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4

THE

HISTORY and ART

OF

HORSEMANSHIP.

VOL. I.

Cte^e'Ui' /v'iU'fii' u/u-/eji> a^iM/ta/uc^^uci^a^iz/iij

^i/v-f'a ^nU'Vaaiio /it/Z/t /a^ci-i^ta- ca/i

'ynJiM.

Bucliao;

THE

HISTORY and ART

O F

HORSEMANSHIP.

By RICHARD BERENGER, Efq.
Gentleman of the Horse to HIS MAJESTY.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

LONDON,

Printed for T, Davies, in Ruflel-Street, Covent-Garden ;
and T. Cad ell, in the Strand, mdcclxxi.

0

TO THE

Jx

N

G.

SIR,

NOTHING could juftify my pre-
ilimption, in thus approaching your
Royal Prefence with fo unworthy an ofFerino-

as

vi DEDICATION.

as thefe volumes, but the fole confideration
that they are not foreign to the ftation in
which your goodnefs has condefcended to
place me \ and that they treat of an Art^
which glories in being one of the favourite
amufements of your leifure hours.

Animated by thefe motives, I dared to
form the ambitious wilh of laying my labours
at your Majesty's feet , and moft humbly
to folicit the fame gracious favour and pro-
te£l:ion which your Majesty loves to extend
to every well-meant endeavour, and with
which you have been pleafed to benefit and

diftlnguifh

DEDICATION. vii

diftinguifti their author 5 who is, Sir, with
all poffible gratitude, refpedt, and duty.

Your M A J E S T Y's

Moll devoted,

And moft faithful Subjed and Servant,

RICHARD BERENGER.

Operis mei eft et lludii multos legere, iit

ex plurimis diverfos flores carpam : non tarn probaturus omnia, quam
quae bona lunt, clefturus : aflumo multos in manus meas, ut a multis
multa cognofcam.

Ex B. Hieron. adv. Vigil.

THE

HISTORY AND ART

O F

HORSEMANSHIP.

THE horfe is an animal, which, from the
earliefl; ages of th«e world, has been deftined to
the pleafure and fervice of man ; the various
and noble qualities with which nature has endowed
him, fufficiently fpeaking the ends for which he was
defigned. Mankind were not long before they were ac-
quainted with them, and found the means of applying^
them to the purpofes for which they were given. This
is apparent from the hiftories and traditions of almoft
all nations, even from times the mod remote ; info-
much that many nations, and tribes, or colonies of
people, who were entirely ignorant *, or had but

* The wild Arabs, the Indians, feveral of the inhabitants of the

interior parts of Afric, and even Britain, with fundry other inftances.

Vol. I. B very

i THE HISTORY AND ART

very imperfecT: notions of other improvements and.
arts of life, and even at this day are unacquainted
with them, yet faw and underflood the generous pro-
perties of this creature in fo ftrong andjufl a light, as
to have treated him with a fondnefs and attention,
which fufficiently declare tliehigh opinion they enter-
tained of his merit and excellence.

This is a truth fo well attefted, that to infiH upon it
farther would be but a fuperfluous labour, and tend
only to divert the reader from the more immediate de-
fign of this undertaking; which is an attempt to fhew,
as far as any light can be thrown upon a fubjeift fo
obfcure and intricate, in what nations, and at what
periods of time, the horfe firfl became the objeft of
man's notice, fo as to be made at once the inftrument
of his ufe and pleafure.

All art is progreffive, and receives addition and im-
provement in its courfe, as the fagacity of man, at
different times, or chance, and other caufes, happen
to concur; yet, whoever lliall look into the few and im-»
perfeft accounts which has come down to us from-
ancient times, will find, with refpedt to the prefent
fubjecft, that the moderns have not fo much room to
boaft'of their fkill and management of horfes, as fome
may imagine ; but will fee that the ancients *, in various

* Simon of Athens, Xenophon, and Pliny the Elder, who wrote
exprefs Treatifes upon Horfemanfhip. — The works of the firft, and laft,
are loft.— To thefe we may add, the Rei Ruftide Scriptores. Nor is it
abfurd to believe there muft have been many more, whofe works and
names are perilhed with them.

regions.

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 3

regions, and in the moil diftant ages, were fo far from
being ftrangers to the many fervices of which they are
capable, as to have left rules and precepts concerning
them, which are fo true and juft, that they have been
adopted by their fucceflbrs, who may reafonably be
thought to have built upon their foundation ; although
it is certain and apparent, that the llrudlure has re-
ceived infinite improvements and beauties from the
experience and refinement of latter times.

It is very probable that the firft fervice in which
the horfe was employed, was to aflift mankind in
making war, or in the pleafures and occupations
of the chace*; and although he is faid to have
been firfl ufed in v/ar, and it is upon that occafion
he is firft mentioned in the Bible ; yet, we can
hardly conclude that mankind did not, in the begin-
ning of their acquaintance, put him to gentler and
more domeftic labours : till at length difcovering that
his courage, ftrength, agility, and fpeed, feemed to fit
him peculiarly for war, and the bufinefs of the chace,
they might fet him apart folely for thofe fervices, in
v/hich he is born fo eminently to excel, fupplying his

*■ Xenophon fays, that Cyrus hunted on horfeback, when he had a
mind to exercife himfelf and his horfes. Lib. I. Herodotus, in
Thalia, or his third book, fpeaks of hunting on horfeback as an exer-
cife pradifed in the time of Darius, and it is probably of much earlier
date. The occafion of his mentioning this fport, was a fall which Da-
rius had from his horfe, as he was hunting, by which he diflocated his
heel. In Melpomene likewife, or book the fourth, he fays the Amazons
hunted on horfeback, with their hulbands, the Sarmatians.

B 2 place,

4 THE HISTORY AND ART

place, upon ordinary and familiar occafions, with affes,
mules, and camels. But however plain and evident
it may be, that he was firfl: ufed in war, yet the man-
ner in which he was taught to ferve his mailer, that
is to fay, whether he was rode, or put to draw carri-
ages and machines, has been a fubjeifl of much doubt
and contention among the learned ; it being afferted by
fome, that he was firft compelled to draw; and main-
tained by others, that the art of of riding was pradifed
before the ufe of chariots was difcovered.

We learn from hiftory, both facred and prophane,
that Afia and Africa were the quarters of the world, in
which mankind were firft formed into focieties, lived
under the control of laws, and exerted their endea-
vours to make life fecure, convenient, and happy:
and although the horfe could not but have been judged
capable of contributing a large fhare towards ad-
vancing thefe great ends, yet, it is certain, that he is
not numbered among the articles of property which
were moft ufed and valued in the primitive ages of the
world: accordingly we find him reckoned among
other domeftic cattle but in one place, in the hiflory
of thofe early times ; viz. in the forty- feventh chapter
of Genefis, where Jofeph is faid to have given the
Egyptians " bread in exchange for horfes, for flocks,
and herds." In the book of Genefis, where the firft men-
tion is made of worldly goods, which then chiefly
confifted of cattle, we read only of the flieep, the he
and fhe-afTes, and camels belonging to Pharaoh ; al-
though

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 5

though it appears at the fame time, that the fervices
of the horfe were well known, and the Egyptians
conflantly availed themfelves of them. In the laft ar-
ticle likewife of the Decalogue, where other animals,
as the ox and ai^s, are named, no notice is taken of
him ; nor is he mentioned upon another occafion, as
making part of Job's great riches, who yet fpeaks of
him, and defcribes his charadier and wonderful qualities
in the mod exalted terms.

If any reafon can be affigned for the omiffion, in thefe
inftances, of an animal fo valued and admired, I am
induced to think it may proceed from this caufe : viz.
that as in thofe times the fole occupation of men was
to tend their flocks and herds (imlefs interrupted by
war), and their courfe of life confequently being calm
and humble, nor fubje(3: to migration or change, the
horfe not being dire<5lly necelTary to them in this ftatc,
they did not count him among the animals of which
their wealth fo immediately confifted, and of which they
flood continually in need ; inafmuch as that his flefh
was not ufed for food, nor his blood, nor any part of
him, offered up in facrifice : upon this account, there-
fore, he, perhaps, was not confidered as an immedi-
ate article of private property ; but, being chiefly, if not
folely ufed in war in thofe days, might belong only to
kings and great men, and have but little, if any fhare,
in the occurrences of private life.

Accordingly we read in the book of Exodus, where
the horfe is named for the firft time, that he was ufed-

for

6 THE HISTORY AND ART

for the purpofes of war : and that Pharaoh, when
he purfued the people of Ifrael, made ready his cha-
riot, " and took fix hundred chofen chariots ; and
. " that the Egyptians purfued after them, all the horfes
" and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horfemen."

This account being given almofl in the beginning
of the oldeft hiftory of the creation, and clearly and
circuraftantially related, it would be but a fruitlefs la-
bour to attempt to fearch elfe where, in order to fix the
epoch in which the horfe was firfl made fubfervient to
the will of man: becaufe, without making over nice
diftinctions, or refining too fcrupuloufly, as many
have done, in hopes of afcertaining a fadf, for which
no other proofs can be brought than thofe which are
cited above ; and which are, in authenticity and priority
of time, fuperior to all ; the faireft conclufion, and
moil rational, will perhaps be, that the ufeful qua-
lities which the horfe poffefles for the fervice of man,
were known and. called into pra(?tice in the earlieft
times of the world, and are almoll coeval with man-
kind. And I am the more induced to hazard this opi-
nion, not only upon the aflurance of the above-named
authorities, but likewife (which is flill a fironger, tho'
but a prefumptive proof) becaufe, that neither in the
facred writings, nor in any other hiftoiT-, is the origin
of taming the horfe mentioned and afcertained ; but all
hiftorians, and even Mofes himfelf, fpeak of ir, as of
an animal, whofe fervices were well known, both be-
fore and at the time when they wrote, and mention

them

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 7

them indifferently among other hiflorical occurrences
without going out of their way to give any account of
the origin of taming him for different purpofes, or
pointing out in what sera, or among what people, the
art was lirfl difcovered : I would here be underflood to
mean, that no exprefs and formal account is given of
its origin; and that confequently no more knowledge
can be gained upon the fubjei51:, than what may be
gleaned and fifted from other hiflorical fads recorded
in the Bible. Thence, as from the only fountain-
head to which we can pufh our enquiries, we learn,
that Egypt was the land, in which the horfe firft
paid the tribute of his labours to man ; a land
which had the flart of other nations in the difcovery
and cultivation of art and fcience ; and which was.
no lefs famous and efleemed for its horfes, than
adapted by nature to nourifh and fupport them ; be-
ing then (as now) very fruitful, and abounding in.
rich paflures ; whence other countries, efpecially Ju-
daea, in the time of Solomon, drew their fupplies, and
carried on a large commerce, greatly to the advantage
of Egypt, as we learn from various evidences of facred <
and prophane hiflory *, and efpecially of the former, ,

* Vide loth chap, of the ift book of Kings,

Bochart Hieroz, ch. 9.

Diod. Sicul. lib. I. p. 42.

Wolfangus Franz. Part I. c. 12. Amflelod. Hifl:. Anim. p. loi, .
who fays, Fuerunt autem in Egypto Temper prsftantiffimi equi.— Alfo.
BufFon's Nat. Hift., Art. Cheval. .

whiclxi

8 THE HISTORY AND ART

which akhough it gives but a few fcattered rays o£
light, yet bellows all that can be had, and fuch as are
fufficient to render all attempts of going farther, fu-
perfluous and vain. I have, therefore, been much
furprifed, as I attended feme adventurers in their
learned and extenfive enquiries, in hopes of reaping
certainty and truth, to fee what pains and erudition
they have fquandered away, in feeking after what lies
fo full in fight, and is comprifed in fo fmall a coin-
pafs.

Nor is the difpute lefs frivolous, which has em-
ployed the pens of many learned and curious perfons,
upon the queftion, whether the ufe of chariots, or the
art of riding was jf/j^ known ?

I flatter myfelf that it will appear, from what has
been already fuggelled, that it cannot ftridtly be de-
cided to which the precedence is duej for in the firft
inflance in which either of them is mentioned, viz.
ill the firfl: book of Exodus, they are both named to-
gether, as well as in the 9th chapter of the ift book
of K-ings, where Solomon is faid to have had " his cap-
tains, the rulers of his chariots, and his horfemen j"
nor indeed can it be thought probable, than when one
of thefe methods were known, the other fhould remain
long undifcovered. Hence it feems to follow, and
with much colour of probability, that they are equal,
or very near equal, in point of time; alihough it is not
unlikely, that one might prevail more tlian the other
at particular airas, and in particular countries', as

opinions'

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 9

opinions and fancy might influence, or circumftances
require. I muft beg leave, however, in advancing
thefe notions, to confine myfelf to the earlieft periods
in which the horfe is mentioned, and to what may be
collefted concerning it in the Old Teftament. There we
learn, that Egypt was the land ta which mankind are
indebted for the equeftrian art ; but the period of
time, in which it was firft pracflifed, cannot fo eafily
be afcertained. A learned and inquifitive writer *
fixes it at the time of Jacob's coming into that country:
but notwithftanding that he has dived into the fubjeft
with great ability and diligence, yet he has brought up
nothing very valuable, or equal to the pains which he
mufl have employed in the fearch ; fince he can go no
farther than to prove, that the ufe of horfes was known
at the time of Jacob's coming into Egypt, but for want
of authorities, can have no right to aflert, that it was
not known till about that time : for

rixere fortes ante j^gamemnona
Multi, fed omnes illacbrymabilei
UrgentUKf ignotigue longd
NoBCi carent quia vatefacro-

Hor. lib. 4. carm. ode 9.

Heroes as brave as fam'd Mycsene's king,
Shone great in fight, e'er he was known f

But they no poets had their arms to fing,
And make immortal their renown :

* Recherches fur I'epoque de Tequitation.
Vol. I. C They

10 THE HISTORY AND ART

They died ; oblivion feiz'd each mighty name,
Forbidding time to waft them down ;

For they no poets had to ling their fame, —
And poets only give renown.

It is, however, certain, that when Jacob came into
Egypt, he found rhe inhabitants perfe<ftly acquainted
with the horfe, and ufmg it in its two-fold capacity of
carrying and drawing. And here, although the fub-
jeift has been already touched upon in former pages,
it miay not be improper to offer fome farther and more
cogent reafons, in favour of the affenion, that riding
is not only equal in point of time to the ufe of chariots,
bur, in all probability, anterior to it. It has been
already faid, that Egypt was the fpot in which the
liorfe was thought to have been firft fubdued and
difciplined by man ; and it appears from the Mofaic
hiftory, that in the firft inftance, where mention is
made of Pharaoh's chariots, that he is likewife faid to
have had his horfemen; which word, in the Hebrew
language, is explained by the commentators, to mean,
one who fits upon, and guides an horfe. The learned
Le Clerc is alfo of opinion, that the expreffion of " all
the horfes of Pharaoh, and his chariots, is the general
defcription of the cavalry belonging to him, and con-
fiders his chariots and horfemen, as the two different
fpecies of it." To this I muft beg leave to add another
obfervation, but without laying any greater ftrefs upon
it, than barely to hint it to the reader's notice, that the

original

OF HORSEMANSHIP. n

original Hebrew word (Parafh, Horfeman), is derived,
as Buxtorff fays, from the Hebrew root, which fignifies
to prick, or f pur; and the rider, or fpurrer, was fo
denominated, becaufe he ufed to prick or fpur the
horfe. Eques quod equum cakaribus pungat. Farther, ha
quotes Aben Efra, who fays, that the horfeman was
fo called, from wearing fpurs upon his heels, a caka-
ribus qua funt in pedibus ejus. By this account and expla-
nation of the word, which in the Hebrew fignifies an
horfemau, we are informed of the great antiquity of
fpurs, and may reafonably conclude that the art of
riding was not only known, but from the invention of
fpurs, had alfo received an improvejnent, not unwor-
thy the difcovery of more difcerning times ; and feems
to imply, that riding was not only familiar, but even
advanced in thofe primitive times to a degree of ex-
adtnefs, perhaps, not hitherto fufpedled.

