme honour in giuing allowance to mine imperfect labours, I thought good to publifh this larger volume,wherein I hauc not onely at full laidc open all the obfeurkies and concealments which hauc been hidden both in it.and in other writings,but alfo made fuch an euen & dire£t path to leade the moft ignoranteft fpirit through the bowels and heart of this praifc-worthy Arte, that not any man whatfoeuer( who will beftow the reading thereof) but dial in his grcatcft doubt touching any intricate prdpo- fitioa in Horfe-manfhip,finde both reafon and fatisfac~H- on,whether hee be gencrall, as delighting in allthinges wherein the vfe of Horfe is imploycd, or particular as a- di&cd to any peculiar braunch or member: wherein as my labour and the expencc of my beft houres,hath one- ly tended to a publique good, fo I defire my reward may not be either an efpeciall mif conftru&ion,or a particu- lar cnuie •, and that as the ftrength of my wifh hath been to help thofe which know nothing in this Art, fo it may be an attra&iue pcrfwafion to thofe which know much more then my felfe,to publifh their sk!ls,and fo to make it a moft compleat Art, till when let this Booke and my louebee a true teftimony of my zeale and feruice to my Countrey, whofe fldurifhing eftate and wealthy peace I pray may ncuer end, till thelaft of all times be ended. G.M.
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<ul Tah/e of all the Chapters cmtajned
in cucry feuerall Bookc through this
whole volume* IbetMeoftheT'trfi-Booke.
Chapters. 1 /^\ F the Breeding of Horfes, and fitfl touehingthe
V-/ choife ofGroundes,thcirvfes and (operation*. 2 Ot Horfes and Marcs, and of their diuers kindcs.
\ r°^tnc mixture of Races, for which purpofc each is bcft,
and for the Breeders commeditie.
. 4 Of the choife of Stallions and Mares, the knowledge of
eir agcdy diuers obferuations,andofthcfliapef.
5 How and at what time ofthe year* Horles and Mare*
ould ingcnder : figncs of a Mares dcfire, how many Mares
teae Stallion,and how long hee {hall continue with them.
« ,.0t co"«ing Marcs in the houfe, the dyetirg of the
^taihori, the time ofthe day for the aa. and toku»wewhen
fhc hath conceiued. 7 That Mares may bee made to conceiue eithcrHerfe;
oaics or Marc-foales at pkafure, and of what colour the breeder will.
8 Hew Mares fhouldbe fore'd totalce thcHorf^andhow
^mooue luft in Horfe and Mare,and how to abate it. 9 Which Mares fiiould be couered, which not.and which
l«all not goe barren. «ftin TofVfTl U*KSr,h™ they are vithfoale, and of the
A 4 XI Hclpe
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TheTubie.
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Chapters. *
11 Helpe for a Mare that is in danger of Foaling and o-
ther fecrets. 12 How to make a Mare ca(t her Foale.
13 The vfe of Mares when they haue foaled ; of the fuck-
ing of Foales and of other helpes and vfes. 14 The knowledge of a Horfes (r>3pe,ftatureandquallity,
and how it is co be ktiowne when he is new foaled. 15 How Horfe-foales and Marc-foales grow.and how to
know the continuance of their goodnefTe. 16 Ofthe weaning of Coke's, of their ordering, and fepe-
rating them according to their ages. 17 Ofthe gelding of Colts and Horfes, the caufe,the age,
the time of the yeare, and manner. 18 When, and at what age to takevp Coltesfor the Sad*
die. andoftheiifirftvleand haltring. 19 Ofrhe.cuttingofCoItsmouthcsortongues.andofche
drawing of teeth to help the bit to lye in his true place. 20 Of the feperating ofbadColtes and Marcs from the
good, and which {hall maintaine the race Hill. . The Table of the Second-Booke.
Chapters. I /^\F the Natures and difpofitions of Horfes: howe
V^/ they are to be knowne by the Colours ot the Hor- fes, and other fpeciallmarkes. ' 3 The vfe and beneflte of the ChainejCauezan, Head-
flraine, Mufrole and Martingale. 3 How to make a Colt gentle, how to bring him to the
blocke,and ofthefirlt Brydle and Saddle. 4. Of helpes and corrections, and ofthevfes andfeuerall
kinde-.there«f. 5 How to correct a Horfe thathearerh hh headc or nrcke
awry, and of al! v ues belonging to t^".'heai, 5 How to coired aHoife t^at doth oner-reach or fTrike
pnefbute-vpon another. 7 Hov;
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, The Table,
Chapters. M
ihl,HnWt[!COrre^theCui,lmot'10nsil1 3 dote, whicbare
|cwed by chc carnage of his head or earcs,or other cut war" SCorreaonsagainftreflifenes.&rhefeueralkindstherof.
of*u! cuiii! * e ac mnncch a wa*and the caufe
10 How to correit a Horfc that will reare vprioht or
come ouer with his Ryder. yPnent> °c ter as h^T fT* * H°rfcthaC ""*$« downc in thc wa-
ter as hee paflech thorow. andfi ?*T C° TrC<a a H°rfe thac ■^kittifKandfearefull
a«d findcth many boggards. uenlv^r tocorreft a Horfethatisdullofipirit,andflo.
"cniy m his trott. 14 Of the treading ofche large ringes.and theirvfe.
15 OHtoppmg retyriag.aduanctng.andthevfes.
16 Of yerkmg behindhand the vfe
oftu7rn«fCUrninS VP°nb0th handes>a'nd the feuerall kindes
18 Ofmanaging, and the feuml! kindes.
19 Of the pafllngofa fwift Carrier
conihnT11"" a0d H°W l° Bi" H°rfCSi and £° makc thc heade
21 Of bounding aloft and the manner thereof.
i«g fide-long. •'OUlaiCaPrio!1^ Gallop-galliard, and ofgo, a^X^^^^Scholl"-"d^ryd1ngof
T her able of'theThird Booke.
v^napters. 2 O Vv?mu rg h°lfcS in genera".and of their Chafes.
I aTwKL HPgr ^HunllnShorfc>&°™«^P*-
fr44raff^ ¥ r u ^°Uld hlmc> of their firft taking
'^nnjraile, and of their houfing. D 4 Of
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The Tabic*
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Chapters.
4 Of the firft fortnights dyet,exerciling,and drefling.
5 Of th e ayring of Hunting horfes.
C The fecond fortnights dyet,and firft hunting.
7 Of Hunting bread, both ordinarie (as fortrayningof
Horfes) and extraordinary for matches. 8 Of all manner of Purgations or fcowrings that are fit for
Hunting horfes,and of their natures,vfc and operations. $ The third fortnights dyet, and of fwcating.
10 Why Horfes fhould haue their fweates after the Dogs
and of their cloathing. 11 Of making a Hunting matcfc, the obferuations and
aduantages, 12 The dycting of a Hunting horfe foramatcfa.
13 Of the Ryding of a match, and of the aduantages in
ryding. 14 The Tryers office & the aduantages hee mull ©bferue.
15 The office of the Groome, and hclpes in rubbing of
Hunting horfes. The Table of the Fourth Booh.
Chapters. 1 f\ F Ambling ingcnerall, and of the vfe and com-
V-/ moditic. 2 Why Foales amble from their Dammes, and how to
make them amble if they doe not. 3 How to teach a Horfc toamblcbyththelpeofanewe
plowed field,and the faults therein. 4 Of making aHorfe amblcficmhisgallcp,orbyouer-
rydklgf. 5 How to make Horfes amble by vfe of weight J.
(• Of making a Hoife amble out of the hand. 7 Of making Horfes to amble by the helpeofthchand
oueiy. fc Ofmaking horfes to aTjble bythchelp offhooesonly,
o Ofteachii;ghorlcstoamblebythcti«cltheTiamfll. Th>
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7he Table.
The Table of the Fift Boeke.
Chapters.
1 XJL Ow Stables fhal be made.the feat and comodities.
2 n Of a trauclling horfes meat,and the feucrall kindes
and vfes. 3 Of the feucrall kindes of waters, which is beft,'and
which is worft. 4 Of the Drefling;, Combing, and Currying of horfcs, and
of their dyet in the time of reft. 5 Of a Horfes labour or excrcife.and how hee (hall be or-
dered whenheis ibumcyed. 6 Of flecping, waking, fulneffe and emptinefle.
7 Ofthc Soylc or fcowring Horfcs with grafle, and ofo-
therfoedes. 8 Of the pafllons which arc in Horfcs, and the loue which
Keepers fhould beare vntochem. 9 The office of the Coachman,& obfemations for his place.
The Table for theSixtBooke.
Chapters. 1 (~\ P Running horfcs in generall and their choife.
2 V^-Z How Running horfcs {hail be firft trayned vp and
of their dyet. 3 Of the making of a match, and bbferuations therein.
4 Of the feucrall kindes of ayrines, andfoodes belonging
to a Running horfe, J B & * 5 Of the feuerall kindes of fweates.and of the vfes.
6 Of the ordering and dyeting a Running horfe fur match
or wager. 7 Obferuations to be vfed and inconueniences which hap-
pen during the dyetting o f Running horfes. 8 Ccrtainehclpes and rules for thcRydcr,and how he fhal
runne his Horfe at the beft adnantage. ' 9 The office oftheSadlcr.and the beft fide of his commo
ditics. 10 The office of the Smith touchingthe fliooing of horfe s«
Tht
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TheTMe.
The Table of the Stattenth Bcoke.
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Chapters
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I (~\? the compoficionofHorfes, and the qualitic of
V-/ the thinges hee is compounded of.
1 Ottht Sinewes,Veynes,andBor.esofaHorfe. 3 OfaHorfesvrine, and of his excrements.
4 Ofthe letting of Horfes blood, the time, the caufe and
fignes.
5 Of fickneffe in general!.
6 OfFeauers and the diuerskindes thereof.
7 Ofthe PeftilencecrGargill.
8 Of the inward difeafes of the heade, and firft of the
headach.
o Of the Frenzy or madnes in Horfes.
10 Ofchefleeping euill or Lethargic.
11 Of a Horfe that is taken.
12 Of the Staggers.
13 Of the falling-euill or falling-ficknefle.
14 Ofthc Appoplexie orpalfic.
15 Ofthc Witch or night-mare.
16 OfCraropesorconuultionsofSinewes.
17 Ofthe Pofeorcoldeinthchead.
18 Of difeafes in the eyes, and firft of watrsflh eyes.
19 OfBtood-fhotteneyes.
20 Or Dimneffe of fight, pin, web, Pearles or fpottcs.
2 1 Of the Haw or kirnels within the eyes. 22 Ofthe Lunatike or Moone-eyes.
23 Ofthe Canker, Vlcer, or Fiftula in the eye.
24 Of difeales belonging to the eares, and firft oflaue
tares or hanging eares. 2 5 Of the impaftume in the eares.
0.6 Oi the Poll euill, or Fiftula in the necke.
27 Ofthe Viues.
28 Ofthe cankerous Vlcer in the nofe.
20 Ofbleedineatthenofc.
30 Of
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Tk Table,
*■ I,.....L
Chapters.
JO Ofdifeafes in the mouth,aad firft of the bloody riftes;
31 Of the bladders.
32 Ofthelatnpas,
33 Ofthe canker in the mouth.
34 Ofheate in the mouth and lippes.
3 j Ofthe tongue being hurt with thebitt.
36 Ofthe Barbs or pappes vnder a Horfes tongue.
37 Ofthe pane in the Teeth,and ofthe Wolfes.
38 Ofthe cricke in the neckc.
39 OfWennesinthenecke.
40 Of fwelling in the Necke after blood-letti ng.
t 41 Of ftenching of Blood,whetherit come by blood-let-
ting or by any wound receiued. 41 Ofthe falling ofthe Creft.
43 Ofmangines or fcabbes within the Mayne,'
44 Of (hedding the haire from the mayne or tayle.
45 Ofthe fwelling of the Withers, cither by pinching, or
galling with an ill faddle. 46* Ofthe impoftumations in a Horfes withers.
47 Of hard hornes,knobs, or fitfaftcs growing rnder the
Saddle. 48 Ofthe Nauell-gall.
49 Ofthefwayingofthebacke.
50 Of weakencs in the backe.
51 Of hide-bound.
5 2 Ofthe StranglCjGlandcrs.and mourning of th«rcby«e..
53 Ofthe Cough.
54 Ofthe inward and wet Cough.
55 Ofthe frettized,broken,and rotten lunges.
56 Ofthe putrified or rotten lunges.
57 Ofthe ftiortncffe of breath and the caufes.
58 OfaConfumption.
5 9 Of griefe in the breaft,
60 Of the Antichor.
51 Of Tyred horfes.
62 Ofdifeafcs yndcr the midriff*.
% Of
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TheTabte._________
Chapters.
61 Ofthe loaththing of mcate. 64 Of calling outdrinke.
6% Offurfeits.
66 Ofthe hungry euill.
67 Ofthe difeafes ofthe Liuer.
<58 Ofthe coufumption of the Liuer.
69 Of difeafes in the Gall.
70 OfdifeafesintheSpleene.
71 Ofthe Yellowes.
72 Ofthe Dropfie.
7 j Ofthe difeafes in the Guts.
74 OfCoftiuenes or belly bound. 7J OfLoofcncs.
76 Ofthe bloody Fluxe.
77 Ofthe Bots or Wormes.
78 OfpaineintheKidneycs.
•79 OfpifTmgblocd. 00 Of the Colt euill.
81 Ofthe mattering ofthe yardc.
82 Ofthe fhedding ol feedc.
83 Of the falling ofthe yarde.
84. Ofthe fwelling ofthe Codsonely.
8? Oflncordingortfurfting. 26 Ofthe Botch in the groynes. 89 Of fuelling ofthe legs after labour.
90 Offoundring.
01 Ofthe fplent or Serew.
02 OftheMallandcvorSallender.
91 Of an ouer-reach vpon the Smew.
94 Ofan ouer-reach vpon the heelc. 9 5 Of halting either before or behmde.
96 Of being Hipped.
97 Of being ftyfled. ^ Qf
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______ The Table.
Chapters]
P8 OftheBonefpaiica»
99 Ofthe Blood fpauen 100 OfthcKurbe.
101 OfthePaines.
102 Ofkib'dfeccles.
*°5 OfWindgallcs. lot ol"ricuh^thcncacheri°y«-
105 OftheShaklcgall.
l0* Of the Scratches. J°7 Of the Ring-bone. lQ8 Ofthecrownefcab. !! ^hLu"«vpontheCron«. i?? °ffthcQH«wr-bone.
*XI Ofgrauelljn-
^SOffutbatingT Hi OfXcCakteinthef°alC°fthef0°te*
115 Ofcoyning. Jjf Offing the hoofc*
I 87°f"ft'ngtheho0fc. J™ Ofhoofe-bound. *I9 Oftherunninefrufh. J*> OftheLeprofe. J2i OfthcFarcion. »* Ofthe Canker. . 123 OfcheFiftuJa.
124 Ofthe Anbury
"5 OfWoundes. ^^ffcbruifi"gsorfweI!ingS. ill Sf,S,nCWes''cuc^prickt. l*9 Of burning with Lime.
30 OthebytingvvithamadDoa.
,L °^c|ngShrew-ranne. * 32 °fthe Warble or felterworme
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The Table.
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Chapters.
^\ 133 Ofbeing flung withAdderorSnake* 134 Ofeating Hens dung. •
13 j To kill Lice. 135 To keep Horfes from the flinging of Flies
137 The cure ofbroken bones,
138 Ofthe taking vp of veynes.
139 Of Glitters.
140 Of Purgations.
T4t OfCalteryiing, I42 Certaine fpcciall receites forfpeciallpurpofes.
TheTable ofthe Eight BeoU.
Chapters. r /~\F Horfe-courfers in generall.
2 VyThe obferuations Horfe-courfers vfe in the choile
—• 3 Ofthedifcoucrieandpreuention ofthe Horfe-courfers
deceites. 4 Ofthe exceilencie of Horfesvnderftandings.
5 How a Horfc may be taught to doe any tricke done by
'Btmkes his horfe. 6* Of drawing dry-foote,and the aptnefle of Horfes there-
unto. Tbttn&tfthtTMt.
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The frjl Bode.
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*in i ^ HM.
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CHAP. f.
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0/M* breeding ofHotfes3 and firji touching the choke ef
gromdes3 their v/es and fiperations. Auing refolued inwardly in
my felfe ( euen to the vtter- raoftc of my befi: powers) to giue to euerie creature that fhall reade thefe my labours, a full and vndoubted fatisfadHon touching anie fcruple, mifte- ric, or other Inigms, that hath hitherto beene concealed in this mofte famous Art, making a plainc, eeuen and direct way, where there hath formerly beene much roughnes3 fome hilles, a"d many interchangeable turnings; I thought it *nofte conuenient to begin with the Art of breeding of "orfes; which how euer it bee not fo generally ap- Pertayningvntoallmenjasthe other members of the i^cArt in this volume following j yet for as much as ' B bring- |
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% Tbefirjl'Bool^e.
