THE

COMPLEAT GAMESTER.

PART III.

The GENTLEMAN'S DIVERSION, in the Arts and Myfteries of Riding, Racing, Archery, and Bowling,

A

Of RIDING.

S an Introduction to the Art of RIDING, I think it requifite to treat of the taming of a young Colt: In order hereunto, obferve, that after your Colt hath been eight or ten Days at home, and is reduced to that Familiarity that he will en dure currying without fhewing Averfion thereunto, and will fuffer his Keeper to handle and ftroke him in what Part of the Body he thinketh beft, then it is Time to offer him the Saddle, firft laying it in the Manger, that he may fmell to it, and thereby grow acquainted with it, ufing all other Means,

that

that he may not be afraid either at the Sight thereof, or at the Noife of the Stirrups. Having gently put on the Saddle, take a fweet watering Trench wafh'd and anointed with Honey and Salt, and fo place it in his Mouth, that it may hang directly about his Tufh, fomewhat leaning thereon: Having fo done, which must be in a Morning after dreffing, then lead him out in your Hand, and water him abroad; then bring him in; and after he hath stood rein'd a little upon his Trench, an Hour, or thereabouts, then unbridle and unfaddle him, and give him Liberty to feed till Evening, and then do as before; having cherished him, drefs and clothe him for the Night.

The next Day do as you did before, and after that, put on him a ftrong Mufrole, or fharp Cavezan and Martingale, which you muft buckle at that Length, that he may-only feel it when he jerketh up his Head, then lead him forth into fome new plow'd Land, or foft Ground, and there having made him trot a good while about in your Hand, to take him off from Wantonnefs and wild Tricks, offer to mount, which if he then refufe, trot him again in your Hand, then put your Foot into the Stirrup, and mount half Way, and difmount again; if he seem diftafted at it, about with him again, and let him not want Correction; but if he take it

patiently,

patiently, cherish him, and place your self in the Saddle, but ftay there a very little while, then cherish him again, and give him Bread or Grafs to feed on; then having feen all Things fit and ftrong without Offence to your felf and Horse, remount him, placing your felf even in the Saddle, carrying your Rod inoffenfively to his Eye; then let fome Perfon, having in his Hand the Chaff-halter, lead him a little Way, then make him stand, and having cherish'd him, let him forward again; do this feven or eight Times, or fo often till you have brought him of his own Accord to go forward, then must you stay and cherish him, and having brought him, home, alight gently, then drefs and feed him well.

Obferve this Courfe every Day till you have brought him to trot, which will be but three at the most, if you obferve to make him follow fome other Horfeman, stopping him now and then gently, and then making him go forward, remember his feasonable Cherishings, and not forgetting his due Cor rections as often as you find him froward and rebellious; and when you ride abroad, return not the fame Way home, that you may make him take all Ways indifferently: And by these Obfervations you will bring him to understand your Will and Purpose in less than a Fortnight's Time.

Having brought your Horfe to receive you to his Back, trot fore-right, stop and retire with Patience and Obedience, be never unmindful of your Helps, Corrections, and Cherishings, which confift in the Voice, Bridle, Red, Calves of the Legs, and Spurs; the laft of which is chief for Correction, which must not be done faintly, but fharply, when Occafion fhall require it.

Cherishings may be comprehended within three Heads; the Voice delivered fmoothly and lovingly, as, fo, so Boy, fo; then the Hand by clapping him gently on the Neck or Buttock: Laftly, the Rod by rubbing him therewith upon the Withers of the Main, in which he very much delights.

The next thing you are to regard, is the Mufrole or Cavezan and Martingale; this is an excellent Guide to a well-difpofed Horse for fetting of his Head in due Place, forming of his 'Rein, and making him appear lovely to the Eye of a Spectator; and withal this is a fharp Correction when a Horfe jerketh up his Nofe, diforders his Head, or en deavours to run away with his Rider.

The Manner of placing it is thus: Let it hang fomewhat low, and reft upon the tender Griftle of the Horfe's Nofe, that he may be the more fenfible of Correction; and let it not be ftrait but loofe, whereby the Horfe may feel, upon the yielding in of his Head,

how

how the Offence goeth from him, and by that Means be made fenfible, that his own Disorder was his only Punishment.

You must carefully obferve how you win your Horfe's Head, and by those Degrees bring his Martingale ftraiter and ftraiter, fo as the Horse may ever have a gentle Feeling of the fame, and no more, till his Head be brought to its true Perfection, and there ftay.

When you have brought your Horse to fome Certainty of Rein, and will trot forthright, then bring him to the treading forth of the large Rings. If your Horfe's Nature be nothful and dull, yet ftrong, trot him first in fome new plow'd Field; but it agile, and of a fiery Spirit, then trot him in fome fandy Ground, and there mark out a spacious large Ring, about an hundred Paces in Circumference. Having walk'd him about it on the Right feven or eight Times, you must then by a little ftraitning of your Right Rein, and laying the Calf of your Left Leg to his Side, making a half Circle within your Ring, upon your Right Hand down to the Center thereof, and then by ftraitning a little your Left Rein, and laying the Calf of your Right Leg to his Side, making another Semi-circle to your Left Hand from the Center to the utmoft Verge; which two Semi-circles contrary turned, will make a perfect Roman S within the Ring, then keep your firft large

Circum