If any doubt fliould flill remain, as to the feniority
of horfemanfliip, I beg leave (among many authorities
from the Bible, which, not to furfeit the reader I omit)
to ftrengthen the foregoing arg;uments, by the addition
of the following, taken from the book o£ Job, in thefe
■words, where (fpeaking of the oftrich) he fays, " Ihe
lifteth herfelf on high, Ihe fcorneth the horfe and its
rider;" which expreffion feems to imply, that it was a
cullom (as now in fome nations) to hunt this bird on
horfeback, and that fhe was fuperior to the fwifteft
horfe. Hence it muft be granted that riding was
pradtifed in his country, and at the time in which he

C 2 lived ;

iz THE HISTORY AND ART

lived ; nor is it to be forgot, that he lived in a country
diftinguillied above others for its horfcs, and in which
no chariot was ever known to have been iifed. Nor
mull wc pafs by unremembered the noble defcription
which he gives of the horfe, fo known and fo ad-
mired *, in which he fpeaks of him only as being
rode, and not driven in a carriage ; and if there is
proper foundation for the opinion maintained by fome
learned perfons, that this celebrated patriarch lived long
before the time of Mofes ; it will follow, that what
he fays relative to our fubje<ft, muft be anterior to the
Mofaic hiftoryj and if fo, it will carry the antiquity
of equitation fo htgh, as to put it out of fight, and
beyond the reach of enquiry and inveftigation.

Afia and Africa being the divifions of the earth
which were firft peopled and cultivated, as likewife
regions of which the horfe was a native, the art of

* In this enumeration of the beauties and noble qualities of the
horfe, it Ihould be remarked, that the Englijh tranjlators make Job fay,
" that this animal's neck is clothed with thunder j" an expreffion as
falfe as it is abfurd. The true rendering of this paflage is, that his
neck is clothed ^ith a mane; thus Bochart, Le Clerc, Patrick^ and
other commentators tranflate it. — Bochart fays, that the word, which
in Hebrew fignifies thunder^ is fynonimous for the mane of an horfe ;
but this being fo, it is aftonifliing that the tranflator fhould have fet
afide thejuft and natural fignification, and have chofen to cover the
horfe's neck with thunder inftead of a mane\ nor is it lefs amazing that
this nonfenfe fhould have been extolled by the author of the Guardian *,
and others, as an inftance of thejiMme.

* Vide Guardian,, vol. II. page 26.

taming

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 13

taming him was firft pra6lired in them; and beginning
in Eg'^pt, fpread itfelf into the different ftates and
kingdoms which compofe thofe two quarters of the
globe.

Of the Egyptians neverthelefs, who were fo re-
nowned in ancient days for the merit and numbers of
their horfes, very little, if any knowledge, can be
gained, concerning their manner of riding, and treat-
ment of the horfe. Herodotus fpeaks of them as
horfemen, but fays no more : it is, however, to be
prefumed, that they were well verfed in an art, of
which they were the fathers and inventors.

The Mth'iopians were poffeired of a breed of horfes,
and acquainted with the art of riding *. Herodotus
fpeaks of them as a nation of cavalry that attended
Xerxes in his expedition againft Greece.

Nothing remains that can give any information,
with refpedt to the equellrian hiftory of the ancient
Jtrabs; a people in latter ages become fo famous for
riding, that they may be fliled a nation of horfemen.
When Xerxes led his army into Greece, they accom-
panied him, and fought under his banner ; but in-
flead of mounting horfes, they rode upon camels,
which Herodotus fays, were fwifter than the fleeteft
horfe ; and Zonaras reports, that they were fwift, but
foon fatigued. Lib. xviii. cap. 11.

The inhabitants of India were accuflomed to ufe
horfes, from the earlieft times. No particulars, how-

* Polymnia.

ever,.

J4 THE HISTORY AND ART

ever, are known concerning their manner of riding.
The troops of this country which attended Xerxes in
his famous march againll Greece, fought on horfeback
as well as employed chariots in war, as Herodotus
reports, who numbers India among the nations which
corapofed the prodigious, and almoft incredible army
of the Perfian king.

The Pei'Jtjn 'horfes have been always famous for
beauty, vigour, fire, and other emir.ent qualities, and
fo celebrated for fpeed, that their very name, in the
language of the country, fignifies what may be ren-
dered, by the word wind-foot, a term emphatically ex-
preflive of their fwiftnefs. The ancient Perfians were fo
fond of them, and thought the art of managing them
fo becoming and necelTary a duty, that they taught
their children to ride at the age of five years, as He-
rodotus relates. As horfes were very fcarce in Perfia
in the time of Cyrus, this prince took pains to cultivate
and improve the breed ; and the Perfians foon became
fuch lovers of them, that there were few people but
thofe of the meaner fort, who did not keep them ; and
even a law was made, by which it was held ignominious
for thofe who were f urnifhed with horfes, ever to appear
on * foot. Athenceus f ^^.ys, they covered their horfes
with many foft and thick houfings, or cloth, being
more defirous of fittingat their eafe, than of approving
themfelves dexterous and bold horfemen.

* Herod, in Clio, & Polym.

■f Lib. xii. 4. Xenop. Cyrop. lib. i. Bochart, lib,- 7.

Vege-

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 15

Vegetius defcribes the horfes of this country to have
been moft valuable for the faddle, fafe, gentle, and
very agreeable to the rider ; conftituting a confiderable
part of their owners revenue, and being very profitable
to thofe who could fupport a fine breed. They fur-
pafTed other horfes in the pride and gracefalnefs of
their paces, which were naturally foft and eafy ; fo as
rather to pleafe and relieve the rider, than diflurb or
fatigue him. They flopped fhort, but their motions
were very quick and nimble. Not patient of labour^
but fubjecfl to tire upon a long march or journey ;
and of a temper which, unlefs awed and fubdued by
difcipline and exercife, inclined them to obflinacy and
rebellion, but with all their heat and anger, not diffi-
cult to be pacified, always maintaining a graceful
carriage, arching their neck, and bending it to fuch a
degree, as almofl to make their chins lean upon their
breafls *; while their pace was foraething between a
gallop t and an amble..

* This, in the modern phrafe, is called arming, and is a very faulty-
method of placing the head, contrary to the truth of nature, and the
mecha i i'm of the animal. The word is derived from the French, who
when an horfe carries his head in this pofture, is faid I'arwer, or to arm
himfcli igainft the hand of his rider; but more properly from the Ita-
lian >yord armatwa, which fignifies the lower end of the branches of the
bitt . ". French it is alfo called encafuchonner, from its refemblance Jo •
the av jearance of a monk's head, when his cowl is pulled over it.

-f- A vile and broken pace, anfwering to v/hat the French call aukin,
and we a rack.

The

1 6 THE HISTORY AND ART

The Partlaans refembled the Perfians fo much in

their cudoms and manners, and were fituaied fo near

them, that they were incorporated, and feeraed to

form but one nation. They were very eminent for

the fkili with which they managed their horfes,

and their manner of fighting upon them. They are

defcribed as having fuch dexterity and fupplenefs of

body, and fuch a command over their horfes, that they

could turn themfelves round upon their backs with fo

much eafe and readinefs, as to be able to draw their

bovys v/ith the fureft aim, and wound their enemies,

even while they themfelves were flying from them,

this manner of fighting being peculiar to them. The

name of PartJms is derived from a Chaldaian word,

which fignifies horfeman : their horfes are faid to have

been very a6live, and eafy in their paces *. We learn

from Vegetius that they were taught to ftep equally,

and in time, and to lift their legs aloft, fo as to pafs

over any thing that might lie in their way, as well

as to acquire a pliancy and fpring in their limbs,

which made their motion very agreeable to the rider,

and refembled the adlion or manner of going of the

Ailurian^ or Spanifh horfes. The better to form their

paces, they pradifed the following method :

They never applied rollers, chains, or weights to
their feet, in order to make them lift them from the

* Florus 49. Tacitus Ann. 6. 35. Pliny 6. 27.

Dion Cafl". lib. 40. Dionys. Per. 1089.

Juftinj lib. 41. Quint. Curt. 4, 12, and 5, 7.

ground,

PL.i

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 17

ground, and thereby acquire a lofty adion j but they
were ufed to take their horfcs into a fpot of dry
and level ground, about fifty paces long, and five
broad ; here they difpofed in regular rows, certain
boxes or coffers, filled w^ith chalk or clay, in the man-
ner of horfe-courfes, which were roughened with fur-
rows, or purpofe to make the viAory more glorious,
in proportion as the difiiculty and danger were greater.
The horfes thus exercifed, at firft were apt to be very
aukward, and to trip or ftumble ; but being admo-
niflied by the fault they committed, they learnt to lift
their feet higher, and avoid the objedl that ofifended
them, till by pradlice and repetition they acquired an
habit of bending their knees, and dealing their fteps,
fometimes Ihorter and fometimes longer, as the
ground required, and were thus enabled to carry their
riders with fafety, and much to their eafe and pleafure ;
inafmuch as that thofe horfes which make Ihort * ileps

* If Vegetius means that fliort and fmall fteps are commendable,
I am afraid he will not engage modern judges to be of his opinion.
I ftiould imagine that we are to underftand by the -words Jhort and /mall
fteps, a manner of going in which the horfe does not extend or put out
his feet, fo much as one that goes near the ground ; but, on the con-
trary, lifts his feet above it, and fets them down at a fmall diftance
from the place whence he took them up. By this way of going, the
horfe indeed will not rid much ground, but his motions will be eafy
and pleafant to the rider, and he will refemble the going of the Aftu-
rian or Spanifh horfes, which are remarkable for their high anion, and
confequently an eafy and graceful carriage. The perfeftion, however,
of all the paces depend upon the united qualities oiextettjion and aSlion.

Vol. I. D and

i8 THE HISTORYAND ART

and fmall, go more commodiouHy, and move with
more eafe and grace. Their horfes v/ere very hardy,
and inured to incredible fatigue, as well as to travel
a long time without food or water*.

This people, however fmce dillinguifhed for their
horfemanftiip, were probably ignorant of it at the time
of Xerxes' expedition, and according to Herodotus,
fought on foot in the caufe of that monarch.

Armenia likewife could boaft a breed of horfes,
hardly inferior to the Perfian race.

Vegetius fpeaks of the inhabitants of this country,
as being very careful in trimming and adjufting the
manes of their horfes. Some ufed to cut them clear
off, which pracSlice he condemns, as rendering the
horfe unfightly and deformed. Others clipped them,
fo as to make them refemble an arch or bow, which is
the fame as what is called an Hogs mane with us:
others again feparated it into notches, like the battle-
ments of a tower ; while fome cut it clofe, but only on
one fide, leaving the hair long and flowing on the other,
which was very graceful and becoming : the fide on
which the mane was turned and repofed was always to
the right. To this Virgil alludes, when he direds
the mane to be laid on the right flioulder :

Denfa juba, et dextro jaclata recumbit in armo.

* ^otfine aqua Paribus millia currat equus.

Prop. lib. iv. eleg. 3.
How many miies can run the Parthian horfe,
Nor quench his thirft in the fatiguing courfe ?

This

OF HORSEMANSHIP. j c,

This method was likewife praclifed by the Perjians
and, by the above cited line, appears to have been in
ufe w^ith the Romans, as well as that of flieering the
manes of then- manni or nags : whence Propenius
fays, his miftrefs Cynthia was carried in her litter by
fhorn horfes :

■ Et mea detcnjis adveMa eji Cynthia mannis,
Varro likewife dircils the mane to be turned to the
right fide. They alfo tied it in knots, or plaited it, as
the word impUcata aptly expreiTes *.

No particular reafon is afligned why the mane was
always turned on the right fide; it might be owing, per-
haps, to the cuftom of mounting on the right, which
was frequently, but not always the pravftice ; and in
that cafe, the mane hanging on the fide, from which
the horfeman got up, offered itfelf to his hand to allift
hina in the a(5tion ; while we, without any meaning,
always mount on the left, and always turn the mane
to the right. The Armenians had another method of
trimming their horfes, as well as the Parthians, by
which they made them as it were t^oz/^/e-maned ; for
the hair being cut away in the middle, the mane was
divided, and falling down, cloathed each fide of the
neck. A fafliion fometimes ufed at prefent, but ge-
nerally among coach-horfes.

Media was a region eminent for its horfes, and from
its fituation and other properties, produced them of
equal value with the neighbouring countries.

* Lib. iv. c. J.

D 2 Mfeea,

a o THE HISTORY AND ART

Nifaa, a di(lrl6t of Armenia, boafted a breed of very
large and beautiful horfcs. The chariot of Xerxes, in
his famous expedition, was drawn by horfes of this
country, and chofen for the tafk, as being the nobleft
which could be procured.

The Scythians were fo confpicuous for their addidlion
to horfes, that they were proverbially * famous. They
are reprefented to have prefeiTed mares, as thinking
them more capable of fervice. They imagined them
not to be fo liable to delay, and the inconvenience of
Hopping when they had occafion to ftale. Pliny tells
us, that this was the motive of their ufmg mares
more than horfes in war, and upon other occafions j
and we learn from Strabo, that they were wont to geld
their horfes, to make them gentle, and more eafy
to be governed. It is thought, however, and with
much probability, that this preference of the fe-
male fex may be afcribed to better caufes. Whether
the mare can carry her urine longer than the horfe,
or is able to difcharge it with more facility, even
while flie is in the moft rapid motion, as Pliny re-
ports, is a point only for anatomifts to determine ;
but it is certain that, in general, the female fex of thefe
animals is more mild and tradable, nor fo fubjeft to
fight and quarrel as horfes are, either from lufl, fpirit
or vice ; and what might have been ftill a ftronger
recommendation, not fo apt to neigh, and thereby

* Scytha equum.

betray

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 21

betray and difcover their riders, in an enterprizc of
war, or excurfion of pillage, in which they wifhcd to
fall unexpectedly upon the enemy.

The Sarmatians, both Afiatic and European, were
dirtinguiflied horfemen, and had large breeds of horics.
They ufed in. war a particular fort of armour, which-
covered themfelves and their horfes from head to foot:
the Perfians worc alfo, according to Ammianus Mar-
cellinus, armour of iron, which inclofed the whole
man ; they armed their horfes with, the fame metali
on their chefts and heads, and this fafhion was adopt-
ed by many other nations. Paufanias-in his Attics de-
fcribes the Sarmatian armour, and fays it was made of
boae, which they ufed in the place of iron, their own.
country having no mines of this metal, and they en-
deavouring to procure none from other nations. They
ufed horfes not only to ride, but ofifered them in facri-
fice to their gods, as did alfo many other nations;
They likewife eat their flefh, and drank their blood ; as
did another tribe of the fame people, called the Ge-
loni, and the Maflagetes. Lucan and Virgil records
this cuftom ;

Majfageles quo fugtt eqiio, valuer efque Geloni^ .
hongaqiie Sarmatici folvens jejunia belli *.

The MafTagete, who at his favage feail

Feeds on the gen'rous fteed which late he prefL

* Lib. iii. Row. Virg. Georg. 3d. Warton's tranH

Acerqtte

22 THE HISTORY AND ART

Accrque Gelonus
Cum Juglt in Rhodopen, atque in deferta Getanim,
Et lac co77iTetu?n cum fanguine potat equina.

The fierce Gelonian when for favage food,

He blends the milky flream with horfe's blood *.

The materials of which the Sarmatians compofed
their armour, was taken from the hoofs of horfes,
which they cut into little plates, like fcales, which they
pierced and fewed together with the fmews of oxen
or horfes.

Cappadocia flands eminently praifed for its horfes ;
which, from the accounts given of them by hiftorians,
and the commendations beftowed by the poets, who
defcribe their beauty and merit in the moft lively and
ftriking terms, feem to have claimed the precedence
of the reft of their fpecies. Oppian, Gratius, iElian,
Nemefianus, Pliny, Vegetius, and Solinus, Pollux,
Varro, and many others, give them the higheft cha-
racfler. Oppian particularly celebrates their ftately car-
riage, and loftinefs of aftion ; and fays, that when
young, they are delicate and weak, but that ftrength
comes with years, and, contrary to other horfes,
they are better and more powerful when advanced
in age.

* Martial alfo fays,

Venit £5? e poto Sarmaia pvjius equo.

The

n.