bringing foorth j muft goe before the vfe.of the thing
brought foorth, and that this Art of breeding isonely appertaining to Princes, Potentates, and men of beft place and eftimationjit muft neceffarily challenge the precedent place. Wherefore to you that are the ow- ners of the earth, and defirous to inrich her and your felues, with Beaft es of the greateft vfe and vertue, I dy- re&my difcourfe: Know then the firft obferuation in bteeding, is the knowledge of gr oundes, their natures, clyiTUtsJertiineffeorbarrennes. Thefecoad, thedift- ingaifhinent of Horfes and Mares according to their breedes,or proportions: coupling each kinde together in. fiich fort as may bee mode commodious for that purpofc to which you intende. And the l'aft the.dif- pohng and vfing them, being brought foorth both in their foleage, beft (Irength, and old age. For your grounds, 1 am of opinion 'with Zenophon
andGriforty that you muft principally, reflect both the quantitie and qnalitie : the one for (urchajging, the o- therfortoo gr offe feeding ; the quantitie, that your Mares and Colts may not bee throng'dvp, and as it were kept in a pin-folde, wanting libertie to fcopeand runnevp anddowneatpkafure (then which there is nothing more commodious) and the qualitie which is thefcituation &fertilnesofthefoylc: Forthefckuati- on, it would beafcending vvithhilles & dales, & thofe hillesopenvpponthefrefliayre.-iftheplainesbefullof Moale-hilfs it is much better: for thefertilnes,it would be a ground neither exceeding tanke, nor extreame barreine, but of an indifferent mixrure, ratherincly- ningtobarrennes, then much rancknes, apportioning to the fruitfulneffe of the ground the number of your Mares,
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cTbe'firft'<Booke. z
Mares, in fuch fort that they may neither want foode
nor furfett with toe greataboundance, neither grow fo exceeding fat,that they be either difabled for bring- ing foofthj or indangcred with" rotting (which onelie fprings from fuch groffenes) nor brought fo weake with want of foode that they neither take delight in generation, or for lacke of itrengrh die with hunger- bane: an indifferent meane muft therefore be obfer- ucd,which muft beapplyed according to the nature of the ground; obleruing this order,eychcr to increafe or diminiflithenumber of your race-mares, as you psrceiue them eyther growe fatte or ieane in the place of their abyding. Some arc of opinion, that as much ground as wiillerueaCowe, will feme a Race-mare, and I am not much oppofite to that opinion, onelie I holde it a proportion fomewhat with the moftc j for I hauefound in mineowne exr)erience,that the ground which would fuminer but eight Kine well, hath fom- mered a dozen Race-mares very fuffi'ciently. But for- as much as euery countrie,nay almoft euery Lord-fhip differcth one from another, eyther in friutfulnes, or barrenness there cannot be apportioned any certaine number or ftint to euery ground, but it muft be refer- red to the iudgement of the owner, either to increafe ordecreafehis ftocfce, according as they either pro- sper or decay. Grounds that be rancke, marrifh, cold and wet, are
nioft vilde to breed vpon,forthe foode being vnwhol- iomejthe layrevnnaturall, & the treading incertaine; she foales that are bred thereon,rare heauie, ilowe,fat- haaded, great bellyed, round leggd,& wcake ioyntcd, y^Cmeftieinthepafterne.Your ground therefore (asbe-
B 2 fore
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4. Ibe firfiTSookf,
fore 1 faid)mufA lie bye and fin-ne^nd fuch commonly
are the Parkes of Princes3and great PerfonSj.whofe im- ployments in my conceite are moil e fitte for this pur- pofe,rnixing with the delight of Deare,the dclightfull benefit of a braue race of Horfes,in which euenKinges of the bcft memories haue taken vnfpeakable plea- fures : whofoeucr therefore hatheyther Parke or im- pal'd ground (for a leffe fence will hardly ferue a good race) which hcepurpofeth to this vfe of breeding jnufl firftknowe that he mud not keepe it as one entyre ground, but with a fufficienrrayle of fo conuenient a height as may controle aHoifes leaping ;deuide it in- to three fcuerall .pafturcs : Thefirft containing the Launde or plaincil place of the Parke, where there is leaft fhelter^ water furrowes, or drie ditches, which ixiuft be for your Mares to foale in; and after their foa- ting, for the ft ally on. akd the Mares to runne together in: in which it (liall be good if tlierebenoother wa- ter morethen fomefayrefrefh Pond. Now the reafons for all thefe choyces are thefe :firft3
that it fhould be plaine and without flicker, becaufc a Foaleatthe firft foaling wouldhatic all the bittemefle and fharpencfTe that the latter end of the Winter can put vpponit,which will fa harden and knittebim,thac when the warmth of the Spring and Summer fhall be- ginne,he will profpermore in one weeke then ano- ther contray-vfed in a Mouth: and when the Winter fhall comevppon him againe,he fhall holdc both his ftefh and courage, when others ihall hardly holdc life in their bodies: this being a rule atnongft all good breederSjtharcuerieFoalefhouldbauetwo Winters in the firft years. Next, that there fliouldbe no water. furrowes
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IheJirJiSoo^e. 5
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fifrrovves nor drve ditches, is bccaufc a Marc out of
herowne difpofition cue. couctteth to foalc in the water,orfoncreas ftiecangct: by which meanes, I haiieknowne many foalesdrowned. And againe, in thata.Mare commonly foaleth {landing, fheleflerc- fpeð where die foaleth, whether in the water, by a ditch fides or other where. The next pallure you arc to diuide,would confift partly of good ground;pardy of bufhes,brottfe,and fame hie or thicke tree s for (bel- ter; itwouldbeafcending, and that afcentplaine and open vpon the ayre; Moale-hills,fmall gutters, and vn- certaine treading is verie good in this ground: Alfo if fome frefli riuer,or rundlc illuing from a clearc fpring runnc through this ground, it is much the better. And in this ground you fhallfommer your Mares & Foales as f oone as the Stallion is taken away : the reafons for the former choyfes are thefe; full, it muft be good ground.becaufe it may make your Mares fpring with milkc: next for bufhes and broufe, it is that a Foalc taketh a great delight in, and makes them hard. The fhelter of trees is to defend the heat of the Sun,"
and the ftlnging of Flies.To be mountainous & plaine, is that a Foale may by the fharpnefie of the ayre euery morning and cuening,recouer ftomacke, ftrength and liruelyhood, or by fcoping or galloping vp anddowne the hill, come to a purenes of winde,and a nimblenes of bodie. For Moale-hils,fmaI gutters, or other vneer- taine trcading,they are to bring a Foale by his wanton galloppingand playing about them, to a •rumblencflc a«d truth of footmanfhip, to a fine treading, and a ^"retie of not Humbling. That the water fhould beet ^SiUierfrefla riuer or fpring,is becaufe the puritic ther- B5 of
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6 The firfl <Boo{e.
of ingendreth no euill nutriment or grofneffe, but ra-
th erfprightinefTe and quickneiTe. Thq third or h{\ ground wherein I would haue you winter your Mares andFoaleSjWouldbeof reafonablc fruicefulnes, and free from all enundacion or oucr-flowe of waters: it would be alfo vpon the knole of an hill, and ifconue- rsientlyitmay be, full of trees or bufhes for fhdter. Oiuhe top of the hill,I would haue you build certainc crolfe houells of (tone or other clofe ituffe,ouer which you may ftacke your Hay j Oates, or other winter pro- uifion: the quantitie whereof you muft meafure ac- cording to the number of your Mares and Foales.The open fides of your houells,I would wifh to He eaftand weft, the clofleendes north and fouth, info much that in what quarter fo euer the winds or weather ftandeth, they may haue warmth and fhclter from the fame. Within thefehouels I would haue racks wherein to put the Hay or Oates in the flrawc, which will not onelie fane much from lofifeandfpoyling, but alfo in- crease the appetite of a Foale by labouring at the fame. I would alfo haue vnder the racks,maungersj in which you may call the ouerchawingesof Wheate,. Barley, or other white come, but by no meanes any Peafepulfe,forit ingendreth many foiile diieafes; as thegargillJftrangle,mawe worme and fuch like : It frullbealfogoodtocaft in the maunger that which Horfe men c;A\ garbadge, which is wheate itrawe and the eares; chopt fmall together, with a fine cutting- knife >for it rayfeth the crcft,and makes it hie, ftrong, firme and thin. Nowforthofegrcatprinces,whoare the owners of many Parkes, many waalis, and many large camynents j they may (if it feeme good in their eyes)
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The firii cBoo\e, 7
eyes) make thefc three feuerail grounds, three feuerail
Parkes, multiplying their ftockes as it harh pleafcd God to multiply their pofieffions: but for him that hath bur one Parke, or one peece of ground, fit for this purpofe,thecourfe I haue formerlyprefcribed, I hold moll Husbandly for hisprofit, and the gbothes of theBeaft he intends to breede. As for the Yeoman °r Husbandman, who neither haue choice ofperticu* 'ar grounds, normcanes to breede after any exact me- thod, ashauingbut onelythe benefit of the common nc-lds; yet both for his profit and credits fake defireth to»reedeagood Horfc, to him I can but fet downe thefe few rules: Firft to forefee that his Mare bee of good fhape and mettall: next that he put vnto her fo good a Horfe as either his credit or abilitie can pro- cure : Next, that after his Mare hath foa!ed,hee keepe her in the teatherJliiftinCT her foure or fine times in a «ay vnto 11 efh graffe^which will be a fufficient meancs toprelerue the Mares mi!ke,al be fne labor and works niuc!i.Ncxt,that fne may be feathered (o nea re as may oe vnto cornelands, that whilft the Mare feedeth, the -roalemayatitspleaiurecrop & eate the green blades ofCornc,which will fcowre and make the foale grow: and when the cornc is of better ripenes, then it may crop the eares of Cornc alfojefpeciallie wheate,which vvill bring vnto the Foale fuch flrength, full groath and liuelineSjthat he will fauor of that fcafoning all his "fe after, fo that in the winter he be not brought vnto too great a weakenes 5 which to anoide, I would haue the husbandman euerro winter his Foale in the hou/e, gluing ic goo<j ftore of Chaffe, light Corne, and fuch , like: but in any cafe neither Peafe nor Pea/e pulfe, till B 4 March
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8 <IkefirJlcBooke.
March be paft at the fooneft.And thus much/touching
the vfe of groundes and their diuiiions. CHAP, 2
Of Horjes and 'Mares, and of their
diners kindes,
FOr me to emer into as friuolous & idle a difcourfc
of the kindes of Horfes and their coulers, as Con- radusGefnerhath,fillinglcaues with names fcarcc
heard of,at!eaftneuer experienced in any of our cli- mates/ome being more vgly then prodigies,and foma moreflrange thcneuenvntruth it felfe can imagine, were to diftafte the moffcworthy ears,&: make my felfe a fecond Trumpet of other mens falfhoods: but foras- much as mine ambition is to facile the world with truths,and not to amaze men with miracles,! will one- lydeliuer the kindes and generations of fuch Horfes as I haue approued and Imowne within mine owne experience. And.firftof ail,foras much as I know almoft all
Englilh men, whether out of the inconftancie of their natures (which is euer moft delighted with new fang- led nouelties)or out ofthebaflifuinelTe of their mode- flies^areeucrapttogiueprecedencie and prioritie of place to grangers, ftrange creaturesyand ftrange fa* Ihionsiyetforasmuchasi haueformeily,and do day- ly finde in mine experience, that-the venue, good- neffe, boldneiTe, fwiftnefle, and indurance of one true bred Englifh Horfes, is equail with anie race of Borlcs whaiibeuer j Iwiilfirftof all begin with \\\m^ and
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¥hefirftxBooke. 9
and his dtfcription.
Some former writers, whether out of want of ex- °™^S-
perience,orto flatter nouelties,orelfecolle&ingthcir _ orc* workes from others writings, in which not finding the Englifh horfe nained,they haue thereuponconcluded that the Englifh horfc is a great ftrong lade, deep rib- bed, fid-bellied, with ftronglegges, and good hoofes, yet fitter for the cart then eithet theSaddle or any wor- thy imployment. How falfc this is, all Englifh Horf- menknowe, andmyfelfe dare boldly iuftifie : for the mieEnglifh Horfe indeed, him I.mcane that is bred Vndcr a good clime, on firme ground, and in a pure and temperate ay re, is of tall ftature,and large propor- tion: his head, though not fo fine as either the Barbie- rieif or Tnrkestf ctis it lcane,long,and wellfafhioned: his creft is hie,only iubiccl: to thickneffe if he be fton'cf; butifhebegelded,thenisitthin,firme,andftrong:bis <%neisftraightandbroad,&allhislims large.leane,, flat3and excellently ioynted, in them exceeding any Horfe of what Countreyfoeuer. Now for their in- ward goodneffejfirfttfor their valure and induranee in the warres,l haue feenc them fuffer & execute as much and more then euer I noted in any other of forraine creation: I haue heard it reported,that at the Maflacre in Varis, Mongemerie taking an Englifh Mare, firft in the night fwamouer theriuer of 5«w, and after ranne her fomanyleagues,asIfeareto nominate, leaft mifcon- ftiuftion might taxe me of too lauiili report. And I haue heard Matter Romano fay,the moft inducing bead that euer he rid, was an Englifh Mare. Againe, foe fvviftneffe, what Nation hath brought foorth that Horfe which hath exceeded the EngUfh * for proofs whereof;
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10 The fir/lfBooke.
whereof wee haus this example: when the beft Barba-
r/Vithatencrwereinmy remembrance were in their prime, I (awe them ouer-runne by a blacke Bobbie at Sdcibwk of m aifterCzr//<?»/,&: yet chat Hobhy was m ore ouer-runne by a horfe of ftiaifter Blackflones called Fa- lentine\,w\\'\c\\ Valentine neither in hunting nor running, waseuerequalled,yctwasa plainebred£#g///£ Horle both by Syrc and Dam.To defcend to our inftant time, .what euer men may report or imagine, yet I fee no fhape which can perfwade me that Puppie is any other then an Evglt/b Horfe : and truly for running, I holde him peerelelfc. Againe, for infinite labour, and long indurance, which is eafieft to bee difcerned in our Englifh hunting matches, I hauenotfeene any horfe able to compare with the Englifh horfe: fo that I con- clude, the Englifh horfe is of tollerable fhape, ftrong, valiant, fwift and durable. ThcCourfer Nextto the Englifh Horfe, I place the Courfer of Naples. 0f Napl(Sj which is a horfe of a ftrong and comely fafhion, of great goodnefle, louing dilpoiitton, and of an infinite couragioufneflc: his limbs andgenerali features are fo ftrong and well knit together, that he hath euer been reputed the onely beaft for the warres, being naturally free from feare or cowardife: the beft character to knowe him by, is his head, which being long,lcane, and very {lender, doth from the eyes to the nofebend like a Hawkes beake : he hath a great and a full eye, a fliarpe eare, and a ftraighc legge, whichinanouer-curious eye might appeare a little too (lender, which is all the fault, curiofuie it felfe can finde.They be naturally of a lofcie pace,they be louing to their rider, eafie to be taught, npft ftrong in their exercife$
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1'he firjl'Booke, u
----------,---------------------------------------_----------------------?—-------------------------—--------i-------------------------------------------------------------■(
exercife 5 andto conclude, fo good in all poynts, that
noforrainerace hatheuer borne a tytlc of fo much excellencie. The Horfes of the lies of Sardinia, and Cerjtea, of Sardinia
are the nearelt of all other horfes to the Courfarof Na-an^ Corfica. fhsa ondy they bee fomewhat fhorter bodied, and of fomewhat a more fierce and fierie nature, but that by the temperance of a good Rider is eafie to be qualified, 2nd conucrted to an excellent vertue. Gefmr amongft his other abfurdities, faith they be exceeding little n°rfes, whereas indeede they carrie proportion with horfes of the beftftature. Nextthefe, the7'#?£/Vhorfeisan excellent beaftvOftheTurkie
i doe not meanethofe horfes which haue beene bredhcrfe- Xn the Tarkes&rft dominions, as in the vpper parts of SitbU, Tar tar la, Varthia, Medea, Armenia, Cdpadecia, and other his 4&»c0untries,albeif we wil beleeuc the re- port of old wrirers,each of thefe Countries haue feuc« rail good races, as Sithia and Tartaria for greatneffe of oodie: /\?rM/43forb:mbe and courage: Mediator beau- tie and comelynefle of fhape: Jrmenit^nd Capadocia, tor heauinelle of head,and ftrength of body,with ma- ny other fuchlrkedefcriptions: but fith for mine owne Part, I haueneuerfound groffervntruthes,(lfpeake *°rhorfe-manfhippeonelye) then in therecordes of thefeolde Writers5 and for-af-much as mine erpe- ^ence(and as 1thinke the eye of our Nation)hath had Iutlc dealing with Horfes ofthofe Countries, I will o- ^ttheiT^andrcferre t'necitrious5who only delight in HfUe^ies, toreadeAhfirtu^Vegetws, Gtfwer, and fuch 5Kes who may happily pleafe their eares, but neuer . £t^£r their experience j and for mine owne part I. will write
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iz IhefirjWoo1^.
wdTel^h^horTeof Greece > which forafmuch as it is
nowvndertheTurkes gouernmcnt, the Horfcs that come from thence are called of vsTurkes$ of which I haue feene diuers3ridden (ome^and knownethem bred vopon in many parts of England: but firft to report j, r what others write of the Horfcs of Greece : One faith J'tm' they haue good ledges, greatbodies, comely heades,
hie of fhture,and well made forward, but not backe- ward,becaufc they are pinne buttock : they be veric 'riGJ* fwift,and of exceeding great courage. Now another 3 faith,they be foule, ill fhaped .rough ouer all their bo- dicSjgreatfhouIdcrSjilldifpofitionSjCamel-backcvn--
fure pae'd and crook'd legged.Now how thefecoritra- •ricdcfcriptionscanagr.ee Ivnderftandnot, only they fay the better horfe is of ihejjalie^ the other of Thrscia, but formineowneparr3touchingthofeTurkes which lhaucfeene, all which haue beenefaid to come from CcnBwtincple, which is a part oirkr<tce\ they haue bcene Horfes of m oft delicate fhape,pace,and mettall: they haue notbeene of any monftrous greatneflc, but inclining; to a middle fizc, or indifferencic of height; they are finely headed almoftasthe&w4irif;they haue molt excellent forehahdes,both for length, depth and proportion; their limbs areftraight, yet rather imall then great: theirhoofesarelongandnarrow(a great fiene of fwiftncfTe) their coats are fmooth and fhorr, and all their members of finable qualities they are of great courage and fwiftncfTe, for I haue feene them v- fed at our Englifh Bell-courfes. Naturally they defire to amble; and which is moft ftrange, their trot is full of pride and gracefulncife. The Barbaric Next the Turke,\ place the urhme, which arc horfes orTc, • ^Cd
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The firfi "Booke.
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n
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bred, either in one of the two Mnuriumas^ or in 2Vu-
niidiA^ or the lender y?$/ir£ : they are beyond all horfcs Vvhatfoeuer for delicacie offhape and proportion, in- fomuch that the moft curious painter cannot with all his Art amend their naturall lineaments. They are to be knowne before all horfcs by the fineneffe of their proportions, efpecially their heades and necks, which Nature hath fo wellfhap'd, and plac'd, that they com- monly favje Art his greateft labour: they are fwift be- y°nd other forraignehorfes, and to that vfe in Eng- ^ We onely imploy them j yet are their races onely
, P°n hard grounds,for infoft or deepe grounds, they fta»e neither ftrength3nor delight; they are exceeding Well Winded, which breedes in them a continuance ol their fwiftneffe : Their colours for the moft part are gray3or flea-bitten. Ibaue feene blacke and bay, but not fo generally :they feldome or neuer foundes.; they ^ske leife care then others in keeping, beingboth of *uch temperate diet, and fuch abilitie of body, that they feldom furfeit, onely they are (efpecially fuch as I naue feene) of fuch little andftender ftature, that they arc!vi>fitfor the warres,or to fupport amies. Next thefe horfcs of Barbarie,! place the lennet ofThe tenet tf
/*w5 which albeGV/wnn his ignorant defcriptions *Faine»
Reports to be a horfe of great ftature, buttockes fhorr, ^eake,andvncomely;ofbodyfatandbigge,flowe,and "Uelito his riderjyet thofe which better know by their experience then he by his readings, And for my felfe, oth thofe I haue feene here in Englm^ and alfo thofe ^nauc fecne in Spaine, and other places of the King of / tns dominionsjaffurc me of the vntruth of fuch wri-
inSs- For the lenmt Indeed is a horfe but of a middle
ftaturej
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14. the firffHoo/ie,
fta'turejfinely made, both head, bodic, and legges; his
buttocks though they be long,yct are they well ihap'd and ftrong : but whereas fome write they doe exceede all horfes in fwifcnes,or for that Old wiues tale of bree- ditig with the wcrtv\inde, &ouer-running ail windes, I haiie in them as little belecfe, as there is in fuch tales: little poffibilitie : onely this I thinke, that the knet being a horfe of great mectall and courage, and there- withal ofnimble, light, andac~tiue proportion, may pa(Teacarrere,thatis,riinnefome twelue or twentie fcore, with great puiitance and fwiftneffe; but for run- ning our Englifh courfes, which commonly arc three or fonre miles, we haue not feene any fuch vertue or goodneffe in them: their limbs, for the moftpart, arc weake and (lender; yet in the warres they are efteemed to be-of wonderfull proweffe,and indurance, they arc commonly full fix years old or more,before they come to any perfection or fhape,for they grow one yeare be- fore, and another behinde. And the laft thing which is complete in them,is their crefts,they are many of them naturally giuen to bound,& to performe faults aboue ground.but by reafon of their weake lymbs,they con- tinue not long without lameneflfe; their trot is fome- what long and wauing: but if at any time they be put to amble, they take it naturally. horfc>°lland ^ext this ' P*ace tfie Po^n^er^ or ^or^c °f Pokni^
which is a beaft but of a middle ftature,well corapofed and knit togithcr,their limbs and ioy nts are exceeding
ftrong, in all proportions like to our true bred Engljb
horfes; their heades are fomewhat fine and flender,ve- \
rie like in proportion to the Iriffo Hobbie: their necks &
crefts are well railed vpright, and exceeding ftrongi
their
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The fir ft cBoo^e. 15
their eares are little and extraordinarily fhort : they
haue exceeding ftrongbacks, broade chines, and the beft hoof's of any horleliuing, which is the reafon that they are many times trained vp,& m ade ftirrers, as be- ing horfes which take an efpecial delight in bounding, yarking, and other ftrongfauksaboue ground, which nioft comonly they do wkh fuch couragious violence & fmartnes, that they haue been fcene many times to throw their fhooes from their feet, with an almoft in- edible furie; they are alio exceeding good in trauel and Will indureiourneying beyond many other horfes |ey are alfo exceeding good in the coach,and as fomc
or our Englifo Nobilitie haue experience, equal! 01
beyond rnoft of the beft "Flemmifh races.; onely theii
general! fault is their littlenefle of ftature. The Al^at
Next the Pollander 1 place the h\^c\ Aim nine horfe, horfe.
n°is generally of an exceeding great and high ft a-*
nre. And albe he haue neither neatneffe nor finenes
ln his fhape,yet is there great ftrength in all his pro- Portionsifothathowfoeuer other men eftceme him Pr tne fhock or the manage,yet I account him beft for draught,or burthen: they are much vfed in the warres, Dumhmke like their Country-men, rather for a wall or defence, then either for affaulc or action; they are great, flow, and hard trotters. Next them is the Hungarian horfe, who hath a great TheHungari-
flatface,crooked norland thickhead, greateies, nar- anhor^ %>y nofthrils,and broad iawes;his maine rough,thick, ?nd almoft extending to the grounde, a .bufhe tayle, Weake paftcrnes, and a leane bodie : generally, his rmities are r° weI1 coupled together, that they Ppeare comely; heeisof.a temperate courage, and
will
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16 <IhefrftcBooke.
