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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31957-h.zip b/31957-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ed1d30 --- /dev/null +++ b/31957-h.zip diff --git a/31957-h/31957-h.htm b/31957-h/31957-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce2a9c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/31957-h/31957-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1773 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lectures on Horsemanship, by T. S. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + p.noindent {text-indent: 0em;} + p.titlepage {text-indent: 0em; text-align: center; } + p.indent2 {text-indent: 2em;} + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + .chapterhead {margin-top: 4em; font-weight: normal;} + .sectionhead {margin-top: 2em; font-weight: normal;} + + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + .chapbreak {width: 65%; } + .declong {width: 8em; border: solid black 1px; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;} + .sectbreak {width: 65%; height: 5px; border-top: solid black 1px; border-bottom: solid black 2px; } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + td {padding-left: 0.5em; padding-right: 0.5em; vertical-align: top;} + .tdr {text-align: right;} + .tntable {margin-left: 0;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + a:focus, a:active { outline:#ffee66 solid 2px; background-color:#ffee66;} + a:focus img, a:active img {outline: #ffee66 solid 2px; } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + } /* page numbers */ + + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .smrom {font-size: smaller;} + .size50per {font-size: 50%; } + .size70per {font-size: 70%; } + .size120per {font-size: 120%;} + + ins.correction {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + + .footnotes {border-top: solid 1px; text-indent: 0.5em; font-size: 0.9em; text-align: justify; } + .label {font-size: 0.8em; vertical-align: 0.3em; } + .fnanchor {vertical-align: 0.3em; font-size: 0.8em; padding-left: 0.1em;} + + .tn {background-color: #EEE; padding: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 1em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lectures on Horsemanship, by Unknown + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Lectures on Horsemanship + Wherein Is Explained Every Necessary Instruction for Both + Ladies and Gentlemen, in the Useful and Polite Art of + Riding, with Ease, Elegance, and Safety + +Author: Unknown + +Release Date: April 12, 2010 [EBook #31957] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LECTURES ON HORSEMANSHIP *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="tn"> +<p class="titlepage"><b>Transcriber’s Note</b></p> + +<p class="noindent">A number of typographical errors have been maintained in this version of +this book. They are <ins class="correction" title="correction">marked</ins> and the corrected text is shown in the popup. +A description of the errors is found in the <a href="#trans_note">list</a> at the end of the text. +Irregular and non-standard spelling has been maintained as printed.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<h1 class="chapterhead"><span class="size70per">LECTURES</span><br /> + +<span class="size50per">ON</span><br /> + + HORSEMANSHIP,<br /> + +<span class="size50per">Wherein is Explained<br /> + + EVERY<br /> + + NECESSARY INSTRUCTION<br /> + + FOR BOTH</span><br /> + +<span class="size70per"><span class="smcap">LADIES and GENTLEMEN</span>,</span><br /> + +<span class="size50per">In the Useful and Polite</span><br /> + + <span class="smcap">ART of RIDING</span>,<br /> + +<span class="size70per">WITH<br /> + +<span class="smcap">EASE, ELEGANCE, and SAFETY</span>,</span></h1> + +<p class="titlepage">BY T. S.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">Professor of Horsemanship.</p> + +<hr class="declong" /> + +<p class="titlepage"><i>LONDON:</i><br /> +1793.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="chapterhead"><span class="smcap">LECTURE on HORSEMANSHIP.</span><br /> + +Address to the Audience.</h2> + +<hr class="declong" /> + +<p class="indent2"><span class="smcap">LADIES and GENTLEMEN.</span></p> + +<p>PERMIT me to observe that the Horse is an animal, which, from the +earliest ages of the world, has been destined to the pleasure and +services of Man; the various and noble qualities with which nature has +endowed him sufficiently speaking the ends for which he was designed.</p> + +<p>Mankind were not long before they were acquainted with them, and found +the means of applying them to the purposes for which they were given: +this is apparent from the Histories and traditions of almost all +nations, even from times the most remote; insomuch that many nations and +tribes, or colonies of people, who were entirely ignorant, or had but +very imperfect notions, of other improvements and arts of life; and even +at this day<a name="FNanchor_3-1_1" id="FNanchor_3-1_1" href="#Footnote_3-1_1" class="fnanchor">3-*</a> are unacquainted with them, yet saw and understood the +generous properties of this creature in so strong a light as to treat +him with fondness and the greatest attention, sufficiently to declare +the high opinion they entertained of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> merit and excellence; nay in +various regions, and in the most distant ages, were so far from being +strangers to the many services of which the Horse was capable, as to +have left rules and precepts concerning them, which are so true and +just, that they have been adopted by their successors; and as all art is +progressive, and receives additions and improvements in its course, as +the sagacity of man at different times, or chance and other causes +happen and concur: so that having the Ancient’s foundation to erect our +building, it is natural to suppose that the structure has received many +beauties and improvements from the experience and refinement of latter +times.</p> + +<p>It is generally supposed that the first service in which the Horse was +employed, was to assist mankind in making war, or in the pleasures and +occupations of the chase. <i>Xenophon</i>, who wrote three hundred years +before the Birth of <i>Christ</i>, says, in an express treatise which he +wrote on Horsemanship, that Cyrus hunted on Horseback, when he had a +mind to exercise himself and horses.</p> + +<p>Herodotus speaks of hunting on Horseback as an exercise used in the time +of <i>Darius</i>, and it is probably of much earlier date. He <a name="corr01" id="corr01"><ins class="correction" title="particularly">particulatly</ins></a> +mentions a fall which Darius had from his horse in hunting, by which he +dislocated his heel: these and thousands of quotations more, which might +be produced as proofs of the utility of the Horse, in remote ages, are +truths so indisputably attested that to enlarge farther upon it would be +a superfluous labour, and foreign to my present undertaking.</p> + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + +<h3 class="sectionhead"><span class="smcap">On Mounting Your Horse.</span></h3> + +<hr class="declong" /> + +<p>FIRST we will suppose your horse properly saddled and bridled. Take your +Bridoun-rein (if you have Bit and Bridoun) your right-hand, shifting it +till you have found the center of the rein; then with your switch or +whip in your left-hand, place your little finger between the reins, so +that the right rein lies flat in your hand upon three fingers, and your +thumb pressing your left rein flat upon the right, keeping your thumb +both upon right and left rein, firm upon your fore-finger; and in this +position you ease your hand a little and slide it firmly down the reins +upon your horse’s neck, taking a firm hold of a lock of his mane, which +will assist you in springing to mount: remember that when you attempt to +mount, that your reins are not so tight as to check your horse, or to +offend his mouth, so as to cause him to <i>rear</i>, or <i>rein</i> back, but that +your action is smooth and light as possible.</p> + +<p>Your horse being firmly stayed, you next take your Stirrup-leather in +your Right-hand, about four inches from the stirrup-iron, and fix one +third of your foot in the stirrup, standing square with your horse’s +side; next take a firm hold with your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> right hand on the Cantlet or back +part of the saddle, rather on the off side of it, and with your left +knee prest firm against the horse’s side, spring yourself up +perpendicularly, bending the small of your back and looking chearfully +up rather than down. The next move you make is to remove your right-hand +from the Cantlet and place it firm upon the Pummel, or front of your +saddle, bearing your weight upon it, at the same time bend your right +knee, and bring your body round, looking strait over your horse’s head, +letting yourself firmly and easily down into your seat, with the +shoulders easily back, bent well in your waist or loins, and your chest +well presented in front, with a pleasant uncontracted countenance.</p> + +<p>You of course next recover or take your switch, which is done by putting +your right-hand over your left, and with a quick firm motion take it in +your right hand, holding the same perpendicularly.</p> + +<p>Proceed us next to the adjusting the Reins, which is of the utmost use. +Supposing you ride with Bit and Bridoun, being four in number, place +them all even and flat in your left hand, exactly in the same manner as +described in taking the Bridoun in mounting; that is to say, your four +reins placed even, the one upon the other, remembering always to place +your Bridouns on the outsides, so that you may any time lengthen or +shorten them at pleasure, without putting the whole into confusion, and +cause the Bit to act alone, or Bridoun alone, or both Bit and Bridoun to +act together.</p> + +<p>I have observed before that only your little finger should be between +the reins when only two, it is the same now four, so now your two reins +on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> right side of your horse’s neck lie flat upon your three fingers +in your left-hand, your two left reins placed flat upon the right, and +your thumb pressed flat upon all four. This is the only sure method to +keep your reins firm, free from confusion, and to cause them to act +properly; which any lady or gentleman will be convinced of if they will +only give themselves the pleasure to practise, as I cannot call it a +trouble.</p> + +<p>If it should be demanded why the horse would not ride as well with only +the Bridoun, without the Bit? my answer is that suppose your horse +becomes hard and heavy in hand, on being rode by both Bit and Bridoun, +where they have both acted together: you on this shorten your Bit-reins +whereby they act alone the Bridouns becoming slack, your horse instantly +becomes light in hand, as though touched by a <i>magick stick</i>, reining +his neck properly, is immediately light before, gathers himself upon his +haunches, and what appeared, but <i>now</i> a <i>garronly</i> sluggish beast wears +the appearance of a well dressed horse.</p> + +<p>Well and thorough broke horses with mouths made fine and to answer the +nicest touch of feeling, are in general rode by the Bit alone, the +Bridouns hanging loose and seem more for ornament than use; but yet in +the hand of a skillful horseman are of the greatest utility; for by +handling your right Bridoun-rein lightly with your whip hand at proper +times; you can always raise your horse’s head if too low, you may take +the liberty of easing your Bit-reins at times, so that playing upon his +mouth, as it were an <i>Instrument of musick</i>, you will always keep his +mouth in tune. I cannot find a juster simile than, that the Horse is the +Instrument and the Rider the Player;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> and when the horse is well broke +and tuned properly, and the rider knows how to keep him in that state, +he is never at a loss to play upon him; but if suffered to go out of +tune, by the want of skill in the horseman, and to imbibe bad habits, +the horseman not being able to screw him up, and tune him as before: the +Instrument is thrown by as useless, or may be sold for a trifle, and by +chance falling into able hands, that know how to manage and put him once +more together; he again becomes as good as ever: and this I have often +been a witness to. Thus much for the adjustment of the Reins in the +Hand.</p> + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> + +<h3 class="sectionhead"><span class="smcap">The Horseman’s Seat</span>:</h3> + +<hr class="declong" /> + +<p>THE principles and rules which have hitherto been given for the +horseman’s seat are various, and even opposite, according as they have +been adopted by different masters, and taught in different countries, +almost by each master in particular; and every nation having certain +rules and notions of their own. Let us see, however, if art has +discovered nothing that is certain and invariably true.—The Italians, +the Spaniards, the French and, in a word, every country where Riding is +in repute, adopt each a posture which is peculiar to themselves: the +foundation of their general notions is the same, but each country has +prescribed rules for the placing the man on the saddle.</p> + +<p>This contrariety of opinions which have their origin more in prejudice +than in truth and reality, has given rise to many vain reasonings and +speculations, each System having its followers; and as if truth was not +always the same, and unchangeable, but at liberty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> to assume various and +even opposite shapes; sometimes one opinion prevailed, sometimes +another, insomuch that those who understand nothing of the subject, but +yet are desirous of being informed, by searching it to the bottom, have +hitherto been lost in doubt and perplexity.</p> + +<p>There is nevertheless a sure and infallible method, by the assistance of +which it would be very easy to overturn all these systems; but not to +enter into a needless detail of the extravagant notions, which the Seat +alone has given rise to; I will here endeavour to trace it from +principles by so much the more solid, as their authority will be +supported by the most convincing and self evident reasons.</p> + +<p>In order to succeed in an art where the mechanism of the body is +absolutely necessary, and where each part of the body has its proper +functions, which are peculiar to that part; it is most certain that all +and every part of the body should be in a natural posture: were they in +an imperfect situation they would want that ease and freedom which is +inseparable from grace; and as every motion which is constrained being +false in itself, and incapable of justness, it is clear that the part so +constrained and forced would throw the whole into confusion; because +each part belonging to and depending upon the whole body, and the body +partaking of the constraint of its parts, can never feel that fixed +point, that just counterpoise and equality, in which alone a fine and +just execution consists.</p> + +<p>The objects to which a master, anxious for the advancement of his pupil, +should attend, are infinite. To little purpose will it be to keep the +strictest eye<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> upon all the parts and Limbs of his pupil’s Body; in vain +will he endeavour to remedy all the defects and faults which are found +in the posture of almost every scholar in the beginning, unless he is +intimately acquainted with the close <a name="corr02" id="corr02"><ins class="correction" title="dependence">dependance</ins></a> and connexion there +is between the motions of one part of the body with the rest; a +correspondence caused by the reciprocal action of the muscles, which +govern and direct them: unless, therefore, he is master of this secret, +and has his clue to the labyrinth, he will never attain the end he +proposes; particularly in his first lessons, upon which the success of +the rest always depend. These principles being established we may reason +in consequence of them with clearness.</p> + +<p>In horsemanship, the Body of man is divided into three parts; two of +which are moveable, the third immoveable.</p> + +<p>The first of the two moveable parts is the Trunk or Body, down to the +Waist; the second is from the Knees to the Feet; so that the immoveable +part is between the waist and the knees. The parts then which ought to +be without motion are the Fork, or Twist of the horseman, and his +thighs; now that these parts should be kept without motion, they ought +to have a certain hold and center to rest upon, which no motion that the +horse can make can disturb or loosten; this point or center is the basis +of the hold which the horseman has upon his horse, and is what is called +the <span class="smcap">Seat</span>; now if the seat is nothing else but this point or center, it +must follow, that not only the true grace, but the symmetry and true +proportion of the whole attitude depend upon those parts of the body +that are immoveable.