<•? 5«

f^^^

OF HORSEMANSHIP, 23

The horfes of this trad: of country feem to have
been the favourites of the ancients, who greatly extol
their fwiftnefs, and ftatelinefs of their adlion. And
here it may not be improper to obferve once for all,
that moft of the ancient authors, who fpcak of the
horfe, or defcribe its figure, mention the proud,
high, and equal Hep, which conflitutes, what is un-
derflood by the term action, not only as a requifite,
but as the nobleft accomplifhraent an horfe can pofTefs:
and it mufl: be acknowledged, that when the animal
difplays it properly, motion appears in its higheft
grace. The poets^ who love beautiful images, fpeak
of the horfe in this view, in fuch expreffive and apt
terms, that after feeing the horfes themfelves, the next
pleafure is to read their defcriptions of them. The
painters and ftatuaries are likewife fond of exhibiting
the animal in this ftriking attitude.

The inhabitants of Numidia, Mauritania, Nafamonia,
MaJftUa, and other adjacent trads of the fame region,
are celebrated for having had horfes of great fleetnefs
and vigour ; but more for their ftrange and peculiar
manner of riding them without a bridle or faddle,
ufmg a voand only, or fwitch, to guide and command
them. Many poets, who in fome inftances may pafs
for hiftorians, and many hiftorians likewife, affert this
for a truth. Livy * fpeaking of this manner of ma-
naging their horfes, fays with great juftice, that they

* Lib. xxiii. c. 25, and 25, 9. Vide alfo Caef. de Bello Afric.

made

24 THE HISTORY A N D A R T

made an ungraceful and aukward appearance, having
their necks ftrait and extended, and carrying their nofes
upwards, or in the air (capitibus ake Jlantibus). Many
authors imagine this breed to be the fame with that of
Lybia, or as this traift now is called, Barbary, famous
for its excellent horfes, celebrated for their fpeed,
wind, and patience of fatigue. Xenophon and Oppian
agree in giving them this charadler; and Mian bellows
upon them the fame commendations, defcribing them
to be of a lean habit of body, and of a {lender mould,
not requiring much care or attendance from their
keepers, but living hardly, and content with fuch food
as they find in the fields, into which they are turned as
foon as the rider quits their backs, without farther care
or notice The prefent treatment of them correfponds,
in a great degree, with this account, nor is the de-
fcription of them unlike that already related of their
anceftors.

Silius Jtalicus * fpeaking of the Carthaginians fighting
with the Romans, mentions the peculiar manner of
riding among thefe people, and many other autho-
rities confirm the praiSlice f.

It is neverthelefs, in fome degree, difficult to con-
ceive, how a wand or flick could be powerful enough
to guide or control a fpirited or obilinate horfe in the
violence of his courfe, or in the tumults of battle : —
but the attention, docility, and memory of the animal

* Punic, lib. 4.

•}- Livy, lib. xxxviL c. 20.

arc

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 25

are fuch, that it is hard to fay to what a degree of obe-
dience and cxaiflnefs he may not be reduced. It is
faid that the manner in which the ftick operated, was
by flriking the horfe with it on the right fide of his face,
to make him turn to the left, on the left' to dire<5l him
to the right, and full upon the griftle of his nofe, when
he was required to flop * :

Paret in obfeqniuin lento: modermn'me virga,
Verbera funt pracepta fuga, funt verbera frceni.

All ncedlefs here the bit's coercive force
To guide the motions of the pliant horfe ;
Form'd by the rod alone, its aids they know,
And flop, and turn, obedient to the blow.

AufoniuG confirms this account, and defcribing this
method of riding in very exaft terms, celebrates the
emperor Gratian for his fkill and addrefs in it. Mira-
bamur (fays he) -poetam "j" qui infrcenos dixerat Numidas, et
alterum qui coUegerat ita, ut diceret in equitando verbera ^ pra-
cepta eJJ'e fuga, & prcecepta Jtjiendi : obfcurum hoc nobis legentibus
erat. Intelleximus te videntes, quum idem arcum intenderes, ^
habenas rcmitteres ; aut equum fegnius euntein verbere concitarest
vel eodem verbere intemperentiam coerceres %.

* Nemefian.

-}- Et numida infrceni eingunt, et inhofptn fyrtis.

Virg. ^n. 4.
X Aufon. Grat. Adio. p. 546, Delph. Edit. 4to

Vol. I. E This

26 THE HISTORY AND ART

This method, I have been afTured, is ftill pra6lifed
in Barbary, by the lower fort of people, and anfwei-s
very juftly to the roughnefs and brutal violence of
thefe ignorant nations, in the ordinary courfe of their
manners, and harfhnefs of their tempers.

Nor is it unreafonable to fuppofe, that their extreme
poverty, their ignorance of the arts *, and the want,
perhaps, of materials and manufai5tures , might have
given rife to this manner of riding, which cuftom adopt-
ed, and conftant pracftice made eafy and familiar both
to man and horfe j which latter, after a certain degree of
difcipline and experience, from the force of habit, and
the docility of his nature, might be brought to under-
ftand the intention, and obey the will of his rider, with
as much certainty and readinefs, as our cart-horfes in

* In confirmation of this aflertion, I will add a paflage from an ac-
count of the Irifh, in the reign of king Richard II.

When this prince went into Ireland to chaftife IVIac-Morough, who
called himfelf king of Ireland, though properly only king of Leinfter,
in the year 1399 •, the king of England, by advice of his council, fent
the earl of Glocelterunto Mac-Moroiigh to charge him with his crimes.
Between two woods, Mac-Morough defcended from a mountain,
mounted upon an horfe without a faddle, which cofl: him (as reported)
four hundred cows ; for in that country they barter by exchange, horfes
for beafts, and one commodity for another. This horfe was very fair,
and ran as fwift as any flag, or the fv/ifteft beaft I ever faw. Vide
Harris's Hibernica.

Perhaps the cuftom once in this kingdom of making horfes draw
by their tails may be afcribed to the fame caufe, as the riding without
faddles •, the ignorance of the age in the art of making faddles and
harnefs.

the

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 27

the crowded ftrects, attend to the voice of their driver,
by which they almoft are folely governed, and difcover
no lefs fagacity and obedience than the famous Gallic
mules, dcfcribed by Claudian in the following epigram.

DE MULABUS GALLICIS.

^fpicc morigeras Rhodani torrentis alumnas^

Imperio ncxas^ impsrioque vagas ;
DiJJ'ona quam varios Jleclunt ad mitrmiira curfus^

Et certas adeunt vcce regent e vias :
iluamvis qiiaquejlbi longh difcurrit habenis,

Et pateant diiro libera colla jugo ;
Ceu conJiriBa tatnenfervit, patienfque laborum

Barbaricos docili concipit aure fonos.
Abfentis longinqua vaJent pracepta magijiriy

Frcenorumqiie vicem lingua virilis agit.
Hac procul aiigujlatfparfas, fpargitque coa5ias,

Hac Jijiit rapidas ; hac properare facit.
Lava jubet ? lavo deducunt limite grejfum,

Mutavit Jirepitum ? dexteriora petunt.
Nee vinclis famuJa, nee libertateferoces,

Exuta laqueis, fiibditione tamen,
Confenfuque pares ; fed fiilvis pelHbus hirta

EJfeda Concordes multi fonora trahunt.
Miraris Ji voce f eras peccaverat Orphius,

Cum pronas pecudes Gallica verba regant ?

Bred, where the Rhone's impetuous torrents flow,
Obferve how well thefe mules their duty know !

E 2 How

1

28 THE HISTORY AND ART

How well their driver's meaning underftand.
Come at his call, and go at his command ;
Left to themfelves, and trufled with the reins,
His voice, with furer pow'r their fpeed reftrains*
Patient of toil, their Heady courfe they fleer,
Watch every accent, and obedient hear.
Govern'd by diftant founds, they clofe, divide,
And flop, or run, the voice their only guide.^
To the left hand one tone diretSts their flight,
A difF'rent* cadence wheels them to the right.
Though free, not wild, they own fuperior fway,
With willing minds, and equal fleps obey^
And fpeed the rattling carriage on its way.
Then wonder not, that Orpheus drew along
The favage herd, enraptur'd at his fong !.
Lo ! here a greater prodigy is found !
And brutes more docile to a ruder found.

Libya, mentioned above, bred horfes which were
fwift even to a proverb *. Its inhabitants are reported
to have been the firft who taught Greece the method
of coupling horfes in a chariot. They were confidered
as moft fkilful horfemen, fuperior to other nations,
and never fought but on horfeback.

It may now, perhaps, be time to quit thefe regions,
in order to follow our fubjedl, and examine what re-
ception it found, and what progrefs it made, when in-

■^ Ju>:ta Lydium currum curnre. Plutarch.

troduced

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 29

troduced into the third remaining part of the globe,
called Europe.

It is imagined, and the conjecfture is by no means
groundlefs, that the colonies which came from Phoe-
nicia and Egypt, countries in which equitation flou-
rifhed, brought the art with them, and eftablillied it
in Greece, long before the fiege of Troy ; and indeed
it would be very furpriling, and fcarcely credible,
that an art which promoted the convenience and plea-
fure of mankind in fo great a degree, lliould remain
entirely with the inventors, and not pafs into neigh-
bouring countries, and be adopted by all who were
once acquainted with it.

As many reafons have already been urged, and
many authorities produced from the facred writings,
in order to prove, that riding on horfeback was at
leafl: coeval, if not prior, to the ufe of chariots, fo it
may not be improper likewife to have recourfe to the
oldefl authors, in order to fee what farther knowledge
may be gleaned from them.

Homer, the oldeft poet, and, in fomc inflances, the
oldefl pagan hiftorian, fpeaks of riding fo familiarly
in fome parts of his poems, that we mull believe it
was known, and in ufe among the Greeks, before he
compofed his Iliad and OdyfTey.

Two paiTages of this poet, one in the i 5th book of
the Iliad, the other in the 5 th of the OdyiTeyj will
prove this alTertion.

In

30 THE HISTORY AND ART

In the firft we read to the following effect. '« Juft
as a fldlful horfeman riding four chofen horfes along
a public road, to fome great city, where his courfe is
to terminate :

" The whole town afTembles to behold him, and
gaze upon him with wonder and applaufe, while he
leaps at pleafure from the back of one horfe, to ano-
ther, and flics along with them."

It is to be obferved, that the poet makes this compa-
lifon, when he defcribes Ajax fighting in defence of the
Grecian fhips, attacked by the Trojans ; and to give a
livelier idea of that hero's ftrength and adlivity, he fays,
that Ajax leaped from one fliip to another, with the
fame readinefs and addrefs, with which a fkilful
horfeman would vault from the back of one horfe to
that of another ; and confeqiienily that by his nim-
blenefs and force, he was able to defend many Ihips
at a time, as an accompliflied rider is capable of ma-
naging and controlling feveral horfes at the fame
time.

From this comparifon two obfervations will occur .-
the firft is, that riding mult have been commonly
known at the time when Homer wrote, otherwife he
could not have alluded to it, in order to illuftrate, and
give a full idea of Ajax's manner of fighting when he
defended the Grecian fliips.

The fecond remark to be made, is, that this art was
not only knpwn at that time in Greece, but alfo that
it muft have been lludied and cultivated with care and

attention.

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 31

attention, fincc no fmall fhare of dexterity and habit is
neceffary to enable a man to vault alternately upon the
backs of four horfes running at full fpeed. Nor is the
whole praife due to the rider : the horfes niuft have
contributed their part, and been docile and govern-
able, otherwife it would have been impoffible for the
man to have difplayed his fkill ; and the manage-
ment of them demanding a certain degree of experi-
ence, we are naturally led to conclude, that the Gre-
cians were acquainted with the art before this period,
and left their knowledge to their defcendants, for
whofe inftrudlion and entertainment Homer compofed
his two immortal poems.

The next teflimony comes from the OdyfTey, and is
likewife another fimile, which the poet makes of
UlyfTes, fhipwrecked, and fitting aflride a plank, which
was floating upon the waves, to a man beftriding an
horfe, and keeping his feat in fpite of all the motions
the animal could make. To the foregoing arguments,
we may Hill add another from the fame antient writer.
He tells us, that when Ulyfl'es and Diomed went by
night into the tent of Rha:fus ; UlylTes feeing his
horfes tied behind his chariot, immediately releafed
them from it, and mounting them, with Diomed, they
rode to the Grecian camp*

Notwithllanding the force of thefe evidences,
which tend to prove fo clearly, that riding was known
before the Trojan war ; it yet mud be confeffed,
from the filence of the fame writer, that the Greeks,

during

3 2 THE ART AND HISTORY

during that long ficge, made ufe of chariots only ; for
it is not known; that they had any bodies of troops
v;hich ferved on horfcback : nor does it appear on
the other hand, from any writer of antiquity, why
chariots were preferred : and although it is but candid
to acknowledge that they were, and although the me-
thod of fighting on horfeback might at that time be
difufed ; yet, it does not follow, that the art of riding
and dreiling horfes, in its various branches, for^battle,
hunting, or exhibitions of pomp and pleafure, was not
known before that memorable cEra.

It has been already obfervcd, that it is conjedlured,
that the colonies which came from Phoenicia and
Egypt, are fuppofed to have brought with them the
art of riding into Greece ; and it is likewife pro-
bable that the Grecians are not only indebted to them
for their knowledge of equitation, but likewife for
the animal which is the fubjeft of it; it being fuf-
pefted, that the horfe was not originally a native of
Greece, but tranfplanted thither from other parts.
Herodotus * tells us, that the Greeks learned to couple
horfes in a chariot from the Africans (Lybians) ; and
Pliny f the naturalift fays, that the Greeks compofed
no treatifes or natural hiftory of the horfe, becaufe
their country did not originally produce any, and they
knew nothing of them in their wild ftate ; de egui/ens
mji fcripferunt Graci,

* In Melpom. •\ Lib. I.

Let

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 33

Let 'us, however, fee what their own hiflories, or
traditions fay upon this fubje6t.

They tell us then, that Neptune and Minerva having
a difpute which could confer the greateil benefit upon
man, Neptune gave the horfe, and Minerva the olive-
tree. This is the ancient account of the origin of the
horfe ; and from this very account, independant of
other more fober and certain relations, we may be in-
duced to fufpecfl, that he was not a native of Greece
originally, but introduced and adopted, or to talk
in the language of ancient mythology, the gift of a
God.

It is well known, that antiquity had a peculiar fond-
nefs to exprefs itfelf, upon mofl occafions, in fable and
allegory, thinking thereby,*, perhaps, to llrike the
mind with greater awe and veneration, and to raife
and enoble the fubjeifl which they treated, by afcribr
ing them to a divine origin, and far removed from the
ufiial courfe of things. This is probably the reafon,
why we find all ancient Hijiory to be almolt all Table ;
yet if we go fpmewhat deeper, and look more clofely
into things, wefliall, in many inftances, difcover Fable
alfo to be Hi/lory. It is, therefore, incumbent upon
thofe who have to do with fubjeds, which, from their
antiquity can only be feen through the medium of fa-
ble, to confider the fabulous part only as a veil or co-
vering, which to a certain- degree conceals the objed:
which is under it ; but which being removed, genu-
ine hiftoric truth will appear in its naked purity.

Vol. I. F AYithout

^4 THE HISTORY AND ART

Without this^ clu«, almoft all ancient hiftory will be a la-
byrinth of confufion and doubt, not to be believed, or
even underftood : as in the inftance before us ; is it not
abfurd and ridiculous to be told, that an imaginary
deity, who prefided as fovereign of the iea, Ihould
have formed the horfe, a land animal, for the ufe of
man ? Yet fuch is the account given of this creature
by the Greek hillories and traditions ; but the veil of
fable in which it is wrapped, being removed, the
plain fa(n: will be this : viz. that in Greece in early
times, there being few, if any, horfes, fome were
brought from Libya, and other parts, and being tranf-
ported thither by fea, were faid in the lofty and figu«
rative ftile of antiquity, to have been the gift of Nep-
tune, the God of the Sea.

Thus fable ends in hiftot-y, of which it is no more
than a gorgeous drefs, and fanciful embelliihment ;
and which, like other ornaments, oftentimes overload^
conceal from fight, what they were intended only'
to fet off and adorn.