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will abide much harxtaeu%,by reafon whereof they arc
of much vfe in th e warres. TheFIiiiden Next the Hangman^ I reckon the Flemming, who or e* in moft of his ftupes differeth little from the Almaiae: His ftatureis tail, his head fhort and rhicke; hisbodie
long and deepe,his buttocke round and flat, his Iegges bigge and rough jand his pace a (hon and hard trot.-the principallvertue both of the Horfes and Mares, is in thedraught,in which theyexceedeall other-horfes o- therwife for the Saddle they are both vneafie and (loth- •full; the Mares are tall,!arge and wondrous fruitfull. Sr?1^^ . Ncxt thefe>l PIace the Fr'teflmdhorrc3 whofc fhape
is like the Flemmings^ut not full fo tall j he is of a more fierce & hot courage then theFlemmmg^ which makes
him a little better for feruice, as being able to paflYa
fhort carreire}to manage, beat a coruet and fuch like:
but for his in ward difpolition,it is diueli(h,cruell,and
fullofallftubborne frowardneffe 5 they are apt to all reftifte and malicious qualities, if the difcretion of the ryder preuent not their frenzie : their pace is a Chore and hard trot. The Sweath-.
Next them I place the Sweatblandhotfc, who is a
land horie. horfe of little ftaturc, le/Ter good fhape, but lcaft ver-
tue,they are for the moft part pyde ,with white Iegges,
and wall eyes: they want ftrengthfor the warres, and
courageforiourneyingj fothatl conclude, they arc
better tolookevpon thenimploy.
TheLifli Nextand laft, I place the ivfbHohhie^ which is a
0 1C* horfe of arcafonable good fhape, hauing a fine head,
a ftrong necke, and a well caft body; they haue quickc
eyes.goodlimbsjandtollerable buttocks: of all horfes
Jheyarethefurcft of foote, andnimbleft in daunge-
xons
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fous pafTages, they are of liuely courage, and verie
tough in trauell, onely they are much fubiect to af- frights and boggards. They will hardly in any feruicc *°yne with their enemies; the reafons 1 imagine to be theie: firfl, they are for the moil part bredde in wilde races5 and haue neither communitie or fellowfhip with any man till they come to the Saddle, which ma- ny times is not till they come to feauen,eight, nine, or ten ycaresolde, at what time the countrie ryfing, doe forcible driue the whole ftudd, both Horfes, Mares, p n s»anc* Fyllies into fome bogge, where being laide a% they halter fuch as they pleafe to take, and let the re't goe. -This wilde bringing vp, and this rude manner of
nandling^dothinmyconceiteingender this feareful- j*efie in the Beaft, which thofe ruder people know not «ow to amend. This Horfe though he trot very well, yet he naturally defireth to amble : and thus much I thinke fufficient, touching thefe feucrall kindes of Horfes, and their generations. |
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ctiAP.3.
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°fthe mixture of the/e former races, for which purpofe
each is befi^ and for the breeders ^ commodttie. HAuing in the former Chapter, declared the
kindes, Generations, fhapes and difpofitions of all fuch Horfes,as either our nation hath been acquaint^ vvichall,or my fclfc hath tryed in mine own St experience, |
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,l8 Thefirfi<Boo{e.
experience, it (hall bee meete that now 1 raixe thefe
races together, fhowing which will agree beft with ourclymate, for what purpofe, and how they bring the beft commoditie. Firft, forthe agreeing with our clymate, it is not
vnknowne to all Horfc-menandmen either of great- nefTe or experiencc,that al thofe races.of which 1 haue written, haue beenc, and are daily bred in this king- dome,and that of fo great vigor, worth and goodnes, that euen their owne nations haue not brought foorth any of better eftimation, as by infinit inftances I can approue, were it not both teadious and needelefle. j Wherefore for me to enter into a Phylofophycall dif courfe touching the hcightof thcSunne, the difpofl tionof the ayre, or the alteration of heats andcoldes, drawing from their effects the caufes or hinderancet of conception, were to trouble my felfe to no purpofe, and to tyer others with idle ceremonies. But for as much,as diuers men compofe their breeds
to diuers purpofesi fome for thewars,feruiceorplea- fures of great Princes: fome for fwiftneffe in running, o'rtoughnes in hunting : fome for eafmefife of pace, and the vfe of trauell; fome.for the draught and the portage of great burthens , I will asplainetye asl can, fhowe how each race ihould be compoun- ded, Firft,if you couet a race for the warres, or the fer- uiceof Kinges, the Neapolitan comkx is of all Stalli- ons the beft, to whome I would haue ioyned the fayreftEnglifli Mares that can be gotten; The next to him is the Turke, who would bes inixt with the Ned- plitm Mare, whence fpringes a braue race : nexc bim,the.Horfe-of Sardinia otCarfms, who begettesa kraut-
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___ The fir ft cBoo/(e. j p
krauc race from thel:^^MareTlaai7thel"emiet
°* spa/ae3 breeding vpon the fayreft /Y^Wm Mares. jr° conclude, any of thefe Horfes vppon faire Englifli Marcs beget much brauer Horfes then of their owne coM„?'an^fayrc En&!ifll horfes VPP°" any of thefe
ountne Mares doe beget moft feruiceable beafts: »"t it you will breede onely for fwifcneffe, then the ST??* is °^ly beft; breeding either vppon E*Jin uhlsovyne Coun*r"b vPP«n r«r*« Marc or vvif«X! ithu T^^Horfc vPon the £«?¥ Mare like- jaothbcgctafrnfcbcaft-: Butifyou wouldbrccdc (asbv^at?USh huntinS Horfe> there is n°ne better,
■ffla^experiencewefinde) then the fayre, bred would breed,eafie ambling Horfes for traueli and the
*MH<S3-las? uere^snonebettcrthciuhcr*'*'
amWino m ' °Lthcybemixed witheitheirEngliOi
tSfon !?k-rfcJ!b^ddc frora **""' of SPai«e, yet bO draShT laftIyl5 if/0UWQU*d breede Horfes for the
2 ;f cyfther forCoach or Cart, or Horfes for ^Portage of great burthens; aseytherforSumpter W fo hyr beft StaUyons:rhe F W,n or F/*/S
When • ^ffT t' CTt ar"d the ^<*< for ^ *0 our pS feruIc^oie as the horfes, according
o^prefentexpcrienceinEnglandacthisinftant. g P. * Now
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20 IhefirfllSookf.
Now you are to vnderftandd, that as all thefe Hor-
fesin their feuerall fore-named vfes, are the heft, fo like wife their colts thus begotten (which of fome Horfmcn is called baftardie) are like wife excellent Stallyons. For mine owne part, 1 would to chufe breed fooner of a Baftard Cwr/^baftard tenet 3Turkeror Bar* bary, then of the naturallHorfe of the owne countries and my reafon is, by their mixture with our Mares, all the imperfedions of their owneCouneries are amen- ded; as in the Comferi his length of head, and want of creft, which many times is imperfect. In the Tenet his weakcnesof ioyntes: and in the Ttoke and Barbarie, theirflendernesoflimbes: theFlaunders and Friefland which are fo extrcame rough and hayrie about their patterns j that the belt keepers, cannot preferuethem from fcratch.es,paines and Mallanders3are by mixture with our Mares brought toacleane race of fufficient tollerablelimbes,fo as they neede not be kept, but will keepethemfelues from foarances: theyaifo by mix- ing with our Maresjhaue their heads much amended; and their hoofes infinitely much better hardned, which of all thepartes of thofecountrie horfes, is the Worft, and of leaft indurance .• all which me thinkes when a perfect iudgementfhall take into his confede- ration, itfhallappeare great honor to our nation,and much fhame to them who haue wrongd it with for- mer mifreportings : and thus rnuch for the mixing of |
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Of
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"Ihefir/tcBoo^e.
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21
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CHAP. 4
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^rcigabyituersobjermtions.andoftheit
• fhapes. } Pft!ffir,mUCh a"uerri,eth''ng « mademofle pcrfcft
WhC' ?rd °fl0ngLeft ~ndnuance,Pby the fou„Sf?a!{*?%? hjs^ groundwork or P'ec<* of°an,f Ihich lndeede is the cfcWc maiiler- before ii hrat ST? fl*°m that ^ginning : I b«hc b* a.d"lfc &*&***« ™4 who8will fitf> if in tL k ICC a",d Creation of their ituddc,
^nuance '" Ismo^ lkdy <** Qaine. will by con!
^5 and§/nT/0 ^ ?W wd m°re Vlldc a»d
0f ™oJe imSom «rcumfpcaion, there is nothing dles/rom wll ' "h they are thehuing bo-
[ie5 which^^
h°Wcthcm orTn^ fi ur°ne Wlth the former> and I
Wcha„cX3 P l?Wcruations»buti would like* on. ?S ?,t0thcm>hisdefccn^d gcncrari- ^"eu rheneUrerbeSette an Hcroyicall fpir but iJ
y ^get a Colt, vvhich may hauefaire colour
C 3 and |
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il 1 he. firJl'Book?.
andrhape, which we call beauty .-Toughues,which we
callgoodnes, and youth, which is fewyeares, yetftiU
his inward parts may retame a iecret vildnes ofdifpo-
fition,which may behifufferable inbrceding.Now for
his beauty, which only is contained in his colour and
fhape, albelhaueinthe next booke writ fuffiaentiy
touchingthemtwo, yet I willheere a little glaunce at
them,by comparing with them the opinions of fome
other wnters.Firft, for the opinion of 6>/»<?r, which
meetly is no good opinion at all in hor!e-manfhip,but
a collection of idle tales •, hefaiesthe beft colours are
bay,white,carnation,goIden rtiffer,moufe colour,flea~
bitten,pide,black&pale,pide blew and gray;hadhc put
in alfoorenge-tawny,willow coloury5e iuchlike,al the
world couldnot haue gon bey ondhim,neither fhould
the^<i»ttr^jnor/f4/«whaueueedrohaue dyed their
horfes maines and tailes,if horfes could haue bin bred
of fuch colours; Buttoletpaffefuchfriuoloiis notes,
thebeftcolourfora ftallyon, is browne bay dapled,
dapple gray,bright bay, or white lyard: the roane,the
pure black,with v\ bite ftarjwhite foote,or white rach,
or the black bay,which hath neither mealy mouth,nor
red flanke,is alfo fufferable» A ftallyon would be all of
one colour,yet not according to the opinion otGefftert
his main & body of onecolour, for that is moft vilde:
for a brighrbay horfe would haue a blackemayne and
taile,& black out partes,as the tips ofhiseares,legs &
' fuch hke:a dapple gray would haue white main 8c taile
and to foorth of the reft: but I would not haue a pidc
ftallyon,except it be for him, who|efteeming mor« the
ftrangenesofcolours,thenthegoodnesofhorfes3pla*
ces his delight in motley generations; to fuch an one a
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fkM cBoo{e. 23
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pide Stallyon is beft: and ofpidesjtheblack and white3
and bright bay and white are moft choice:& not blewa carnation or golden pjde.For his fhape ingeneral,I re- *er you to the next booke, where I haue not as I hope omittedjthe leaft tittle in proportions, onely for fbmc Particular things,which are to be moft reflected in a »alIion}then in any other horfe,! wil giue my opinion. £ rtftjfor his head ,it inuft be lean,fiender & final about "is muflelbat the Jetting on of his head to his neck you rouft haue an efpec iall regard that his neck (well no t vp abouthischauleSjOrthat the kirnclls which runnebe- tWixthisneckandhischaulebethickeorbigjforitisa great figne of (loath,and thicknefle of windc,which is a^feat fault in the$tallyon,e(pecial!y if his maimer ex- pedtobreedefrom him eitherrunninghorfc, hunting horfcjor good traueller .'neither nuift be haue wall cies, or white fpecks in his eyes : you mufthaue care that yourStallyonsyardebeallofonccolour,andnotpide °r fpotted: for what Stallyon hath foch a fait, beget- teth wcakefoalesjorforthe moft part of flegmaticke complexions.which arefildome good, either for vfe or hardnesihisftones would be of a mean ilze,without warts orknobsjwcl miffed vP}& clofe to his body,for li cither they hang fide, or one hang lower then ano- ther^ is a figneiof furfet5ficknes,or dulnes of Spirit.If your ftallion haue vnder his chappes, long thin haires like a beard,which alio extend downcward euen to his orcft itis muchbetter,& a greatfign offwiftnes. Alfo, you muft take care that your Stallyon be free from all "aturall difeaJes:ase*creffions,which are fplents,Spa- iiens,Serew,ringbones,Curbes, orfuch like j If they put foorth, ojc appeare before a Horfecome to hand- 9 4 ^"S-
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24. -The firjlTZooke.
ling: or if hebefubic£t tolunaticke eyes, or to werms
on his body, or fueh like: And thus much for his fhape. Nowforhisgoodnes,us true,asfomewrite,thatit is of t wo fortes,ey ther naturall or artificial!: His natu- rall goodnes continuing in his ftrengthand abilitie of bodie, for the performance of the Arte of generation, inhishealthjagilitie,fwiftne(re,andgooddi(pofition, Hisartificiall, in the manner of fho wing his natural! venues, which is alwaies the beftdefcerned vnder his rider: but in as much,as that artificial! grace doth little auaile in generation, it fhall be the breeders principal! office to take cfpeciallknowledge;of his natural! per- fections., which if he fhall finde anfwerable to my for- mer denionftrationsjhe may prefume vppon his fitnes for that purpofe : and yet I would not haue you fo fe- rioufly to regard his naturall goodneife, that you vt-« terlie neglect his artificial!: but rather if you fhall be- bolde a Horfe vnder the ryder of infinite fpirit and in- durance, or of wonderfull fpeede, pride, and ftateli- nes,thataibetherebefomethingesin him you could with amended, yet to beare with them,and breede vp- pon him, for the benifit of his other vertues. Now forafrnuch as fbme, whether out ofcuriofitic
to appeare excellent in the knowledge of fiipernatural! , thinges, or to giue a fatisfa<ttion to fuch as out of their j too much fearch, would become Horfe-midwiues; ihaue fetdowne as an elpeciall regirde in the naturall goodneiTeof a Stallyon, toknowe the goodneife or illneffeof theHorfesfeede, which experience ( for mine owne part) Ihaueeuerfhunnedasathingloath- fome, vngentill,vnnaturall, andmoftvnmanlie; yet, for as much as inthe worke, I couecto fatisfie eue- |
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c£he firjVBooke. z$
riefeueralldefire;lwiilfet downe what others thinlce
touching that poy nr, and not what I haue approoued; leaning the try all to fuch as out of their fleamie woma- nii"hne(Tefecke forfuch fecrets. One Writer faith,that if you will know the good-
neffe of yourhorfes feede,you fhall when hecouers a Mare, caufe him to fhed fome of his feede into water, a»d if it finke it is good,if it float aloft it is naught: an - OCn-r faith, if you take the feede of the Horfe into Vv°c>n, or betweene your finger and your thumbe, andif it r0pe andbeflimie like birdlime, then it is §°od: but if it be thinne and loofe like whey,thcn it is n3ught : with other fuch like midwifely precepts, V^hichl wifh euery good breeder rather to hazard, then prone the experiment. , Now for the age of your Stallyon, though Plmie
be of opinion, that a Horfe may bee put to a Mare at two yeares olde^nd continue getting Foales till he be thirtie three yeares olde; yet for mine owne part I like neither chebeginning northe ending, hauing in them ooth too much extremitie: for the beginning is too early, and the continuance too long to profper. The beft age therefore in thefe dayes (how euer it hath bin *n former ages) for ro put a Horfe to a Mare, is when he is betwixt foure and hue yeares olde, at what time hcgetteth the goodlieft,greatcr),&beftfpirited colts. In Spawe I haue heard the Spaniards fay,they let their
Goltesrunne with their Mares, till they couer their Dammes: and indeed I hauefeene very you igHorfes *f> fome of their Hand races; butl vtterly diflifce fuch "'^eding/oritisvildeandvnnaturall.-for zsPltnse re- ports3a.H.orfebeinghoodwinktwhileftheconered a C 5 Mare3,
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V
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\i6 IbefirftTSookf.