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>Let the horseman then place himself at once, upon his Twist, sitting +exactly in the middle of the saddle; let him support this posture, in +which the Twist alone seems to sustain the weight of the whole body, by +moderately leaning upon his buttock.</p> + +<p>Let the Thighs be turned inward, and rest flat upon the sides of the +saddle; and in order to this let the turn of the thighs proceed directly +from the hips, and let him employ no force or strength to keep himself +in the saddle, but trust entirely to the weight of his body and thighs; +this is the exact equilibrio: in this and this only consists the +firmness and support of the whole <i>building</i>; a firmness which young +beginners are never sensible of at first, but which is to be acquired, +and will always be attained by exercise and practise. I demand but a +moderate stress upon the buttocks, because a man that sits full upon +them can never turn his thighs flat to the saddle; the thighs should +always lay flat to the saddle, because, the fleshy part of them being +insensible, the horseman would not otherwise be able so nicely to feel +the motions of his horse: I insist that the turn of the Thigh must be +from the Hip, because it can never be natural, but as it proceeds from +the hollow of the hip bone.</p> + +<p>I insist farther that the horseman never avails himself of the strength +or help of his thighs, except he lets his whole weight rest upon the +center, as before described; because the closer he presses them to the +saddle, the more will he be lifted above the saddle on any sudden or +<a name="corr03" id="corr03"><ins class="correction" title="irregular">iregular</ins></a> motion of the Horse.</p> + +<p>Having thus firmly placed the immovable parts, I now pass on to the +first of the <i>Movables</i>, which is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> as I have already observed the body +as far as to the waist. I comprehend in the Body, the Head, the +Shoulders, the Breast, the Arms, Hands, Reins and Waist of the Horseman.</p> + +<p>The head should be free, firm and easy, in order to be ready for all the +natural motions that the horseman may make in turning to one side or the +other. It should be firm, that is to say, strait, without leaning to the +right or left, neither advanced nor thrown back; it should be easy +because if otherwise it would occasion a stiffness, and that stiffness +affecting the different parts of the body, especially the back bone, the +whole would be without ease and constrained.</p> + +<p>The shoulders alone influence by their motions that of the breast the +reins and waist.</p> + +<p>The horseman should present or advance his breast, by that his whole +figure opens and displays itself; he should have a small hollow in his +reins, and push the waist forward to the pommel of the saddle, because +this position corresponds and unites him to all the motions of the +horse.</p> + +<p>Now only throwing the shoulders back, produces all these effects, and +gives them exactly in the degree that is requisite; whereas if we were +to look for the particular position of each part <a name="corr04" id="corr04"><ins class="correction" title="separately">seperately</ins></a> and by +itself, without examining the connection that there is between the +motions of one part with those of another, there would be such a bending +in his reins that the horseman would be, if I may so say, hollow backed; +and as from that he would force his breast forward and his waist towards +the pommel of the saddle, he would be flung back, and must sit upon the +rump of the horse.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>The arms should be bent at the elbows, and the elbows should rest +equally upon the hips; if the arms were strait, the consequence would +be, that the hands would be too low, or at too great a distance from the +body; and if the elbows were not kept steady, they would of consequence, +give an uncertainty and fickleness to the hand, sufficient to ruin it +for ever.</p> + +<p>It is true that the <i>Bridle-hand</i> is that which absolutely ought to be +steady and immoveable; and we might conclude from hence, that the left +elbow only ought to rest upon the hip; but grace consists in the exact +proportion and symmetry of all the parts of the body, and to have the +arm on one side raised and advanced, and that of the other kept down and +close to the body would present but an aukward and disagreeable +appearance.</p> + +<p>It is this which determines the situation of the hand which holds the +whip; the left hand being of an equal heighth with the elbow; so that +the knuckle of the little finger, and the tip of the elbow be both in a +line, this hand then being rounded neither too much nor too little, but +just so that the wrist may direct all its motions, place your right +hand, or the whip hand, lower and more forward than the bridle hand. It +should be lower than the bridle hand because if it was upon a level with +it, it would restrain or obstruct its motions; and were it to be higher, +as it cannot take so great a compass as the bridle hand, which must +always be kept over against the horseman’s body: it is absolutely +necessary to keep the proportion of the elbows, that it should be lower +than the other.</p> + +<p>The legs and feet make up the second division of what I call the +moveable parts of the body: the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> legs serve for two purposes, they may +be used as aids or corrections to the horse, they should then be kept +near the sides of the horse, and in a perpendicular line with the +horseman’s body; for being near the part of the horse’s body where his +feeling is most delicate, they are ready to do their office in the +instant they are wanted. Moreover, as they are an <a name="corr05" id="corr05"><ins class="correction" title="appendix">apendix</ins></a> of the +thighs if the thigh is upon its flat in the saddle, they will by a +necessary consequence be turned just as they ought, and will infallibly +give the same turn to the feet, because the feet depend upon them, as +they depend upon the thighs.</p> + +<p>The toe should be held a little higher <a name="corr06" id="corr06"><ins class="correction" title="than">then</ins></a> the heel, for if the toe +was lowest the heel would be too near the sides of his horse and would +be in danger of touching his horse with his spurs at perhaps the very +instant he should avoid such aid or correction.</p> + +<p>Many persons notwithstanding, when they raise their toe, bend and twist +their ankle as if they were lame in the part. The reason of this is very +plain; because they make use of the muscles in their legs and thighs, +whereas they should only employ joint of the foot for this <a name="corr07" id="corr07"><ins class="correction" title="purpose.">purpose,</ins></a></p> + +<p>Such is in short the mechanical disposition of all the parts of the +horseman’s body.</p> + +<p>These ideas properly digested the practitioner will be able to prescribe +rules for giving the true and natural Seat, which is not only the +principles of justness, but likewise the foundation of all grace in the +horseman, of course, the first endeavour of those who wish to become +horsemen, should be to attain a firm and graceful seat: the perfection +of which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> as of most other arts and accomplishments depend upon the +ease and simplicity with which they are executed, being free from +affectation and constraint as to appear quite natural and familiar.</p> + +<p>Therefore the immoveable parts as before observed ought to be so far +without motion as not to wriggle and roll about so as to disturb the +horse, or render the seat weak and loose: but the thighs may be relaxed +to a certain degree with propriety and advantage, when the horse +hesitates and doubts whether he shall advance or not; and the body may +likewise, upon some occasions, become moveable and change its posture to +a certain degree, as when the horse <i>retains</i> himself, it may be flung +back more or less as the case requires; and consequently inclined +forward when the horse rises so high as to be in danger of falling +backwards; what keeps a ship on the sea steady? <span class="smrom">BALLAST</span>, by the same +rule, what keeps the horseman <span class="smrom">STEADY</span>? trusting to the weight of his +body: it is for this reason that beginners are first made to ride +without stirrups; for were they allowed to use them before they had +acquired an equilibrio and were able to stretch their legs and thighs +well down, so as to set firmly in the saddle, and close to it, they +would either loose their stirrups by not being able to keep their feet +in them; or the stirrups must be taken up much too short, in which case +the rider would be pushed upwards from the saddle, and the Seat +destroyed throughout; as the parts of the body like the links of a chain +depending upon one another, safety likewise requires they should ride +without them at first, as in case of falling tis less dangerous.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>It is the general practice of those who undertake to teach horsemanship, +when they put a scholar upon a horse, to mix and confound many rules and +precepts together, which ought to be distinct and <a name="corr08" id="corr08"><ins class="correction" title="separate;">seperate;</ins></a> such as +making him attend to the guidance of the horse, demanding an exactness +of hand, and other particulars, which they <a name="corr09" id="corr09"><ins class="correction" title="crowd">croud</ins></a> upon him before he +is able to execute, or even understand half of them. I would recommend a +slower pace at first being likely to gain more ground at the ending +post, and not to perplex the scholar with <i>Aids</i>, of the effects of the +<i>Hand</i>, and more nice and essential parts of the <span class="smrom">ART</span>: till the <span class="smrom">SEAT</span> is +gained and <span class="smrom">CONFIRMED</span>.</p> + +<p>For this purpose let the seat alone be cultivated for some time, and +when the scholar is arrived at a certain degree of firmness and +confidence so as to be trusted, I would always advise the master to take +hold of the longeing rein and let the pupil intirely leave the governing +of his horse to him, going sufficiently to both hands holding his hands +behind him.</p> + +<p>This will, I insist upon it very soon settle him with firmness to the +saddle, will place his head, will stretch him down in his saddle, will +teach him to lean gently to the side to which he turns so as to unite +himself to his horse and go with him and will give that firmness ease, +and just poize of body, which constitute a perfect <i>Seat</i>, founded in +truth and nature and upon principles so certain, that whoever shall +think fit to reduce them to practise will find them confirmed and +justified by it. Nor would it be improper to accustom the scholar to +mount and dismount on both sides of his horse, as many things may occur +to make it necessary, as well as that he cannot have too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> much activity +and address, for this reason tis a pity that the art of <i>Vaulting</i> is +discontinued.—And there is another duty too essential to be omitted, +but hitherto not performed by matters, which is to instruct their pupils +in the <i>principles</i> and theory of the <i>Art</i>, explaining how the natural +paces are performed, wherein they differ from each other, and in what +their perfection consists; which, by not joining theory with practice, +are unknown to many, who may shine in a menage, but work as mechanically +and superficially as the very horse <a name="corr10" id="corr10"><ins class="correction" title="they">thay</ins></a> ride.</p> + +<p>Having thus far said what with practice will be sufficient to form the +seat of the Horseman, I shall next endeavour to describe the use of the +bridle hand and its effects, &c.</p> + + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> + +<h3 class="sectionhead"><span class="smcap">Of The Bridle Hand.</span></h3> + +<hr class="declong" /> + +<p>THE knowledge of the different characters, and different natures of +horses, together with the vices and imperfections, as well as the exact +and just proportions of the parts of a horse’s body, is the foundation +upon which is built the theory of the art of horsemanship; but this +theory will be useless and even unnecessary if we are not able to carry +it into execution.</p> + +<p>This depends upon the goodness and quickness of feeling; and in the +delicacy which nature alone can give, and which she does not always +bestow. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> first sensation of the hand consists in a greater or less +degree of fineness in the touch or feeling; a feeling in the hand of the +horseman, which ought to communicate and answer to the same degree of +feeling in the horse’s mouth, because there is as much difference in the +degrees of feeling in men as there is in the mouths of horses.</p> + +<p>I suppose then a man, who is not only capable to judge of a horse’s +mouth by theory, but who has likewise by nature that fineness of touch +which helps to form a good hand; let us see then what are the rules +which we should follow in order to make it perfect, and by which we must +direct all its operations.</p> + +<p>A horse can move four different ways; he can <i>advance</i>, go <i>back</i>, turn +to the <i>Right</i> and to the <i>Left</i>; but he cannot make these different +movements except the hand of the Rider permits him, by making four other +motions which answer to them; so that there are five different positions +for the hand. The first is that general position from which proceed the +other four.</p> + +<p>Hold your hand three inches breadth from your body, as high as your +elbow, in such a manner that the joint of your little-finger be upon a +right line with the tip of your elbow; let your wrist be sufficiently +rounded so that your knuckles may be kept directly above the neck of +your horse; let your finger nails be exactly opposite your body, the +little finger rather nearer to it than the others; your thumb quite flat +upon the reins, separated as before described, and this is the general +<i>Position</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>Does your horse go forwards, or rather would you have him go forwards? +yeild to him your hand, and for that purpose turn your nails downwards, +in such a manner as to bring your thumb near your body, and your +little-finger then from it, and bring it to the place where your +knuckles were in the first position. Keeping your nails directly above +the neck of your horse.—This is the second Position.</p> + +<p>Would you make your horse go backwards, quit the first position; let +your wrist be quite round, your thumb in the place of the little finger +in the second position, and the little-finger in that of the thumb, +turning your nails quite upwards, and towards your face, and your +knuckles will be towards your horse’s neck.—This is the third Position.</p> + +<p>Would you turn your horse to the Right? leave the first position; carry +your nails to the right, turning your hand upside down, in such a manner +that your thumb be carried out to the left, and the little-finger +brought in to the Right.—This is the fourth Position.</p> + +<p>Lastly, would you turn your horse to the Left? quit again the first +position, carry the back of your hand a little to the left, so that the +knuckles come under a little, that your thumb may incline to the right, +and the little-finger to the left.—This makes the fifth Position.</p> + +<p>These different Positions, however, alone are not sufficient; we must be +able to pass from one to the other with readiness and order.</p> + +<p>Three qualities are necessary to the hand. Viz. <span class="smcap">Firm</span>, <span class="smcap">Gentle</span>, and <span class="smcap">Light</span>: +I call that a firm hand,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> or steady hand whose feeling corresponds +exactly with the feeling in the horse’s mouth, and which consists in a +certain degree of steadiness, which constitutes that just correspondence +between the hand and the horse’s mouth, which every horseman wishes to +find.</p> + +<p>An easy or gentle hand. I call that which, relaxing a little of its +strength and firmness, eases and mitigates the degree of feeling between +the hand and horse’s mouth, which I have already described.</p> + +<p>Lastly, the light hand is that which lessens still more the feeling +between the rider’s hand and the horse’s mouth, which was before +moderated by the <span class="smcap">Gentle Hand</span>.