In following our fubjedV, we are led, in the next place,
to confider the fiftitious ftory of the Centaurs^ who are
reported to have been the inventors and teachers of
Grecian horfemanfhip. Many different accounts are
to be found concerning them, in the poets and other
mythological writers : the trueft and moll fimple feems;
to be this.

It is faid by many ancient writers, that the Theffa-
lians, chiefly thofe who dwelt about Mount Pelion,

were

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 35^

were die firft among the Greeks who applied themfelvcs
to the art of breaking horfes. Pliny the Elder gives
Bellerophon the honour of having been the firft who
mounted a horfe j but his ftory is too abfurd and idle
to be eniicled * to any credit, Notwithftanding this, the
fame writer declares, that the Theffalians, of all the
Greeks applied themfelves moft to this exercife. The an-
cient cavalry of Greece, therefore, is to be found inThef-
faly. Hiftory farther informs us, that thefe primitive
horfemen, in order to acquire knowledge and dexterity
in the art, as well as to difplay them upon proper oc-
cafions, were aecuftomed to fight with bulls, attacking
them with javelins, in order to kill them, and thereby
prevent them from ravaging their fields. In this fci-
ence of bull-hunting, it is fuppofcd, they were expert,
as well as in horfemanfliip, by the affiftance of which
they were enabled to attack and deftroy thefe wild and
dangerous animals. Pliny fays, Julius Csefar introduced
thefe bull-fightings into Rome, and was the firft who en-
tertained the people with thefe fpe<5lacles ; nor is it im-
probable, that the celebrated Spanijb BuU-feaJis, as they are
called, are derived from thefe fports of the Romans, as
they took their rife from the Greeks. Be this as it may
it is certain that the word Centaur, or to fpeak more
properly Hippocentaur, owes its derivation in the
Greek language to tliis cuftom of bull-wounding by
men, who attacked them on horfeback, the word
Hippocentaur, fignifying an Horfeman BuU-wounden

• Vid. Diod. Sicul.— -Pliny — Palaephatus— Servius in Virg,

Fa At

36 THE HISTORY AND ART

At the firlt appearance of thefe new horfemen, the
people who faw them were greatly flruck and amazed
at the ftrangenefs of their figures ; and having, per-
haps, but an imperfed view of them, and that imdet
the influence of fear and wonder, might think them
to be a new fpecies of creatures, compofed of two
different natures, half-human, and half-brute.

This is at once the fabulous and real account of the
faft. Ignorance, and its companion Credulity, might
impofe fo much upon the minds of thofe who firfl faw
thefe half-men, and half-horfes, as to make them think
they were a new fpecies of creatures ; as the Indians
imagined the Spaniards to be, when they firfl beheld
them mounted upon horfes, and believed them to be
deities. Poetry and fable adopted the opinion, and
made a proper ufe of it ; and whether we view it in a
literal or figurative fenfe, we mufl confefs the juflnefs
of the notion ; but the fabulous explanation of it is fo
flriking and beautiful, that it always has been re-
ceived, and prevails at this day. The Centaur is the
fymbol of horfemanfliip, and explains its meaning as
foon as it is beheld : for there is fuch an intelligence
and harmony between the rider and the horfe, that
they may, almofl in a literal fenfe, be faid to be but one
creature ; the horfe underflanding the Aids of his rider,
as if he was a part of himfelf, and the rider equally
confulting the genius, powers, and temper of the horfe,
juflifies the allegory; and may almofl be faid, in the

expr^flive

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 37

exprcflive words of Shakefpear * to be " incorpfcd and
derainatured with the brave beail."

Having thus finilhed this fabulous ftory, or rather
extradted as much truth from it as we could, we will,
in the next place, prefent the reader wirh a more cir-
cumftantial account of the particulars of Grecian horfe-
manlhip.

It is known, that in the infancy of mod of the
Grecian dates, the number of horfes was but fmall,
they being too expenfive to be kept by any who were
not rich ; to encourage people, therefore, to increafe
the number, and keep them at their own coft, an or-
der of citizens was erected in Sparta and Athens, who
were deemed the fecond in rank in the commonwealth,
and diftinguiflied by certain honours and privileges
conferred upon them : in after-times Rome availed
herfelf of this expedient, and formed her Eguites, or
knights, after this model.

The origin of horfemanfhip in this country, is
afcribed to various perfons, but can be fixed with cer-
tainty upon none ; and whoever was the firfl intro-
ducer of it, feems to have known but little of the art,
r.nd to have left it very imperfeft, though, perhaps,
in no worfe a flate, than other arts and fciences were
in ^t their beginning. It is probable to think that
fome time mull have elapfed before the indrument
called a Bitt was ufed for the governing of horfes, by

c

* Hamlet.

putting

38 THE HISTORY AND ART

putting it into their mouths. By looking back into
antiquity for the pra<5lices of pad times, and the
origin of many cuftoms defcended to us, we every
where find the greateft plainnefs and fimplicity in their
firfl flate; and the more ancient, the ruder and fimpler
they were. The ftile of architecfture, the fafhion of the
habits and drefles of early times, the methods of pre-
paring food, and many articles befide, are convincing
proofs of this afTertion. By degrees light broke in,
and men advanced progreflively from one improve-
ment to another. In difcufling this fubjeA, it is cu-
rious to obfervc, that in ancient Greece, many of the
terms appropriated to navigation, were alfb ufed in
horfemanfliip. The word xsXyjc or keles, which lig-
nifies a runner, ferved likewife, as Suidas fays, to de-
note light failing vefTels, and fwift horfes. Homer
calls fliips, horfes of the fca, and the pilot, the coach-
man, or driver of the velTel. Pindar calls a bridle
an gnchor; and in this fenfe Neptune may properly
be called the inventor of the horfe, which implied no
more than a lliip. Thefe little obfervations, among
many others which may be found in the Greek
and Latin writers, are only offered to the reader,
as an argument, that bitts and bridles were ufed
in the moft diftant ages, but at what exa<5l pe-
riod to fix their origin, or even to defcrite their
ihapes and proportion, is a talk by no means eafy
to perform ; inafrauch as that there is fcarce any
track left to follow, and where mention is made

of

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 39

of them, it is fo perplexed and obfcure, that filence
itfelf could not have left us more in doubt. All the
advances we can make in this difficult road, rather
miilead, than conduft us to any knowledge that is
clear and certain. It may, therefore, be the wifer and
more modefl part, to fuppofe that the people of the
iirfl ages of the world, prompted by their necellities,
and a<5ting from them alone, made no other ufe of the
horfe at firft, than what might be for domellic pur-
pofes, teaching him to fubmit to carry men and bur-
dens ; and having reconciled and made him patient^
they taught him by degrees to diftinguifli and obey
the diiFerent founds of the voice, as well as to be di-
re<Jted by the guidance of a fwitch or wand, which the
rider carried in his hand,

It is, however, apparent that they made ufe of cords
or thongs to Hop and confine the horfe in any place
where they chofe he fhould ftay. Thefe cords they
fattened round the horfe's neck, as may be feen in the
figures (though of a much later date), carved upon
Trajan's pillar at Rome. Thefe ropes hanging down
from the necks of the horfes, are imagined to have fug-
gefted the firft hint of traces for drawing machines.
Strabo fays, that the Moors, or Africans, ufed cords
for bridles. It is probable to think, that after a time
they might difcover, that if a cord was put into the
mouth, or at leaft over the nofe, like our bakers,
which may be ufed both ways at the fame time, it
would be a more effe<5lual ra.ethod of guiding and con-

trolhing

40 THE HISTORY AND ART

trolling the horfe ; and hence is derived the fuppofed
origin of bridles ; which, in after-ages, have been
multiplied in fuch numbers, and under fuch a variety
of fliapes, increafing and improving, as men grew
more fkilful in riding, and applied it to fundry pur-
pofes. It is certain, that the ancient Greeks were ac-
quainted with the ufe of fpurs, ^s well as that they had
a covering for their legs when on horfeback, which
anfwered the intentpn of our boots. Xenophon,
in his treatife on horfemanfhip, mention both thefe
appurtenances. Neverthelefs no trace of the former
remains upon any flatue, or monument which have
reached thefe times, and is an omiffion of the ancient
fculptors not eafily accounted for, unlefs we conclude
with Montfaucon, that they did not think tliem worth
their notice. That learned and accurate antiquary
has preferved the figure of one, as well as of an an-
cient bitt, in his valuable colleflion. It does not ap-
pear, however, from this diligent enquirer, of what
country his fpur and bitt are the invention. Nor is it
quite certain, that what he calls a bitt, is really one,
and he leaves it to the reader to determine. It is of an
uncouth form, and bears no refemblance to thofc which
are ftill to be feen on Trajan's pillar, and elfewhere.
It has neither branches nor curb, and may not impro-
perly be called a Snofle ; the mouth-piece is ornamented
at each end, with two bofles, reprefenting ah horfe's
head. Not but that there are fome which appear to
liavc branches ; but curbs or chains under the chin are

no

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 41

no where to be feen. Xenophon, the oldefl writer
extant upon this fubjed:, defcribes two forts of bitts,
the one eafy and fmootb, the other fharp and more
powerful *.

They likewife had a fort of bridle which came over
the nofe, like our cavezons, armed with teeth, and
very fevere in its efFe(5ts f .

Whips were ufed by the Greeks, and were made of
thongs of leather, or the briftles of hogs twilled to-
gether, and fometimes of the fmews of oxen. Saddles
were unknown to ancient Greece. Inftead of them
<:ertain cloths or houfmgs were thrown upon the horfe,
and fattened by a girth, or furcingle. Upon thefe the
rider fat. They were known by the general name of
Ephippia ; and the trappings or horfe-furniture, known
and ufed in every part of the modern world, may be
fuppofed to owe their origin to them. They were
compofed of different materials, leather, cloth, and
the fkins of wild beads, and fometimes adorned with
gold, filver, and precious Hones ; the horfes, befides
thefe ornaments, being decked with Bel/s, rich Collars^
and other devices.

As the invention of faddles was an advantage in
riding, of which the Greeks were totally ignorant, fo
were they likewife of the ufe of llirrups ; for want of
which they were obliged to mount and difmount by
vaulting, by the affiilance of horfe-blocks, or of other

* The reader will fee a fuller account in the treatife at the end of
this work.

t Vide Tidor. Hiipal. et SchefFer, de re Vehicul.

Vol, I. G people,

42 THE HISTORY AND ART

people, as flaves or grooms, who lifted the rider upon
the horfe, and helped him to get down. Soldiers ge-
nerally made ufe of their fpears upon this occafion.
Others of Ihort ladders ; others again had their horfes
taught to kneel, when the rider was to mount or
get down. Beiides thefe helps, piles of flones were
ere6led in the public roads for the conveniency of
paflTengers ; and the officer, who had the fuperinten-
dency of the highways, was obliged to fee that they
were furniilicd with them. Thefe different expedients
all feem to confefs the ignorance of ftirrups in the.
ancient world, and are arguments of force enough,
to induce us to believe, that they are a difcovery of
modern da^e. Euflathius fpeaks of them as inftru^
ments in which a man putting his foot, could mount
his horfe without farther affiftance. Suidas and Plu-
tai'ch feem to intimate the fame thing *. To what

other.

* The Greek word ava^^xsu?, and the Latin term Strator, are
jbppofed to fignify in thefe languages Si.'rrups. But they muft not be
taken in a literal fenfe, but vinderftood figuratively. In their literal
fignification they mean no more than any thing by which a man
caii be enabled to mount or difmount from his horfe, as a ladder,,
chain, rope, ftep •, or horfe-block ; or a man, as a fervant, or groom,
who affilled the rider to get up and down. Performing, therefore, one
part of the office of ftirrups, they were,, in after-ages^ called ftirrups j.
but in the fame fenfe as a man who lies upon the ground may call ic
his bed, and the heavens his canopy. Suidas gives this explanation.
Pitifcus thinks it might have been a rope ladder, which was flung over
the horfe to enable the rider to mount, and then taken off (a method:
praftifed at this day) j and that it was not till a long time after, that,

they.

<;

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 43

other contrivance they alluded, if this flaould not be
allowed, a more able and more fortunate enquirer may,
perhaps, difcover ; in the mean time it feems to be
the more probable fide of the queftion to conclude,
that they were not known to the ancients. Hippo-
crates obferves, that the Scythians, who were much on
horfeback, were troubled with defluxions and fwellings
in their legs, occafioned by their dependent pofture,
and the want of fomething to fuflain their feet. Had
flirrups been known, this inconvenience could not
have been urged ; and this proof, joined to the foregoing
arguments, feems to outweigh thofe which are brought
to fupport the contrary opinion.

As the moft meritorious part of the horfe's cha-
radter was his fervice in war ; the Greeks were very
nice and fcrupulous in this particular, and before any
were admitted into their troops, flri6lly examined their
qualities and difpolitions ; rejecting thofe whofe talents
and properties did not come up to a certain degree of
merit required of them. The method of trying their
courage and temper, was by ringing a Bell, and making
other loud and fudden noifes ; and by their behaviour

they were fixed fo as to fupport the rider's legs while the horfe was in
motion. This praftice probably did not obtain till faddles were invented,
to which they could be faftened with firmnefs and fecurity. This ex-
planation coincides with, and confirms the conjefture of Montfaucon.

Vide Hoffman. Lex. Art. Staffa. — Jo. Molinet. Itin. Neap. —
Gorop. Bee. Gall, lib, ii. p. 49. — DuFrefne in Glof. &Notis ad Cinn. —
V. eundem DifTert. ad Joinville. — Euftat. OdyfTey, A. n. 155. —
Sueton, in Calig.

G 2 under

44 THE HISTORY AND ART

under thefe circumftances, they judged of their tempers
and charadlers. Such horfes as were worn out, and
unfit to ferve in the troops, were caft and turned out,
and, as a mark of difmillion, were branded in the jaw
with the figure of a Circle, or Wheel. It was alfo ufual
with private people to mark their horfes by burning
into their flefh certain figures and marks, as letters of
the alphabet, or the initial letters of names, denoting
their breed and country, or to whom they belonged.

Thus Lucian mentions the practice of ftamping
horfes with the figure of a Centaur ; and Bucephalus is
faid to have been marked with the head of a Bull-,
whence he had his name. It is, however, more pro-
bable that this famous horfe owes his appellation to the
refemblance which his head really bore to that of a
j5m//, and not to the impreflion of one which was burnt
into his flefli ; and was a mark in no wife peculiar to
liim, hni common to all horfes, fo that he could not
have been particularly diftinguiflied by it ; and Aulus
Gellius, lib. v. c. 2. exprefly tells us that this was the
fa(5t, and that his head literally refembled in jQiape and
figure that of a Bull, as the name implies, Jlexandri
regii &? capite t^ nomine Bucephalus fuit ; and horfes of this
kind are fometimes fl;ill to be found. The moft fre-
quent and principal marks, however, were the letters
fgma and kappa ; and the horfes which bore them were
termed KiXTtzoLrioLi and I,Oiv<popcii, the ancient Greeks
calling the Jigma I,ocv or I,X[a. *.

* Vide Sa'm. ad Solin. P. 891, 892.
7 Greece

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 45

Greece gave many appellations to her horfemen,
diftinguifhing them by the particular forts of armour
which they wore, and by the manner of riding and
fighting. The Ay,<^i7C7toi were fuch as had two horfes
affigned to one man, on which he rode by turns,
vaulting from one upon the other, as the circum-
ftances of battle required. Others there were who
fought on horfeback and on foot, like modern dra-
goons, and had fervants attending to hold their horfes,
whenever they got down to fight. The xsXric, or fingle
horfe, was ufed upon different occafions, but moft fre-
quently for the purpofe of running in the public
games, like our race-horfes.

The Grecian horfemen always fet off to the left,.
preferring that hand, as we do to the right ; and
were ufed in forming their horfes, to work them in
circles, in order to make them fupple, and ready to
turn to either.

The Thejfalian horfes, by the agreement of all
v/riters, were the raoft famous of ancient Greece, and
valued and admired not only by the inhabitants of that
country, but by the moft judicious and experienced
perfons of other nations. They were celebrated even
to a proverb, which fays, that among horfes, the
ThefTalian breed was the nobleft ; as among women,
the Lacedaemonian were the moft beautiful.