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Mare,after perceiuing it wa-s his owneDamme, ranne
vp to the rocks,and brake his owne neck: and alfo that aMareintheterritorie of Realtei kjld her keeper for the like; which reports albe they carry not the Faireft liueries of truth,yet are they precedents vnto vs that fitch manner of breeding is not by former borfmen al- lowed of:& this in mine ownc experience I haue both found and know;thatifa man will continue his btecde altogether in one ftraine, without any alteration or ftrangeneffe, fhall in the endefinde his ftudd to decay and loofe both ftariire,ftrength and comelines, which doth intimate to niee, that there is a great difhke in fuch kinde of breeding. Let your Horfe thcrefore(as before I faid)be of the age of foure or fine yeares olde, or betwixt that 3ge, and fourtccneor fifteene at the moftjfor after that time he is paft the vfc ofgeneration except he be fome principall rare horfe,a«fome I haue feencythat haue gotten verie fivfficientFoaies at eigh- teene and twentie yeares old clearely dif proouing the opinion of Ge/^er, which faith, that olde Horfes get lame Foales,a€hJngbothfaIfeandrediculous, except he account the hollo wnefle ofthe|cyes, or fadnefle of countenance lamenefle, which are the greateft faults an old horfe begetteth: For whereas fome hold opini- on, that an olde Horfes Foale is more tender then the other,and more fubieel: to fickneffe and infirmitie, I haue for mine owne part found the contrarie, not ap- proouing many Colts more fiifficient for health, or. of more abilitie in nature to endure fickneffe when it chanceth,then the Colt of an olde HorfcjVet that fuch an olde Horfe would haue begot a much better Colt in his youth I make no queftionj by which I conclude, that
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"£heprjlcBooke. 27
that the young Horfcis for breed the moft principa 11'-
bun the good olde horfe in extremitie or neceffitie,not tobeforfakenj prouidedalwayes that he be found of bis limbs and bodie^vnlefte it bee iuch drfeafe as com- meth meetly by mifthance or cafualtie. Andnow fith I haue proceeded thus farre in the
age of Horles, it fhall be requifitc that I fhew you how you fhall knowe the age of any Horfe whatfoeuer : Firft by the pride,fulne{Te,and cheerefidnelfe of a Hor- fes countenance We adiudge his age: for firft if his eic* be round, full andftartingfrom his headejif the pits ouer his eies be filled, fmooth andeuen with bis tem- ples ; and his countenance fmooth and free from fad>- neffe, then wagefle and knowe that fuch a Horfe is yoimgrandby tbecontrarieafpe£ts,wcknowheisold,. Another way, is to takehis skin betwixtyour finger
and your thumbe,and plucke it fromthe fte(h,then let- ting it goe againe > if it hiddenly returne to the place from whence it came3and be fmooth and plaine,with- outwrinckle,then is he young and full of vigor jbut if being pulled vp it ftand, and not returne to his former place, then is he oldcandwafte* Others opproue a Horfes agein this fort: take
him with your finger andyour thumbe by the fterne of the tayie,clofe at the fetting on of the buttocke,and feeling there hard, if yov feele betwixt your finger and thumbe, of each fide his taile, aioynt fticke out more then any other ioynr, by the bignefle of an Ha- fell Nut.then you may prefume he is vnder ten yeires olde jbutif his ioynts be all plame, andno fuch thing, tobefek, then bee affuredhe is aboue tennc yeares ®id. Others approue the age of Horfes by their teeth |
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28 The firflBookg.
and that is of allwayesthemoftecertaine : fomewill
put their fore-finger into the horfes mouth, and feele the infide of his vpper turtle: and if therein they finde a little ho! e or nicke, then they are ftire he is vndcr ten yeares old: but if it be plains and full3thcn he is aboue ten. Laftly,andthefureftwaytoknow a Horfes age, is to looke in a Horfes mouth, and if he haue changed no more but his foure formoft teeth,then is he but two yeares olde : if hehaue two teeth aboue, andtwobe* low of each out fide to change, then he is three yeares olde: if he haue one tooth aboue, and one below e of each outfide to change,then he is foure yeares old: at Hue yeares olde he changes his tufhes,andat fix yeares old all his teeth are perfect, onely his vnder turtles will haue a little circle or ring of young flerti about them, different from his gumme,& his outmoft teeth of each fide haue little black holes in the top of them,which as foone as they be worne out,and are fmooth, the horfe is paft eight yeares old:if when that marke is gone,and the teeth fmooth ,the horfes teeth be long, yellow and foule,although hecuteeuen &c!ofe,thenhc is aboue twelue: if his vpper teeth ouer-reach his neather, and be worne vneeuen,and his tusks long,fou!e and thickc, then is he aboue fifteene j but if his teeth be foule, vn- eeuen,and his tusks worne clofe to his chaule, then he is rathef aboue then vnder twentie. Alfo, if a horfe of darke colour growcgriifeil aboue his e^e hrowes, or vnder his maine, it is a fignc of extreame old age* And thus much touching the Stallyon. Now to fpeake fame little of breeding Mares,which
as vvellas the horfe would haue.all the three proper- ties of beautie,, age, and goodnelTe, by the confent of mine
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<ThefirJi<Boo{e. ^9
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mine-opinion, 1 wotildehaue a brcederto chufe his
Mare (after he is refolued touching her naturallgood- «effe and generation) by the largeneffe and goodly fhape of her bodie,not refpedling a gaunt, cleane,and cye-plea(ing proportion, in any fort comparable with j1 Well forehanded, fide-ribbed, cleane lirnb'd, and large wombd Mare. ForifaFoalchauean ample bed, hecannotchulebutbeofgreat ftature v the beftage *°r a Mare to take the horfe in, is at three yeares olde and vpward,and the time of their decreafing attweluc: yet for mine owne part, I did know the two and twen- tieth Foale of one Mare, which was an exceeding good and goodly horfe: but that example I holde for no generall rule. Now if you demaundof me why a Mare fhould go
looner to the Horfe then the Horfe to the Mare, mine anfwer isjbecaufefhecommeth ayeare fooner to her tu neffeand perfection : for a Horfe is not complete, tnlia.ter fTxe,and'a mare is perfect at fiue. Flimeand o- therPhilofophers, are of opinion, that Mares may oeareFoales tillthey befortieyeares olde, not being vied tor other pwpofe : but I whofePhiiofophieis mine owne cxperiencc,hauc found it ingenerall other- Wiie, anckherefore would wifh no Prince, nor man of greatnefleoreftate, whofe power and purfe may vp- «old his breed in the beft inaner, to preferue his Mares longer in his ftudd, then from three yeares olde till ten; vnieiTe it be fome fuch principal! Mare of whom you naue fuch fufficient proofe of extraordinarie good- «efle5thatyou may aduenturea more then vfuallcon- wttuance: for Marcs being more apt to the A&e of gc- »Kraiionthea>Horfes, areeuerfounde fooner code- |
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^0 The firftTSookg.
cay and grow barraine. That your Mares which you
preferue for your ftuddlhould runne wildeand vnta- med (as I haue feene them doe in Sfaine\ Ireland, wd in fome races here in England) 1 vtterly diflike: for albe great perfons refpecl: not their worke or labours profit,yet fuch wildneffe indangers them as oft as they are driuen or remoucd from ground to ground,either for cafting their Foales,fwelting,or other violent euill
proceeding from wildneffe : therefore it is moft ne- ceffarie that your Mares be made as domefticall and tame as may be, both that great men may not loofe the pleafure of their breede, nor the meaner fort the profite of their worke and labour; which labourif it be moderate, is moft wholfome for the Mare , and makes her more apt and readie for conception; and moreouer makes her fit either to be couered in hand or out of hand, at your will or pleafure. |
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CHAP, 5.
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How and At what time of the yeare Htrfes and
Mares fhould'mgender: fignes of a Mares defire: how many Mares for one Stal- lioffy and how long hejhaS continue with them. THe next and immediate precept after the choife
of Stallions, and Mares, istoknow the time of theyearc, and feafon when they fhould ingen- der : the opinion of Pliniet Palladia;> and fome o- iher
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The firjl'Booke. 3!
therwritersviSjthat the Stallion and Mares ("houldbee
puttogither,from themidftofMarch,till themidftof Iune; and truly the opinion is very good, & agreeable vvithourclimerbutintheftri&nefTe of mine own opi- nion and experience, I haueener found from the be- ginning of March till the end of Aprill, the very beft time of alhfor May and Iune are fomewhat with the notteft}and a little too late in the yeare; fo that the Foales falling in thofe times, neither hauing tafte of froftsjoor fence of colde dewes; in the latter end of the yere, when they fhall be compelled to endure them, andfeelethemtoincreafeeuery day more and more, thebitternefl'e willbe fo extreame, that for want of former cuftome,they will loofe their flcfhjgrow weak, and mifhapen: notwithftadding,ifa Mare be not ready (as it will often happen) fo early in the yeare : yet ra- • ^tnen ^c ^ou^ Soe ol,cr,or you loofe her proflte, "fhall not be amifle to let her be couered, either in May or Iune, fo that the Mare going withFoale ordi- ^nlyeleucn Months,and tenne dayes,or thereabouts, «*ce may foale though not in the beginning of the jpring (which I would euer wifh) yet at inch a tollera- ble time,as both for the temperature of ayre,and bene- fice of food may be allowed^though not much praifed. piuers horfmen heere in England(but not any expert breeders)!haueheard,holdeftrong argument againft this opinion of mine for early couering of Marcs, concluding that to couer Mares in Mayv is fomewhat of the fooneft,reafoning thus; that fbrafmuch as It die, •tytta^and other Countries much hoter then ours j co- wer not their Mares before mid-March, or the begin- ning of Aprill .-ours that through the coldnes keepes gralle
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1% Ibe firfl^Booke,
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graffe flowe & long ere it fpring, may right neceflarily
ftay a month after them,but they are deceiued in their iudgements: Foralbe our clime be colde, and that graffebe long in growing; yet this is a certaine rule, that if a Mare haue meate inough to fuftaine nature in any goodfafhion, {he will euer haue milke inough to bring vppe herFoale. Againe, if a Foale fall early in the yeare,as the yearc
increafes,fo both meate and milke increafe, but if a Foale fall inthe prime time of the yeare, then as the yeare decreafes,fb meate and milke decreafes; fothan the Foale tafieth in his firft month his beftfoodc : and when he caneateleaft,haththe greateftplentie,which iscontrarietorule. Laftly, our Winters being almoft double to the
Winters in thofe hot Countries, if our Foaies haue not a little tafte or feafoning of Winter before our Winter begin, they will hardly ( as before I faid) in- dure our VVinters. Another Argument thofe Horfemen haue, which
jSjthat our Mares will not couct the Horfc beforeMay, but that is more abfurd then the other j for all men of experience know, thataMare which is not withfoale, will euer couet the Horfebefore mid-March, at what time if fhe be fuffered to goe ouer, fliee will not defirc theHorfefor a Month after. Againe, if the Mare be with Foale, it is an infallible rule, that as foone as fhee hath foaled, {he will euer couet the Horfe nine nights after.fo that it is rather a naturallcourfe,then the pride of foode, which makes a Marc couct or not couet the Horfc- %iesofai Nowthefisncstoknow whcnaMarecouetcththe |
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__ Thefir/i(Boo{e: ^
norfebethefc : They will runne cxtraordina7iiie~vp
anddowne^ndfiidomereftin anyone place, and their courfing for the moft part is euer towards the North or South; they will prickevp their tailes, wooe one another,and leap one vpon another,they will piffc
°it,and as ionic doe report in their writinges, if they niaynothauctheHorfeinthe extremity of their de-
«re, they will runne madde. /Thetimeoftheyearebeingtbus: from the begin-'
?jng of Marchstill theend of Aprillor May: and your
glares being ready for the Horfe,thc next rule is, the
foap^r°fthcir putting together : us moft true, that
r 1 rinccsand great Perfons,who haue multitudes of
jares^ grcat cnojce 0f HorfeSjto whom the fpoyling
1 aHarfe,orthegoeingouer of a Mare, isnoloffe.
ne onely beft manner of eouering, is to put your
eood fh int° a WcU fenC'd Sround> Ml of fr£fh water>
L^.^ltfrjand-clcare ayre, where bee may runne tnT r r0h tUl the midft of MaY> and then to put vn-
ftrt, !°mfy Mares as with good conueniencie his pro'€thlsable to endure and feme : which muft bee PlJ;?-m°ncd>cc°rding to his youth and ftrength. mc^Tni°nJth^ afe°od Stallyon may couer
™tefncMares,andourEnglifti Hoifmen haue ordi- Ho 7 prJ°Ppr£loned.-twchieand tenne, but for the b?ft nes that hauebeene within my experience, I haue *0"ndciS^«Mfufficient,vnleffc a man would ne- mo„CJ?C? m°re °f the Horfe> then that ^ two
"lonthesfcruicc. ^ehrMfaHorf"hcnofyom^
«£n foueS arc a ful numberM ^ he be old or feeble, u^.w enow, fixe too many. According to this C proportion, |
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24. The firfk'Booke.
preporrion,hauingfeuercd your Stallyons and Mares-
into their proper places,. You muft appoint fuch as may be careful of the fence?sleaft either your ftailyons fhouldbreake one into another, and fo either mar-re the determination of your brecd,or fpoile themlelues by fighting ; For Horfes like Deare are iealious of their Mares,as may appeare by their keeping them to- gether, & not fuffering them to ftray or feed a (under, as in fuch cafes you may eafily obferue, and which as fome thinke,is the caufe that-they are more apt for ge- neration.and doe conceiue more fpeedily: and truely forthe firft,fecond, or third Mare, I am ofthefame o- pinion: but that it holdeth fo in the reft, I differ ; for a Horfe which is at fuch liberty, and is of a mighty fpi- n't, doth fo cxtreamly, and with fuch diforder fpend himfelfe,that inleife then one weekes fpace,he brings fuch feeblencsvpohhinyhatheis almoftdifabledfor the purpofc you imploy him.-and for mineowne parr,, 1 haue knowne diners excellent Horfes that haue kild themfelues with the violence of theirluft. Yetasbe- fore I faid, for fuch as haue multitudes of Marcsthere is no other meane,bitt the fnfferanceofthis hazard. Asfoone as youfhallperceiue that all your Mares
be couered , which necefiarily muft bee within the com paffe of ft x weekes: becalife e ti ery e mpty M a re at that time of the yeare, defiretff the 'Horfe once in a month , you (hall foorth-witli take yourHorfefrom you* Mates s for it is not good to let him goe any lon- ger, for thefe reafons : Firft for thelotTe of his vie and {eruke, which may bee after nisreconerie to fome goodpnrpofc ; but chiefly;,leaf! if he run too long, he f^oile.'what hee hathJormerly created: fotaMare} con-
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The firjiiBooke. 35
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contrary to the kinde of other beafts^ is of foftrong a
luft,thatalbefhehaueconcciued,yetiffhebeproud in %fa.fatjfull3aridlufty,("he willnotwithftandingdefire and cake the Hode againe,which if at any rimeihe do, fhe immediatly cafteth the Foale wherewithal! for- merly (he went, which experiment I haue knowne di~ uers times approued , yea euen when a Mare hath bin Within almoft a month of her recconing : for which caufe I would haue you euer obferue to remoue your Stallyon,(ofoone as he hath done his office. And thus niuch for the races of P rinces,and Potentates. Now for fuch pritiate Gentlemen, as hauingbut
°neStallyon,yetdiuers Mares, they may by no means runne the hazard of this former courfe, leaft by fpoy- «ng their Horfes, they ioofe both their hope and be- nefit together, wherefore it behooueth them toob- ierue another courfe: yet not in mine opinion,accor- «ing to the demonftration of iome of our-late Englifh Waters, by turning Mares fingle, and by one vnto the Worfe, whilft bee runneth in fome prinate fenc'ft gtound,as fome pond-yarde,or fuch like : for this ta- *eth as fore of the Horfe as the other courfe firft men- tioned, or rather forer, by as much as the change and nouekies of new Mares,brought almoft at the end of €l»ery three dayes frerti vnto him, ftitreth and infla- meth him with a more greedy and eager Iuft, theno- therwifehee would haue if they were his continual! £oic£t: therefore hee that hath but one Stallyon, and "opes to inioy hira long,(yet many Mares for him yeardy to couer) let him obferue the ordcrprefcribed in this next Chapter. |
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^6 1 be fir ft'Booty.
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CHAP. 6*
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Of couering Mares in theHoufeythedyeting of the Stal-
lyw , the time of the day for the Jff, and to know when Jhce hath concerned. ALbe this courfe wee are now about to trearc
of, bee much more troublcfome, and a htt'e more chargeable then the former, yet it is by manie degrees fafer, and in myconceite much furer. Hee therefore, that out of little meanes will pre* ferue a good breede : Let him firftprepare tokeepc fome warme fpotte of ground, as eyther Orchard, Garden,or fuchlike : which not being eaten all the yeare before, may hauegraffereadytomoweby mid Aprill, at what time you fhall put your Horfe into the foyle, feeding him thoroughly with bread made of peafe meale and mingled with barmeandwater, well knoddcn and baked in great houfholde loaues: then when you haue a Mare ready to be couered, let her as fooncastheSun is in fetting, be brought into fome large empty barne,and there turned loole: let then the Horfe be alio brought vnto her,, and turned loofe, where let him remaine with her all night,rill halfe an< lioure after Sunne rife : then let him be taken and led into the (table, and the firft thing you giue him, let ic bee a f</vcere warme maflrof make and water: after that,, let him hauegraffe and prouenderas before he wasaccuftomed: then let the Mare likevyife be turned to graffei t .- This
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——----------------------------------------;---------------------------------- ■ '■'
The firj'i'Booke. 37
This order you fhall obfcrue three nights together,
and there is no doubt but your Mare fhall be fufficient- jyierued: In this manner, and with this dyet, your horfe may well ferue one after another, ten or twe!uc Mares-, during all which time of foyle aud couering, your Horfe rauft by no meanes be ridden. ... Now for as much as fomeEnglifh writers prefcribe ln £"\s time of foile,for your horfes dyec,dryed wheate °r dride Peafe and Wheate branne, or cleane fytches, ana his mafh.es of wheate meale and water, I for mine ?^!^c_ParMoe diflike them all,and this is my ground: l% for dride wheate, albeit be acleane,heartie, and
Jtrong food, yet it is a graine,which of all other dooth Joonert cloy a Horfe,and is moft dangerous,if a horfe hall forfeit thereon : befidss, it is with vs heere in
E»glw^of fo little vfe for Horfes,that when you fhall giue it a Horfe, his nature (vnaccuftomed thereunto) receuiesk rather as a medicine, then as any familiar o°de, and by that meanes takes little or no pleafure
jnerem: La%,itisfocoflly, that no good Husband ut will grudge the expcnce,except he were affured of
ome extraordinarfe benefit thereby, which I affurc
nim he fhall neuerreape. Now for peafe and branne, who knowes not that
"^hany experience, thatitisof all foodes the moft Vllde,ingendering grofTc humors^ &: bad neutrimenr, occafioning hart-burning, & many other fcalding paf- "ons in a Horfe. And for fytches they are (if polfible) Vvorfe then the other,forbefides that they are rancke, Julfome,&:vnwholfomefoQd : they hauealfo in them luch a ^angerous poyfon, that by furfetting vppon *nein3they breede euenthe plague'amongft Horfes. D3 For
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3 8 cIhefojlcBooke.
Forthemafhc of Wheate and Water, it'is tolle-
rable, and may bee vfed, but not in this time of couering, becaufe it carryeth neither the ftrcngth, pleafanttafte, nor fweeteneife, which Malt and wa- ter doth. And thus muchfgt the couering of Mares m thehoufe. There is yet another manner of couering of Mares,
and that is,forfuchas either hauingfome one princi* pall Horie,whioh they efteeme fopretious, that they will not adueuture him loofe a night together, leaft the Mare eitherin her wooing, or out of her toying knauiilincs ,fhould gine him fuch ablo wc,as might ei- ther breed in him griefs or lamenefie; yet are dclirous to haue fome one or two cfpeciallMares couered with, him : orelfeit is for them who being defirous to get into good races, are fayne to get leapes for theis Mares, either by courtefie, bribes, or ftealth : for thefe,theymuft bee content to haue their Mares co- uered in hand j which albe it bee not altogether-fo fure as the former prescribed was, yettheEoalesfo begotten, are altogether as good as the former : and whereas fome haue held opinion that.the Horfe bet- ing at hard meare (that is3at Hay and Prouender) and the Mare at graffe, or the Mare at hard meate, and the horfe at grafFe,thacifchefetwo=fhal ingender together, the Mare will neuerconceiue or holde, I haue found itmecrevntruth^forlhaueknowueahorfe the night before he fhould haue run fora wager, who then was notonelyaxhard,meatcrbutalfoinftraitcdyet,which is the extreameft of hard meate, couera graife Marej which Mare hath held to that horfc,& brought foortri aloale^vhich both for his {hape& vertue,.might well challengs
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cIbefirjl jBoo/^. 39
challenge his Syrc.Hetherforethatwillhauehis Marc
coucred in hand,muft obferue this order : asfoone as you rindeyour mareteady for the Horfe, which you may knowc by the fignes before mencioncd,oi' if for a better afTurance,you may ifyou pleafcjbring fome bad fton'd Iadevntoher,and ifyou fee her wrie hertaile,& fooyv willinges to recciuehim,thenit is moft certainc *"c is ready -thenyouflial halfe an boure after Sun- rife m the morning,bring your Mare into fomc dofecourt 0rbackeyarde,neerevntothe ftable, or for want of pC""into fome emptie barne: then you (hall caufe the H°rfe-keeper to bringfoorth the Horfe,in a watering trcnch,with a ftrong long rayne: and if at the fir A fight °f the Mare, the horfe (as it is very likely he will) fall J°bound or leape, let notthe keeper bee affrayde, but rather chcrrifh and fortefie the Horfe in fuch falts, £nely let him fo much as is in his power reftraine ntm from comming too fuddainely to the Mare, that 11 it beepoffibiehec may bee readie when hee com* methto her, and as fbonc as hee is vppon her, let mm haue all the libertie the Horfe-keeper can giuc mm. But whereas fome would haue the Horfe- keeper to hclpe the Horfe, as by putting his yarde intotherightplace,orfuchlike: I am vtterly againft mj (except it bee in cafe of great necde) for it isfo *nuch againft thenatnre of a Horfe, fo to be handled, that 1 haue fcene a Horfe when he hath beene ready tocouer aMarc,by fuch officioufnes of thckecper,to «°me immediately off from the Mare, and leaue her J^/ot more then an hourc after. As foone as hi Ii hath ferued the Mare'& is comed from h«
gack3iet aftander by (prepar'd for the purpofe) immc- |
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40 The fir/i'Boo^e,
diatelythrowa pale of colde water vpon thepriuye
partes of the Mare,whichwillkeepher from fhedding the fecde(which naturally a Mare will do)and fo foone as the water is thrown, let him which holds the Mare, runnevp and downe with her the fpacc of a quarter of anhoure, making her trot a good pace, which cha- fing v» ill alfo make her holde the feede,and whilft this is in doing, let the Horfc be ledde into the {table and haucfome brcade giuen him, then within halfe an hourc afcer,lcthim be broughtforth againe as before, and let him couer her the fecond time, and then no more for that time3^looke,how you doe in the mor- ning, the fame you mufl alfo doeintheeuening, con- tinuing fo to doe for three mornings, and three eue- nings together: and it will be fufficienr. Now that you may know whether fhe hath concei*
ued or no,youfhal within ten daies after her couering, offer her fome bad ftond lade againe: which if flicre- fufe to receiue, it is an euidenr token that fhe holdeth; but if at that time month after her coucring,you offer hertheHorfeagaine,and(herefufehim, itismoft in- fallible that fhe holdeth. Againe,if when you couer your Mare in hand, and
let her fkndflill, {he doe not then loofe or caft out her feede, it is mod certaine that fhe holdeth. »Alfo when a Mare hath concerned^ h-er coat e will fcower,and fhe willlooke more imooth,fleight, and full then before fhe did. The only time of thernonthfor couering of Mares,is threedayes after Jth'c change of the rnoone,. and three daies before the full of the mooncAnd thus auichfor the couering of Marcs. |
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CIIJP.7
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Thefr/icBoo{e. 4.1
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Chi A?. 7.