</p> + +<p>The hand, therefore, with respect to these properties must operate in +part, within certain degrees, and depends upon being more or less felt, +or yeilded to the horse, or with-held.</p> + +<p>It should be a rule with every horseman not to pass from one extreme to +another; from a firm hand to a slack one; so that in the motion of the +hand on no account jump over that degree of sensation which constitutes +the <span class="smcap">Easy or Gentle Hand</span>: were you once to go from a firm strong hand to +a slack one, you then entirely abandon your horse; you would surprise +him, deprive him of the support he trusted to, and precipitate him on +his shoulders; supposing you do this at an improper time. On the +contrary, were you to pass from the slack to the tight rein, all at +once, you must jerk your hand, and give a violent shock to the horse’s +mouth; which rough and irregular motion would be sufficient to falsify +and ruin a good mouth; it is indispensably necessary, therefore, that +all its <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span><a name="corr11" id="corr11"><ins class="correction" title="operations">opeperations</ins></a> should be gentle and light, and in order to +this, it is necessary that the <span class="smcap">Wrist</span> alone should direct and govern all +its motions, by turning and steering it as it were, through every motion +it is to <a name="corr12" id="corr12"><ins class="correction" title="make.">make</ins></a></p> + +<p>In consequence then of these principles, I insist that the wrist be kept +so round that your knuckles may be always directly above the horse’s +neck, and that your thumb be always kept flat upon the reins. In reality +were your wrist to be more or less rounded than in the degree I have +fixed, you could never work with your hand but by means of your arm, and +besides it would appear as though you were lame; again were your thumb +not to be upon the flat of the reins, pressed hard upon your fore +finger, they would be constantly slipping away, and lengthened, and in +order to recover them you would be obliged every minute to raise your +hand and arm, which would throw you into disorder and make you lose that +justness without which no horse will be obedient and work with readiness +and pleasure to himself.</p> + +<p>It is nevertheless true, that with horses well dressed one may take +liberties; these are motions called descents of the hand; either by +dropping the knuckles directly and at once upon the horse’s neck, or by +taking the reins in the right hand about four inches above the left, +letting them slide through the left, dropping your right hand at the +same time upon the horse’s neck, or else by putting the horse under the +button as it is called: that is by taking the end of the reins in your +right hand, quitting them intirely with your left hand and letting the +end of them fall upon your horse’s neck, these motions however, which +give grace to the horseman, never should be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> made but with great +caution, and exactly when your horse is well together and in hand; and +take care in counterbalancing by throwing back your body, that the +weight of the body lie upon his haunches.</p> + +<p>The Bit and Snaffle were they to be kept constantly in one place in his +mouth, would of course dull the sense of feeling, and become benumbed +and callous; this shews the necessity of continually yeilding and +drawing back the hand to keep the horse’s mouth fresh and awake. It is +therefore self evident that a heavy handed horseman can never break a +horse to any degree of nicety, or ride one which is already broke to any +degree of exactness.</p> + +<p>Besides these rules, there are others not less just and certain; (but +whose niceness and refinement is not the lot of every person to taste +and understand) my hand being in the first position, I open my two +middle fingers, I consequently ease and slacken <a name="corr13" id="corr13"><ins class="correction" title="my right">myright</ins></a> rein; I shut +my hand, the right rein operates again, resuming its place as before, I +open my little finger and carrying the end of it upon the right rein, I +thereby slacken the left and shorten the right; I shut my hand entirely +and immediately open it again, I thereby lessen the degree of tension +and force of the two reins at the same time; again I close my hand not +quite so much, but still I close it.</p> + +<p>It is by these methods and by the vibration of the reins, that I unite +the feeling in my hand with that in the horse’s mouth, and thus I play +with a fine and <span class="smrom">MADE</span> mouth, and freshen and relieve the two bars in +which the feeling resides.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>Therefore, it is that correspondence and sensation between the horse’s +mouth and the hand of the rider, which alone can make him submit with +pleasure to the constraint of the bit.</p> + +<p>Having thus explained the different positions and motions of the hand, +permit me in a few words to shew the effects which they produce in +horsemanship?</p> + +<p>The hand directs the reins, the reins operate upon the branches of the +bit; the branches upon the mouth-piece and the curb, the mouth-piece +operates upon the bars, and the curb upon the chin of the horse.</p> + +<p>So far for the management of the bridle hand upon thorough-broke and +well-dressed horses. But in breaking young horses for any purpose, the +reins in all cases ought to be separated, nothing so unmeaning, nothing +so ineffectual as the method of working with them joined or held in only +one hand, this is very evident in the instances of colts, and of stiff +necked, and unworked horses of all kinds, with them it is impossible to +do anything without holding a rein in either hand, which rein operates +with certainty and governs the side of the neck to which it belongs, and +surely this is a shorter way of working than to make, or rather attempt +to make the left rein determine the horse to the right, and the right +guide him to the left. In the above instances of stiff awkward horses +this can never be done; and altho it is constantly practised with those +which are <i>Drest</i>, yet it is certain they obey, and make their <i>Changes</i> +more from <i>docility</i> and <i>Habit</i>, than from the influence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> of the +<i>outward</i> rein, which ought only to act, to balance and support, while +the inner bends, inclines, and guides the horse to the hand to which he +is to go.</p> + +<p>This can never be done so fully and truly with the reins joined, as when +they are separated into each hand, and if double or <i>Running</i> reins were +used instead of single as with a snaffle or<a name="FNanchor_24-1_2" id="FNanchor_24-1_2" href="#Footnote_24-1_2" class="fnanchor">24-*</a> <i>Meadow’s</i> bit, they +would afford more compass and power to the horseman to bend and turn his +horse.</p> + +<p>The manner of holding the reins high as <a name="corr14" id="corr14"><ins class="correction" title="condemned">condemed</ins></a> by some writers, +possessing themselves with a notion that they ruin the hocks of the +horses. For my own part I do not know what those writers mean, unless by +them we are to understand the haunches; and then this method instead of +ruining, will work and assist them, for the head and fore quarters are +raised up, his weight of course is thrown upon his haunches, for one end +being raised the other must be kept down.</p> + +<p>It is nothing more than a natural cause, which will always produce a +natural effect, for instance, ballance a pole <a name="corr15" id="corr15"><ins class="correction" title="upon a">upona</ins></a> wall so that it +acts in equilibrium, only raise one end, the other of course must be +lowered, it is the same with a horse, as you cannot rise his fore parts +but by bringing his haunches more under him. I would here wish to remark +that horses should never be compelled by force <a name="corr16" id="corr16"><ins class="correction" title="until">untill</ins></a> they know what +you wish from them, for let them be however disobedient in their +disposition, yet are all of them more or less sensible of good and bad +usage from their masters; the best method then to convey your intention +to them so that they shall understand you, is to reward them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> when they +do well, and to punish them when disobedient, this rule though contained +in few words yet is of universal use in horsemanship.</p> + +<p>And Xenophon, who wrote a treatise on Horsemanship, more than two +thousand years ago, among other notable remarks, when speaking on +horse-breaking, wherein he concludes thus: “But there is one rule to be +inviolably observed above all others; that is, never approach your horse +in a passion; as anger never thinks of consequences and forces us to do +what we afterwards repent.”</p> + +<p>Begging pardon for this short but useful digression, I again observe +that such are the principles upon which the perfection and justness of +the aids of the hand depend; all others are false and not to be +regarded.—Thus far for the bridle hand, and its effects.</p> + + + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="chapterhead"><span class="smcap">LECTURE on HORSEMANSHIP.</span><br /> + +Addressed to the Ladies.</h2> + +<hr class="declong" /> + + +<p>AMONG all the various writers on the art of horsemanship, +notwithstanding, side-saddles have been known and in use in England more +<a name="corr17" id="corr17"><ins class="correction" title="than">then</ins></a> six hundred years ago, even in Richard’s time, for in the reign of +this prince side-saddles were first known here, as it will appear from +the following anecdote, by a Warwick historian, in which he says.</p> + +<p>“And in his days also began the detestable custom of wearing long +pointed shoes, fastened with chains of silver, and sometimes gold, up to +the knees, likewise noble ladies then used high heads, and robes with +long trains, and seats or side-saddles on their horses, by the example +of the respectable queen Anne, daughter of the king of Bohemia, who +first introduced this custom in this kingdom: for before, women of every +rank rode as men do, with their legs astride their horses.”</p> + +<p>Thus says our Warwick historian, so that side saddles appear to have +been used many centuries ago, and that formerly the female sex took the +fashion of riding like men, for which they are <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>reprehended, by a Greek +historian, and hard indeed is the equestrian situation of the ladies, +for if they are to be accused of indelicacy for riding after the manner +of men, they are greatly to be pitied in hazarding their safety as they +do, in riding after the <i>manner</i> of <i>Women</i>.</p> + +<p>However as no one hath ever yet lent a helping hand in putting pen to +paper on the subject, by way of adding, if possible, to the ladies, +elegance, ease and safety on horse back; I shall without any other +apology then assuring those ladies who may please to read what I write +on the matter, is well meant, and are such ideas that have <a name="corr18" id="corr18"><ins class="correction" title="occurred">occured</ins></a> to +me in many years study, and practice in the <a name="corr19" id="corr19"><ins class="correction" title="menage">manage.</ins></a></p> + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> + +<h3 class="sectionhead">DIRECTIONS IN MOUNTING.</h3> + +<hr class="declong" /> + +<p>LET the ostler or servant being on the off side the horse, with right +hand holding the bridoun reins, to properly stay the horse, and his left +hand on the part of the saddle called the crutch, by this method both +horse and saddle will be kept firm and steady, it is the riding master’s +duty to examine the bridle whether it is properly placed, the curb, +chain, or chin chain in due order, the saddle in a proper place, and the +girths sufficiently tight, &c. Direct the lady then to take her whip, or +switch in the right hand, the small end of it turned towards the horse’s +croup, then with the right hand take a firm hold of the pommell of the +saddle standing upright with her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> right shoulder square, and in a line +with the horse’s left, she then bending the left knee pretty much, the +master or gentleman who <a name="corr20" id="corr20"><ins class="correction" title="assists">asists</ins></a> her standing facing the lady, he +stooping a little receives the lady’s left foot in his hands being +clasped firm together, the lady must then be directed to straiten her +knee, being now bent, with a firmness and elasticity pressing her left +hand on the man’s left shoulder, making a little spring at the same +time, by which the riding-master, gentleman, or servant, if permitted, +by paying due attention to these rules will spring the lady on the +saddle with the greatest ease and safety. <i>The method of adjusting the +petticoats</i>; I then place the lady’s foot in the stirrup tho’ it is a +wonder if a proper length, being guess work, as we are now to suppose +this to be the first lesson, and the stirrup cannot be properly fixed, +till the lady is in her seat, I say I then give her the stirrup, +directing she may take a firm hold with the left hand of a lock of the +horse’s mane, at the same time she having a firm hold of the crutch with +the right, by which means she rises herself up from the saddle, standing +firm in the stirrup, looking rather over the off side of the horse’s +neck, the intention of this is that the attendant shall adjust the coats +so as they sit smooth and easy, by pulling them round a little to the +right, then on returning to the saddle, or seat, and while in coming +down she must put her right knee over the pommel of the saddle, and by +these simple rules she will find all comfortable and easy; in regard to +the adjustment of the bridle reins, and the managing and directing the +horse by them, pay strict attention to those set down in the first +lecture addressed to the gentlemen; let the whip be placed firm and easy +in the right hand, with the taper or small end <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>downwards, and the arm +hanging carelessly down without contraction, and when the whip is made +use off, let it be by means of the wrist, without lifting the arm from +the body, and be careful not to touch the horse with the whip too +backward as many of them will kick on their being flogged in that part, +which if it should not occasion a fall, would much alarm the young +scholar, before she has acquired any degree of ballance.</p> + + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> + +<h3 class="sectionhead">DIRECTIONS FOR THE LENGTH OF THE STIRRUP.</h3> + +<hr class="declong" /> + +<p>THE Stirrup should be such length as when the lady sits upright and +properly on her seat, with the knee being easily bent, the heel kept +back, with the toe raised a little higher than the heel, so that the +heel, hip and the shoulder, are in a line and as upright as when walking +along, for if otherwise it is unjust and not agreeable to nature; for +suppose you are riding along the road with the foot stuck out and so +forward as the horses front of his shoulder, as is not uncommon to see +girls riding in this manner along the road in the country, as tho’ they +were directing with their foot which road their horse should take, I say +this method is not only very unbecoming but very unsafe, for instance if +riding carelessly along the road with the foot and leg in this attitude +being to pass some stubborn or inflexible object on the left or near +side, perhaps before you are aware or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> apprised of the danger you might +have your foot and leg sorely bruised, nay even dragged from your horse, +I have seen similar instances to this, happen more than once, even when +the foot has been in a good situation by ladies who unthinkingly have +endeavoured to pass objects to the left when they could as easily have +passed those objects to the <i>right</i>, which ladies should make an +invariable rule so to do at all times, if possible; for reasons which +must be plain to any one, who will think one minute on the matter; +another inconvenience will frequently arise by suffering the leg and +foot to be in this horrid form, which is, the stirrup leather will +frequently press against the leg, so as to hurt it very much, this I +have often had beginners complain of, by saying the buckle of the +stirrup hurt them, when behold I never use a buckle to my stirrups on +the left side, as they are always fastened and buckled on the off side, +for <i>two</i> particular good advantages which arise from it; the principal +of which is, that as the pressure or bearing coming from the off side, +it greatly assists in keeping the saddle even, especially with those +ladies through a bad habit who accustom themselves to bear hard on the +stirrup which is nothing more <a name="corr21" id="corr21"><ins class="correction" title="than">then</ins></a> a habit, and want of learning to +ride the right way at first.