Theocritus honours them with his praifes, and fays,
that a cyprefs-tree in a garden, and a TheJjhUan horfe
drawing a chariot, are moft pleafing objects, and fupe-

riorly

4^ THE HISTORY AN DART

riorly graceful. Varro, in his account of fine breeds of
■horfes, mentions thefe as the firft and beft. Strabo
alfo records their merit.

The horfes of Mycencc were held in much efleem,
and accounted more proper for fiiew and parade, from,
the pride and gracefulnefs of their carriage, than for
fwiftnefs, or great fatigue.

To M-jcejtce we muft add Ephus, a country much
extolled for its breed of fleet and beaiuiful horfes.

The Lacedamcnians are mentioned by Paufantas, as be-
ing remarkable for their love and knowledge of horfes,
and for having a diftinguiflied breed exprefly deftined
to contend in the Olympic courfe.

Argolis^ a country in the Pehponnefus, was another
part which muft be remembered upon this occafion.
The horfes of Argos are extolled by all antiquity.
Arcadia juftly boaftcd her breed of horfes, and had
large and rich paftures for their nouri(hment.

Magnejia, a region of Macedonia, and bordering
upon ThefTaly, is commended for its horfes, in which
its inhabitants were very curious, and fought upon
them with great addrefs. Lucan and Oppian make
mention of them.

The Dalmatian horfss had likewife their fliare of
praife.— Thofe of Ionia are celebrated by Oppian and
Claudian.

The illand Scyros produced thefe animals in great
abundance, and furniflied Greece with large fupplies :
nor was flie lefs indebted to Colophon, whofe horfes (he

highly

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 47

highly efteemed, and which were remarkably excel-
lent in war.

The Jttic territories were not without their merit ;
and Elis was eminently diftinguiflied for the horfes
which fhe produced, fo admired in the Olympic race.

The Tbracian horfes are commended, as well as many
others of inferior note, whofe chara6ler and fame are
not confiderable enough to entitle them to any parti-
cular notice.

It was cuftomary with the Grecians to give par-
ticiilar names to their horfes, as modern nations
do- at this day. Thus the horfes of Achilles were
called Xanthiis and Baliiu ; that of Adrajlus, Arion -, Aura
was the name of the famous mare who won the
prize, without her rider, at the Olympic games, and
the property of Phidolas the Corinthian. Other names
were ^oivi^, a Phoenix, Kopoc^, a Crow, and fo on thro'
a variety of inftances, as with us, too trifling to be
enumerated.

They diftinguifhed likewife a particular clafs of horfes,
by the name of Lycofpades. Thefe were fuch as when
colts had been purfued and attacked in the mountains
and forefts by JVohes. They were highly prized, and
believed to be endowed with great fwiftnefs, if they
had outrun and efcaped from the purfuits of the
wolves ; or if they had received any hurt or mark,
the fear was thought honourable, and a proof of their
courage in refilling and fighting with the wolves
which had attacked them. Others interpret this ap*

pellatioQ-

48 THE ART AND HISTORY

pellation to have been given to certain horfes, which,
from the hardnefs of their mouths, and obflinacy of
their tempers, could only be governed by the rigour of
the bitt, called the Wolj-b'm.

The Grecians in many inftances chofe mares before
horfes. ^Han fays, they thought them fitter for the
courfe ; and Virgil names only the mares of Epirus, as
running in the Olympian race. Pliny fays, they were
fwifter than horfes. It has been already obferved, that
the Greeks were accuftomed to mount and difmouni,
by vaulting and leaping from and upon the backs of
their horfes, as well as from one horfe to another.
Thefe feats of adlivity feem to have been firft pratTtifed
in battle, and in thofe ages vsrhen faddles, and confe-
qucntly ftirrups, were unknown.

The utility of this method fpeaks for itfelf, for if one
horfe was tired, wounded, or killed, his rider had
another ready for his fervice ; two or three being led
into the field, which were ufed as occafion required.
Thefe exercifes, fo feriouily neceffaiy in war, were,
after a time, performed in the public games, and
other occafional exhibitions, merely tofhew thenimble-
nefs and addrefs of the horfeman ; and the modern art
of vaulting, in all its variety of poilures and methods,
and which has now little more in view, than to difplay
the atflivity of the performer, is, beyond doubt, derived
from this ancient pradlice ; as well as the whole modern
manege, except which in fome few refinements, calculated
merely for grace and pleafure, is borrowed from the

different

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 49

different motions and evolutions performed by men and
horfes in battle. To this likewife we owe the folemni-
ties and fports of tilts, tournaments, and J t/J^s, invented
as a nryck-war, to fill up the lazy hours of peace, to
infpire and keep alive a martial fpirit, to render the
body acTiive, robuft, and expert in the feats of arms ;
and which, though confecrated in latter days folely to
pomp and gallantry, were anciently of more ferious
account, and the real difcipline and exercife of war.

Hence the praifes, and hence the honours, which
were always beftowed upon thofe who excelled in
hoyfemanJJjip, not as being fkilled in a light and idle
accomplifliment, but as pofTeffing an art, which was of
folid ufe, and indifpenfably neceflary in bufmefs of
war : for as in ancient times the moft important fer-
vice of the horfe was in the field, thofe who broke and
managed them were almoft always men of military
eminence ; and the appellation of horfeman, or more
fimply and literally horfe-breaker, meant a foldier or chiefs
who fought on horfeback, in dillin(5lion to one who
combated on foot; and the fkill of managing horfes in
its two branches of riding or driving them in chariots,
was a qualification requifite in a warrior. The epi-
thet, therefore, of horfe-breaker was a title of praife
and refpc61; ; as we learn from Homer, Virgil, and
others, who add it to the names of their moll illuflri-
ous heroes and chiefs, and confer diflinguiflied com-
mendations upon thofe who excelled in this art, fo
neceflary and becoming in the profeflion of arms ; and

Vol. I. H fo

so THE HISTORY AND ART

fo proper and ufcful upon other occafions, that Plu-
tarch declared to his countrymen, ' it was as abfurd
' and fauhy in one who intended to ride, to be ignorant
' of it, as it would be in a perfon who did not under-
' ftand mufic, to undertake to play upon the pipe.'

The next, and mod remarkable period in the pro-
grefs of our fubjedt, is the inftitution of the public
games, which were exhibited at ftated feafons in diffe-
rent parts of Greece, wdth the utmoft fplendour and
magnificence ; infomuch that by the pomp with which
they were celebrated, efpecially thofe of Olympia, one
would almoft think, that the fafety of the ftates and
the glory of the Grecian name depended upon them.
The chronology of Greece was fixed, and the mofl me-
morable events were dated from their periodical cele-
brations. The performances exhibited were of feveral
kinds, all defigned and calculated to call forth the ut-
moft exertion of the powers of the human body.

To make thefe games more folemn and awful, they
were confidered as adls of religion, and confecrated to
different deities, as thofe of Olympia to Jupiter, and
Pythia to Apollo. Policy likewife had no inconfider-
able fhare in thefe folemnities, and under the cloak of
religion advanced her own ends, by ftirring up a fpirit
of emulation, and an ardent love 6f fame among the
Grecian princes and chiefs, by the rewards and honours
which were conferred upon the conquerors, in thefe
trials of courage, flcill, ftrength, and activity. Hence
the youth of Greece acquired a martial genius, and

became

OF HORSEMANSHIP. ^i

became habituaied to danger, pain, and fatigue ; their
bodies at the fame time being hardened by toil, and
growing more ftrong, healthy, and alert. Nor mull
we forget the advantage which was hereby derived to
that part of the fports, which only can be confidered
here, eguitatioTi, and the culture of horfes.

From thefe public allemblies, and trials of merit,
it is certain much good fruit muH have been gathered;
for as Greece, in its early days, could boaft no good
horfes, or very few, thefe horfe races (like our own at
Newmarket) mull naturally have infpired an emulation
among the Greeks, to procure the fineft horfes, and
have put them upon ufmg every means which could
improve the art of riding, and the qualities of the
animal upon which it was to be exercifed.

It having been already faid that it is foreign to our
purpofe to confider the other exercifes which were
performed in thefe games, and were called GymnaJIic,
becaufe the men who contended in them were naked i
I fliall return diredly to my fubje(5l ; and lay before
the reader the particulars which remain concerning it.

It appears from the chronology of the Olympic
games, that chariot races were not introduced till the
2j:th Olympiad, nor horfe-races till the 23d. It'is a
quellion very natural to be alked, how it happened that
fuch a fpace of time elapfed, before thefe games were
graced with the labours of the horfe ? It is moll pro-
bable, that it was owing to the fcarcity of horfes in
Greece, at thofe times, and the large cxpences incum-

• H 2 bent

^2 THE HISTORY AND ART

b^nt upon thofe who undertook to breed and manage
them ■, for it is certain, from the concurrent accounts
of many writers, that the Grecians were fo ill furniflied
with thefe animals, that in the feveral wars in which
they were engaged from time to time, they could not
mufter a fufficient number, although they were fo ufe-
ful andnecefTary. At length, however, things grew better;
laws were made, and rewards given to encourage the
breeding, and managing of them ; for which laft purpofe,
fkilful people, who profefled the art of riding, under-
took to inftru(5t the youth, efpecially fuch of them as
were to ferve in war, in the fcience of horfemanfhip *.
Befides this, the privileges and honours which were
conferred upon thofe who gained the prize in the
Olympic Games, mufl have contributed greatly to pro-
mote this end ; and fo great was the zeal, and even
juftice of the Greeks upon thefe occafions, that even
the horfes were not forgot, but, when vitftorious, were
crowned amidft the fliouts and applaufes of the multi-
tude t-

Neverthelefs, however exaft and zealous the Greci-
ans might have been, and notwithfhanding the pomp
and magnificence of thefe games, the ceremonies of
religion obferved at their celebration, and the venera-
tion in which they were held by all Greece, feveral
particulars are wanting, which, had they been tranfr

* Hefych. and Xenophon.

t Weft's Diflertat. on the Olympic Games. Plut. Sym. lib. 2.
Paufan. lib. 6.

mitted

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 5-3

mitted to pofterity, would have given a more certain
account of many articles relative to thefe famous exer-
cifes, and have enabled the reader to form a furer opi-
nion concerning them.

The piece of grotmd on which the chariot and horfe-
races were performed (for the fame fpot fervcd for both)
was called the Hippodrome. The Olympian Hippodrome,
or horfe-courfe, was a fpace of ground of fix hundred
paces long, furrounded with a wall, iituated near the
city EUs, and on the banks of the river Alpheus. It v?as
imeven, and in fome degree irregular, owing to the
lituation ; in one part was an hill of a moderate
height, and the circuit was adorned with temples, al-
tars, and other embellifliments.

This Jiadium^ or race-ground, confilled of two parts ;
the firft refembled in fliape the -proiis of a Ihip, and
was called the barrier. In this place, were the Hands
for the horfes and chariots, and here they were
matched and prepared for the courfe. The next par-
tition was the lifts, or the fpot on which the races
were to be run. At the end of the courfe flood a pillar,
which was the goal, round which the candidates were
obliged to turn, in order to come-back to the place
where they had izx. out ; and that rider or driver, who
could make the narroweft turn, and approach neareft
to it, every thing elfe being equal, had the faireft chance
offurpaffing his rivals. In doing this, the fkill of the
men, and the fupplenefs and obedience of the horfes,
were put to the fevereft proofs; inafmuch as that there

was

54 THE HISTORY AND ART

was much danger in the performance, efpecially in
the chariot- race, where it fometimes happened, that
they were forced upon it, and broken to pieces, at the
manifeft rifque of limbs and life. To this, it is very
well known, Horace alludes in his expreffion, Meta
fervidis evitata roiis ; it being necefTu^y that the adven-
turers (liould go as clofe as poflible to the goal, to
prevent any lofs of ground or time, and yet to take
care not to ftrike again fl. it, for fear of receiving an in-
jury.

Beyond this goal another difficulty was to be en-
cotrntered. This was a figure, by which the horfes
were to pafs, placed on purpofe to alarm and frighten
them, as the name imports, being called Tarax/ppus, or
the terrifier of horfes.

The ftiape and form of this ftrange deity (for fo he
was called) is not defcribed, but he certainly anfwcrcd
the end for which he was defigncd ; it frequently hap-
pening, that the horfes were fo feared and alarmed at
his appearance, as to run away with the utmoll
violence, and expofe their riders, or drivers lives, to
the moll imminent dangers. Many conjectures have
been formed concerning this ftrange deity, and the
means which he ufed to frighten the horfes in fo ex-
traordinary a manner ; but the mod probable conclu-
fion will be, perhaps, to fuppofe, that fome tricks and
artifices were practifed under the difguife of this
figure ; either with a defign to render the vi(5tory more
honourable, in proportion to its being more difficult to

be

O F H O R S E M A N S H IP. SS

be gained, or elfe (which was a better dcfign, and a
founder way of reafoning) that this horfe-fn'ghtening
deity was placed in the courfe, as a touchjlone, to try and
prove the refoUition and temper of the horfes ; and to
obUge the candidates to bring none into the field, but
fuch as by exercife and difcipiine were fo aflured and
fleady, as not to let their obedience be fliaken upon
the moft trying occafions.

On each fide of the courfe, from one end to the
other, the fpeiflators were placed ; the moft advanta-
geous nations being referved for the judges of the
games, and other diflinguiihed perfons ; the reft ftand-
ing where they could, it being impoflible to affign
particular places for the multitude which always at-
tended thefe folemn and magnificent diverfions. Again,
in that part where the horfes flood which were to run
for the prize, a long cable was drawn from one end to
the other, and ferved the purpofe of a barrier ; about
the middle of the prow above-mentioned, an altar was
erected, upon which ftood a brazen eagle, with out-
fli-etched wings, and the figure of a brazen dolphin was
likewife placed at the entrance of it. Tliis laft was fo
contrived, by the powers of mechanifm, that when ihe
prefident of the races thought proper to put it in mo-
tion, it would afcend at once to fuch an height, as to
be vifible to all the fpedlators. This eagle was dedi-
cated to Jupiter, the patron god of the Olympic
games, as the dolphin was facred to Neptune, the fup-
pofed creator of the horfe. The moment the eagle

fprang

S6 THE HISTORY AND ART

fprang into the air, the dolphin funk under ground :
upon this fignal, the cable * was removed, and the
horfes advanced from their Hands, which were diftri-
buted by lot, into the courfe, where they Hood ready
to Hart : but in what order and arrangement, whe-
ther in a line, or one behind another, is a queilion
which has often been difculTed, but is hitherto unde-
cided. Nor is it known what laws were to be obferved
by the horfes which entered to run, or whether they
were confined to any fixed number ; but it appears that
they were divided into two clafTes, of full-aged and
under-aged horfes ; and that horfes and mares were
allowed to contend for the prize. There was likewife
a race, called Calpe, in which mares- alone were per-
mitted to run ; and with whofe riders it was cufto-
mary to leap from their backs towards the end of the
courfe, and keeping the bridle in their hand, to run
along with them, and fo finifli the career.

There was alfo another fort of riders, called Aiia-
batte, who refembled thefe horfemen of the Calpe in
moft particulars, but were difiinguiflied from them
in one inflance, being obliged by law always to ride
horfes.

* In the races at prefent performed in Italy, the fignal for the horfes
to ftart is oiven by removing a rope from before the horfes — the
cuftom beino- derived from this method of the Greeks ; efpecially, as it
known, that the Olympic Games were celebrated in Sicily (called
Magna Gr^cia), in the fame manner, and with all the circumftances,
as in ancient Greece.

The

i

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 57

The fignal for flarting was probably the fame as in
the chariot- races, and was given by the founding of
a trumpet. The fpace of ground round which the
horfes were to run, and the number of times which
they were required to run round it, will make their
courfe, or heat, to amount to about four miles, or fome-
what more.

Although the candidate-horfes were ranged into
claffes oi full ?ind under- aged, yet it is not known, what
was the precife term which qualified them to be rated
as full or under-aged. Neither can it be afcertained
how many were permitted to run at the fame time, at
what fize they were required to be, or of what weight
the jockeys or riders. Of thcfe particulars the reader
cannot be informed ; but as the riders were obliged to
undergo preparatory trials for the fpace of thirty days,
it muft be concluded, that there were certain laws and
conditions appointed by the judges, to which they were
obliged to fubmit.