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That Mires may be made to comeiue either tforfe-
Foales^sr Mare FoalesatpL'afureinndef what celour the breeder "will. |
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A
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Lbc euer, euen from mine infancieymy vtter-
moftends and ambition hath bin onely to bee expert in this Art of Horfmanfhip which I pro- elic : And although 1 haue not omitted any time, labour, or reft (according to the fubftance of mine eitate) which might any way inticcme with anyfe- cret belonging to the fame; yet whether it hath beene ^eftrength of my misbeleefe, or the nature of my c°ndition (which hath euer defired in thefenaturall courfes, a naturall and comely proceeding) I knovve not 3 yet well I amaffiired, that I could neuerrelifh or Welldifgeft thefe necdl'effc fecrets, into which the *ond curioficieofman doth to fo fmall purpofe wade i yet for my promife lake, and leaft by this omiffion iome other man might come and deny my C AVA- &ARlCEy I am content to report thevttermoftof other mens opinions ,ioyning to them mine owne obferuations. One writer therefore faith, that if you will haue your Horfc geta ColtFoale, you muft fyevp his left ftone with a lace or ribband: butlfeare 11 he haiie notthevfeof boththofeinftruments, hee ™ get neither Colt norFillye : The binding vp of ^erightfionegetteththeFillyFoales. ■"•"other faith, if you cotter a Mare when the north.
D j\ winds |
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42, IhefirJlHookf.
windeblo wcs,me will conceiue a Colt Foale; it when
the South windcblowes,aFillie. Others report,that if you conftraine your Horfe to ftanda good fpacc by the Mare wooing her, and priding himfelfe be- fore her, thatthe Mareout of the conceit o this cornli- neffe, will at that time conceiue a colt Foale. O thers are of opinion, that if you annoint the Horfes yard &c flones with the oile Petroliumjhzx. it will occafion hira to beget colt Foales: but in all thefe experiments, I bauelittletriifr. Mineobferuationsthereforeforthis begertingof males,orFemales,hath beeneeuer thefe:. firft,le£ amarebecoueredthreedaies after the change or three daks before the full of the moone & it is com- monly a meane to make her bring forth a colt Foale: Tocouer a mare the third night, or the ninth night af- ter fhc hath foaled, is a good way to get colt Foales: laftly and which is of all the fureft,let yourHorfe when hegoethto'your mare, beinasgreatluftandftrength as you can make him,and let your marcbe rather leane then fat, fo that in the worke of nature, the horfe may betheftrongerdoer: andfrom thefe obferuations I haue many times fecne horfe-coks to iffue. How that you may knowe when your mare is co-
uered, whether fhee hath conceiued a horfe Coir, ocmareColt: oneobferueth, that if the horfe when the ad of generation is ended, doe come off from her backe onthe right fide, thatthen fhe hath conceiued a colt FoaIe,ifon the left fide, then a marc foale. Others obferue, that if when the horfe commcth off from the marchefeerneto bernuchdeie&ed and afliamed,that it is a ftrong argument he hath got a colt foalc j but if fee Chew any alacritie of fpirit,or doe ney, it is a mani- feft
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The firfi ^Boof^e. 4.3
*e" token he hath got a mare foale: but both thefe ob-
ier nations in my conceit arc friuoious, nor do I thinkc We ought in truth feeke fuch fuperftitious knowledge; . Now that your .Ware may conceiuc her Foale of what colour you will, many Philosophers and fome ■ orl-men are of this mindc, thatlooke what colour y°umaliputvpponchehorfewhen hee couereth the ■^jire,or what other colour you will prefent to her eye When fheisincouering, that the Foale which (he then eonceiueth (hall haue the fame colour: Others report, that ofwl,atcoiouryOU will (hinc or paint the haires °* your Horfe, whenhcgoeth to couer your mare^ that fhewileonceiue-her foale ofthat colour. Another Writeth^that if you will paint the portrature of a Horfe vponboordorcanuafle, andholde it before the e4yes °f the A/are whileft fheisincouering, that lookc what colour or fpeciall markesthe picture containcs, that the fame colour and markes the foale (hall haue which the -S/arethetvconceiueth. How euer thefe opinions are may ntained by the Scriptures,or by Edm fheepei *or mine ownepart Iholde neither truft nor truth in them : for were there acewaintie in fuch pra&ife, I know fomanyfantafticall wks in this Nation, that we lhonldnotbe widiouta worldeofG?^/j Horfes,.. I meane horfes of all manner of colours in the Rainbow; Nay fomcmadde menIknowe would haue their Mi- wrcffes names growon their horfes buttockes, but let- ting thefe iugling trickes paffe,.the only Cure way to haue your foale of good colour, istohaue both youc "orfe and your Afareofagood colour, and thatdoth 5?»erfailein nature.. |
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CIMSi.
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4.4- The firjl "®oo%.
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CHAP. g.
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T Hough in former ages, as in the dayes o£plm-
usfecundus%m&VArro, it hathbinanvfuallcuft- ome to force Mares to take the Hcrfe , when they haue had noiuft, as by croffclhacklingthem3ty- ingthem to aPoaft, and fuch like violent compulsi- ons : yetlformypartdoevtterly diflikeit, andholde it both barbarous and vnnaturall: For in ail thofe na- tural! actions, there fhouldbecanaturallaccord and agreement, or otherwife the labour is loft : or if it a- tiaile,itisthefirftmeancs to bring foorth prodigies: Therefore if at any time you bee offered the bencfite of aprincipallHorfe, and becaufe ofyour Marcs vn- tfeadineflTe you arc likely to loofe that fairs oportuni- tie, vnlefleyou fhall force her by compulfion : mine aduiceiSjthat rather then you (hall loofe the onej or make vfe of the othsr, that you trie all the meanes that may bee to ftirre and mooue Juft in your mare, which one Writer faith you may thus doe : Take Shrimps and beatethem in a morter with water, till they bee as thicke as honyjthen mixe therewith mares feede, and fo annoynt her priuie parts, and her nofe, and it will procure luft ; Or elfe take the powder of Horfcs ftones?and mixing it with fwcete wine, giue it themaretodrinke. Another
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"ThefirJlTioofy. 4.5
Another writer faith, that the iuy.ceofa Sea Onion
being laid vpon the Mares Matrixe, willftirrevp luft,, Grelfc to anoint her matrixe with Henries dung and Turpentine mixttogither.Butaboueallthefe vnclean- ly reeeiptSjthe beft and fureft prouocation, is to rubbe- ncrpriuy parts with'kceneneitles,for that will nor on- ty violently ftir vp her luft, but alio make her concciue andholdwhenflieiscouercd, asihaue feene by due proofeatfundry times: yetbeforeyou maketriall, ei- ther of this or of any of the former, I would haue you firft put to your Marc fome bad fton'd Iade,who being lo uiac-kledthathe cannot couer her,may run with her a day or twojin which time, if by hir cliafingand woo- ing her he ftirreher to luft,(as it is moft likely he will) then let that onely fufficc; otherwife you may follow your owne opinion: butif itbc fo thatyour Mare bec- ready for the Horfe,and only theHorfe out ofa colde °r fallen dilpofitionrefufcth to couer your Mare, as t haue feene many faire Courfers of that nature ■• then you mutt imploy your Art by ftirring luft in your Horfe, which fome writers report you may do, by gi- "inghimtodrinkethetaileorpizfel ofan olde Stag burnt to powder: and mist withfwcet wine, and alio annointing his ftones thercwith,or elfe to mingle with, that powder thepowder of Anny-feedesiv/m^Bafil, ^d Date ftones,andgiue them In fweet wine to drink;-
^utratherthenyoufhaH approuc any of rhefe medi-, 5ines. I would wifh you to ftay the longieifure of the Hor(e,and by often offering to take the Mare from lmJecketomoue and inflame him-, if you doe with n"tles r«b his yard aliule it will prouoke him, and is a thlngordmaTiiyvfed..
; But
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*\6 The firflcBooke.
*m.,..
But nowe of the contrarie part, if either your
Horfe or Mare be fo proud and ftrong in luft, that no- thing you can doe will abate their heate3you fha!l then annoyut his ftones and yarde , and the Mares Vdder and priuie parts with SallctOyle, wherein hath beene fteeped before Mallowes, Sorrell, andLcttice.'butif that preuaile not, you fhall twice a dayfwimmc your Horfe or Mareinfomedeepc Riuer. As for that idle opinion of them that thinke the cutting off of a Horfe or Mares maine,or tailej will abate their courage, it is moft groiTe; for Horfes and Mares haue not like Sampfon their ftrengthes in their haires: and thus much touching thefe naturall fecrets, which if to modeft eares they bring any euill found,they are the rules of the beftrefpe&ed Writers, and not by me published but repeated. |
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CHAP. 9.
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Which Mares fbould be covered^ which mty and
which/hull notgoe barren. PAlhdiuSy Co!urnella> and my felfe am much diffe-
rent in opinion; for they would haue fuch Mares as are beautifull , and faire, and therewithal! haue beene well couered and haue faire ColtFoales, not to bee couered euery yeare , but once in two yeares, nay, once in three yeares: theire reafon being, thattheirFoalesmay thereby hauethelongcr time to fucke, and for fuch Mares as are foule, and haue
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^i^n^ilnh'j;1"6 Tnion'> firft, where they make a
Prcferucon 'f |,Cbreedcr» r°»^eashccan, notto K mavh yr ,' l° brecd€fo feldomc vpon them
Mare/ k V° C,,at COmPofing his ftudd all of faire inthree v 10 7 PalUdilfS™]z> b^ed bin once VllProfitihiare-n* S husbandHe in my conceyte verys haueeu^; BucLtocome to our purpofe : I would Marehet'h^ atbreedesHorfcs' noc to lct ^
hisMw^mT ^°CO?er,«C,cccpt k bec that fomc oi"
doe :^Sllircar,le»a^ cafttheirFoales; which ff^jO F«i«l^ for a
*ftet thev ,. . thcy beCOUercd thewxtyearc-"
^houah?h^r*ngCr t0 "ft thcir FoaIes ag*ine>
*cafon tha ri £' l£ mifchan" : as for pflladms ®f theirFn I y . u,d&oeou«forthcbtingingvp doothnotfi l ' eC1Smuch mi^ake" ' &* * Foalc nine Mcvwk u7 g?ac q-l,antirie of miike abou« F«hbUtbvfnVrf" aV thCCC MonetheS hee ^
^^bcC" 2">a.nd^Vvantonnc(rc5 fo that the d" ScfelF Wltn-Fo»lc,doth not any thin*atall hm- ^inevni fa eVl°un(hmenc- Befides, thcFoales fuc- of bod Cae,Nlare> keeP« the Mare in a good cftatc come"5 ratnerleane then fat, fo that when fhc fhall ^terthl^fS? !llse wiU fooncr ho!de> (oo"ec
a^rperb^ f ,°a ,' and ha»cm^rc roomc, and
^ouldftew r £ / ale t0 tUmblc In : Whereas
« oe lHftctcdto goouer a yeareor tw6,in-that. time
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4 8 Hhefirfl 'Book?._________
time of her barrennefie,fhe would grow fo fatjthst flic
would hardly hold,or if the did hold,her womb would befoclofedvpwith fatneile, that when fhee fhonld comctofoale, fhee would bring foorth nought but a wreckling: mine opinion therefore is, that no Mare fhouLdgo.eouer.,thatisworthie-the couering, except (as before is faid)mifchanceconftraineaiowto be fure that none of your Mares fhallgoebarren, trie euerie Mare you haue the Month day after her couering, ex- cept luch as be fat and proud3 bat by no meanes trie them,andifthe other,couet the Horfe againe,let them haue him,and foyou fhallbefure that not any of them fliallgoe barren : .but for turning a Stallyonamongeft your Mares about Lammas, ( asfomeaduife) O it is moftvi,lde:6rft through the mifciefehee may<3oe to thofe which haue already conceiuedsand next the late- neffeof theyeare3at what timelhad rather the Mare fbouldgoeouer3thenhringaFoale at fo bad a feafon: and albe lhauefeenc myielfe,and heard alfoof many good Lammas Foales,yet I neuer fawe any fuch, as thereon to ground a prefident. And thus much for Mares and their barrenneiTe, |
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CHAP. IO
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The v/e of Mares when they are with Foate3 and of
thecafing of Soaks. AS foone as your Mares haue concerned an<J
are with Foale, thofe great perfons whicH keepe their ftudds onely for breede, and no o' the*
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¥hefirftcBookg. 4.9
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1 -------------•-------------------------------
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"jer labour, arc to refpeft that they may goe in good
uiort yet fweete pafture, efpeciaily if they giue fucke, ri? u ' a monch beforc and after Michelmas
tncy bee not chafed grained, or troubled, for then is nXiT i " k,>ittin^ and qwcknitlg,fo that a final!
nun at that tims breedcs aborflement (which isthc witing ot their t-oalcs.) But for fuch
men as muft bv
m ?u m e lomc cfP£ciall vfe of their Marcs, they
miwthaue^urcthat after their Marcs haue conceiucd,
nir? l r and W°rke thcm vcry moderately, fliiin-
|, § / a11 nieanes to put them to the carriage of
any burthens ,orthetoyleofhaftyiourneyes : But
Wouc a l,asbcfore I faide, a month before and after
mtchaelmas j Mares that are with FoaIe,and haue
{■oaies lucking vpon them, muft baue in the Winter
glides graffe, good ftore of fweete hay, and light
v-orne; they muft haue good fhelter, as honfc or ho-
earVra| ' 7 Uy rc* Thcho»res or houels, where they
aic tneir winter meate, muft beelarge andfpacious;'
f« I y m^ not b«throng'd vp together, for
care by rulhingorftrikfng,they before'd tocafttheir
aies. bome haue been otopinion.that the change of
Pa"ures,andflrange waters, will make a Marecaft her
Toaie5but it is not fo.only a man may bv driuing Mares
ca°ft 1 • •?t0 Pafture'with v«™ty chafing make them
aitUieir foales,whieh is the caufe I wold haue marcs Jitn toalefeldome remoued or;driuen: but thatftoflil Pasture (hould do them fuch hurt, it is (enceies. As fort fuC™aft°fc^rtrees, thetrcadingvpon Woluesor merit l1 Which f°mC Writers fiy,wil caufe abc,rff«*
ftmki,W r rcin £*i^nccd- not teare them: But for ^"glmelsjasthefiinffs ofcandlesjcarrionjorfucrt: E like,1 |
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5o Hhc firjl cBoot{e.
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like, I holde it very dangerous j and doe often occa-
sion aborffement: fatneile in a Mare is dangerous for aborffement alfo; or if they fcape carting their foalesy yet fatneffe puts a Mare to great hazard in her foa- ling, whichis the reafon that many good breeders which 1 knowe,..willlet their Mares after they are quickned, be moderately trauelled or wrought, till within ft) me month or fix weekes of their foaling, but not any longer : for the onely time of danger is at the firft conception, and at the time of teaming. And thus much for this matter, J
■_ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __
■
Helpefor a Mdrethatisin danger mfoalingr
A»d otherf(crcts. I 'Ares naturally ( contr arie to the cuftome of other beaftes) doe foale. ftanding : and as ^cettaind ancient Writers report (fori haue net at any time feeneit) the foales when they, are new foakd, hahe vppon their foreheads a little biaGkis thing like, a figge called Hyfommes, which they lay will procure Toue, the damme bites it off, and eates it .as foone as the foale is falne, but if lbc liepfenehted thereof, iliewilLneuer fuffer the foale ttrfuckevas if the tenderneffe or naturall lone which a Mare bears to her young,fprung from this accidental! caufe, and not from the motion of her naturall incli- nation : but for mine owne part, bailing feenefo ma- ny. Mares foale: as I bauedone 3 and newer percei* uing
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clhefir/tlBoo{e. 51
oing any ftich obferttation, I cannot imagine ic any
other then a fabulous dreame. But to proceede to our purpofe: ifyourMare either
by miichance, or by natural! defect, as by taking the Horfe whenfhe was too young, as vnder two yeares Glde,orvpon herfirftfoale,.which enerhath the grea- teft perill, be in danger at her foaling, or putto extra- ordinary torment in foaling-,y ou fhal eafe her by thefe meanes:flrft one is of opinion, that if you make one ftand before the Marevvhenfhe is in foaling, that fhall holdeher nofthfils clofe, in fuch fort thatfhe cannot take her breath,it will procure her to foale with much cafe: butfortheeafe I doubt, onely 1 knowe it will procuretser motefpeedinherbufinefTe : butthemoft certaineft and fureftremedie for this euill is, to take theblackepartof the Crab-fifh feete , and beating them to powder, mixe it with fweete Wine, and SalletOy!c,and giueitthemare with a home to drink, and it will bang her eafe prefently, of which I haue knowne good experience : but if it fhallfaile, fheni Would haue you take the helpe of foine difcreet "wo- man, whofe better experience knowes beft how to haadlciuch anoccaiion, NovV if after yourMarehaue foaled, fhee doe not
fcowre away hqr Secundme, which is the skin wherein the foale is wrapped,after that naturall maner which is requifite in flica a cafe: fomethinkeit beft to giueher this medicine: firfttoboile two br three handfuls of *enel inwaterjthento take haife a pint of that water and as much old fweet wine, and afourth part of fallet ? . > & mingle them together vpon thefire,then when, ^^lukevvaruiejto power it into the Mares nofthnls, E 2 w&
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5* IhefirjiHoQ^e.
and to holde her npftrils clofe afrer it, which will bee
aprefentmeanes that die fhallexpell the former fub- ftance: But for as much as this medicine is fomcwhat teadious in making, and that a Mare fhould not bee fo long in fcowring, as this: in compounding, boylings andcooling: 1 haue euer obferued,that asfooneas my Mare hath foal'd,to giue her a little bottle of green forrage, that is, the blades of young Wheats or Rye, but of the two Rye is the better, and it will both expell andclcnfeaMareprefently : Touchingthceatingof the Sccundine, which moft commonly iVI arcs doe,(omc tbinke it is very vnwholfome , and that it maketha Mare fick and vnlufty, which opinion I hold for great truth,adding this with al$that it is a great hindrance to the Mares milke:wherforcfofarfoorth as is in a mans power, I would haue it preuented. And thus much for this matter. ■ ■ •
CHAP. I:2.