</p> + +<p>The other reason is, you can lengthen or shorten the stirrup at +pleasure, without disturbing the lady at all, and without even +dismounting yourself, if you are riding on the road, as the business is +done on the off side the horse, nay I have altered the stirrup often +without stopping at all.</p> + +<p>I insist upon it therefore if the stirrup does not hang perpendicular, +or the same as when left to itself and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> no one on horseback, the end is +totally destroyed, for what the stirrup was designed; which is in the +<i>first</i> place to carry the weight of, and only the weight of the rider’s +leg, without which support it would soon become fatigued and tired: and +<i>secondly</i>, if you accustom yourself to carry your foot properly, as +before directed, that is your heel in a line with your hip and shoulder, +letting your foot rest even in the stirrup, carrying only the weight of +your leg, with the toe a little raised, it will never fail to assist you +in your balance, if you happen to lose it to the left, it is also ready +to save you if you should happen to lose your balance to the right, by +pressing the calf of your leg strongly and firmly to the side of your +horse, and being always near your horse’s side it is a quick aid in +supporting him, and to force him forward, it is also of the greatest +use, by pressing it strongly to his side, in assisting to turn your +horse to the left, and likewise in throwing your horse’s croup off when +you wish to make him go into a canter, by which means he will be forced +to go off with the right leg foremost.</p> + +<p>And <i>lastly</i>, it is of the utmost utility in supporting you in the +continuance of the Spring Trot, a pace now greatly in fashion, and +should be practised by all who accustom themselves to ride any length of +journies, as it enables them to make some degree of speed, and by +changing their paces often from walk, to trot, and gallop, their journey +becomes less tedious to them.</p> + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<h3 class="sectionhead"><span class="smcap">Of the Seat</span>,<br /> + +And Form of the Side Saddle.</h3> + +<hr class="declong" /> + +<p>In the first place I would strongly recommend a large seated Saddle, +very high on the cantlet or back part, and a regular sweep from thence +to the front or pommell, for some saddles, more shame be it spoken, are +so small, and the seat so rounded in the middle, that to sit on them is +next to balancing themselves on a round pole, a comfortable situation +truly for a lady! I say again let me recommend a large seated saddle; I +mean let it be large in proportion to the size of the lady, and high in +the cantlet, nay I am confident that they might be contrived to +advantage, were they constructed with peaks, and the peak carried on +from the back part of the saddle to within four inches of the front on +the off side; this with the addition of a Burr, as it is called, to +support the left knee, would greatly assist the lady in keeping the body +on a good balance and sufficiently back: which might prevent many +accidents.</p> + +<p>If these hints should strike any lady or gentleman as being reasonable, +and should they be inclined to have a saddle so constructed, I should +think myself happy in explaining myself more fully on the subject.</p> + +<p><i>Now in regard to the Seat for a Lady</i>, I sincerely wish I was able to +prescribe a more firm <i>one</i> than the present fashion will admit of, +however I will do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> my endeavour to handle it in the best manner I can; +and first let the whole weight of the body rest firmly upon the center +of the saddle, leaning <a name="corr22" id="corr22"><ins class="correction" title="neither">nei her</ins></a> to one side or the other, with the +shoulders easily back, and the chest presented well forward; a lady +cannot be too nice and circumspect, in accustoming herself to sit +upright, without contraction, in any part, <i>nothing so graceful, nothing +so safe as ease</i> of <i>action</i>; do not let the stirrup carry more than the +weight of the leg, except in case of the Swing Trot, or when assisting +to keep the <a name="corr23" id="corr23"><ins class="correction" title="Ballance.">Ballance,</ins></a></p> + +<p>Two material disadvantages arise from Ladies accustoming themselves to +bear heavy in the stirrup, and loll about, constantly twisting +themselves to the near or left side of the horse: first it destroys +their whole figure, making the same appear deformed and crooked; and if +they were to continue in the habit of riding would confirm them in such +deformed attitude, in its becoming second nature, by constant use; this +is a truth too frequently witnessed, by practising without the right +method.</p> + +<p>Secondly, the other disadvantage most materially affects the horse; for +by their so constantly leaning themselves to the near side, the +side-saddle being so pulled and pressed against the withers or shoulder +of the horse on the off side, keeping up a continual friction, and this +being the case, I defy all the Sadlers in the kingdom to prevent the +saddle from wringing and galling the poor beast, especially in the heat +of the summer; the only remedy is to take away the cause, by sitting +properly, and the effect ceases of course.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>The notions which some Ladies have entertained, as to fear to let their +daughters be taught to Ride, least it should make them grow crooked and +awry, I insist that they are false, and quite the reverse; the cause is, +as before observed, by their contracting bad habits of their own, and +not being instructed on approved principles, so that the effect is +caught hold of, while the cause lies unsought for; from my own knowledge +and experience I could relate several instances wherein young Ladies +instead of growing crooked by learning to ride, have been greatly +relieved from those complaints, and even quite eradicated by the +practice of riding, I will here beg leave to mention an instance or two +which will serve to prove what good effects may arise from this pleasant +and healthful exercise.</p> + +<p>A young Lady about Seventeen years of age who had been afflicted for +twelve months with a stiffness in her neck and shoulders, and it was +observable that the right shoulder was grown much larger than the left.</p> + +<p>She on coming to the riding house to observe her fellow scholars take +their lessons, of which she became much pleased, and wished much to +learn to ride.—The governess consulted me on the matter, but said she +feared it might make her grow worse as she had been told that riding +sometimes caused Ladies to become crooked, however, by my reasoning the +matter with her she was convinced in her own opinion and caused the +young Lady to write to her parents in Jamaica, and had permission by +return of packet to ride according to my directions, which were briefly +as follows, being in the month of March, and of course rather a cold +piercing air, I advised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> new unwashed flannel every time she took a +lesson to be worn next the skin on the part affected, <i>she rode</i>, of +course a strong perspiration took place, she was much fatigued for the +first six or seven Lessons, however after then as she began to be +acquainted with the use of her bridle hands, as I made her use both; and +give great part of the Lessons, in small circles to right and left; the +consequence was that by persevering in this method for two successive +months the parts became naturally relaxed and pliable, and by continuing +to practice she entirely recovered her alacrity and spirits, and also +became acquainted with the art of Riding, which I hope she may long live +to practice with ease and safety to herself in her native country.</p> + +<p>Another young Lady from the same school had a particular habit of +leaning her shoulders and neck forward, I have frequently heard it +called pokeing, and all the dancing-master’s instructions had for years +been ineffectual. I believe she was more fond of riding than dancing +instructions, for the governess of the young lady before-mentioned often +asserted that the Riding Master had done more in setting her scholar +upright and keeping her shoulders easily back, in the space only of two +months, than the Dancing Master, though capable in his profession, had +been able to accomplish in three years.</p> + +<p>I hope to be pardoned for this little digression, not doubting but those +Ladies who will give themselves time to consider the foregoing, will be +convinced that it is agreeable to reason and nature.</p> + +<p>Now to say some little more of the <span class="smcap">Seat</span>, which cannot be too much +attended to, being in a great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> measure the foundation of safety to a +lady when on horseback, and as such I would strongly recommend the lady +being in the menage, or in any proper place, the horse being very quiet +and to be trusted to; then let the lady seat herself properly on the +saddle as before directed, <i>only</i> without the stirrup, and not to take +the reins, leaving the direction of the horse to the Riding Master, or +to whoever she can with safety trust the government to; and in this +manner take half an hour’s practice every day, as nothing will so +greatly assist in acquiring a good and just balance.</p> + +<p>I do not advise this method to be gone rapidly about, as she may make +use both of stirrup and reins at first, and when she has acquired a +firmness and ballance in some degree, may first quit the stirrup, and in +a lesson or two, the <a name="corr24" id="corr24"><ins class="correction" title="reins,">reins.</ins></a> remembering to go to right and left +circle alternately and <a name="corr25" id="corr25"><ins class="correction" title="progressively,">progressively.</ins></a> viz. from <i>Walk</i> to Trot and +Gallop; I hope I need not say that the horse should be remarkably +steady, and properly broke to go in circles to right and left by the +longeing rein.</p> + +<p>I say this method will settle and give the scholar a firmness not to be +acquired by any other means, will teach them to unite themselves with +their horse, and go along with him, it will bring about that confidence, +firmness, ease, and just poize of body which serves to constitute what +is called a perfect <i>Seat</i>, acquired by the rules of art, and agreeable +to nature, and I here beg leave to quote a few lines which the great +Berringer observes applicable to this subject, “It is astonishing to +think how this work so immediately necessary could have been deferred so +long, that while rewards were given, public trials appointed, and laws +enacted to promote an <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>useful and generous breed of horses, no step +should have been taken on the other hand to qualify and instruct the +youth of the kingdom, of both sex in the superior art of riding; for the +getting on the back of an horse to be conveyed from one place to another +without knowing what the animal is enabled by nature, art and practice +to perform, is not <i>Riding</i>, the knowledge and utility of which consists +in being able to discern and dexterous to employ the means by which the +horse may be brought to execute what the rider requires of him with +propriety, readiness and safety, and this knowledge in the rider and +obedience in the horse should be so intimately connected as to form one +<i>perfect whole</i>, this union being so indispensably necessary that where +it is not, there is no meaning, the rider and horse talk different +languages, and all is confusion, while many and fatal mischiefs may +ensue, the rider may be wedged in the timber which he strives to rend, +and fall the victim of his own ignorance and rashness.”</p> + +<p>I have now observed such rules which with practice will form as good and +perfect a <i>Seat</i> as the customary mode of riding will admit of. It +remains now with practice and perseverance to make perfect.</p> + +<hr class="sectbreak" /> + +<h3 class="sectionhead">WHEN RIDING ON THE ROAD.</h3> + +<hr class="declong" /> + +<p>WHEN a lady has taken sufficient practice in the menage or elsewhere, so +as to be able to steer and guide her horse, and particularly can stop +him firm and well upon his haunches, and also knows by practice how to +unite herself to the horse, provided he should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> stop suddenly by his own +will, an instance which frequently happens, therefore it is essential +that the rider should become sensible of every action of the horse by +that kind of sympathy of feeling which should subsist between them, so +as to know his intentions as quick as thought, in this and all other +actions he may be inclined to, which are likely to offend and endanger +the rider, or himself; I would earnestly recommend the lady to make +herself acquainted with every help so as to <a name="corr26" id="corr26"><ins class="correction" title="guard">gaurd</ins></a> and defend herself +on all occasions, such as her horse stumbling, shying, starting, running +away, running back, rearing, kicking, and plunging; yet horses addicted +to any of those vices are by no means fit, or should have ladies set +upon knowingly, but as a lady cannot always be so fortunate as to get +the possession of one of those hackneys we call a nonpareil, tho’ every +dealer you enquire of for one will say he can sell it you, therefore +place not too much confidence in him you purchase your horse from, or +the horse himself, even after you have rode him some time, for you +scarce ever can be certain but he may play you some of those tricks, +especially if his keep is above his work, as I have always found the +best lady’s hackneys require constant practice to keep them in tune.</p> + +<p>It is necessary the lady should have a sharp eye upon the road she is +travelling, taking care by the gentle assistance of the bridle hand to +steer and guide her horse into the best, to avoid all stones and uneven +places, and never to ride near the edge of any deep ditch or sudden +precipice, for altho, heaven be praised, accidents very seldom happen, +yet if for the want of a little care and due management one should +happen in one hundred years, that one would be one too many: the lady +should pay great attention<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> to the horse when going down a steep hill, +and endeavour to put him together and upon his haunches, and to perform +this, she must feel his mouth lightly and firmly with the bridle hand, +at the same time making use of some of the helps used to force him to go +forward, such as clicking with your voice, a gentle touch with the whip, +or the heel, so she stays him a little by the bridle hand at the same +time he is forced forwards by the other helps or aids and if properly +timed, by doing enough without over doing, he will be put together, and +of course kept on a light proper action which must be in the real action +of a trot, that is with his two corner legs in the air at one time and +two on the ground, by such means the horse will always be kept on a sure +ballance and never be in danger of falling, on the other hand if the +horse is sufferd to go loose and <a name="corr27" id="corr27"><ins class="correction" title="unassisted">unasisted</ins></a> by the bridle hand, and +the other aids as before described, when going down a steep hill he will +most commonly go into that unnatural pace called the amble which is +moving his side legs together instead of his corner legs, this pace is +very unsafe notwithstanding the ancients used arts in breaking the horse +to the amble, on account of its being so much easier than the trot, but +as it is a known maxim in physic that giving ease and performing a cure +are two different things, so here an easy pace and a safe one are as +diametrically opposite, and that the amble is an unsafe pace is easy to +be conceived by the horse losing so large a portion of his ballance, to +prove which only try these simple experiments. Take a wooden <a name="corr28" id="corr28"><ins class="correction" title="horse,">horse</ins></a> +let his two corner legs be taken away and he will stand, but take away +his two sides leg and he falls, again one often sees at a farrier’s shop +when a horse is wanted to be shod in haste, two smiths can work at the +same time, by taking each of them a corner leg,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> therefore how careful +should we be to keep our hackneys on a safe action, and awake under us +on all occasions.