This is the fum of what is recorded concerning the
celebrated races of ancient Greece, as far as my fub-
jedl leads me to confider them : in doing which, I
have confined myfelf to thofe of Olympia only, with-
out even pafting a glance upon any other, ' looking
upon them as comprehended in the general view, un-
der which the Olympian are prefented ; which, as
Pindar fays, were as much fuperiour to the reft which
Greece exhibited, as water is among the elements, or
gold compared with other metals.

Vol. I. I And

sB THE HISTORY AND ART

And now leaving Greece, and her horfes, it may
be time to turn our eyes to her admirer and imitator,
Rome.

It is very well known, that the Romans were in-
debted to Greece for many of the refined arts, and
ufeful improvements of life. Among thefe horfe-
manfhip, perhaps, was not the leaft confiderable, and
was received and adopted by the Romans with fuch
eagernefs, and cultivated with fuch diligence and
zeal, that they foon were able to excel their maflers.

Romulus very early inftituted his order of eguites, or
horfemen, as Jtbens and Sparta had done before, on
purpofe to encourage the pra«5lice of riding, and en-
gage his new fubjetfts to keep horfes at their own ex-
pence, which, in thofe times, were fo coftly, that the
rich alone were equal to the charge of maintaining
them.

The Certamlna Equejlrlay or horfe and chariot races of
the Circus, began very early in Rome, and were formed
upon the model of the Olympic races ; like them they
were deemed facred fports, performed as atfts of reli-
gion, and dedicated to particular deities, of whofe at-
tributes they were a myllical reprefentation. And here
it muft be acknowledged, that although the Romans
did not ufe chariots in battle, it is certain, that in the
Circus they preferred them to the races performed by
fmgle horfes.

That horfe was called by the Romans Singu/aris, or

Single, upon which a man rode without a faddle, ufing

I only

//

J

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 59

only a cloth, like the Greeks, faftened with a furcingk^
or elfe fitting upon the bare back.

Occafionally too the riders were tied and bound to
their horfes by thefe girths, that they might fit with
greater firmnefs and fecurity •, but the pradlice was
imprudent and dangerous, as they were, by this
means, expofed to be dragged, and torn by the horfe,
in cafe they were unfeated, like the warriour defcribed
by Silius Italicus *.

■Raphiirque pavcre

Tragus equiy vinHis connexa ad cinguJa membris f.

Lock-faddles, now but little ufed, are liable to the fame
objeftion.

Whenever an inferior perfon on borfeback met his fupe-
rior, or a raagiftrate, or any one of diftinguifhed rank
and charatfler, the form of paying his civilities, and tefl;i-
fying refped, was by defcending from his horfe, unco-
vering his head, and retiring on one fide of the road.
This ceremony, Seneca % fays, he always obfcrved, when-
ever he met a conful or prastor ; to whom thefe ho-
nours were due. Apuleius mentions the fame manner
of falutation ; and fays, that when any one happened
to be on horfeback, and met any eminent man, who
w-as entitled to particular notice and regard, the horfe-
man, although in hafte, and going very faft, would
immediately flop, alight, and changing the wand or

* Lib. 4- Punicior. -f Florid, lib. 3. J Epift. 65.

I 2 fwitch

6o THE HISTORY AND ART

fwitch with which he rode, from his right hand to
his left, would advance, and make his falutation with
his right. To a certain degree, and upon particular
occafions, this ceremony is obferved among the mo-
derns.

Whoever knows the method of treating horfes after
fcvere labour, will be fenfible that it is the fame with
that which was pra6lifed by the Romans. Apuleius *
informs us, that when he perceived that his horfe
grew tired upon his journey, he wiped off the fweat,
rubbed his head, took off the bridle, ftroaked and
pulled his ears, and gently led him along, with his
head hanging down, and at liberty, allowing him to
crop the grafs as he went, to footh and refrefli him,
hoping, at the fame time, by thefe indulgencies, to
engage him to llale.

Straw was the material commonly ufed for litter ;
when that failed, leaves (chiefly thofe of the holm-
tree) fupplied its place, both for horfes, and other
cattle.

The food generally given to horfes, both by the
Greeks and Romans, when they were turned into the
fields, was grafs, clover, trefoil, and other herbs of
the grafs-kind. In the liable they were fed with hay,
barley, oats, wheat, and llraw. Pliny f extols the
virtues of the Cytifus; and fays, that horfes love it fo
extremely as to prefer it to barley.

This author, and Strabo, recommend likewife the
herb Medka (or the three- leaved grafs of Spain), as a

* Aur. Afin. lib. i. -f- Lib. xiii. c. 24.

moll

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 6i

moft excellent food. Columella fays it will bear mowing
four, if not fix times in the year ; and that nothing is
more efficacious to reftore lean and weak horfes to
plumpnefs and vigour. There are doubts, however,
what the herb i^, which was anciently called Medica,
a name given to it from its originally growing in
Media. Nemejian recommends ftraw and barley as very
nourifhing diet; and it certainly conduces very much to
keep horfes in health, fpirits, and wind, and in a Hate
of body fit for any kind of labour, as it fupports and
ftrengthens, without rendering the animal heavy and
corpulent. Eumenes^ as we learn from Plutarch, who
wrote his life, being befieged, and not having room to
exercife his horfes, fed them with boiled barley, as
being more eafy of digeftion. The ancients like wife,
on certain occafions, gave their horfes wine to drink,
to animate and refrefb them. Thus Homer makes An-
dromache give wine to He^or's war-horfes, or, as fome
commentators render it, wheat fleeped in wine. It is
no uncommon thing with us to give wine and beer to
our horfes, in cafe of ficknefs, or where any extraor-
dinary exertion of fatigue is required.

The cloths, or houfings, ufed by the Roman horfe-
men are Hill to be fecn upon Trajan's pillar, and many
other monuments of Roman antiquity. Stirrups were
unknown, and the Roman horfemen were therefore
obliged to mount their horfes, and get dov/n, by vault-
ing, by the help of horfeblocks, or of a groom called
Strator.

The

^2 THE HISTORY AND ART

The origin of Saddles is not exa<5tly known : fome
writers among the moderns, attribute their invention
to the Saliiy a people among the ancient Franks ; and
hence they fetch the Latin word Sella, a faddle. This
alTertion, however, can amount to nothing more than
a conjedture, becaufe the word Sella fignifies, in gene-
ral, any thing upon which a man may fit, a chair,
ftool, or bench ; and under this denomination, a
thing called a Saddle, may be comprehended, but the
term could not alone be expreflive of what we call a
Saddle. The ufage and pra<5lice, however, of latter ages
have confined it to that fignification, although the
thing meant by it was unknown to the Romans, in
whofe language the word was always underftood in a
general fenfe.

The firll time we hear of faddles, is in the year of
Chrift 340, when Conjianthis endeavouring to deprive
his brother Conjiant'me of the empire, oppofed his army,
and entering the fquadron where Conftaniine was, at-
tacked, and unhorfed, by throwing him out of the
faddle, as we learn from the hiftorian Zonaras.

The emperors which fuccecded made many regu-
lations concerning horfes, and occafionally take notice
of faddles.

There is a refcript in the Theodofian Code, given by
the emperors Vahntinian, Theodojiiis, and Jrcadius, which
prefcribes the exa^ft weight of a faddle, confining it to
fixty pounds, including the bridle ; and ordaining that
the cloak -bag with which people travelled, Ihould

weigh

Pi ^

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 63

weigh no more than thirty-five pounds j the cloak-bag
be forfeited, and the faddle broke in pieces, in cafe of
difobedience. The old Romans being ignorant of fad-
dies, were likewife unacquainted with llirrups, and
like the Greeks obliged to ride without the eafe and
conveniency which they could have afforded. What
Hippocrates obferved of the Scythians, Galen found to
be true in the Roman cavalry, who, he fays, were
fubjedl to pains and defluxions in their hips and legs,
from their dependent poflure, and the .want of a fup-
port when on horfeback. It is, therefore, to be con-
cluded, and with great appearance of truth, that this
contrivance for eafing and fupporting the rider's legs,
was not the portion of the ancient horfemen ; no men-
tion being made of flirrups in any ancient Greek or
Latin author, no figure of them to be feen in any flatue
or monument, nor any word expreflive of them to be
met with in claflical antiquity.

The filence, therefore, of all the writers, and the
want of other proofs, leave us no room to form any
other conclufion, than that they are modern inven-
tion. The Romans, having no better aflillance, copied
the Grecian manner of getting upon their horfes ; they
vaulted, or employed horfeblocks, and the afliftance
of another perfon, after the Ferjian and Grecian me-
thods, 3.5 Julius Po/Iux, FolateramiuSy and F^^ef/wj teflify.

The firft fays, that when a man is to mount, or
defcend from his horfe, he fhould lead him to a bank,
or elevated ground, that he may execute his defign

with

64 THE ART AND HISTORY

with greater eafe ; and that the horfe fliould be taught
to approach the mounting-place, readily, and without
fear. Fegetius informs us, that wooden horfes were made
ufe of for the purpofe of learning to vault, which were
placed in the open air in fummer, and in houfes in
the winter feafon. Upon thefe the young Romans
miade their effays, and the art is taught at this day in
the fame manner.

They at firft endeavoured to leap upon thefe wooden
horfes without armour; and when they grew flronger,
and more fkilful, completely armed.

The horfeblocks which they ufed, were compofed
of done, or wood ; and were in great abundance
upon all the roads ; the Roman people, according
to Plutarch, being under much obligation to Grac-
chus, who caufed thefe conveniencies to be placed at
proper diftances for the ufe of travellers. Porchachi*y
in his Funerali Antichi, has preferved an infcription,
in which one of thefe horfeblocks (fuppedaneum) is
jeftingly dedicated by Craffus to his mule, and was
ereded in the road from Tivoli to Rome.

Dis pedib. Saxum.

Chicia dorjijerce & clunifera

Ut infultare (fj defultare commodetur.

Pub. Crajfus mulajua CraJJ'a bene ferenti

Suppedaneiim hoc cum rifu pos.

Vixh annos XI.

* Page 14.

it

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 6s

It is impoflible to tranflate this infcription fo as to
make it intelligible to the Englifli reader ; to thofe
who are acquainted with the language in which it is
written, I will, with all deference, fubmit a conjec-
ture, which may attempt to give it fome meaning.
It feems to be ludicrous, and deligned, perhaps, as a
parody upon the known form and ftile of lapidary in-
fcriptions. X>isped. is for Dis pedibus, and is oppofed to
Dis manibus, allowing the pun between manes and maims,
Saxum is contrafted to facnim, the ufual word in epi-
taphs. Beneferenti is ufed inftead of benemerenti, a word
frequent in monumental formularies ; and the cum rifu
feems to juftify the conftrudlion, and confefs that the
infcriber was burlefquing, and in joke.

Menage^ however, notwithftanding what has been
advanced, trufling to Vojius, reports, that St. Jerom is
the firft author who makes mention of ftirrups, and
quotes his very words upon the occafion. He fays, «« that
at the time of his receiving certain letters, he was
mounting his horfe, and had his foot in the ftirrup
(bijiapia).'' This pafTage, however, is not to be found
in his epiftles ; and if it were there, it would prove
nothing, becaufe St. Jerom lived at a time when ftir-
rups are fuppofed to have been invented, and after the
life of faddles. Montfaiuon denies the reality of this
pafTage, as well as the following infcription, which
recounts the death of a perfon, whofe foot , being en-
tangled in the ftirrup, as he was difmounting, was
dragged by his horfe, and killed upon the fppt. . For

Vol. T, K the

66 THE HISTORY AND ART

the fingularity of the thoughts, and turn of the ex-
ipreffion, I venture to infert it, with an attempt of a
verfion of it, for the Englifh reader.

retus infer ipt to Roma,

D. M.

fluifquls leBurus accedis, caveji amas,

Etji non amas^ penjicula. Mifer quijine amore

Fivitf duke exit nihil. Aji ego tarn

Duke anbelans, me incautet

Perdidi, & amor f nit. Equodum

^/peHui Durmionia formojij/ima puella: \

Firguncula, fumma cum pohoria placer e

Cuperem, cafu dejiliens, pes ha/it Jiapia,

TraBus interii : in rem tuam mature^ propera.

Vale,

If love's fvveet paiHon ever touch'd your heart.
Or if your bofom never felt his dart ;
Whoe'er thou art, approach ; behold this tomb f
And heedful read a lover's haplefs doom !
Unconfcious of love's joys, the wretch who lives.
No pleafure ever knows, no pleafure gives :
Love is the life of life — yet from it flow
Various difafters, and a world of woe.
By love I perifh'd ; from the bounding horfc,
When I had call'd forth all his adlive force,
In fondeft hopes to pleafe a beauteous maid,
Whofe charms infpir'd the feats which fhe furvey'd,

My

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 67

My foot, difmounting, in the ftirrup hung,
And the wild fleed his mafter dragg'd along ;
All torn and mangled I refign'd my breath,
And loft my pallion in untimely death :
Go then! by my misfortune taught, be wife!
And know from love v/hat mighty mifchiefs rife.

After all, it feems moft reafonable to conclude,
from the mention of llirrups already reported to have
been made by St. Jerom, as well as from what is faid
concerning them in the infcription above-cited, that
thefe authorities, inftead of proving their antiquity,
evince them to be inventions purely modern ; and far-
ther, that the infcription above-named muft, for that
very reafon, be modern likewife. The learned and ac-
cufate explainer of antiquities, Montfaucon, after tefti-
fying his furprize, that the ancients fliould have been
entirely ignorant of this inftrument, fo ufeful in itfelf,
and fo eafy of invention, flatters himfelf at laft with
being able to aflign a reafon for it. He fays, that as
iong as faddles were unknown, fo long were men un-
acquainted with the ufe of flirrups. For, fays he,
while cloths and houfmgs only were laid upon the
horfes backs, on which the riders were to fu, flirrups
could not have been ufed, becaufe they could not have
been fattened with the fame fecurity as upon a faddle.
This aflertion is plaufible, but not conclufive ; for al-
though the flirrups being flung over, or faflened to a
cloth, could not have enabled the rider to mount or

K 2 dif mount,

6B THE HISTORY AND ART

difmount, yet by the afTiftance of a fecond perfon,
who might hold the ftirrup on the oppofite fide, the
feat might have been performed; and for the purpofe
of fupporting and relieving the legs, they would have
been as effedual as they are at prefent.

The more natural and modeft folution feems, there-
fore, to be this: — that in this inftance, as in many
others, it fhould be remembered, that the progrefs of
human genius and invention is uncertain and flow,
depending frequently upon accidental caufes. That
time alone ripens, and brings things to perfedion ;
that improvement follows improvement, and the arts
advance gradually ;

__ — ... ■ Adfummum donee venere cacumen..

Lucret.

The horfe deftined to carry a man in the races of the
Circus, as well as upon other occafions, was called
Celes, from the Greek, word xiXric ; and Singularis and
Solitariusy fo denominated becaufe he went alone, in
contradiftindlion to thofe which drew chariots, or other
machines, and were yoked together in different num-
bers, as two, three, four, and fometimes more. In
latter times, after the difcovery of faddles, he was
alfo called Sellarius.

Their chief employment was to run at the full ex-
ertion of their fpeed in the Circus (as our race horfes
do now), againft their antagoniils. Their riders fre-
q^uently mounted them bare-backed, and performed

extra-

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 69

extraordinary feats of agility * upon them : fucli as
Handing upright, fpringing upon them at once, laying
down along his back, picking up things from the
ground in full fpeed, and leaping from one horfe to
another, whence they were diftinguiflied by the title of
Defultores, or Leapers. Suetonius fays, that in the time
of Julius Cxfar, who was an expert and diftinguiflied
horfeman, the youths of the nobleft families ufed to
ride in this manner -, and fo fond were the Romans of
riding, that to be ignorant of it was a proverbial re-
proach, and reflected as much difgrace, as not to be
able to write or read f.