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How to make a Mare caJI her Fadt,
SOme fay, it hath beene a practifeamongft and*
ent Horfemeri, in times pa ft, that when they haue hadaMare vnworthily couered, as whenafayre Mare hath either by ftealth, or mifchance, taken fbmc ill fauoured fton'd lade, or when a Mare of fome efpe- ciallhopeorvertue, as either for ryding, running, o? huntingjis preferu'dfrom the Horfe,2ndyet not with- ftanding through fome negligence, gets to the Horfe, -and is couered. In this cafe, it hath beene a practice to force the
k Mare |
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ybefir/fBoofy. 55
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Mare focouered, to aborffement, which istocafther
^°ale,anditisathingmyfelfehauc pra&ifed vpon a Mare,in whoiefpeedelwasinfimtelie miich perfwa- eedjthe rather becaufe (know this generall rule neuec totaile, that a Mare which once giuecK a Foale fuckc lhallneuerboaftof chatfpeede which in her maydcn- "oodjfhe inioyed,both becaufe at her powers, organSj andinftrumentsotlkengthhauethenacontrarie im- Pioymentj and alfo, becaufe nature in foale bearing loofeth the pride and kilter of her greatnes. Againe, if you prcferue your Mare for beautie, and
ye-pleafure, the bearing of foales vtterly taketh away
™ttdelight,bccaiifcthe wombe being ftretcht out,the vdderbrokcn, and thefull partes falne, there is little wore then the head Sc limbs which a man can cal beau- t«ull; he therefore then which hath either fwift Marc ofbeautifull Mare, which is vnworthily couered,if he «vould disburden her of rhat euill burthen, there is no courfebutto make her cait her Foale: which akhough lornewriters holde,may be doone two waies, that is «ither by ftrength ot hand or vfe of medicine, yet for ™lu e?wnc Parc/°rthat handy courfe,l vtterly diflikc it,both for as much as I kno w it can neuer be done but to the great hazard of the Mareslife,and alfo becaufe I naue iecnefome Mares die in the deed dooing for that ^hich is t© bee done by hand, is not to be doone, till the Foale be fo great, that it hauehayre, at what time J^ey caufe one to thruft his hand into the wombeof the ^are^tocnifh the head ofthefoale,howmonftrous, /"uiodeft and vnnaturallthis is, who cannot Iudge? , |°r the medicinable courfe,it is leffe dangerous,8c 7 all degrees more tollerable 5 Yet for as much as I
E 1 haue
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54* ^he fir/i 'Booty.
haueeuervfedfuch experiments, butin extremity and-
that the medicines are all in other mens rccordsjl will for modeftie fake, referre them to their writings; and at his inftant faue my felfe a labour in repetition,adui« fingallHorfebreedersandHorfemen whatfocuer, ra- ther to indure the inconueniencc of mifchanccs, their the mifchiefe of thefe fubtile knowledges, CHAP. 13
The vfeofUWAres when they hme fouled: of the fuc-
king of Foales, and of other helpestwdvfes* IT is to be intended, that according to the ob*
Jrferuations which are prefcribed in the firft chap* terof this bookd all your race Mares fhould be in that ground which being plaine and moft voidc of water furrowes, ditches, and fuch like is thefafefl from danger in foaling : but when yourMareshaue all foaled, if then you haue any frciTi and vnbitren ground,,which not being rankc, deepe,.nor fort,, but fweete graffe, fhort bit, and hard to tread on, with good (belter and frefh water : it fhallbegood to put your race Mares and their Foalestherin,to the end that their milke may fpring and that your Foales' may come to a fulneffe of ftrength, beautic, and; courage : in which albe Tome Authors giueaduice to chafe and rechafe your Mares vp and downe the ground at certaine times, as the beft meanes to bring: theMaxes milke into her Vdder,yet I am of a contrary opinion?,
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The firjl ^Boo^e. 5 7
Opinion, knowing this by due proofe,thatfuch exer-
cife doth rather hurt then good,becaufe whatfoeuer is don vnwillinglyis done with paine, & that painfulnes takes away the fence of profite: as for bringing'downe thcmiIke,thatthefoaleitfelfeeuerdoth, whom as he lucks,you ft\$\ eucr fee with his nofe and head to jump andftrikeagainftthe Vddetof the mare, which is to no other purpofe but to break the kernels of the Mares vdder,andtohaucthernilkehaueits patTage, fo that to conclude,I would haueyour Maresrnn with all the quietneiTcthat may be,knowing this principle,that ail norles and mares, which arc either in in ft or ftrength, Will out of their owne natures, either againft raine, winde,or ftormes, runne, chafe, and fcopeabout the grouud wheretheypafture; fothat where nature isfo good ahelpe, conftraint need to be of little vfe. N ovv for the fucking of foales, although one man
wrkes,thatall Authors do agrce,that foals fhould fuck two yeares at leaft: nay^that after the Spanifh manner, they (hould fucke till they couer their dams, I for my part & as I think all good Engltfb breeders arc of a con- trary opinion: for how euer in the daies olPlinie^ArU ftotlept An&tulim^mQ yeares might be thought litle e- nough;yet in thefe our dales wefindc it full one year© too much; wherfore leauingthe variable opinions of jundriemenjconclude, that in the races of Princes, Noblemen and Gentlemen, for a foalc to fuck ayeare c°mplete,that is from his ownfoaling,til his dam foal againe,isatime full out fiifficient;butforthehusband- man, who may not loofe the worke and labour of his J.nare>itfhallbefufficientfor himif hisfoale fucke but f^ilfiXeMonethscompletei and how euer Ibmemea E 4. &"*«
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5(5 '7he frjl'Booke.
haue writtenthatFoalesfuckingfoimallatime, mud
neceiTarilye want much of their inward pythe, ftrength and healthfulnes, yet by proofe I knowe ic doth not generally hould fo,and for mine oMne parcel could almoft giue conlent to the wayningof all foales atfixeandfeauenmonthes, were it not for the great danger of the Gargill, and maw-worme, which vnto foales wayned fo young, aredifeafes both incident and common : fothat in eonelufron, I would haue thofe which are of abtlitie, to lettheir foales fucke a yeare,and no more. For thofe which want meanes,to maketheirhazardatfix monthesand vpward.Fot the houfing of foales at their firft foaljng, which is the opinion of/^m>,and fome others,! am vtterly againft ir,b(caufe as I hauc formerly written,the Potffeft horfe mufteuerinoneyearehauethetalte of two winters, and therefore in Gods name let your Foale tafte the Worft of winters farewell. Now for theexercifing of your Foales to eate pro-
uender after they be fine or fixe monthes old (whichif likewifc the opinion of'rarro)k is exceeding good,and nothing more necefTary,bm that rhe prouender fhold bee either ground Barley, or dride Barley and wheate bramie mingled together : That might in thofe cotm- trieSjWhercinhe was experienft be tolicrable,becaufe peraduenttire there was no ether choice : but with vs heere in England, where we haue fo many choyces of good foodes,that foodeofall other is thevildeft, and worft, both becaufe it affordeth the worft nutryment, and alfo bo ch Barley and w heat bran, are of a hot bur- ning nature, ingendcring hot feauers and other drye difeafes. The prouender beftfor foales then, is olde Cats?
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clbefirJlcBoo{e. 5 7
Oates in the fheafe, the ouerchawing of wheate; Gar- >
bage (which is wheate eares and the ftraw chopt al- together) and now and then barly in the chaffe:or if your foales grow drie in their bodies,andcofliue,then now and then a fheafe of Rieamongft them. This.ma- ner of feeding will not onely make them acquainted with the leuerall tafte and vieof meates,but alfo breed futh familiaritie betwixt them and their keepers, that they will be much more domefticall and tame then o- therwife they would be,which is a great benefite,both to the breeder, and alfo to him which fhall be the ri- der; but in any wife let not their keepers handle or ftroke them too much, for that will but hinder their growth, becaufe for the moft part, all foure-footed beafts do take diflike in their infancie to be much han- ded/The houfes or croffehouels which you preferue for winter fhelter for your foales,would be fairepaued with pibble boulder,or fome other kind of f mall ftone, and therwithall dayly kept cleanefrom myre or dung: from mvre, that by foft treading the hoofes of your foale s growenotweakc andtender: and from dung,, leaft ftandingtheruponitburne&drievp their hoofes> making them fhort and brittle. But if naturally you perceiue any ofyour foals to haue tender hoofes, then youfhallfeekby medicinable means to recouerthem,, asbyannointingthemwith the vpper fword or skin of fatbacon,or els by taking the eares of Garlicke, •Swinesgrea{e5Goatesgreafe,andBrimftonemixtto- gither, and annointing their hoofes therewith, or by rubbingthe cronets of their hoofes with Tarre and ^Gg?es greatemixttogithcr, and fuchlike, of which ■ 1 Will fpeake more in rav booke of difeafes* |
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58 The firfi $oofy.
w.
CHAP. 14.
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Hheinowkdge of a ffor/espdpe3J^at»re} and qua-
lit) : and how it is to be knowac when hee is new Foaled, |
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TMis knowledge and experience I haue often-
times noted, and therefore dare the more bold- ly proteft it, which is that a man may haue at woft a certain knowledge when a Foalc is new foaled, what fhape, ftatute, and quallity hee will carry when bee is a Harfe of compleate ftrength and growth: Wherefore, 'firft as touching his fhape ; looke whac fhape, proportion and beauty hee hath when he is a full month olde, the fame fhape and beauty hee will carry when hee is full fixe yeares ofage: and the fame defects which he then rctaincth, the fame he will hold when hee comes to his growth, and all his life after. Thenfor his ftature,this is an infallible rule, that for the (hinnebone(which is betwixt the knee and the pa- fterneof the forelegges )that bone neuerincrcafcth, nonot from thefirftfoaling,neitherfrheBbnefrom the cambrell to the pafterne of the hinder legg 5 infomuch. that if thofebones belong andlarge,we ateeuer aftu> red that the Foale will prone a tall and a large Hoife. Butfor a general! knowledge of the height ofaHorfe by his foalage,take an Incle or Ribband, and meafure the Foale when hee is new foaled, from the knee to the |Vithers(vvhich is the top of his (houlder)and double thai
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IhejirjlTioQfy. 59
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thatlength he (hall be of height when he comes to be
a Horfe ofcomplete age. Now for his difpofition and qualitie, I am otyarros
©pinion,that if a Foale be of a ftirring and liucly fpirit,. valiant againftall ftrangefights, and fnddaine noyfes, wantonly leading the way in his fportings, and to bee the iormoft in cuery chafing, that will voluntarily leap hedges and ditches, boldly paffe bridges, ftraite lanes °r placesofcoucrt,ortofwimmewaters, and there- withall to (hew a moft tradable patience, when they are by ordinarie mcanesreftrained .-This foalc or cole * lay, and this I haue cuer approued and obferued,will proue ahorfeof all good venue, traaabilitie and, in- surance ; whereas Coltcs of. comrade difpofition s, proue horfes of dull,cowardly,and moft vnferukeabie qualitie. And thus much for thefe hopefull and pro* E&ctiquc imaginations.- ;? |
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CHAP. 15.
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VwHorfefodts^ and Mare fades grow^mdto knew?
the contimtame of their goodnejje^ |
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TOuching the growth of Horfes and Mares
euen- from their firft beginning to their corn* plete age , diuerfc men are of diuerfc opi- We hfn_ Gne fuPPofeth that Horfe-f6a!es are Marep 1 in their Dammes bellyes then reafonf rS : and indee& there is &*®& naturall
; n-0^u€hconceite.: but in as much as no mar* can-
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do 7 be firjl[eBoo{e.
can make any iuftproofeorcxperimentthereof, I will
refer it to the readers difcretion to beleeue it as he lift. Another is of opinion (Si to chat opinion I muft needs condifcend,for I finde it in dayly experience)that after foales are foaled, the Marefoaiecommethto her full growth of height and length at fiue yeares of age: but the horfefoale not before he be full fix j and from that time,although iome imagine they fpread and growe in breadth and largeneflVtill they be ten yeares of age; yet I for mine owne part haue diligently oblcrued,and found by experience,that no horfe doth fpred or grow broderor larger^after he is eight years of age,at which time onely he is complete, and full in euery member. . There is another which writes that horfes with balef
or white faces do not growe olde (o foone as other horfes-, hovv he meaneth that faying I fcarce vndcr- ftand,for moft fure it is, that nature as foone decayeth irithem as in others: but if his meaningbe that they do not appeare olde fo foone as other horles, then I am «fhisopinion3becaufethofegriffeldhaires which in horiesofdarke colours are the onely markes of olde age,doncuerappeare in a horfe that hath a whiteface: asforthc length of l.ifeinfuch horfes, I thinke it is {hotter then in the others: for bald faces, white legges abouethekneesorcambrels,and(uchlikefupe fliuties of whiteneffe, arc the euident tokens of the imper- fections or nature, and where nature is imperfect, therelifeis of leaftcontinuance. Nowforasmucb as all horfes doe not attaine to'
their full growth in one manner and fafhion, I will Chewyou how thev growe,accordingto their fenerall hreedev." andfirftfor ourEnglilh horfes, they com- monly |
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cIbefirJl<Boo^. 61
moniy doe holde their fhapes tillthey bee two yeares
oide; but at three, they loofe all beauty and proporti- on,appearing to the eye weake,loofc,and ilfauoured- ty caft, no member anfwering other,either in ftape or Lnei^e: then ac f°l,re yeares olde they recouer againc
the fhape and good falhion ©f their bodies, only they Want necke and creft, which begins not to rife or ex- tend its comelyneife till he-be fine yeares olde,andbc- Com mcth perfite and complete at fixe yeares olde.The fcngliih horfe groweth altogether eenen and iuft, and not as other horfesdoe,onc while before,and another Wru.e behindejfor whenfoeueryou {"hall perceiue him to grow vneeuen, that is higher behinde then before, or hygher before then behinde, be you well allured, he will euer continue fo all his life after: fo that when youfhali iee any Engliih Colt ofanyfuch vneeuen ma- :*l"g, neither chufe him, nor preferue him, otherwife then for prefent fale or profit. According to the 'growth of your Englirtvharfes, fofor the moft part grow your Almawes^Flemitip^nd Frifoxds.) Now for the Neapolitan Courfer,he loofeth his fliape
as ioone as he is a yeare olde, and recouereth it not a game,till he be full fiue yeares oldc:'du ring all which time heis ofloofeihape,raw-bond,weak.ioynted,and jmnnc ncck'd: at two yeares olde he is higher behinde tntn before : at three, higher before then behinde: atroure, higherbehindethenbefore: and at fine, of Ce»en height, all his ioynts being come to their true £e»enne{Iej and at fixe yeares olde, his necke, creft, co^.an^Du"ockes, come to their full bcaiuie,and i Novyiti&tobc^notcd^thatif any true bredde-
Courier
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6i The firflcBoo{e.
Courier doth either at two ycares old, or three yearcs
olde,fhewthebeautieofagood fhape, appearing to thceyetobefirmelyknit, round and clofetruft toge- ther, with all thofeiliapes which fhould be difcerned in his full age: fuch a Colt doth euetloofebis fhape at foure or hue yearesolde,and neuerrecouereth it a- gaine during his whole life after. So that I conclude, the worfefhape a Courfer carricth at two,tbrce, and foure yeares of age, the better he will beare k at flue, andfixe,and all his life after. According to the growth ■o£\\\z-Ncapolitan\ fofor the moftpart growes both the lemet of Spaine^thc Tttrkes and Barbaries. As touching the continuance of a Horfes good-
neffe, it often appeareth by the Horfes hoofes. For if they be tender and foft, as for the moft part your Fie- mings^Almiints^znd Frijons are, then are they but of -fl*oi tcontinuance,as wanting much oftheirvigor and ftrength, Butif they haue hoofes which are ftrong, hard, and founding, as for the moft part our Engtifh horfes, Neapolitans, knnets^ Turfos^znd Barbaries haue, then are they oflonglife,continuancc and goodnes?as wanting no benefite that nature can giue. Other ob- feruations wee haue for'the continuance of a horfes goodnes 5 as from the healthfulnefTe of his body,or in- clination to inrirmitie, from his ftrength or weakneffe pfftomacke, or his good or bad difgeftion, from his ileepe or watching,and many fuch like; by whofe ex- ceffewemayeucriudge of a horfes good or euillha- bite. And thus much for this matter. |
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CttdP,i6
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Of the wearing of Colts ^ft heir ordermg^and
/eperat'wg, according to their'ages. SO fooneas your Foales haue fuckc a yeare, 01?
within a month of a yeare, which is till your Mares be readie to foale againe, which as neere as you can compafle would bee about the middeft ot March, you fhall then fome three or foure dayes before the full of the Moone, about nine or tenne y the clocke in the fore-noaneytake all your foales J^otri your Mares, and fhuttetheravppe in a clofe "oufe, where they may neither heare the noyfe of leicdammes, nor their dams heare their whiiineing. J* this houfe would be either fome feweOates in the cate, fome Hay, or fome other prouender, not (o JJ>«ch as will fill their bellies, but fo much as will fu, Itaihe nature. The Foales Hailing thus reded in this houfe all
^'ght , the next morning, although one Authour
,°l>ld haue you put them to their Dammes againe,
"at they might fucke whileft they are able, yet in my
conceytitisa vcrie insufficient aduicc,neither would
naueyouby any meanes to oMeruek, but in ftead
ketP"tting them vnto their dammes, let them beeta-
p}Uety tne ftrengthof men, one after another, and
& ° each of them two or three Uippes of Sauentl
" ? which'
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6%. cIhefirJi(Boo,{e.
which done, let them reft an houre or two without
meate, then after giue them both Hay, Prouender, and water, as much as they will eate till night, but all night let them faft; and the next morning giue them &!«<?# againe as before, and in this fort vfe them for three mornings together. This Saaenisjhc moft whol- fomeft thing in the world for young foa!cs,becaufe all foales naturally, what through the flegmaticke humor of the milke which they fucke,and the rawe and moyft coldnes of the graffe which they eate, are eucr fubiecT: to great aboundance, bothof Mawwormssfirubbss^ and %ot$^ which as foone as foales are weaned wanting halfe the nourifhment on which formerlie they fedde, they then begin to feedc and corrupt the vitall partes, bringingvntofoales many times a fuddaine and vnex- peeled death: nay,lhaueknownefromthe corrupti- on of thefemaw^wormes, many times the gargiii to proceede,whichisa difeafe little differing from the plague,andis difcerned onelyby a great fwelling a- bout a foales face and neather chaps, which fwelling doth not rife about,'twoor three houres before the foales death, and when it ryfes, the Foale is pail: cure, from all which mifchiefes and difeafes, this receite of Sautn doth both faue and defend foales : and truly be- fore! knew or found outthis medicine, 1 haue feenc fourc or fine foales, which oner night haue beene (co- ping, and playing as wantonly as may bee, and in the morning haue beene dead in thehoufe, whome when I haue with mine owne hands opened, I haue found no other occasion of their death, butthe extreamea-v boundance of thefe maw-wormes, and fincc I vfed this Sawn, I neuer had any that dyed. When
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__________"The firfl ffioo fe. 6$
When yourFoaleshaue had Satten giuen them thus
three mornings together, you (hall then driue them to that pafture wherein you intend they (hall runne all the yeare following,which pafture would bee a firmc, hard ground* and full of {hort fweete graffe, and fome eleare Springs, pond, or frefh riuer, and not as one of our Englifh writers perfwade,keepe them fourteeene dayes together in the houfe: Becaufe after a Foale is a yere old,there is neither in him fuchfondnes to wards "is Damme, norfuch delight in milke (which aFoalc Naturally refufeth after hee comes to fixe or feauen rnonthesofage) as will inforce him toputhimfelfe *ntoany danger or hazard. Nowthe rcafons why your pafture foryour wean-
lings fhould befo good,is,bccaufe if in this firftyeare (which is the fpring time of their growth) your Foales jhaH either indure thirft, hunger or colde,they will become flaruelings, or fuch as wee call ftockt Foales9 which is fmall of ftature , weakc both of body and ^eynes3andfullofeuilldifeafes: Wherefore I would "auc all good Horfe-brecders, the firfl yeare after the? Weaning of their Foales, to put vpon their foales all the ftrength, Iuft,and liuely-hood, which may bee got either by foodorotherwife. But as foone as your Foales hauepaft the age oFt wo
ycares, then I would haue you put them into fome *arge,wilde,hard, andhungry ground,where, by their yttermoft paine and trauell, they may not fill their bel- y es aboue once in the dav, which will be fut&cient for their growth : for by fuch meanes of fharpnes,labour ana hunger, they will bee made hard, durable, and ex- cecungheakhfull -: wherc,on the contrary parr, rank- F ncs
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166 The fir ft IZooke.
rancknesofgrafleand fatnefle of body breedes both
vnwholefome humors and incurable difeafcs, fothat by keeping fuchobferuations,as are before prefcribed' you lhall breede a Colt, nimble, hard and ftrong, with good legges and found hoofes, free from furfet3 eorrtiption of blood, or outward members. Now laftly(according to the agreement of all good'
Horfemen) I would haueyou to feperate your horfe-. colts from your Mare Colts, in feuerall paftures, and your yearelings from your twoyeares olde, and your two yeares from your three; that none going together but fuchasareofequallageand (Vrength, there may be nodiforder or tumult, the great ones beating the fefle, or robbing them of their foode or nourishment.. And thus much for the weaning offoales, and the par> tition of paftures.. |
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CHAP, i j.