</p> + +<p>The lady should endeavour to make herself acquainted with those objects +which horses are most subject to be alarmed at, and first of all is a +windmill in full sail, next some can never be brought to go comfortably +by a tilted waggon, especially if meeting it, others dislike asses very +much, some dislike to face a man wheeling a barrow or an umbrella +extended, an arch drain which is frequently seen to carry the water away +thro the banks in a turnpike road, its laying low and of course presents +itself very suddenly, will sadly alarm some, and any object suddenly +presenting itself is almost sure to affright and alarm any horse in +<a name="corr29" id="corr29"><ins class="correction" title="spirits.">spirits,</ins></a> I once saw a lady get a fall, by a cow suddenly presenting +its head over a hedge, yet a more steady animal never was, as I used her +four years and never knew her start either before or after; let it be +remembered that horses are more apt to be shy or start in the dusk of +the evening than in broad day light, horses with bad eyes are almost +sure to start, yet starting is not a sure sign of bad eyes, as many +imagine it, I mention these few observations in regard to starting +because horses which are most free from those faults, it may happen to +some times; as horses like men are not alway in the same temper: never +ride on a fast pace by any lane’s end, or in turning any sudden or short +turn, for two reasons; first, that it is unsafe as the horse might be +subject to fall for want of being supported, and put together by +shortening his pace, and secondly by your not being able to discern the +objects which might present themselves to you so as to disturb and alarm +your horse: these little hints kept well in mind may be the means of +preventing many accidents.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">FINIS.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_3-1_1" id="Footnote_3-1_1" href="#FNanchor_3-1_1" class="label">3-*</a> Such as the Wild Arabs, Indians, &c.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_24-1_2" id="Footnote_24-1_2" href="#FNanchor_24-1_2" class="label">24-*</a> Used by Sir Sidney Meadows.</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> + +<div class="tn"> +<p class="titlepage"><a name="trans_note" id="trans_note"></a><b>Transcriber’s Note</b></p> + +<p class="noindent">The following errors have been maintained.</p> + +<table class="tntable" summary="typos"> +<tr> + + <td class="tdr">Page</td> + <td>Error</td> + <td>Correction</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr01">4</a></td> + <td>particulatly</td> + <td>particularly</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr02">10</a></td> + <td>dependance</td> + <td>dependence</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr03">11</a></td> + <td>iregular</td> + <td>irregular</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr04">12</a></td> + <td>seperately</td> + <td>separately</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr05">14</a></td> + <td>apendix</td> + <td>appendix</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr06">14</a></td> + <td>higher then</td> + <td>than</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr07">14</a></td> + <td>purpose,</td> + <td>purpose.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr08">16</a></td> + <td>seperate;</td> + <td>separate</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr09">16</a></td> + <td>croud</td> + <td>crowd</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr10">17</a></td> + <td>thay</td> + <td>they</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr11">20</a></td> + <td>opeperations</td> + <td>operations</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr12">21</a></td> + <td>to make</td> + <td>to make.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr13">22</a></td> + <td>myright</td> + <td>my right</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr14">24</a></td> + <td>condemed</td> + <td>condemned</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr15">24</a></td> + <td>upona</td> + <td>upon a</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr16">24</a></td> + <td>untill</td> + <td>until</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr17">26</a></td> + <td>more then</td> + <td>than</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr18">27</a></td> + <td>occured</td> + <td>occurred</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr19">27</a></td> + <td>manage</td> + <td>menage</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr20">28</a></td> + <td>asists</td> + <td>assists</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr21">30</a></td> + <td>more then</td> + <td>more than</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr22">33</a></td> + <td>nei her</td> + <td>neither</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr23">33</a></td> + <td>Ballance,</td> + <td>Ballance.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr24">36</a></td> + <td>the reins.</td> + <td>the reins,</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr25">36</a></td> + <td>progressively.</td> + <td>progressively,</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr26">38</a></td> + <td>gaurd</td> + <td>guard</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr27">39</a></td> + <td>unasisted</td> + <td>unassisted</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr28">39</a></td> + <td>wooden horse</td> + <td>wooden horse,</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#corr29">40</a></td> + <td>spirits,</td> + <td>spirits.</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lectures on Horsemanship, by Unknown + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LECTURES ON HORSEMANSHIP *** + +***** This file should be named 31957-h.htm or 31957-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/9/5/31957/ + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Lectures on Horsemanship + Wherein Is Explained Every Necessary Instruction for Both + Ladies and Gentlemen, in the Useful and Polite Art of + Riding, with Ease, Elegance, and Safety + +Author: Unknown + +Release Date: April 12, 2010 [EBook #31957] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LECTURES ON HORSEMANSHIP *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +A number of typographical errors have been maintained in this version of +this book. They have been marked with a [+] and a description may be +found in the complete list at the end of the text. Irregular and +non-standard spelling has been maintained as printed. + + + + + LECTURES + ON + HORSEMANSHIP, + + Wherein is Explained + EVERY + NECESSARY INSTRUCTION + FOR BOTH + LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, + In the Useful and Polite + ART OF RIDING, + WITH + EASE, ELEGANCE, AND SAFETY, + + + BY T. S. + Professor of Horsemanship. + + + _LONDON_: + 1793. + + + + +LECTURE ON HORSEMANSHIP. + +Address to the Audience. + + + LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. + +Permit me to observe that the Horse is an animal, which, from the +earliest ages of the world, has been destined to the pleasure and +services of Man; the various and noble qualities with which nature has +endowed him sufficiently speaking the ends for which he was designed. + +Mankind were not long before they were acquainted with them, and found +the means of applying them to the purposes for which they were given: +this is apparent from the Histories and traditions of almost all +nations, even from times the most remote; insomuch that many nations and +tribes, or colonies of people, who were entirely ignorant, or had but +very imperfect notions, of other improvements and arts of life; and even +at this day[3-*] are unacquainted with them, yet saw and understood the +generous properties of this creature in so strong a light as to treat +him with fondness and the greatest attention, sufficiently to declare +the high opinion they entertained of his merit and excellence; nay in +various regions, and in the most distant ages, were so far from being +strangers to the many services of which the Horse was capable, as to +have left rules and precepts concerning them, which are so true and +just, that they have been adopted by their successors; and as all art is +progressive, and receives additions and improvements in its course, as +the sagacity of man at different times, or chance and other causes +happen and concur: so that having the Ancient's foundation to erect our +building, it is natural to suppose that the structure has received many +beauties and improvements from the experience and refinement of latter +times. + +It is generally supposed that the first service in which the Horse was +employed, was to assist mankind in making war, or in the pleasures and +occupations of the chase. _Xenophon_, who wrote three hundred years +before the Birth of _Christ_, says, in an express treatise which he +wrote on Horsemanship, that Cyrus hunted on Horseback, when he had a +mind to exercise himself and horses. + +Herodotus speaks of hunting on Horseback as an exercise used in the time +of _Darius_, and it is probably of much earlier date. He particulatly[+] +mentions a fall which Darius had from his horse in hunting, by which he +dislocated his heel: these and thousands of quotations more, which might +be produced as proofs of the utility of the Horse, in remote ages, are +truths so indisputably attested that to enlarge farther upon it would be +a superfluous labour, and foreign to my present undertaking. + + +ON MOUNTING YOUR HORSE. + +First we will suppose your horse properly saddled and bridled. Take your +Bridoun-rein (if you have Bit and Bridoun) your right-hand, shifting it +till you have found the center of the rein; then with your switch or +whip in your left-hand, place your little finger between the reins, so +that the right rein lies flat in your hand upon three fingers, and your +thumb pressing your left rein flat upon the right, keeping your thumb +both upon right and left rein, firm upon your fore-finger; and in this +position you ease your hand a little and slide it firmly down the reins +upon your horse's neck, taking a firm hold of a lock of his mane, which +will assist you in springing to mount: remember that when you attempt to +mount, that your reins are not so tight as to check your horse, or to +offend his mouth, so as to cause him to _rear_, or _rein_ back, but that +your action is smooth and light as possible. + +Your horse being firmly stayed, you next take your Stirrup-leather in +your Right-hand, about four inches from the stirrup-iron, and fix one +third of your foot in the stirrup, standing square with your horse's +side; next take a firm hold with your right hand on the Cantlet or back +part of the saddle, rather on the off side of it, and with your left +knee prest firm against the horse's side, spring yourself up +perpendicularly, bending the small of your back and looking chearfully +up rather than down. The next move you make is to remove your right-hand +from the Cantlet and place it firm upon the Pummel, or front of your +saddle, bearing your weight upon it, at the same time bend your right +knee, and bring your body round, looking strait over your horse's head, +letting yourself firmly and easily down into your seat, with the +shoulders easily back, bent well in your waist or loins, and your chest +well presented in front, with a pleasant uncontracted countenance. + +You of course next recover or take your switch, which is done by putting +your right-hand over your left, and with a quick firm motion take it in +your right hand, holding the same perpendicularly. + +Proceed us next to the adjusting the Reins, which is of the utmost use. +Supposing you ride with Bit and Bridoun, being four in number, place +them all even and flat in your left hand, exactly in the same manner as +described in taking the Bridoun in mounting; that is to say, your four +reins placed even, the one upon the other, remembering always to place +your Bridouns on the outsides, so that you may any time lengthen or +shorten them at pleasure, without putting the whole into confusion, and +cause the Bit to act alone, or Bridoun alone, or both Bit and Bridoun to +act together. + +I have observed before that only your little finger should be between +the reins when only two, it is the same now four, so now your two reins +on the right side of your horse's neck lie flat upon your three fingers +in your left-hand, your two left reins placed flat upon the right, and +your thumb pressed flat upon all four. This is the only sure method to +keep your reins firm, free from confusion, and to cause them to act +properly; which any lady or gentleman will be convinced of if they will +only give themselves the pleasure to practise, as I cannot call it a +trouble. + +If it should be demanded why the horse would not ride as well with only +the Bridoun, without the Bit? my answer is that suppose your horse +becomes hard and heavy in hand, on being rode by both Bit and Bridoun, +where they have both acted together: you on this shorten your Bit-reins +whereby they act alone the Bridouns becoming slack, your horse instantly +becomes light in hand, as though touched by a _magick stick_, reining +his neck properly, is immediately light before, gathers himself upon his +haunches, and what appeared, but _now_ a _garronly_ sluggish beast wears +the appearance of a well dressed horse. + +Well and thorough broke horses with mouths made fine and to answer the +nicest touch of feeling, are in general rode by the Bit alone, the +Bridouns hanging loose and seem more for ornament than use; but yet in +the hand of a skillful horseman are of the greatest utility; for by +handling your right Bridoun-rein lightly with your whip hand at proper +times; you can always raise your horse's head if too low, you may take +the liberty of easing your Bit-reins at times, so that playing upon his +mouth, as it were an _Instrument of musick_, you will always keep his +mouth in tune. I cannot find a juster simile than, that the Horse is the +Instrument and the Rider the Player; and when the horse is well broke +and tuned properly, and the rider knows how to keep him in that state, +he is never at a loss to play upon him; but if suffered to go out of +tune, by the want of skill in the horseman, and to imbibe bad habits, +the horseman not being able to screw him up, and tune him as before: the +Instrument is thrown by as useless, or may be sold for a trifle, and by +chance falling into able hands, that know how to manage and put him once +more together; he again becomes as good as ever: and this I have often +been a witness to. Thus much for the adjustment of the Reins in the +Hand. + + +THE HORSEMAN'S SEAT: + +The principles and rules which have hitherto been given for the +horseman's seat are various, and even opposite, according as they have +been adopted by different masters, and taught in different countries, +almost by each master in particular; and every nation having certain +rules and notions of their own. Let us see, however, if art has +discovered nothing that is certain and invariably true.