Upon certain occalions, and efpecially in the races
of the Circus, they preferred, like the Scythians and
Greeks, mares to horfes, judging them to be fleeter,
and more fit to endure violence and fatigue, ^lian,
Pliny, Horace, and Virgil, celebrate the fpeed and abi-
lities of the mare, as being efteemed fuperior to thofe
of the horfe. The laft of thefe authors fpeaks of them
as being more efteemed than horfes in the Olympic
race. The reafon which is affigned for this prefe-
rence, has already been mentioned ; but without en-
tering into any difcuillon concerning it, it is but
juftice to the female fex, to acknowledge, that it is at
leaft in all particulars equal to the male ; and that in

» Vid. Sil. Ital. lib. 16.— Maniliijs, lib, 4.-— Procop. Gothicis, lib. 8.
Agathias, lib. 32. — Firmicus, lib. 8.
t Ncque equitare, nee literas fcire.

the

70 THE HISTORY AND ART

the article of breeding; it Ought to be preferred. Vir*
gil *, Hot lefs a philofopher, than poet, advifes
breeders to be fcrupuloufly nice in the choice of the
Wiare, inafmuch as that fhe is far more important,
and their hopes mull more immediately depend upon
her. The breeders of mules, knowing the fuperiority
of the female, always chufe that the nobler animal
fliould be of that fex, and therefore make the afs
the flallion ; for a creature begot by an horfe Upon si
fhe-afs, is a viler animal than the mule, which is the
offspring of a mare by an afs ; and the intimacy and
union between the mother and its young in all ani-
mals, both duting geftation, and for a long time after
the birth, is fo clofe and ftridl, that it mull be fuppofi^d
to inherit, in the fulleft manner, every quality and
every property of the body whence it proceeds.

We are told by Pliny, that the Romans ufed to geld
their horfes, efpecially thofe which they employed up*
on common and domellic occafions. They likewife
ranged them into diiTerent clalTes, and diftinguilhed
them by denominations expreffive of their various qua*
lities and charaders Itinerant were the horfes upon
which they travelled, Sarcinarii thofe which can-ied bur-^
dens, To/ut'arii and Gradarii horfes whofe paces had been
formed and improved by art, particularly amblers, Fe^
jiedi hunters, Celes, or the race-horfe, and Cantberii,
which was a general name for an horfe ufed upon many

-Corpora pracipue mat rum kg-at. Georg. 3.

different

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 71

different occafions, but always underflood to mean a
gelding.

The etymology of this word is fomewhat particular,
and various, but unfatisfacftory conje<5lures have been
formed concerning it. The beft explanation feems
to be that which derives it from the Greek word
xxvhXiov, canthelion, which by no unufual change of
one letter for another, may be made cantherion -, which
word, in the original fenfe, fignifies a pack-faddle j
and it being ufual to caflrate the Cantberii, or Pack-
horfes, to make them gentle and quiet, it became a
cullom to call all caftrated horfes Cantherii, though
appointed to other fervices than to carry packs or
burdens.

In procefs of time, people who, for fundry reafons,
rode on horfeback, began to prefer thefe Cantherii, or
geldings, for their calmnefs of temper, to other horfes;
and the flow gallop, which we call a Canter, being a
foft and eafy pace in which moft people delight, it
may not, perhaps, be deemed too bold a conjecTrure,
to fuppofe that our word canter, expreffive of tliat
pace, may owe its derivation to the Latin term, Cantbe-
ritis, the appellation of the horfe, which ufually per-
formed it*.

* Dr. Johnfon, in his diftionary, calls this pace the Canterbury oal-
!op, which he defines to be the ^a>"<^ gallop of an ambling horfe, com-
monly called a canter ; and probably derived from the monks riding to
Canterbury on eafy ambling horfes. How juft the derivation of the word
may be, I will not prefume to decide > but the definition muft certainly
puzzle all who are horfeimn, and all who are not,

I The

72 THE HISTORY AND ART

The Bkts and Bridles of the Romans feem chiefly
to have confilled of two forts, the rough and the
fmooth.

The rough fort was called lupus, or hpatum, or the
•wolf-biit. It was borrowed from the Greeks, who called
it by the fame name ; it was made in imitation of the
teeth of a wolf, the mouth-piece having little fliarp
points of iron upon it, ranged like teeth in the jaw of
this animal. This bitt was harfh and fevere, calcu-
lated for hard mouths, and flubborn and impetuous
tempers. The other, called the fmooth, had its
mouth- piece, or cannon, quite even, was gentle in its
effedts, and ferved for little more than to guide the
horfe. Neither of thefe bitts had a curb or chain un-
der the chin of the horfe, fome, however, upon Tra-
jan's pillar have branches, others are without any,
and differ very little from the Snaffle now in ufe,
which feems to be copied from them, excepting that
they are thicker and more clumfy, like the fnaffles
ufed for colts, called Mouthing-bitts .

Whips were in common ufe j they fometimes had
an iron point, or fpur, inferted in the handle-end.
This fort of whip was C2l\td fcorpio, from the refem-
blance it bore to the fling which is in the tail of the
fcorpion, and was very fevere *.

Spurs were familiar, the mention of them occurs fo
often in the Roman authors, that it would be pe-
dantry to cite them.

* Scorpiones, genus acutijfmcrum fiagellormn.

Barth. Adv, p. 2272.
s This

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 73

This renowned people employed for their ufe and
pleafure the horfes of every country, whofe merit and
qualities entitled them to their notice. Whatever
Greece admired and approved, was cherifhed and
efteemed by them ; who added the horfes of foreign
countries, to the breeds of their own, which in many
parts produced excellent, and which experience and
Judgment taught them to value.

The Etrurian, or Tufcan breed is praifed by Oppian.
Volateranniis fays they were good in war, and celebrates
thofe of the iflands of Sardinia and Corfica, which were
adlive and bold, but apt to be unquiet and impatient.
The Venetian territories produced a noble and much
admired breed. Strabo fays, that Dionyfms, tyrant of
Sicily, eftabliflied a ftud in them, whence he drew his
fupplies for the public games, and that the fame of
this flud was very great, and fupported itfelf for a
long time *.

Jgragasj a town of Sicily, otherwife called Jgrigeiitnm,
is highly extolled by Pindar, and Silius Italicus, for its
horfes ; and Sicily was always famous upon this ac-
count.

Calpe is another place, whofe horfes were -prized by
the Romans. It is an hill in the fartheft part of Spain,
by the ftreights of Gibraltar, over ag^inft Jbyla on the
Barbary lide. Under this hill was once an ancient city,
called Tartejus, near the prefent city of Cadiz, which is

• Lib. 5.* -^

Vol. I. L much

74 THE HISTORY AND ART

much commended for its race of horfes. Ajlurla^
GalHcia^ and A>idahiJIa, then called Bxtica, were known
to produce the fined of their kind. The Jjliirian and
GalUcian horfes are defcribed by Pliny to have been of a
middling fize (like the prefent Gcnnets) and remarkable
for the opennefs of their paces, their pliancy of limb,
and the time and exadnefs with which they dealt their
feet, and regulated their motion, fo, as it were, to
count their Heps. Pliny calls them ThieJdones, which
word is explained to mean the fame as if he had called
them tellers or numberers of their ileps. Martial de-
fcribes this diftindl and bold acTiion with great pro-
priety, when, fpeaking of a Spanifli horfe, he fays,

Hie brevis ad numerum rapidos qui colligit ungues^
Fenit ab auriferis gentibus Jjiiir. eqiius.

This little horfe, which moves his feet in time,
Comes from Afturia's gold-producing clime.

Claudian alfo celebrates this country for breeding
numbers of fine and beautiful horfes :

Dives equis, fnigum facilis, pretiofa metallis.

De Laudibus Seren. Reg.

Horfes who had this high adion, were alfo called
Tolutarii; derived from the word tollo, to lift up 5 becaufe
they lifted their feet confiderably above the ground.

Strabo,

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 75

Strabo, Nemefianus, Juftin, Vegetius, and many
other writers of paft times, celebrate the merit of the
Spanifh horfes ; and modern times have feconded them
in all their commendations. Vegetius ranks them
equally, or next in value to the Cappadocian, and fays,
that the African mixed with the Spanifli blood, pro-
duces moil adive and fleet horfes, and the fitteft for
the faddle. According to Strabo, they excel all others
in fpeed and nimblenefs. Oppian fays, that they were
fleeter than the Parthians ; and after comparing them
in this refpedl to hawks and eagles, affirms that they
might vie with the winds in fwiftnefs. Juftin, guarded
with the fobriety and difcretion of an hiftorian, beftows
upon them equal, if not fuperior commendation ; and
fays, that they and the Lufitanian or Portugal horfes,
were endowed with fuch fwiftnefs, that they might
juftly be faidto be born of the winds j in this manner
naturally and properly explaining the fiftion of the
poets and fabulifts, who reported, that the mares of
this country were wont to conceive by the fouth
wind, without the afliftance of an horfe. In fliort, the
characfler given "of thefe horfes by various writers
ftands juflified by the unanimous confent of all anti-
quity, and diftinguiflies them for their beauty, fpeed,
courage, and generofity, in fo eminent a degree, as
to fl:amp them for the beft and moft accompliflied of
their kind. Succeeding times have confirmed their
character, and they fl:and now, as of old, moft valued,
and moft admired.

L 2 The

t6 the history and art

The horfes o£ Gaul were alfo ufed by the Romans,
wlio held them in confiderable efteem, as appears from
many paflTages of ancient authors. Horace makes
mention of them, and Lucan particularly celebrates the
Sequani, or Burgundians, for their fkill in riding, and
the fupplenefs of their horfes.

Optima gens Jlexh in gyrum Seqiiana frcenis.

The Sequani the wheeling horfe who guide.

Rowe.

The German horfes alfo were well known to them ;
they are mentioned by Csefar * and Tacitus, but by the
latter not much to their credit.

Csefar fpeaks of the Suevi, an ancient, great, and
warlike people of Germany, as having had their horfes
fo trained and difciplined, that when their riders dif-
mounted in battle to fight on foot, they would never
flir from the fpot where they were left, but wait
with the greateft confcancy and patience their matter's
■ return *.

Contrary to the pra(5tice of latter times, and con-
trary to the rules of art (founded upon the truth of
nature) thefe people were fond of making their horfes
amble^ and taught them to go in this pace by the help
of cords, tied to their legs, which controlled their
fteps, fo as to make them move the two legs of the
fame fide at once, and then follow with the other two»
which two motions conflituted tlie amble.

■^ Csef. Comment. lib. 4.

This

OF HORSEMANSHIP. ^^

This we learn from Pliny, who wrote a treatife on
the art of riding, which is now loft. There were
likewife Eguifones, or profeffed riding-mafters, among
them who difciplined horfes, and taught the art of
riding. Varro mentions the fame thing, and fays, that
an horfe deftined to the faddle, is fent to a mafter,
who is to teach him to deal his feet loftily, and form
his paces — traditiir magijiro, ut equifo doceat tolutim.

It was ufual with thofe, who valued themfelves
upon their fkill in riding, and had won a prize in the
races of the Circus, or elfewhere, to change horfes
with their vanquiflied antagonifts, and ftart again,
purely to fhew that the vidlory was not to be afcribed
to the horfes only. Homer and Plutarch fpeak of this
cuftom, as well as other writers.

This people (as well as the Greeks) were very exacH:
in cleaning and dreffing their horfes.

For this purpofe, and to remove the fweat, they
made ufe of a piece of wood, formed to the fliape of
a Sword, and known to us under the name of a Scraper;
and, inftead of a Curry-comb, they put a covering upon
their hands, of a rough grain, and compofcd of the
bark of the palm-tree, with this they rubbed the coats
of their horfes, to give them a polifli, and make
them fleek and fhining. They were likewife very
careful of the Foretop, Mane, and Tai/, frequently wafli-
ing and cleaning them, and occafionally applying oil,
to nourifh the hair and give it a glofs. After labour
and fatigue, it was cuftomary to lead the horfes to

ponds

78 THE HISTORY AND ART

ponds and rivers, where ihey were bathed and waflicd,
particularly the legs ; and lb high and juft an opinion
prevailed of the benefit refulting from the frequent
cleaning and dreffing an horfe, that Columella alTerts,
that it is more advantageous and wholefome for an
horfe to be well rubbed down, than to have a large
allowance of food, and that without proper drefling
he cannot thrive and be healthy.

In managing horfes, if nature had not furniflied
them with a proud and lofty adion, they ufed to tie
rollers of wood and weights to their paftern joints, to
compel them to lift their feet. This they particu-
larly required in the amble, to make their horfes go
gracefully, fafely, and with eafe to the rider ; pre-
ferring this pace to the trot, which, from the vio-
lence, and hardnefs of the motion, was difagreeable.

There are Hill exifling fomc famous ftatues of horfes
in the adion of the amble. The horfes of Caftor and
Pollux, in the Capitol, at Rome, the four horfes of Bronze
in the portico of St. Mark at Venice, and the horfe of
Balbus, at Portici, are all in the fame attitude. Some
horfes are alfo to be feen in the fame pofition of a
more modern date, whofe ftatues were made when the
arts began to revive ; fuch are the two equeftrian figures
at Florence.

All thefe are vouchers, which prove the fondnefs
which the Romans (while they knew no better) had for
the pace called by them the amhulatura, and with us the
amble. Notwithflanding, however, that this pace had

fo

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 79

fo much merit with thofc who loved their cafe, yet, if
we may judge from the fame fort of witnefTes, the an-
cient equeftrian ftatues, fome of them will convince
us, by the attitude in which the horfes are placed,
that the trot was not wholly difregarded. The ftatue
of Marcus Aurelius in bronze, a bas relief of the fame
emperor, and the horfes of Titus upon the arch which
bears his name, are all reprefented in the action of the
trot. Thefe are the remarks of the late learned Abbe
Winkelman : he fays, " that notwithftanding the
" authorities above cited of ftatues of liorfes in the
" aiflion of the amble, that it was a manner of going
*' which the ancients did permit, and oppofes to them
*' feveral horfes reprefented in the trot.'* In doing
this, however, he only confronts ftatue with ftatue,
and the fcales hang even. Befides, as a French author
obferves, the ancient ilatues are not always to be irufled;
and the artifts were fo ignorant and inaccurate in the
figures which they made of horfes, that they fre-
quently deformed and mifreprefented nature, and
violated all the rules of art. Nor is it impoffible that
their contemporary horfemen were better Ikilled ; and
indeed it cannot be fuppofed that they were, when
they permitted to fend forth fuch uncouth and grofs
reprefentations of horfes, as antiquity in many inftancea
furnilhes us with, in which all the fair proportions of
nature, the elegancies of form, and what the French
call belle nature are often facrificed to whim, conceit.

and ignorance.

With

8o THE ART AND HISTORY

With refpcct, however, to the two paces, the amble
and- the trot, it is to be prefuraed, that the llatuaries
might not know the difference, but copied what they
faw, and did as they were dire(5ted ; from the evi-%.
dences of whofe works it clearly appears that both
the paces were ufed ; but it is plain from paffages in
many authors, that the amble, or amkdatura, as it is
called by Vegetius, was the admired pace ; and that
much fkill and labour were employed to render the
horfes perfedl in it. After-ages continued the pra(5lice;
and modern horfemanfhip, for fome centuries, blindly
trod in the fame path: all the writings and treatifes of
thofe times, containing rules and dire(5lions for teach-
ing by various methods this faulty and imperfedt
pace. Light at laft broke in, and good fenfe, and
knowledge, founded upon experience, have concurred'
to banifh it with contempt from the manege ; where
the trot is now confidered and acknowledged as the
only pace which can enable a four-footed animal to
fupport and balance himfelf with firmnefs and eafe,
as the laws of mechanifm require.

Neverthelefs it is evident upon the whole, that,
notwithftanding the truth and foundnefs of this
dotftrine, the Romans were either ignorant of the merit
of the trot, or dilliked it fo much, as to diftinguilh it
by appellations very exprellive of their fentiments con-
cerning it. They called a trotting horfe, from the
roughncfs of the pace, Succujfjtor, ot Shaker, as we iro-
nically name hard trotters, Bone-fetters. Tortorcs, 'Tor-
turers,

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 8i

turersy was another fynonimous term with which they
were honoured ; whence fome etymologifts imagine
the Italian words Tortori or Trottoni corruptedly come,
and from them the French and Englifh term trot. But it
feems to be more lawfully defcended from the Italian
word Travatto, by contradlion, Tratto, which fignifies
crofs-uife, by which motion of the legs, the trot is per-
formed. To thefe we may add the epithet Criuiator, or
'tormejiter, a title as expreflive as either of the former,
for the Romans were very exadl and curious in the
names w^hich they affigned to the different horfes in
ufe among them.