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Ofthi gelding efColts%&nd Horfes, and the Cdu/e, the age9
the time of tlx }e&rtxmd manner of gelding. I Cannot finde in any Author whatfoeuer, that
the vie of gelding of Cokes, is in any nation: whatfoeuer, of fo great antiquirie , as with vs heere in Engiand^ from whence(as I imagine) the h*rflr ofiginall of that pra&ife began ; and 1 am the ra- ther induced fo to thinke,becaufe I neither know, nor haue heard of any countrie whatfoeuer,that can boaft" of fo many g.ood3goodiy, andferukcable Geldings as- Epgkml
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Thefir/fBoofy. 6 j
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£*£^»iatthishourecanfliowe, thecaufe whereof I
tninkehath proceeded from ourcontinuall vfeof tra- velling winter and Summer, in which men defire to nde eafily,faft,and quietly. Now for as much as ftond horfes naturally out of the pride of their courage,'doe molt comonlytrotJ& therewithal! are exceeding ram- nufti,and vnruely,eipecially in the company of Mares and.otherhorfes,therefprung from fomc inuenting praine,both the deuice to make horfes amble ( which is the pace of cafe) andthepradife of gelding horfes, which is the means of quietnes. Now whereas one of ourEngiiili writers faith, that a ftond horfe will not jrauell to far in a day, as a Gelding, in that he is infinic- iy deceiued, and 1 imputethiserror onely to his want °r experience,for all Horf-men know this (efpecially thofe whofe pra&ife confifts in hunting horles,or run- ning Horfes,that the good ftond horfe will euer beats J"d °H«labour the good Gelding: nay more', wheras ne Gelding,if once he be ouer laboured or tyred,doth ®euer againe recouer his firft goodnes:the ftond horfe, a lit l co?trary Parr>if he be neuer fo fore tyred, with
"tie refrefhing getteth againe his ftwmgth, and is a- game as good aseuer he was for new labour : the rea- ion whereof, I take to be this, that the Geldings wan- ing that naturall and liuely heate which a ftond Horfe *nioyeth,areof more abicft and dcietted fpirits, {o nat when their labor comes to exceed their ftrength, |
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- j "-"• — w v if «w* •***-» ww--------------— -— -** » t. y Will*-
^ns, makes them yeelde to tyring, the fence whereof
tQcJneuerforgoe all their Hues after: but to returne
£0,"rPurpofe,howloeuer this pra&ife of gelding of
-- " vvas begun, yet for as much as we finde aprofic
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F a therein^
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6$ cIbefir/i<Boo{e.
, _i. _. i____. .in 11 . *
therein, both in our trauell and alio in our light fer-
uiceinthe warres, itfhall be rcquifiteihatlfet downe the age, time of the yeare and moone,which is moft fie for the gelding of Colts. Andfkfttbr the age : al-* though fome of our late Authors would haue Coltes gelded when they aretwoyeares olde,which in truth isavery good, fure, and tbllerable time, becauie at that age a Coltes ftones willbe come downe, and he is of good ftrength arid abilitie to indure both the griefe and torment, yet I doe not holde it the beft and choy- cefttimeof all, for that purpafe i becaufe the longer that a Colt goes vngelt the thicker and fatter his head willgrowe: hiscreflfc alfowill be thicke and heauie, and the ad it felfe by reafon of the toughnefTe and foardnefteof the firings and cordes, will be both more dangerous and more painefull. v Now therforerheonely choice,and beft time of all
for gelding of ColtSjis etier when the foale is iuft nine daies olde, for at that time nature hath fo little force in thofe partes,and the cordes and firings ofthofeinitru- ments,are fo tender and eafie to be broken,& fluxes of blood and other groffe or impoftumating humorSjare fo little incident tofbalcs of fuch youngnes,that there is no-more danger at that time in gelding of a Foale, then in gelding of a Lambe :-. neither is there greater' labour; fortofoalcs of fuchyoungneffe, there needs ho caultcryzing with hot yrons,(tytching,or other im- phftering, which elder Coks muftof neceffitiehaue':' befides, a Foale of fuch youngnefTe, fucking vpon the Damme, eatesno badorvnwholfomemeate, but li- iiingonelyvpponniilke, keepes that dyet which pre* letues the fore from ranckling,fw-elliPg,or rotting: in fbmuck
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"7hefirjVBool{e. 69
foremen that ray felfe haue gelt a foalc at that age(when
mine experience was almoit in that matter as young'
as the foale)and haue had him found and whole in fea-
uen dales, applying nothing to the lore but fweetbut*
ter, which is an euidenr proofe to confute thofe which
fay that the gelding of a foale young, dec ayes the
growth ofafoile, for fare the paine being ended in
leffethenfeauendaics, the griefe thereof can neither
loofe growth norftrength, but ifthey meane that the
depriuingthefoale of thofe inftruments focafely,dotfi
decay his growth, then by alireafontogeld at two
yeares old, muft decay it much more,both becaufe the
foalc at that age hath more fence, vie and ftrength in
thofe inftruments, then at the former age : by meanes
whereof thelofTe of them, is by a thoiifand degrees
niorepainefull and greeuous,and the cure thereof,is
neuer finiflied ina month,many times not intwo,and
iometimes not in three monthes : which teadioufnes
01 griefe cannot chufe, buc abate both growth,
length and courage.
Now the benefit which is gotten by gelding Foales
thus young is, Firft, befides the fafenefle & no danger inthecure, it maketh your Gelding haue a delicate fineleane head, of a comely (hape, weli-fauoredneffe and proportion,many times not vnworthy to be com- pared with the choyceft Barbaric, it makes him to hauc agallantcreft,high,thinne, firme, andftrong: itisa Sreatcaufeoffwiftne(fe,nimbIeneue,andcourage,by which it is certaine they will not tyer fo foone as thofe which are gelt ofelder age. ^Utifitjjeefo,thatyourFoalehauenotlec downe
iusltonssfofoonejneitherthatyoucanby chafing or F 3 tovvfwg
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jo IhefirjiHooke.
towfing his cod compel him to let them come downcs.
which none but fomefews dull Foales will doe, you
muftthenofneceffitie let him ouer-flippe that time,.
and ftay till the fall of the leafe after, for by no meanes
lean allow gelding of Foales in Summer, both be-
eaufe of the excefliueheate, and the crueltie of the
fiye,both which are dangerous, and fometimes mor-
tall to youngfoales : but if at the fall of the leafe, hee
doenotletdowne his ftones, then you muft ftay tilt
the Spring, for the extremitie of the cold in Win*
ter is as etiiil as the heate in Summer, occafioning in*
ward fwelling,canker, and purification : fothat the
time to geld Foales, is eythcr in the Spring, or at the
fall of the leafe : the age from nine daiesolde to two
yeares olde, and the ftate of the Moone euer when it is
in the wane.
if after yourfoales be gelt, their cods and fileathes
happen to fwell exceeding much,as there is no quefti- on but they will,efpecially if they be aboue fix months eldjWhcnthey are gelt, and fuch fwellings do euer be* ginne fiuc daies after the gelding, you fhall then (not- withftandingfomeof our EngliCh writers giue pre- cepts tothecontrarie) cauft thofeFoales which doe- •fwell to be chafed vp and downe an houre together, both morning and cnening, till the fwelling ceafe, which it will doe in icfle then a weekes fpace,holding this obferuation, that if the foale be aboue a yeare old ^whenit is gelt, then the more it rotteth3 thebetter and' iaferisthecure. Now asyou may geld foales, fo you may alfo geld
elder Horfes.nay horfes almoft ofany agc,& that with greatfafenesalfoa,as Ihauediuerstimesapproued in minfr
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iIbefirftcBoo!gL
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71
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mine ownc e*perienceswithout the vfc or help of any
other inOrument or medicine, then ftichas in thole cafes are vfd aboutfoalcs. Laftly,touchingthe manner and way to gelde foales or horfes, all be there be iun- drypra£tifes,yet there is but ohefureand perfect me- thod. Soraethere are which wilt take eight or tenne ftronghorfe haires, and knit them faft and ftrait abo at the horfes codsabouehisftones,and fo withthccon- tmiunceandeatingofthehaires,makethecoHsitones to rot, and fall away, but this fafhion of gelding, I doe
vtteriydi{Uke,foritisbothin danger to mortihe the member,^ bring it to Ga*ger4*(yvhich is deadly with- out cure)and aifo it is fo paincfull, that neither hone nor foale can indure it without the hazard of madncs. Others vfe after they haue flit the cod, and taken out the ftone,to cut the ftone away, and only to melt a Ut- tleyellow waxvpontherooteoftheftnngs, andio to anoyntthecodwithfiefhtutter,andletthe horfe or cok goe,butthat is not fo good neithcr.becaufe vpo n fuch a cure, a flux of blood may follow, which may kill either horfe or foale.The only perfect & certaine way, therefore to geld cither foale or horfe is : alter you haue flit the cod, and taken out the ftone betweenc a pake of nippers, made of wood for the purpoie, men withafharpeknifetocutaway theftone, then with a Uotcalteryzingyrontofcarethe cords andltnngs ot theftonc>andthentomeltvponthem,wax,ucare-luet, and Venice Turpentine, made together in a planter,
then to fill the infidc of the cod with fake, and to an- oint the outfideofthecod,the horfes (heath, and all betweene his thigh and his body, with frefh butter or frefhhoggsgreafeandfotoloofe him, and put hint
V 4. ' inca
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jz 7 hefir/l'Booke.
into a clofehoufe for three or foure dates, (if it bee a
Foaleorhorfeofage) but if it fucke vpon the Dam, then turne it to the Dam,and the danger of the cure is pah^And thus much for the gelding of horfes or foals, ~~ CHAP. 18.
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When, and <<trf bat time to take vp the Celts fir the Saddle and
ojtheirfitft vfc and hdterir-g. TOuchingthe taking vp of Colts that they may
bebroke, and come to the-vfc of the Saddle i there bee fundrie opinions^ according to mens fcue.rall experiences, yet there is but one mod fub* ftantiall, albe the reft haue their grounds of proba- bilitieandreafon : for if when you take vp your Cole that you may make him for the vfe of the Saddle, you alfo determine at the fame time to pat him either to rrauell v pon the high way,or to the excrcife ofany vi- olent lefions t as galloping the large Ringes, patfing a Careyre,6r managing either in ftraite or largemrnet: then i fay, to take vp your Coke at fours yeares olde and the vantage, is full foone enough, or rather with the fooneft:but if according to thcruleof good Hotfe* man(hip,you intend when you take your Colt vp firft, onely to make him but acquainted with the faddlcj Stirrops,garrhes, crooper, brydle, watering trench^ nnifrole & martingall, &other fuchncceffarieimple* ■mentsasareneedefullinthofecafes: Andthatforthe Kyder,the Horfe flial'l the firft Winter but only learne ^fcn©W9his waight? in what manner to receiue hiro-,. how
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The .firft TSooke. 73
howtogoeorwalkcvnderhim, and with what quier-
«eflTe to part from him-: making all his exercifes recrea- tions, and benefites,and not labors orferuiees. In this cafe, andwithafirmc refolution thus to order your hotfe}yourtiailthentakehimvpat three yeares olde and the vantage, which is at three yeares olde and as much asbetwccn the time of his foaling, and the midft °f October ,but if you fhall faile in this courfe,& either °ut of indifcretion or finie3or finding your horfcsapt- ne.ie to precede your imagination, put him to any vi- olence or extremitie,you fhall not onely indanger the i-Way;ngof his backe, and the dulling of his better fpi- *its,btK (his ioynts being tender and vnknit) make him put forth wingals,andboanieexcreffions (which are fplencs, fpauens, curbs, and ringbones, orfuch like) therefore the onely thing Icanaduife anyhorfeman vnto,in the whole worke of horfmanlhip,is vnto tem- peranceandpatience.efpecially rn the beginningybe- £a^thechoyfeft time far taking vp of Colts to the ackile> is in my conceite at three yeares olde and the vantage, chiefly if they be Neapslitam, Jennets, T&rkesy or Barbaries, and keeping the ohferuations before pre- lcribed. For ifhorfa of their breed and fpirit ("hall run vvildeand vntamed,withotn either acquaintance with ^eman,or the furniture needfull inriding, till they be nlr Cf>r ?UC Yf ares olde»they wiil be ofthat ftubborn-
^llCjUiric & difobedience^hatthey will not only put ^erydertoathree-fold greater trouble then the other
v.p<! are but three yeares olde and vantage : hutalfo c„te^;eleaft contention orcroffingoftheir natures, lore |in0Teu^M0gSed&rebelliousqualities,v\hich '^^g^asbs as great labor & induftry 3 as to bring |
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74- cIhefirfiToo{e.
a horfe of good<jualitic to his bcft perfection. Againc,
ifa man wil but meafure time by an ccuen proportion if a horfe be foure yeares olde and the vantage, ere he be haltercdjhe mud of neceflitie be fullfiue ere he bee reclaimed from his wildneffe, made familiar with the man, brought tobe fhod, and to cake the faddle with patience : then before he be made to receiue the man, to haue his head well placed, and his raine right fafhi- oned, before he will trot foorth-nghc in a comely or- der, change tumes on both handes, trot and gallop, both large and ftrait rings,and performe other ground manages, hee mufi r cedes bee full fixe yeares olde. Then before he come to the vie and perfeclncffe of the by tte, or to performe thofe faults and manages aboue ground, which are both delightfulltothe beholders, and wholfome for the health of fuchas haue them in pra&ife., he will accomplifh full the age of feauen, fo that more then halfethehorfes life, inall be fpent in precept and inftruc"Uon,where as beginning at three yeeres age and the vantage, a horfe out of his youth and ignorance will he fo tradable, that in the firfk fix Moncthes, he will gaine as much knowledge astheo- therin ayeate and more, neither fhall you finde re« ftifeneffe or churlifhnefle,except it fpringfrom your ownefurie; fo that there is no doubt but your horfe at the end of fine yeares of age,willbe absolutely per- fect in all thatisfitforhisvndcrftandin^. At three yeares old therefore and the aduantage,
& in the latter end of the month of 0<5tober,I would haue you driueyour colts vp into a houfe, where ha- uinga halter made of principallhempe, afterthc fa- ction of ordinariehaiters3 onelya fize bigger at the leafrs
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Ihefirjt cBoo{e. 75
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leaft,andthe reme thereof muft be at the Icaft three
©rfoureyardeslong,taking fome oide quiet lade in your hand, goe amongftthem, andwith all the pati- ence, lenitie, and Ieafure that you can deuife, put the nalrer vpon one of their heads, which if the colt will not Sifter you to do with your hand( as it is very likely ne will not) you muft then trie to fteale it on, by Winding the halter about the end of along poale, and holding « before the cokes face, you fhall fee him W»h ducking his head downe to thruft it into the "alter : this is an ordinarieway, and you fhall neuer laiJe as long as you take Ieafure,.. and vfe no vio- lence. When the colt is haltered, you fhall prouide, that good ftrength of men take holde vpon the end of the chafchalter,which done, you fhall caufe one to fe- ycr the reft of the colts from him that is haltred,and as "Were to driue them to the other end of the houfe:but . tne ualtred colt offer in f uric to rufli after them(as ic is no-qucftion but he will) then fhall they which haue hold vpon the chafe halter, with a forcible and itrong. twitch pull himbacke, in fuch fort that they almoffc make his neckecraekeagaine; which done,let his kee- per after, leafurably, and with gentle wordes go vnto nim : but if the colt rcfufe him, and offer either to ^nnejleape, or ftrike,letthem which haue hold vpon the ha]ter,with twitchings & (trainings torment him : kusiftharpreuairenot, then let them leade him forth ^*thehoufe? and when he comes abroade, let fams ^andersby chafe him about on both handes, till hee to °£ame tnar new*^ M&* nis kee*per(or fome other)
jjj C^e vntohimtocherifhhim, andelawe him, and
■«"«c-\i»iU Icade vgpe and downe quietlye, which
when
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J 6 The fir/icBoo^e,
when you baueefrecled, you fhall then forthwith lead
him into the (table, and putting on a coller made of
ftrong leather, both broade and flat, and with two
reines , tyehim downe to the manger,and take off his
chafehaker.Asformakingyour fir It coller of wolien
yarne, or of node haire (as fome Authors aduife) it is
a curiofitie,but too curious,and the expence may bee
faued : for after aColthathbeene once well mailtred,
twitcht and conquered in a chafe halter, he willncuec
after ftrainc hiscoller fo much as to hurt himfelfe.You
fhall when you place your Colt in the (table, either fee
him by fome old ridden horfe, vndcr whofe couert the
keepermayfafclycometohimjoreUeinfucharoorne
where there may be fpace enough wirhout danger to
come & goe on both fides of him.The keeper after the
Colt is in the ftable,muft neuer be idle,but euer either
rubbing,picking,clawing,or cherifhing the colt,clap*
ping him fomtimes vpon the back,fomtimes vpon the
necke,fometimes vnder the belly, betweene the fore-
boothes, and about his cods. He muft oft ftroke his
legs downe eeuen vnto the patterns, and often take vp
his feete; and firft with his hand, and after with a little
ftick knock him vpon the foales of his feet as if he were
fhooinghim,and euer as the keeper flialfinde the horfe
to giue a fufferance to thefc motions, fo fhall he noc
only increafe his cherifhings,but alfo for reward,giue
the colt either bread or other prouender, fuch as hee
findes him to take moft delight ln,by which meanes he
fhall not onely bring the colt tp be tame, but alfo to
take a delight in hfttameneffe.