--The Italians, +the Spaniards, the French and, in a word, every country where Riding is +in repute, adopt each a posture which is peculiar to themselves: the +foundation of their general notions is the same, but each country has +prescribed rules for the placing the man on the saddle. + +This contrariety of opinions which have their origin more in prejudice +than in truth and reality, has given rise to many vain reasonings and +speculations, each System having its followers; and as if truth was not +always the same, and unchangeable, but at liberty to assume various and +even opposite shapes; sometimes one opinion prevailed, sometimes +another, insomuch that those who understand nothing of the subject, but +yet are desirous of being informed, by searching it to the bottom, have +hitherto been lost in doubt and perplexity. + +There is nevertheless a sure and infallible method, by the assistance of +which it would be very easy to overturn all these systems; but not to +enter into a needless detail of the extravagant notions, which the Seat +alone has given rise to; I will here endeavour to trace it from +principles by so much the more solid, as their authority will be +supported by the most convincing and self evident reasons. + +In order to succeed in an art where the mechanism of the body is +absolutely necessary, and where each part of the body has its proper +functions, which are peculiar to that part; it is most certain that all +and every part of the body should be in a natural posture: were they in +an imperfect situation they would want that ease and freedom which is +inseparable from grace; and as every motion which is constrained being +false in itself, and incapable of justness, it is clear that the part so +constrained and forced would throw the whole into confusion; because +each part belonging to and depending upon the whole body, and the body +partaking of the constraint of its parts, can never feel that fixed +point, that just counterpoise and equality, in which alone a fine and +just execution consists. + +The objects to which a master, anxious for the advancement of his pupil, +should attend, are infinite. To little purpose will it be to keep the +strictest eye upon all the parts and Limbs of his pupil's Body; in vain +will he endeavour to remedy all the defects and faults which are found +in the posture of almost every scholar in the beginning, unless he is +intimately acquainted with the close dependance[+] and connexion there +is between the motions of one part of the body with the rest; a +correspondence caused by the reciprocal action of the muscles, which +govern and direct them: unless, therefore, he is master of this secret, +and has his clue to the labyrinth, he will never attain the end he +proposes; particularly in his first lessons, upon which the success of +the rest always depend. These principles being established we may reason +in consequence of them with clearness. + +In horsemanship, the Body of man is divided into three parts; two of +which are moveable, the third immoveable. + +The first of the two moveable parts is the Trunk or Body, down to the +Waist; the second is from the Knees to the Feet; so that the immoveable +part is between the waist and the knees. The parts then which ought to +be without motion are the Fork, or Twist of the horseman, and his +thighs; now that these parts should be kept without motion, they ought +to have a certain hold and center to rest upon, which no motion that the +horse can make can disturb or loosten; this point or center is the basis +of the hold which the horseman has upon his horse, and is what is called +the SEAT; now if the seat is nothing else but this point or center, it +must follow, that not only the true grace, but the symmetry and true +proportion of the whole attitude depend upon those parts of the body +that are immoveable. + +Let the horseman then place himself at once, upon his Twist, sitting +exactly in the middle of the saddle; let him support this posture, in +which the Twist alone seems to sustain the weight of the whole body, by +moderately leaning upon his buttock. + +Let the Thighs be turned inward, and rest flat upon the sides of the +saddle; and in order to this let the turn of the thighs proceed directly +from the hips, and let him employ no force or strength to keep himself +in the saddle, but trust entirely to the weight of his body and thighs; +this is the exact equilibrio: in this and this only consists the +firmness and support of the whole _building_; a firmness which young +beginners are never sensible of at first, but which is to be acquired, +and will always be attained by exercise and practise. I demand but a +moderate stress upon the buttocks, because a man that sits full upon +them can never turn his thighs flat to the saddle; the thighs should +always lay flat to the saddle, because, the fleshy part of them being +insensible, the horseman would not otherwise be able so nicely to feel +the motions of his horse: I insist that the turn of the Thigh must be +from the Hip, because it can never be natural, but as it proceeds from +the hollow of the hip bone. + +I insist farther that the horseman never avails himself of the strength +or help of his thighs, except he lets his whole weight rest upon the +center, as before described; because the closer he presses them to the +saddle, the more will he be lifted above the saddle on any sudden or +iregular[+] motion of the Horse. + +Having thus firmly placed the immovable parts, I now pass on to the +first of the _Movables_, which is as I have already observed the body +as far as to the waist. I comprehend in the Body, the Head, the +Shoulders, the Breast, the Arms, Hands, Reins and Waist of the Horseman. + +The head should be free, firm and easy, in order to be ready for all the +natural motions that the horseman may make in turning to one side or the +other. It should be firm, that is to say, strait, without leaning to the +right or left, neither advanced nor thrown back; it should be easy +because if otherwise it would occasion a stiffness, and that stiffness +affecting the different parts of the body, especially the back bone, the +whole would be without ease and constrained. + +The shoulders alone influence by their motions that of the breast the +reins and waist. + +The horseman should present or advance his breast, by that his whole +figure opens and displays itself; he should have a small hollow in his +reins, and push the waist forward to the pommel of the saddle, because +this position corresponds and unites him to all the motions of the +horse. + +Now only throwing the shoulders back, produces all these effects, and +gives them exactly in the degree that is requisite; whereas if we were +to look for the particular position of each part seperately[+] and by +itself, without examining the connection that there is between the +motions of one part with those of another, there would be such a bending +in his reins that the horseman would be, if I may so say, hollow backed; +and as from that he would force his breast forward and his waist towards +the pommel of the saddle, he would be flung back, and must sit upon the +rump of the horse. + +The arms should be bent at the elbows, and the elbows should rest +equally upon the hips; if the arms were strait, the consequence would +be, that the hands would be too low, or at too great a distance from the +body; and if the elbows were not kept steady, they would of consequence, +give an uncertainty and fickleness to the hand, sufficient to ruin it +for ever. + +It is true that the _Bridle-hand_ is that which absolutely ought to be +steady and immoveable; and we might conclude from hence, that the left +elbow only ought to rest upon the hip; but grace consists in the exact +proportion and symmetry of all the parts of the body, and to have the +arm on one side raised and advanced, and that of the other kept down and +close to the body would present but an aukward and disagreeable +appearance. + +It is this which determines the situation of the hand which holds the +whip; the left hand being of an equal heighth with the elbow; so that +the knuckle of the little finger, and the tip of the elbow be both in a +line, this hand then being rounded neither too much nor too little, but +just so that the wrist may direct all its motions, place your right +hand, or the whip hand, lower and more forward than the bridle hand. It +should be lower than the bridle hand because if it was upon a level with +it, it would restrain or obstruct its motions; and were it to be higher, +as it cannot take so great a compass as the bridle hand, which must +always be kept over against the horseman's body: it is absolutely +necessary to keep the proportion of the elbows, that it should be lower +than the other. + +The legs and feet make up the second division of what I call the +moveable parts of the body: the legs serve for two purposes, they may +be used as aids or corrections to the horse, they should then be kept +near the sides of the horse, and in a perpendicular line with the +horseman's body; for being near the part of the horse's body where his +feeling is most delicate, they are ready to do their office in the +instant they are wanted. Moreover, as they are an apendix[+] of the +thighs if the thigh is upon its flat in the saddle, they will by a +necessary consequence be turned just as they ought, and will infallibly +give the same turn to the feet, because the feet depend upon them, as +they depend upon the thighs. + +The toe should be held a little higher then[+] the heel, for if the toe +was lowest the heel would be too near the sides of his horse and would +be in danger of touching his horse with his spurs at perhaps the very +instant he should avoid such aid or correction. + +Many persons notwithstanding, when they raise their toe, bend and twist +their ankle as if they were lame in the part. The reason of this is very +plain; because they make use of the muscles in their legs and thighs, +whereas they should only employ joint of the foot for this purpose,[+] + +Such is in short the mechanical disposition of all the parts of the +horseman's body. + +These ideas properly digested the practitioner will be able to prescribe +rules for giving the true and natural Seat, which is not only the +principles of justness, but likewise the foundation of all grace in the +horseman, of course, the first endeavour of those who wish to become +horsemen, should be to attain a firm and graceful seat: the perfection +of which, as of most other arts and accomplishments depend upon the +ease and simplicity with which they are executed, being free from +affectation and constraint as to appear quite natural and familiar. + +Therefore the immoveable parts as before observed ought to be so far +without motion as not to wriggle and roll about so as to disturb the +horse, or render the seat weak and loose: but the thighs may be relaxed +to a certain degree with propriety and advantage, when the horse +hesitates and doubts whether he shall advance or not; and the body may +likewise, upon some occasions, become moveable and change its posture to +a certain degree, as when the horse _retains_ himself, it may be flung +back more or less as the case requires; and consequently inclined +forward when the horse rises so high as to be in danger of falling +backwards; what keeps a ship on the sea steady? BALLAST, by the same +rule, what keeps the horseman STEADY? trusting to the weight of his +body: it is for this reason that beginners are first made to ride +without stirrups; for were they allowed to use them before they had +acquired an equilibrio and were able to stretch their legs and thighs +well down, so as to set firmly in the saddle, and close to it, they +would either loose their stirrups by not being able to keep their feet +in them; or the stirrups must be taken up much too short, in which case +the rider would be pushed upwards from the saddle, and the Seat +destroyed throughout; as the parts of the body like the links of a chain +depending upon one another, safety likewise requires they should ride +without them at first, as in case of falling tis less dangerous. + +It is the general practice of those who undertake to teach horsemanship, +when they put a scholar upon a horse, to mix and confound many rules and +precepts together, which ought to be distinct and seperate;[+] such as +making him attend to the guidance of the horse, demanding an exactness +of hand, and other particulars, which they croud[+] upon him before he +is able to execute, or even understand half of them. I would recommend a +slower pace at first being likely to gain more ground at the ending +post, and not to perplex the scholar with _Aids_, of the effects of the +_Hand_, and more nice and essential parts of the ART: till the SEAT is +gained and CONFIRMED. + +For this purpose let the seat alone be cultivated for some time, and +when the scholar is arrived at a certain degree of firmness and +confidence so as to be trusted, I would always advise the master to take +hold of the longeing rein and let the pupil intirely leave the governing +of his horse to him, going sufficiently to both hands holding his hands +behind him. + +This will, I insist upon it very soon settle him with firmness to the +saddle, will place his head, will stretch him down in his saddle, will +teach him to lean gently to the side to which he turns so as to unite +himself to his horse and go with him and will give that firmness ease, +and just poize of body, which constitute a perfect _Seat_, founded in +truth and nature and upon principles so certain, that whoever shall +think fit to reduce them to practise will find them confirmed and +justified by it. Nor would it be improper to accustom the scholar to +mount and dismount on both sides of his horse, as many things may occur +to make it necessary, as well as that he cannot have too much activity +and address, for this reason tis a pity that the art of _Vaulting_ is +discontinued.--And there is another duty too essential to be omitted, +but hitherto not performed by matters, which is to instruct their pupils +in the _principles_ and theory of the _Art_, explaining how the natural +paces are performed, wherein they differ from each other, and in what +their perfection consists; which, by not joining theory with practice, +are unknown to many, who may shine in a menage, but work as mechanically +and superficially as the very horse thay[+] ride. + +Having thus far said what with practice will be sufficient to form the +seat of the Horseman, I shall next endeavour to describe the use of the +bridle hand and its effects, &c. + + +OF THE BRIDLE HAND. + +The knowledge of the different characters, and different natures of +horses, together with the vices and imperfections, as well as the exact +and just proportions of the parts of a horse's body, is the foundation +upon which is built the theory of the art of horsemanship; but this +theory will be useless and even unnecessary if we are not able to carry +it into execution. + +This depends upon the goodness and quickness of feeling; and in the +delicacy which nature alone can give, and which she does not always +bestow. The first sensation of the hand consists in a greater or less +degree of fineness in the touch or feeling; a feeling in the hand of the +horseman, which ought to communicate and answer to the same degree of +feeling in the horse's mouth, because there is as much difference in the +degrees of feeling in men as there is in the mouths of horses. + +I suppose then a man, who is not only capable to judge of a horse's +mouth by theory, but who has likewise by nature that fineness of touch +which helps to form a good hand; let us see then what are the rules +which we should follow in order to make it perfect, and by which we must +direct all its operations. + +A horse can move four different ways; he can _advance_, go _back_, turn +to the _Right_ and to the _Left_; but he cannot make these different +movements except the hand of the Rider permits him, by making four other +motions which answer to them; so that there are five different positions +for the hand. The first is that general position from which proceed the +other four. + +Hold your hand three inches breadth from your body, as high as your +elbow, in such a manner that the joint of your little-finger be upon a +right line with the tip of your elbow; let your wrist be sufficiently +rounded so that your knuckles may be kept directly above the neck of +your horse; let your finger nails be exactly opposite your body, the +little finger rather nearer to it than the others; your thumb quite flat +upon the reins, separated as before described, and this is the general +_Position_. + +Does your horse go forwards, or rather would you have him go forwards? +yeild to him your hand, and for that purpose turn your nails downwards, +in such a manner as to bring your thumb near your body, and your +little-finger then from it, and bring it to the place where your +knuckles were in the first position. Keeping your nails directly above +the neck of your horse.--This is the second Position. + +Would you make your horse go backwards, quit the first position; let +your wrist be quite round, your thumb in the place of the little finger +in the second position, and the little-finger in that of the thumb, +turning your nails quite upwards, and towards your face, and your +knuckles will be towards your horse's neck.--This is the third Position. + +Would you turn your horse to the Right? leave the first position; carry +your nails to the right, turning your hand upside down, in such a manner +that your thumb be carried out to the left, and the little-finger +brought in to the Right.--This is the fourth Position. + +Lastly, would you turn your horse to the Left? quit again the first +position, carry the back of your hand a little to the left, so that the +knuckles come under a little, that your thumb may incline to the right, +and the little-finger to the left.--This makes the fifth Position. + +These different Positions, however, alone are not sufficient; we must be +able to pass from one to the other with readiness and order. + +Three qualities are necessary to the hand. Viz. FIRM, GENTLE, and LIGHT: +I call that a firm hand, or steady hand whose feeling corresponds +exactly with the feeling in the horse's mouth, and which consists in a +certain degree of steadiness, which constitutes that just correspondence +between the hand and the horse's mouth, which every horseman wishes to +find. + +An easy or gentle hand. I call that which, relaxing a little of its +strength and firmness, eases and mitigates the degree of feeling between +the hand and horse's mouth, which I have already described. + +Lastly, the light hand is that which lessens still more the feeling +between the rider's hand and the horse's mouth, which was before +moderated by the GENTLE HAND. + +The hand, therefore, with respect to these properties must operate in +part, within certain degrees, and depends upon being more or less felt, +or yeilded to the horse, or with-held. + +It should be a rule with every horseman not to pass from one extreme to +another; from a firm hand to a slack one; so that in the motion of the +hand on no account jump over that degree of sensation which constitutes +the EASY OR GENTLE HAND: were you once to go from a firm strong hand to +a slack one, you then entirely abandon your horse; you would surprise +him, deprive him of the support he trusted to, and precipitate him on +his shoulders; supposing you do this at an improper time. On the +contrary, were you to pass from the slack to the tight rein, all at +once, you must jerk your hand, and give a violent shock to the horse's +mouth; which rough and irregular motion would be sufficient to falsify +and ruin a good mouth; it is indispensably necessary, therefore, that +all its opeperations[+] should be gentle and light, and in order to +this, it is necessary that the WRIST alone should direct and govern all +its motions, by turning and steering it as it were, through every motion +it is to make[+] + +In consequence then of these principles, I insist that the wrist be kept +so round that your knuckles may be always directly above the horse's +neck, and that your thumb be always kept flat upon the reins. In reality +were your wrist to be more or less rounded than in the degree I have +fixed, you could never work with your hand but by means of your arm, and +besides it would appear as though you were lame; again were your thumb +not to be upon the flat of the reins, pressed hard upon your fore +finger, they would be constantly slipping away, and lengthened, and in +order to recover them you would be obliged every minute to raise your +hand and arm, which would throw you into disorder and make you lose that +justness without which no horse will be obedient and work with readiness +and pleasure to himself. + +It is nevertheless true, that with horses well dressed one may take +liberties; these are motions called descents of the hand; either by +dropping the knuckles directly and at once upon the horse's neck, or by +taking the reins in the right hand about four inches above the left, +letting them slide through the left, dropping your right hand at the +same time upon the horse's neck, or else by putting the horse under the +button as it is called: that is by taking the end of the reins in your +right hand, quitting them intirely with your left hand and letting the +end of them fall upon your horse's neck, these motions however, which +give grace to the horseman, never should be made but with great +caution, and exactly when your horse is well together and in hand; and +take care in counterbalancing by throwing back your body, that the +weight of the body lie upon his haunches. + +The Bit and Snaffle were they to be kept constantly in one place in his +mouth, would of course dull the sense of feeling, and become benumbed +and callous; this shews the necessity of continually yeilding and +drawing back the hand to keep the horse's mouth fresh and awake. It is +therefore self evident that a heavy handed horseman can never break a +horse to any degree of nicety, or ride one which is already broke to any +degree of exactness. + +Besides these rules, there are others not less just and certain; (but +whose niceness and refinement is not the lot of every person to taste +and understand) my hand being in the first position, I open my two +middle fingers, I consequently ease and slacken myright[+] rein; I shut +my hand, the right rein operates again, resuming its place as before, I +open my little finger and carrying the end of it upon the right rein, I +thereby slacken the left and shorten the right; I shut my hand entirely +and immediately open it again, I thereby lessen the degree of tension +and force of the two reins at the same time; again I close my hand not +quite so much, but still I close it. + +It is by these methods and by the vibration of the reins, that I unite +the feeling in my hand with that in the horse's mouth, and thus I play +with a fine and MADE mouth, and freshen and relieve the two bars in +which the feeling resides. + +Therefore, it is that correspondence and sensation between the horse's +mouth and the hand of the rider, which alone can make him submit with +pleasure to the constraint of the bit. + +Having thus explained the different positions and motions of the hand, +permit me in a few words to shew the effects which they produce in +horsemanship? + +The hand directs the reins, the reins operate upon the branches of the +bit; the branches upon the mouth-piece and the curb, the mouth-piece +operates upon the bars, and the curb upon the chin of the horse. + +So far for the management of the bridle hand upon thorough-broke and +well-dressed horses. But in breaking young horses for any purpose, the +reins in all cases ought to be separated, nothing so unmeaning, nothing +so ineffectual as the method of working with them joined or held in only +one hand, this is very evident in the instances of colts, and of stiff +necked, and unworked horses of all kinds, with them it is impossible to +do anything without holding a rein in either hand, which rein operates +with certainty and governs the side of the neck to which it belongs, and +surely this is a shorter way of working than to make, or rather attempt +to make the left rein determine the horse to the right, and the right +guide him to the left. In the above instances of stiff awkward horses +this can never be done; and altho it is constantly practised with those +which are _Drest_, yet it is certain they obey, and make their _Changes_ +more from _docility_ and _Habit_, than from the influence of the +_outward_ rein, which ought only to act, to balance and support, while +the inner bends, inclines, and guides the horse to the hand to which he +is to go. + +This can never be done so fully and truly with the reins joined, as when +they are separated into each hand, and if double or _Running_ reins were +used instead of single as with a snaffle or[24-*] _Meadow's_ bit, they +would afford more compass and power to the horseman to bend and turn his +horse. + +The manner of holding the reins high as condemed[+] by some writers, +possessing themselves with a notion that they ruin the hocks of the +horses. For my own part I do not know what those writers mean, unless by +them we are to understand the haunches; and then this method instead of +ruining, will work and assist them, for the head and fore quarters are +raised up, his weight of course is thrown upon his haunches, for one end +being raised the other must be kept down. + +It is nothing more than a natural cause, which will always produce a +natural effect, for instance, ballance a pole upona[+] wall so that it +acts in equilibrium, only raise one end, the other of course must be +lowered, it is the same with a horse, as you cannot rise his fore parts +but by bringing his haunches more under him. I would here wish to remark +that horses should never be compelled by force untill[+] they know what +you wish from them, for let them be however disobedient in their +disposition, yet are all of them more or less sensible of good and bad +usage from their masters; the best method then to convey your intention +to them so that they shall understand you, is to reward them when they +do well, and to punish them when disobedient, this rule though contained +in few words yet is of universal use in horsemanship. + +And Xenophon, who wrote a treatise on Horsemanship, more than two +thousand years ago, among other notable remarks, when speaking on +horse-breaking, wherein he concludes thus: "But there is one rule to be +inviolably observed above all others; that is, never approach your horse +in a passion; as anger never thinks of consequences and forces us to do +what we afterwards repent." + +Begging pardon for this short but useful digression, I again observe +that such are the principles upon which the perfection and justness of +the aids of the hand depend; all others are false and not to be +regarded.--Thus far for the bridle hand, and its effects. + + + + +LECTURE ON HORSEMANSHIP. + +Addressed to the Ladies. + + +Among all the various writers on the art of horsemanship, +notwithstanding, side-saddles have been known and in use in England more +then[+] six hundred years ago, even in Richard's time, for in the reign +of this prince side-saddles were first known here, as it will appear +from the following anecdote, by a Warwick historian, in which he says. + +"And in his days also began the detestable custom of wearing long +pointed shoes, fastened with chains of silver, and sometimes gold, up to +the knees, likewise noble ladies then used high heads, and robes with +long trains, and seats or side-saddles on their horses, by the example +of the respectable queen Anne, daughter of the king of Bohemia, who +first introduced this custom in this kingdom: for before, women of every +rank rode as men do, with their legs astride their horses." + +Thus says our Warwick historian, so that side saddles appear to have +been used many centuries ago, and that formerly the female sex took the +fashion of riding like men, for which they are reprehended, by a Greek +historian, and hard indeed is the equestrian situation of the ladies, +for if they are to be accused of indelicacy for riding after the manner +of men, they are greatly to be pitied in hazarding their safety as they +do, in riding after the _manner_ of _Women_. + +However as no one hath ever yet lent a helping hand in putting pen to +paper on the subject, by way of adding, if possible, to the ladies, +elegance, ease and safety on horse back; I shall without any other +apology then assuring those ladies who may please to read what I write +on the matter, is well meant, and are such ideas that have occured[+] to +me in many years study, and practice in the manage.[+] + + +DIRECTIONS IN MOUNTING. + +Let the ostler or servant being on the off side the horse, with right +hand holding the bridoun reins, to properly stay the horse, and his left +hand on the part of the saddle called the crutch, by this method both +horse and saddle will be kept firm and steady, it is the riding master's +duty to examine the bridle whether it is properly placed, the curb, +chain, or chin chain in due order, the saddle in a proper place, and the +girths sufficiently tight, &c. Direct the lady then to take her whip, or +switch in the right hand, the small end of it turned towards the horse's +croup, then with the right hand take a firm hold of the pommell of the +saddle standing upright with her right shoulder square, and in a line +with the horse's left, she then bending the left knee pretty much, the +master or gentleman who asists[+] her standing facing the lady, he +stooping a little receives the lady's left foot in his hands being +clasped firm together, the lady must then be directed to straiten her +knee, being now bent, with a firmness and elasticity pressing her left +hand on the man's left shoulder, making a little spring at the same +time, by which the riding-master, gentleman, or servant, if permitted, +by paying due attention to these rules will spring the lady on the +saddle with the greatest ease and safety. _The method of adjusting the +petticoats_; I then place the lady's foot in the stirrup tho' it is a +wonder if a proper length, being guess work, as we are now to suppose +this to be the first lesson, and the stirrup cannot be properly fixed, +till the lady is in her seat, I say I then give her the stirrup, +directing she may take a firm hold with the left hand of a lock of the +horse's mane, at the same time she having a firm hold of the crutch with +the right, by which means she rises herself up from the saddle, standing +firm in the stirrup, looking rather over the off side of the horse's +neck, the intention of this is that the attendant shall adjust the coats +so as they sit smooth and easy, by pulling them round a little to the +right, then on returning to the saddle, or seat, and while in coming +down she must put her right knee over the pommel of the saddle, and by +these simple rules she will find all comfortable and easy; in regard to +the adjustment of the bridle reins, and the managing and directing the +horse by them, pay strict attention to those set down in the first +lecture addressed to the gentlemen; let the whip be placed firm and easy +in the right hand, with the taper or small end downwards, and the arm +hanging carelessly down without contraction, and when the whip is made +use off, let it be by means of the wrist, without lifting the arm from +the body, and be careful not to touch the horse with the whip too +backward as many of them will kick on their being flogged in that part, +which if it should not occasion a fall, would much alarm the young +scholar, before she has acquired any degree of ballance. + + +DIRECTIONS FOR THE LENGTH OF THE STIRRUP. + +The Stirrup should be such length as when the lady sits upright and +properly on her seat, with the knee being easily bent, the heel kept +back, with the toe raised a little higher than the heel, so that the +heel, hip and the shoulder, are in a line and as upright as when walking +along, for if otherwise it is unjust and not agreeable to nature; for +suppose you are riding along the road with the foot stuck out and so +forward as the horses front of his shoulder, as is not uncommon to see +girls riding in this manner along the road in the country, as tho' they +were directing with their foot which road their horse should take, I say +this method is not only very unbecoming but very unsafe, for instance if +riding carelessly along the road with the foot and leg in this attitude +being to pass some stubborn or inflexible object on the left or near +side, perhaps before you are aware or apprised of the danger you might +have your foot and leg sorely bruised, nay even dragged from your horse, +I have seen similar instances to this, happen more than once, even when +the foot has been in a good situation by ladies who unthinkingly have +endeavoured to pass objects to the left when they could as easily have +passed those objects to the _right_, which ladies should make an +invariable rule so to do at all times, if possible; for reasons which +must be plain to any one, who will think one minute on the matter; +another inconvenience will frequently arise by suffering the leg and +foot to be in this horrid form, which is, the stirrup leather will +frequently press against the leg, so as to hurt it very much, this I +have often had beginners complain of, by saying the buckle of the +stirrup hurt them, when behold I never use a buckle to my stirrups on +the left side, as they are always fastened and buckled on the off side, +for _two_ particular good advantages which arise from it; the principal +of which is, that as the pressure or bearing coming from the off side, +it greatly assists in keeping the saddle even, especially with those +ladies through a bad habit who accustom themselves to bear hard on the +stirrup which is nothing more then[+] a habit, and want of learning to +ride the right way at first. + +The other reason is, you can lengthen or shorten the stirrup at +pleasure, without disturbing the lady at all, and without even +dismounting yourself, if you are riding on the road, as the business is +done on the off side the horse, nay I have altered the stirrup often +without stopping at all. + +I insist upon it therefore if the stirrup does not hang perpendicular, +or the same as when left to itself and no one on horseback, the end is +totally destroyed, for what the stirrup was designed; which is in the +_first_ place to carry the weight of, and only the weight of the rider's +leg, without which support it would soon become fatigued and tired: and +_secondly_, if you accustom yourself to carry your foot properly, as +before directed, that is your heel in a line with your hip and shoulder, +letting your foot rest even in the stirrup, carrying only the weight of +your leg, with the toe a little raised, it will never fail to assist you +in your balance, if you happen to lose it to the left, it is also ready +to save you if you should happen to lose your balance to the right, by +pressing the calf of your leg strongly and firmly to the side of your +horse, and being always near your horse's side it is a quick aid in +supporting him, and to force him forward, it is also of the greatest +use, by pressing it strongly to his side, in assisting to turn your +horse to the left, and likewise in throwing your horse's croup off when +you wish to make him go into a canter, by which means he will be forced +to go off with the right leg foremost. + +And _lastly_, it is of the utmost utility in supporting you in the +continuance of the Spring Trot, a pace now greatly in fashion, and +should be practised by all who accustom