If your colt be of fo ftubborne and rebellious a di£
pofuion3(hat thefe gentle courfes wil not pteuaile,you (hall
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lbe/irfilfBoo{e. j j
"'all then but only augment your labor, anZwhatyou
cannot atraine to in one day, you muftfccketowinin tvyo:for itisnoloffcoflabourif you be twodayes in Winning your horfe to let you but ftroke him, fo in the end with gentle means you compaffe it i and that your noric in the meanefpacelearne no knauifh qualitie,as l» bite,(trik,or fuch like: which to efchiie,you muft euer
°Dlerue,that what you do to a colt, you muft doe with «0nltancieJboldncfleJ& refohuion,and not with fear- ^lnelfe,(tarting,or tickIing,for they arc the nrft occa- »°ns of a horfes wickednes. Now,whcreas f omc horf- menaauifeyouinthiscafetokeepeyour horfe from Vccpaand fo by ouerwatching him, to make him tame, l nough it be a courfe which m mine own knowledge andexperience,wiltameeithermanorbeaft,yettovfe or a Cfr °f (uch y°nSnefTe,and for faults which only for ho ™ natureand ignorance, fcannot allow it j- inf t sthat>itisvnwholfomeandl)rcedsinfirmity' iich yong years: it is alfo too cruel, ck brings a colt neM°0m^Chtaintne{re&vveakneflre:vvherforelvvolllt!
chir?Xl(h_anyhor{"cmantotamca"ny With ouer wat- *-»»ng,butfuch as are old ridden horfes,&enheroiit of" jneaowne natures or mifgouernment3 are notoriety become reftifc and furious,biu cucn mad& defperatc. o^vnen you lead your colt either to the water,toaire, viVtA J you ^all let fome other ridden horfe- no .ftands nexthim be led before him (which will' the r i be an incoui"2gement,but affo be an example); ^|lt will with more willingnefle immitate; alouiCnpyr°Ur/:okisbroughccoaPcrfit^mendfe:)and;
*i»b"d dtami, a[Ity Wlth his kecP'e,Yfo thathe will be:
^ure»3clothed,fliod,and icdvp anddoWne, voir |
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ihail'
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yS The fir ft "Booty.
{hall then vfe him to wcare head (lraine,Cauezan, and
Chaine: you (hall aUo acquaint him with the Mufroll, and Martingall -, which done,y ou (hall then bring him to wearethe Saddle,the manner whereof is fet downe inthenextbooke. All this perform'd,you fhallthen put vpon his fore legges a paireof foft and well-lin'd pafterns, but for tying his hinder foote with a wolleiv <:ord,as one of our auncicnt Horfe-men aduifeth,I doe not like it,becaufe a Colt being fearefull andfuddaine in all his motions,may by ftarting,or forae apprehenfi- on of affright , indanger the fpoyling of his hinder parts. Againe a Horfethat is fotyed cannot !ye downe, neither take reft nor delight in his ftall, which you {houldendeuourto procure him with allinduftrie; and formineownepartitisatoyldidneuerpra&ife : hue when I had aHorfe of diuelifti quallity that would ftrike and yarke at hiskeeper with his hinder heeles,or turne himfelfe croffe in his ftall, toftrikeattheHorfc which flood next him, in thefe cafes I haue vfed it but in no other. You lhall whilft your Colt is in taming (as ncere as you can) fuffer neither fancafticall men, nor spHhhoyestocome into your ftable,who with toying or other foolifh affrights may mooue thofe diftem- peratures in a Colt which will hardly bee reclaimed. In this maner as I haue prefcribed for one colt,fo muft you vfe the reft one after one,ifyour number be neuer fo many. And how cuer other riders perfwadc you to take vp your yong Mares for the faddlc ayeare foo- ner then your colts, yet I cannot be indue* d to be of that opinion, but would haue both one age, and one time of the yeare obferued in both kindes. And thus much for the taking vp, and taming of colts. |
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TbeJirft'Boo%e. 79
CHAP, if*
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Of the cutting of Colts mouthes or tongues, and of the
drawing of teeth, to helpethebtt folie irt
his true place*
THe braine of a man being a bufie and IaBor^
Tome workemaifter j to bring to our defires the depth and fecrets of that Arte which wee Profeflej often times out of its owire con-triuinges brings to our knowledge fuch falfe fhapes and experi- ments, as being but onclycladin the colours of Art, *°r lone to our felues, and to our owne inuentionSjWG ?revviui'ngt&entertainethem not onely as grounds,. ut e»cn as the Arts beft perfection. Hence it hath, ^°''ne to paffe, that fome of the bcft horfemen of the a-paft times, hauinggot both by rule and praftife ore ^peculation in this Artethen other men,.did not f et! *nke their skill great enough, except they could oth finde faults, and approue reafonsto controll and' M amende the worke of nature : of which fort Lau- tt*?W Eufstusis ra°ft principall, who amongft his bet- ^knowledges hath fet downe certaine precepts for j^e Rawing of a Horfes teeth, affirming perernptori- "> tliaritisimpoflible for a Horfe to haue a good or chaltC raoutn3 except his two tufhes of his nether rojj^'^dthetwowongge teeth of the fame next- ifahoTk65^6 ^drawne ouN bscaufe (faith hee); _nebconcehcatedor chafr3 iris impotfible for |
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So cIbefirfi(:Boo{e.
the rider to holde him froiri running away, hauing
thofe teeth : and thereupon prefcribes the manner of drawing them out,which (bold be with an inftrumenc made for the purpofe like a crooked paire of Pincers: And the teeth being drawne, to drefie the gums with falt,orwith Claret wine,honie and pcpper,warm*dto- gether,or With wine or honie onely, till the fore place be whole. To make anfwcr to thefe allegations, Firft,that the generall proportion is not good, and
that the horfefhould not loofe any teeth at all, eucric one knowes that hath feene the worke of nature, that in her creations fhe hath not made any thing fuperflu- ous,nor can we(how euer out of our follies we fuggeft inconueniences) diminifh one iot of what fliqe hath made,butby bringingto the bcaft farre greater miP chiefes. For the teeth being the ftrength of his food, the maintainers of his life,and the inftniments both of his defence and ftrength, take any of them from him and what fhall become of thofe powers? And againe, a horfehathnotanyonetooth, which in true iudge- ment a man can fay may be fpared : for firft, the two firftrankes of teeth which are ceuen before, feruehim -onely but to cut vp and gather his meate: of which in number they are not commonly abouc twelue.both a* boue&below,& who can allow himalefTer propor- tion? Next thofe which ftand higher in the vpper parts of his chaps, which we call his grinders or wonge *ceth,they are to chaw & fhred his food being gathcrd vp,&to makeitfit for difgeftion,& they arein numbef ctvtamonlynot aboue ten of a fide, both aboue and belowe, which are fofew, that ifyou take any ofthetf* away3 you doe not onely take away his ftrength, bii£ a great
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J
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The firfi Tioofy._________8«
a great part of his life aifo : as for his fourc tufhes, they
arc to holde in his foode as he gathers it,and fo to o&a* ucy it vp to his grinders, fo that you may fee euerie footh hath fuch an efpeciall office, that not any of themcanbefpared. Now where hee faith a Horfc cannot haue a good
niouth3except thefe teeth before named be drawn out, as if thebittelying vponhis horfes turtles, fhould by Jnat meanes be defended from the chap, fo that the nauinglittle or no feeling of the bytt, fhould there-* *ore owe vnto the bytt no obedience longer then du- ring his owne pleafure. To this I fay, all Horfe-men Kno we that the true place of the bytt is dire&lv aboue the two tu(hes,the neather fide of the mouth of the bye refting not vpon thetufh, but againft the tufh, fo that the tuOvs a flay and helpeibr the bytt and no hinde- ranee: but the former Author wouid haue men ima- g'ne,thatif the bitt reft aboue thetiiih,that then there cannot be fpace enough for the bytt to he betwixt the ulhandthcwonggcteeth.butwhofoeuerpleafethto *oo«f« into that part of the horfes mouth, fhall finde tnat there is full foure inches betwixt the tufhandthe nories wonggcteeth, and Ihopc there wasneuerany tnouth of bytt made fo broad, cfpccially in that part ^nichlyethvponthechap. Thus you may fee this curious inuention, if it bee
°okt into with a right fence, is both needcles and fri-
uolousjyetbecaufe of ihe greatc authoritie of the Au.
c?w knowit natn bcene retained,and held authenti-
Aa^>yfundrieHorfemen,andbyone of 0l,r EngliHi
cord r°r$5 W nOC 0ncly comme^ed, but alfo left in re-
' ■ aP°ftentieiwhich Author,to rtiowe the Ioue he G bcareth
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hz Vbefir/t <Rookf.
beareth to nouelrie,hath to this deuiee of drawing of
teeth, added another of his owne of felfe like nature and vertue,and that isjfor as much as hec fuppofeth that a Horfes mouth may narurally be fo ihallow, that the bytt cannot haue any firme rt fling place, but (hall beeinforccdtolyevpponhistnfhes, orelfefo incon- neniently, that it will much difturbe both the Horfc and man, hee would haue you therefore to make fome expert Horfe farrier }to flit vp the weekes of your Horfes mouth,equallie on both tides of his eheekes, withafharpe Rayfor, and thentofeare it with a hot yron, audio heale it in fueh forte, as the fides thereof may no more grow together jbut appeare like a natural mouth: to whome I make this anfwere,tbat I imagine neither hee, nor any other Horfe-man hath heere i» England feene a Horfe ofthat fhallowneffe of mouth, which would not giue place for the reafonable bytt to lie in v or if they haue, furely Iknoweithathbeenefo felclome, thatl holde fueh Horfes rather of aftigma- ticall then natural] proportion , but fuppofe there are Horfes of fueh fhallownefTe of mouth, yet I fay they ought not to haue their mouthes cut to make ap'aceforthebytt3buttobauethc bytt moilded and' proportioned according to the rha'llownefTe of the mouth,for were it neceflarie that all bytts fnould be of one quanritie & proportion, then 1 fboitlJ draw fome what nearer to their opini-onsj but in as much as they a etobe made either in length,roundnes,thickneffe, fharpnes^orflatneSjaccordingtothenaturejdiapeand' temper of the mouth,why fholdhorfmen make them- ielueseyther tyrants or Foolcs, to torment without eaufe^r inucnt to no purpofe,thofe tortures or ftrata- gems
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*Ihefrft(Boo^.
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gemsjwhich fhal rather make vs fcornd then imitated?
Againe,thefe inconueniences,a horfe-man dial finde that wililu vphishorfes mouth :firlr,the skilfulft horf- 'echthacis, fhallneuer healeit (according to the or- der prefcribed) in fiichfbrtjChateLierit will meet clo/e againe, becaufe the fearing oftheskinneyvith hoty- rons,doth fo feauer and difpreffe it.that it wil neuer af- ter meeteclofe together againeiinfomuch, that when he eateth his meate, it will fall out of his mouth,[and put him to a double trouble, and a double time in eating, Alfowhen hce drinkelh, the water likewife will run out of his mouth, and both annoy and grieus him, Laftly, (and which is ofall the fouled eye-fore) youfhalleuerhaue aHorfethatisfo cut, both in the houfeandabroadjContinuallyfliuering, becaufe the nioyfture which conimeth into his mouth, cannot bec helde in, but will ifliie foorth at thofe open places, "to the great trouble of the horfe himfelfe,and the annoy- ance offuch Horfcs as (hallftand neare himjfor this by Qayly experience we fee, that thofe barbarous & igno- rant Horfemen,which with diftempered hands.rough J>rackes,or townd fnaffles,doe treate and brcake their norfes mouthes,that cuen thofe horfes haue all the in- conuenienccs before mentioned. . Now befides this drawing of teeth, and cutting o£ ttioiuhes, there is alfba third.practife, which msny yearcsfince, Ihauefeene vfed by Profpera, and now to my no little admiration, I fee the opinion forty- »de by SaUmonde la Broue, a man of exquifice prac- j1 e andknowlcdge : and that is, when a horfe dootli ?n - Jyding thruft foo.rth his tongue, and will noc *U any JHeanes bee made to kecp.e ic in his mouth,) ^* G z ' heej |
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Ihefrft <Boo{e.
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8+
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he would haue you to take an inurn-
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.Effiia
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ment, made according to the pro-
portion of this figure here prcfented, which opening and framing like a paireof flat nippers, you may in it take and hold the horfes tongue (o hard and flat,that he cannot ftirre it, and then according to the circle of the inurnment, which mil ft carrye the proportion of the horfestongue, with a fharpe rafor cut [o much of his tongue away, as hee puts out of his mouth. The faftuon of the inftru- mentisthis: Truly , vnder the correction of
his better knowledge, I cangiue no allowance to this kinde of difmem- bringjfor befides that, it is both vn- naturail and hurtfull to the bcaft, whofe tongue is his onely inftrument for the taking vp of his prouender,& for the conueyance of euery feuerall kinde of foode downe into his fto- mack: I feenot5butifany part of it be taken away or diminifhed, but that the horfebyfuch lackc, muftincurre many mifchiefes* Againe, this I knowe, that no man hath euer feenc any foale foaled with his tongue, ey- ther too long or too bigge for his |
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t*i.
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moiuh5nauir:e inaking'euery member ,
Tytable to his place ajid imployment,fb-that iFa horfe eyth«f
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cIhefir/l<Boo{€. &5
cyther by cuftomc, torment ox IufFcrance, come to be
jHingurcdj with'fuch a foule and odious fault. I muft »or mine owne part impute the whole ground and caufe thereof to be onely the vnskilfuinefle of the Ry- der who wanting knowledge or difcretion, either to make his bytt according to the tnodell ofthe horfes mouthjor to knowe when the tongue is either at too much libertie3ortoo much ftreightned,brings on thefe loule errorsjwhicl! are not to be cured,but with much greater mifchicfiy, and fo bythefe deuifes do imagine *°"COUcr Acdeformitic of their ignorance, for had I cuer leene in my worthy olde Maifter,Maifter Tkmas *torje, or might in thefe dayes fee by the example of noDic bir Robert Alexander jx any oftheir cquall kno w« «dgc (which without flatteric, I thinke Europe fcarfe contames) that this drawing of teeth, cutting of »outhes,and difmembring of tongues, were by them Sn ^J°t.Wcd °r Pra<aifed> Mould ( whatfoeuer I
nougnt) bee more amazedly Blent, but becaufc I fee lores of their makings, hauenofuchapparant defor- frnn k ldes in my felfc,know that all the errors
urn Whence**/,^, and others drawe the groundes of
nmr^?' Jwue many better, fafer, and more
SSS T^65'1 COl,ld aot chufcbut m»ke this pro-
of n ? r CC aSainft chis tyrannicallmartyring
poorchorfes3concludingthus: that if cither youc
loJl ? ftand to° ftraitc>orhis mouth be too fhal-
an^fi5 thaty°umaketheproportion of the bytt lcffe, tonp mth the Wark ofnMurc: and ifhe chr"ft »"t his
of tifek'as hauingt0° greatlibertie by the openneffc ^a.V^rCHytt?lhaLthcnyol,rbytIbemadcclofcr'fo asic
- J ?lHaine the tongue from too much frcffdomc: (j 3 but
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%6 The firfll2-oo{e.
but ifkproceede from too much clofenes and prcffing
downe of the bytt, that then the libertie thereof be augmented, cyther by whole and fmooth port, vpfec mouth.or fuch like, Laftly, ifkproceede from nei- ther of thefecaufeSjbuteuen from an euill habit and naughty condition of the horfe, you iriall then as fooneasthebyttisinhis mouth, if he thruft out his tongue, firftknocke it in with the great end of your rodde, and then buckle the nofe-band of your brydle head-ftall fo ftraight, that he fhall no»be able to open his teeth, andtluis riding him'buc a weeke or a little more, he will foone both forget and forgoe that vice: and thus much for thefe cruell inuentions. |
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CHAP. 20.
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Of the federating of bad Celts and Mares from the
good3and which /bull maintainesh* racefilL IT is not the diligence of man, neither the curyofitie
of his choice (although they be the two moft -efpe- ciall cares which begets a man his owne defircs in this matter of breeding of Horfes) which can a cer- taine vnto any man, that he ("hall breede horfes all of oneftature,ilrei-!gthsbeainie, andgoodneiTe, fith thereby dinerscafuaities (as ficknefle or infirmitie in the Mare or Foale, negligence in keepers, rufhes, flraynes, heates or coldes and fuchlike ) which may inakafoales (though they beali of one breede (mnch ^liferent and ahnoft contrary in proofe^ fome prouing |
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'The firjl eBoo{e. &£
good, fome bad, and forae indifferent: wherefore^
Would wifh euery good breeder once a yeare, efpcci-. ally at Michaelmas, to looke ouer his whole ftudde, and amongft thofe Mares and Foales, which (hall bee three yearesolde and the vanttage, to cull out them wnicribemoRbeaiitifull,ftrong, nimble, andcoura- gious, and to feperate them for his ovvne vft : the *ctt, which either by infirmie, or cafualtie, haue loft we pride oi their naturall perfection, 1 would hauc yoiuake into the houfe, and hauing made them fit foe j«e saddle and other mens vfes, to fend them to fuch "yres and markets as (ball be conuenient, and fo fell them to their beft profit. But if the grearneffe of the feeders place doedifdaine fuch profit, it (hall then be worthy in him, if he beftowc them either of his orhcers, or other men of merrit: and in this coyling « -tuds,thereis greatarte and Judgement to be vfed, ^°f«is not at that age, the Colt which is fatteft, beft Ppo"!°Jd to the eye> ro»nd, and clofe knit toge- «er which maketh the beft horfe; nor he that is long, an^ 5|aUntjand iIfau°"red, which is to be coylcd and caft amy: for the firft when he comracth to ripe- nes of age, loofah his beautic and goodneffe, and die ^thenncreafeth and when his a|e is complete, I! moft worthy and gallant : wherefore as 1 faid, there ° r ,fe art vfed ln the choice of co vlings, for I hau e ^yielfefeene a Studdecoyld when'there hath beene fo ne lo good left behinde as thofe which haue beene e> and made away for a little money. yearesClXou hau3e coyld 5;our Coks and Mares of three
fwuavftf ' andtheaduantage,vouiTiall then take a
/ ot your younger forte, and if you (hall finde
G 4 amongft
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88 cIbefr/l<Boo{e.
amongftthem any that are. difeaied, as with Asue
or inward fickneffe, with- Pejklettce, Staggers, Appo- flexie, Glaandtrs, Strangle, or fuch like, all which are infections, you fhall forthwith, fcperate the found from the vnfound, leaft theinfeaion of one, breed© the loffeofall the reft. Laftiy,you fhall take the Suruey ofallyourold bree-
ding raares,and if any of them,either through naturall defect, mifchance or age, fhall become barraine,or if you (hall perceiue any of them, which fromyeare to yearebringethfoorthvncomelyFoales : orif any'of them hauingbrought foorth comelyPoales, fhall not nurfie and bring them.vp w.ell,buteithetthrough want ©f mitke,or the doggednes offome vnnaturall quality fhall flocke and ftarue their foales;in any ofthefe cafes itfhalibee good for them to fell or make away fuch Mares,asbeingvnworthytobebredvpon,andtoftore
your felfc with none but fuch as fhall be both good, full ofmilke, and moft naturall. And thus much f thoughtgood to wrire,touching the breeding of Hor-* fes, and all fuch neceffarie obferuations, as are inci- dentibrthat art or knowledge, wherein if I haue afcri- bed to mine owne knowledge or experience, too fe-» uearean authorkie of judgement, t craue onely to be ,<c.enfur'd by their excellent wifdomes, who being both owners of reafon,.and maifters of this Art, will nor condemne me till there be iuft approbation, of mine errors,and in that hope I line their Seruanr,. |
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^■hetmiofths firJl'BMh,.
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