themselves to ride any length of +journies, as it enables them to make some degree of speed, and by +changing their paces often from walk, to trot, and gallop, their journey +becomes less tedious to them. + + +OF THE SEAT, + +And Form of the Side Saddle. + +In the first place I would strongly recommend a large seated Saddle, +very high on the cantlet or back part, and a regular sweep from thence +to the front or pommell, for some saddles, more shame be it spoken, are +so small, and the seat so rounded in the middle, that to sit on them is +next to balancing themselves on a round pole, a comfortable situation +truly for a lady! I say again let me recommend a large seated saddle; I +mean let it be large in proportion to the size of the lady, and high in +the cantlet, nay I am confident that they might be contrived to +advantage, were they constructed with peaks, and the peak carried on +from the back part of the saddle to within four inches of the front on +the off side; this with the addition of a Burr, as it is called, to +support the left knee, would greatly assist the lady in keeping the body +on a good balance and sufficiently back: which might prevent many +accidents. + +If these hints should strike any lady or gentleman as being reasonable, +and should they be inclined to have a saddle so constructed, I should +think myself happy in explaining myself more fully on the subject. + +_Now in regard to the Seat for a Lady_, I sincerely wish I was able to +prescribe a more firm _one_ than the present fashion will admit of, +however I will do my endeavour to handle it in the best manner I can; +and first let the whole weight of the body rest firmly upon the center +of the saddle, leaning nei her[+] to one side or the other, with the +shoulders easily back, and the chest presented well forward; a lady +cannot be too nice and circumspect, in accustoming herself to sit +upright, without contraction, in any part, _nothing so graceful, nothing +so safe as ease_ of _action_; do not let the stirrup carry more than the +weight of the leg, except in case of the Swing Trot, or when assisting +to keep the Ballance,[+] + +Two material disadvantages arise from Ladies accustoming themselves to +bear heavy in the stirrup, and loll about, constantly twisting +themselves to the near or left side of the horse: first it destroys +their whole figure, making the same appear deformed and crooked; and if +they were to continue in the habit of riding would confirm them in such +deformed attitude, in its becoming second nature, by constant use; this +is a truth too frequently witnessed, by practising without the right +method. + +Secondly, the other disadvantage most materially affects the horse; for +by their so constantly leaning themselves to the near side, the +side-saddle being so pulled and pressed against the withers or shoulder +of the horse on the off side, keeping up a continual friction, and this +being the case, I defy all the Sadlers in the kingdom to prevent the +saddle from wringing and galling the poor beast, especially in the heat +of the summer; the only remedy is to take away the cause, by sitting +properly, and the effect ceases of course. + +The notions which some Ladies have entertained, as to fear to let their +daughters be taught to Ride, least it should make them grow crooked and +awry, I insist that they are false, and quite the reverse; the cause is, +as before observed, by their contracting bad habits of their own, and +not being instructed on approved principles, so that the effect is +caught hold of, while the cause lies unsought for; from my own knowledge +and experience I could relate several instances wherein young Ladies +instead of growing crooked by learning to ride, have been greatly +relieved from those complaints, and even quite eradicated by the +practice of riding, I will here beg leave to mention an instance or two +which will serve to prove what good effects may arise from this pleasant +and healthful exercise. + +A young Lady about Seventeen years of age who had been afflicted for +twelve months with a stiffness in her neck and shoulders, and it was +observable that the right shoulder was grown much larger than the left. + +She on coming to the riding house to observe her fellow scholars take +their lessons, of which she became much pleased, and wished much to +learn to ride.--The governess consulted me on the matter, but said she +feared it might make her grow worse as she had been told that riding +sometimes caused Ladies to become crooked, however, by my reasoning the +matter with her she was convinced in her own opinion and caused the +young Lady to write to her parents in Jamaica, and had permission by +return of packet to ride according to my directions, which were briefly +as follows, being in the month of March, and of course rather a cold +piercing air, I advised new unwashed flannel every time she took a +lesson to be worn next the skin on the part affected, _she rode_, of +course a strong perspiration took place, she was much fatigued for the +first six or seven Lessons, however after then as she began to be +acquainted with the use of her bridle hands, as I made her use both; and +give great part of the Lessons, in small circles to right and left; the +consequence was that by persevering in this method for two successive +months the parts became naturally relaxed and pliable, and by continuing +to practice she entirely recovered her alacrity and spirits, and also +became acquainted with the art of Riding, which I hope she may long live +to practice with ease and safety to herself in her native country. + +Another young Lady from the same school had a particular habit of +leaning her shoulders and neck forward, I have frequently heard it +called pokeing, and all the dancing-master's instructions had for years +been ineffectual. I believe she was more fond of riding than dancing +instructions, for the governess of the young lady before-mentioned often +asserted that the Riding Master had done more in setting her scholar +upright and keeping her shoulders easily back, in the space only of two +months, than the Dancing Master, though capable in his profession, had +been able to accomplish in three years. + +I hope to be pardoned for this little digression, not doubting but those +Ladies who will give themselves time to consider the foregoing, will be +convinced that it is agreeable to reason and nature. + +Now to say some little more of the SEAT, which cannot be too much +attended to, being in a great measure the foundation of safety to a +lady when on horseback, and as such I would strongly recommend the lady +being in the menage, or in any proper place, the horse being very quiet +and to be trusted to; then let the lady seat herself properly on the +saddle as before directed, _only_ without the stirrup, and not to take +the reins, leaving the direction of the horse to the Riding Master, or +to whoever she can with safety trust the government to; and in this +manner take half an hour's practice every day, as nothing will so +greatly assist in acquiring a good and just balance. + +I do not advise this method to be gone rapidly about, as she may make +use both of stirrup and reins at first, and when she has acquired a +firmness and ballance in some degree, may first quit the stirrup, and in +a lesson or two, the reins.[+] remembering to go to right and left +circle alternately and progressively.[+] viz. from _Walk_ to Trot and +Gallop; I hope I need not say that the horse should be remarkably +steady, and properly broke to go in circles to right and left by the +longeing rein. + +I say this method will settle and give the scholar a firmness not to be +acquired by any other means, will teach them to unite themselves with +their horse, and go along with him, it will bring about that confidence, +firmness, ease, and just poize of body which serves to constitute what +is called a perfect _Seat_, acquired by the rules of art, and agreeable +to nature, and I here beg leave to quote a few lines which the great +Berringer observes applicable to this subject, "It is astonishing to +think how this work so immediately necessary could have been deferred so +long, that while rewards were given, public trials appointed, and laws +enacted to promote an useful and generous breed of horses, no step +should have been taken on the other hand to qualify and instruct the +youth of the kingdom, of both sex in the superior art of riding; for the +getting on the back of an horse to be conveyed from one place to another +without knowing what the animal is enabled by nature, art and practice +to perform, is not _Riding_, the knowledge and utility of which consists +in being able to discern and dexterous to employ the means by which the +horse may be brought to execute what the rider requires of him with +propriety, readiness and safety, and this knowledge in the rider and +obedience in the horse should be so intimately connected as to form one +_perfect whole_, this union being so indispensably necessary that where +it is not, there is no meaning, the rider and horse talk different +languages, and all is confusion, while many and fatal mischiefs may +ensue, the rider may be wedged in the timber which he strives to rend, +and fall the victim of his own ignorance and rashness." + +I have now observed such rules which with practice will form as good and +perfect a _Seat_ as the customary mode of riding will admit of. It +remains now with practice and perseverance to make perfect. + + +WHEN RIDING ON THE ROAD. + +When a lady has taken sufficient practice in the menage or elsewhere, so +as to be able to steer and guide her horse, and particularly can stop +him firm and well upon his haunches, and also knows by practice how to +unite herself to the horse, provided he should stop suddenly by his own +will, an instance which frequently happens, therefore it is essential +that the rider should become sensible of every action of the horse by +that kind of sympathy of feeling which should subsist between them, so +as to know his intentions as quick as thought, in this and all other +actions he may be inclined to, which are likely to offend and endanger +the rider, or himself; I would earnestly recommend the lady to make +herself acquainted with every help so as to gaurd[+] and defend herself +on all occasions, such as her horse stumbling, shying, starting, running +away, running back, rearing, kicking, and plunging; yet horses addicted +to any of those vices are by no means fit, or should have ladies set +upon knowingly, but as a lady cannot always be so fortunate as to get +the possession of one of those hackneys we call a nonpareil, tho' every +dealer you enquire of for one will say he can sell it you, therefore +place not too much confidence in him you purchase your horse from, or +the horse himself, even after you have rode him some time, for you +scarce ever can be certain but he may play you some of those tricks, +especially if his keep is above his work, as I have always found the +best lady's hackneys require constant practice to keep them in tune. + +It is necessary the lady should have a sharp eye upon the road she is +travelling, taking care by the gentle assistance of the bridle hand to +steer and guide her horse into the best, to avoid all stones and uneven +places, and never to ride near the edge of any deep ditch or sudden +precipice, for altho, heaven be praised, accidents very seldom happen, +yet if for the want of a little care and due management one should +happen in one hundred years, that one would be one too many: the lady +should pay great attention to the horse when going down a steep hill, +and endeavour to put him together and upon his haunches, and to perform +this, she must feel his mouth lightly and firmly with the bridle hand, +at the same time making use of some of the helps used to force him to go +forward, such as clicking with your voice, a gentle touch with the whip, +or the heel, so she stays him a little by the bridle hand at the same +time he is forced forwards by the other helps or aids and if properly +timed, by doing enough without over doing, he will be put together, and +of course kept on a light proper action which must be in the real action +of a trot, that is with his two corner legs in the air at one time and +two on the ground, by such means the horse will always be kept on a sure +ballance and never be in danger of falling, on the other hand if the +horse is sufferd to go loose and unasisted[+] by the bridle hand, and +the other aids as before described, when going down a steep hill he will +most commonly go into that unnatural pace called the amble which is +moving his side legs together instead of his corner legs, this pace is +very unsafe notwithstanding the ancients used arts in breaking the horse +to the amble, on account of its being so much easier than the trot, but +as it is a known maxim in physic that giving ease and performing a cure +are two different things, so here an easy pace and a safe one are as +diametrically opposite, and that the amble is an unsafe pace is easy to +be conceived by the horse losing so large a portion of his ballance, to +prove which only try these simple experiments. Take a wooden horse[+] +let his two corner legs be taken away and he will stand, but take away +his two sides leg and he falls, again one often sees at a farrier's shop +when a horse is wanted to be shod in haste, two smiths can work at the +same time, by taking each of them a corner leg, therefore how careful +should we be to keep our hackneys on a safe action, and awake under us +on all occasions. + +The lady should endeavour to make herself acquainted with those objects +which horses are most subject to be alarmed at, and first of all is a +windmill in full sail, next some can never be brought to go comfortably +by a tilted waggon, especially if meeting it, others dislike asses very +much, some dislike to face a man wheeling a barrow or an umbrella +extended, an arch drain which is frequently seen to carry the water away +thro the banks in a turnpike road, its laying low and of course presents +itself very suddenly, will sadly alarm some, and any object suddenly +presenting itself is almost sure to affright and alarm any horse in +spirits,[+] I once saw a lady get a fall, by a cow suddenly presenting +its head over a hedge, yet a more steady animal never was, as I used her +four years and never knew her start either before or after; let it be +remembered that horses are more apt to be shy or start in the dusk of +the evening than in broad day light, horses with bad eyes are almost +sure to start, yet starting is not a sure sign of bad eyes, as many +imagine it, I mention these few observations in regard to starting +because horses which are most free from those faults, it may happen to +some times; as horses like men are not alway in the same temper: never +ride on a fast pace by any lane's end, or in turning any sudden or short +turn, for two reasons; first, that it is unsafe as the horse might be +subject to fall for want of being supported, and put together by +shortening his pace, and secondly by your not being able to discern the +objects which might present themselves to you so as to disturb and alarm +your horse: these little hints kept well in mind may be the means of +preventing many accidents. + +FINIS. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3-*] Such as the Wild Arabs, Indians, &c. + +[24-*] Used by Sir Sidney Meadows. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + + +The following misspellings and typographical errors were maintained. + + Page Error + 4 particulatly should read particularly + 10 dependance should read dependence + 11 iregular should read irregular + 12 seperately should read separately + 14 apendix should read appendix + 14 higher then should read more than + 14 purpose, should read purpose. + 16 seperate; should read separate + 16 croud should read crowd + 17 thay should read they + 20 opeperations should read operations + 21 to make should read to make. + 22 myright should read my right + 24 condemed should read condemned + 24 upona should read upon a + 24 untill should read until + 26 more then should read more than + 27 occured should read occurred + 27 manage should read menage + 28 asists should read assists + 30 more then should read more than + 33 nei her should read neither + 33 Ballance, should read Ballance. + 36 the reins. should read the reins, + 36 progressively. should read progressively, + 38 gaurd should read guard + 39 unasisted should read unassisted + 39 wooden horse should read wooden horse, + 40 spirits, should read spirits. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lectures on Horsemanship, by Unknown + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LECTURES ON HORSEMANSHIP *** + +***** This file should be named 31957.txt or 31957.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/9/5/31957/ + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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