Guttonarii and CoJatorli are epithets metaphorically ap-
plied to thofe horfes, which dealt their fteps in time
and meafare, and had a certain fpring and lightnefs in
their motions.

The metaphor is taken from the method of flrain-
ing water through a bag, in order to make it fall di-
ftincTily, and drop by drop : now, the action of horfes
which move their feet in a cadence, and juft time, be-
ing thought to refemble this paflage of water, or any
other liquid, when drained through a bag or cloth, they
were called Droppers, or Strainers. Thefe horfes were
characterized by the Greek word aa,Kyj(riKoi. After
all, thefe terms fecm to convey no very clear, or pre-
cife idea of the thing they would defcribe, and the
metaphor itfelf feems to be too far fetched, and
Jirained too finely. Vegctius fpcaks of thefe horfes ;
and we cannot but conclude from thefe epithets, whe-
ther properly applied, or not, that the Romans, at

Vol. I. M leaft,

82 THE HISTORY AND ART

leaft, were horfemen fo Ikilful and enlightened as to
lafle the merit and beauty of this meafured and well
timed motion in horfes. The Latin word, defcriptive
of this adlion, in which the -horfe lifts his feet alter-
nately aloft, fufpends them for a momentary fpace in
the air, and then ftrikes them forcibly, and in equal
cadence, againll the ground, is called T'ripiid'mm ; its ge-
i;iuine fignification, is to Jirike againji the ground, and
means technically the fame thing as the French expreflion
Piaffer, which literally rendered fignifics to Jirut, or
move in a fwaggering and haughty manner.

The French term Trepigner, is likewife fuppofed to
be derived from the old Latin word Tripudiiim, but is
always ufed by horfemen in a bad fenfe ; being ex-
preffive of the low, fhuffling, and indiftindl motion of
the legs, in oppofition to the flow, marked, and lofty
aiflion, difplayed in the Piaffer.

Indenendent of thefe refinements, the Romans were
very found and competent judges of the qualities re-
quifite to conftitute a good horfe. Virgil defcribes them
with all the force of truth, and all the warmth of
poetry. Varro, deemed the mod learned and accom-
pliflied perfon of the moft refined age of Rome, has
likewife given a detail of them, which is fo mafterly
and exa^l, that the knowledge of the prefent times,
enlightened as they may be, can find nothing in it to
reprehend. They both afiTure us, " that we may
" prognofticate great things of a colt, if, v^hen run-
«< ning in the paftures, he is ambitious to get before
" his companions ; if, in coming to a river, he flrives

" to.

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 83

" to be the firil to plunge into it j adding, that his
" Head fliould be fmall ; his Liinbs clean and compact ;
-" his Eyes bright and fparkling ; his No/ri/s open and
" large ; his Ears placed near each other ; his Alane
" ftrong and full ; his Cheji broad ; his Shoulders flat and
" floping backward ; his Barrel round, compacft, and
" rather fmall ; his Lcins broad and flrong ; his 'Tail full
" andbufhy ; his Legsi\rd.it and even j his Kjiees round,
" and well knit ; his Hoofs hard and tough, and his
" reins large, and fwelling boldly through all his
*' body."

The Geopontick writers alfo, the Rei Rufticce Scn'ptores,
Xenophon, Pliny, and many others, who have written
exprefly upon the fubje6l, defcribe the parts and figure
of the horfe with the greatell judgment and accuracy:
to thefe we may add the harmonious writers of verfe,
Oppian, Statius, Claudian, Gratian, Nemejian, Sec. who, ar-
raying Truth in the beautiful robes of poetry, celebrate
the horfe, and point out his character and talents,
with all the fidelity and exadnefs, that can be expe(5l-
ed from the coldell profe.

Pliny tells us, that if an horfe in drinking plunged
his nofe deep into the water, it was reckoned a fign of
fpirit and courage; and this notion prevails gtprefent
in this country.

Like the Armenians, the Romans always turned the
mane on the right fide. Varro and Virgil direcH: it fo
to be placed. Propertius * likev?-ife mentions it.

* Propertius, lib. iv. eleg. 4.

M 2 Ilk

84 THE HISTORY AND ART

lUe eguus, ilk meos in cajlra reponet amores.
Cut Tatius dextras colhcat ipfejuhas.

Me to my Tatius fliall that horfe convey,

That favour'd horfe, whofe mane he loves to lay

On the right fide

Varro, in defcribing its properties, fays likewife that
it fliould be plaited, or formed into knots on the right
fide.

In dexteriorem partem impUcata.

To which fafliion Statins alludes, in his defcription
of a young hunter.

CoUa Jedent nodis, ^ cajiigata jiibarum
Libert as.

His flowing mane, in braided knots confin'd,
Lays on his neck, nor fears the ruffling wind.

It was ufual alfo for them to flieer and cut off the
manes ; whence Propertius fays *, that his miftrefs
Cynthia was borne in her litter by Manui, or nags
whofe Manes had been cut off. Dctonjis mannis.

They were wont to diftinguiili their horfes by cer-
tain marks, which they burnt into their flefli, as the
Greeks did before them : thefe were the initial letters
of the owners names, figures of animals, and other
devices, by which the horfes were known and appro-

* Lib. ii. eleg. 8. Varro, lib. iv. c. y.

Virg. Geor. iii. v. 86. Prop. lib. 4.

Stat. Theb, lib. ix. v. 6Sj. .

priated;.

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 85

priated, frauds prevented, and the breeds and pedi-
grees, of which they were very careful, preferved
and diftinguiflied. This cullom prevails ahiioft uni-
verfally at' this time, in the ftuds of princes, and other
perfons, who have valuable ■ breeds ; and in fome
places the counterfeiting thefe marks is highly penal ^
the perfons to whom they belong being as nice and
fcrupulous about them, as families are proud and
jealous of their coats of arms.

It was ufual alfo for them to give names to their
horfes, exprefllve of their country, qualities, or co-
lour ; fuch as Nitidus, Niger, GentiJis, jEgyptus, ViFtor,
Fohicer, Incitatiis, Delicatus, Superbus, and fo forth.

In breaking and drefling their horfes, they ufed to
work them in waving ot ferpentine lines, as the pracftice
is (or ought to be) at prefent. The French call this
riding an horfe en ferpentant. The Greeks and Romans
knew it by the term of riding in Maanders, in allufion
to the windings and doublings of the celebrated river
which bears that name.

The Sybarites, a people of Calabria, and proverbially
famous for the voluptuoufnefs of their manners, are
recorded to have taught the horfes in their troops to
move or dance in exaifl time to the founds of mufical
inflruments. The better way, however, of relating this
fact would probably he to fay, that they were fo wan-
ton and refined in their pleafures, that they exercifed
their horfes by the found of mufic, which was fct to
the time and cadence of their Heps ; fo that the horfes

did

86 THE HISTORY AND ART

did not obey and follow the mufck, but the mufick ac-
companied and marked the time of their motions : this
is eafily done, and there are books extant in the Ita-
lian language, with notes of this horfe-mufick. •

In breaking and reducing their horfes to obedience,
they ufed to apply 'Torches and Firebrands'^ ^xo fuch as ob-
flinately refufed to go forward, and were what we call
rejiive, as well as to thofe which were abjecft and dull.
This /fry tryal, with additions of various kinds, equally
cruel and abfurd, defcended from the Roman horfe-
men to fucceeding riding-mailers, and are partly prac-
tifed at this day.

The Ludus Trojanus, or Trojan Game^ is well known,
and faid to have been introduced by jEneas, when he
left Troy, and came to fettle in Italy ; and hence we
may have fome reafon to conclude it had long before
been performed in Pbrygia, and other parts of JJia : and
as the Greeks alfo had their military equeflrian evo-
lutions and games, • they might, perhaps, be indebted
for them to the Trojans, or other Afiatick nations.

From Homer, indeed, we learn, that Chariot races were
exhibited at the funeral obfequies of Patroclus, there
being at that time no troops of Horfemen in the Grecian
army ; but Athenaeus fays, that the Spartans performed
Equejliian fports in the theatre, and adorned their horfes,
to celebrate the death of Hyacinthus ; and, if we may

^ Equos tarde con/urgent es ad curfum Jlimulis facilufgue fulditis concila-
f»us. Sen EC. Lib. IL de Ira.

judge

OF HORSEMANSHIP. Bf

judge from the ufages of antiquity, thefe military ex-
ercifcs and cavalcades were coniidered as a neceffary
part of the funeral rites of Chiefs and other illuftrious
perfons ; and if a conje(n;ure may be allowed, it feems
not too improbable to believe, that the origin of the
cuilora prevailing at this day of leading ftate Horfes in
the funeral folemnities of eminent military perfons,
and others diftinguiflied by birth and rank, proceeds
from the practice of the ancients, obferved from the
moil diftant ages, Virgil, who defcribes the game of
Troy, fays it was performed by the Trojans in honour
of Anchifes, whofe death they celebrated with this
and other fports *'. In the reign alfo of Theodojius, and
his fon Jrcadiiis, that is, towards the end of the fourth
century, it was ufual to mix led horfes in funeral
proceffions. The fervants or grooms who led them
were covered with long cloaks, and the horfes were
hid under the trappings which they wore. Our fu-
neral ceremonies correfpond with this pradlice.

Thefe Eguejires Decurjiones, or feats of military equef-
trian fkill and aiTtivity, were ufed alfo upon other oc-

cafions They were practifed in camps, to teach and

confirm the foldiers in the ufe of arms, and the dif-
cipline of war : they were exhibited to the people by
feveral of the emperors as fpecT;acles of parade and

* Vid, Herodian, de Confecrar. Severi Imperat. Appian. de Scyl-
te morte. Paufanias Arcadicis. — Stat. Thcb. lib, vi. v. 213. Ibid,
lib. V. 221, Virg. lib. v. 545. lb. ii. v. 188.

4* enter-

88 THE HISTORY AND ART

entertainment ; being performed by bands or troops
of young men of the nobleft families, who rode their
horles in Evolutions and Turnings in fliew of Battle, of
which they were a picture and reprefentation. Firgil
defcribes them with great corre^lnefs, and adorns them
with all the graces of poetry ; nor is it unreafonable
to conclude from the exa6lnefs with which he relates
them, that they were familiar to the Romans in his
time, and that he did not copy them more faithfully
in his defcription, than he faw them performed and
reprefented. — That the reader may have a clearer idea,
and the mofl pleaiuig account of this fo famous Game^
I prefume to bring the poet to fpcak for himfelf ; and
with refped; to thofe who may not underftand his lan-
guage, I have procured an interpreter, who is fo ca-
pable of doing him juftice, that the Englifli reader
will have but little (if any) room to lament his ig-
norance of the original language. Neither will he be
difpleafed (I flatter myfelf) with the length of the ac-
count, but will rather think it enhances its merit.

jit pater JEneas nondum certamine mijfo
Cujiodem adfeje comitemque impubis lull
Epytidefi vocat, et fidam fic fatur ad aurem.
Vade age, et Afcanio, fi jam puerile par atum
Agnwi habet fecum, curjiifque injlruxit equorum
Ducat avo turmas, et fefe ojiendat in armis.
X)ic ait. Ipfe omnem longo decedere circo
Infufum populum, et campos jubet ejfe pate?ites.

Incedunt pueri, paritcrque ante ora parentum

Fra-

OF HORSEMANSHIP. S9

Frccnath lucent in equis ; qiios omnis euntes
Trinacrice miraf a fremiti Trojaque juventus.
Omnibus in morem ton/a coma prejja corona :
Cornea bina ferunt p-cejixa hoJiiUa ferro :
Pars leves humero pbaretras : in peBore fumjtw
Flexilis obtorti per collum cir cuius aiiri.
T'res equitum numero turmce, ternique vagantur
Du&ores : pueri bis feni quetnque fccuti,
Agmijie partita fulgent, paribufque magijlris,
Una acies juvenum, ducit quam parvus ovantem '
]S!o7ne7i avi referens, Priamus, tua clara. Polite,
Progenies, aiiClura Italos : quern T'hracius albis
Portat equiis bicolor maculis, vejligia primi
Alba pedis, frontemque ojlentans arduus albam.
Alter Atys, genus unde Atti duxere Latini,
Parvus Atys, pueroque puer dile£lus lulo.
Extremus, formaque ante omnes pulcher lulus
Sidcnio eji inveBus equo ; quem Candida Dido
EJfe fui dederat monument um et pignus amoris.
Cat era Trinacriis pubes fenioris Acejla
Fertur equis.

Excipiunt plaufu pavidos, gaudentque tuentes
Dardanida, veterumque agnofcunt ora parentum.
PoJtqua?n o?nnem Iceti concejjum ocuhfque fuorum
Lujlravere in equis, fignum clamore paratis
Epy tides longe dedit, infonuitque flagello.
Olli difcurrere pares, at que agmina terni
DiduBis folvere Choris : rurfufque vocati
Convertere vias, infejlaque tela tulere.
Inde alios ineunt curfus, aliofqiie recurfus
Adverfis fpatiis : altcrnofque orbibus orbes
Vol. I. N //;/-

90 THE HISTORY AND ART

o

Impediunt, pugnaque cient Jimulacra fub arm'is.
Et nunc terga fuga nudant, nunc fpicula •vertunt
Infenfi ; faSld pariter nunc pace feruntur.
Ut quondam Cretaferiur labyrinthus in alta
Parietibus textum cacis iter ancipitemque
Milk viis habuijje dolwn, q-ua figna fequendi
Falleret indeprenfus et irremeabilis error.
Hand aliter T'eucrum nati vejiigia curfu
Impediufzt, texuntque fugas, et pralia ludo.
Delphinumjimiles, qui per viaria humida nando
Carpathium Lybicumquejecant, hiduntque per undar^
Hunc morem^ curfus, at que hac certamina primus
AfcaniuSi lotgam muris cum cingeret Albajn,
Rettulit, et prifcos docuit celebrare Latinos.
^0 puer ipfe modo, fecum quo Uroia pubes :
jilbani docuerefuost hinc maxima porro
Accepit Roma, et patrium fervavit honor em-
1'rojaque nunc pueri 'Trojanum dicittir agmen.

Tranflated by Pitt,

The prince now call'd, before the games were done
The hoary guardian of his royal fon ;
And gently whifper'd in his faithful ear,
To bid Afcanius in his arms appear.
And with his youthful band and courfer come
To pay due honours to his grandfire's tomb.
Next he commands the huge aflembled train^.
To quit the ground, and leave an open plain.
Strait on their bridled fteeds, with grace divine,.
The blooming youths before their fathers Ihine.

4 Tile-

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 91

The eager Trojans and Sicilians throng,
And gaze with wonder as they move along.
Around their brows a vivid wreath they wore,
And glitt'ring lances tipt with fteel they bore. "
Thefe a light quiver ftor'd with fliafts fuftain,
And from their necks depends a golden chain.
On bounding deeds advance three graceful bands
And each a little blooming chief commands.
Beneath each chief twelve vouthful ftriplings came
In Ihining arms, in looks and age the fame.
Grac'd with his grandfire's name, Polites' fon,
Young Priam, led the firft gay fquadron on.
A youth, whofe progeny mufl Latium grace ;
He prefs'd a dappled fteed of Thracian race ;
Before, white fpots on either foot appear.
And on his forehead blaz'd a filver flar ;
Atys the next advanc'd, with looks divine,
Atys, the fource of the great Attian line ;
lulus' friendfhip grac'd the lovely boy ;
And lall lulus came, the pride of Troy,
In charms fuperior to the blooming train,
And fpurr'd his Tyrian courfer on the plain ;
Which Dido gave the princely youth, to prove
A lading pledge, memorial of her love.
Th' inferior boys on beauteous courfers ride,
From great Alceftes' royal flails fupply'd.
Now flufli'd with hope, now pale with anxious fear,
Before the Ihouting crowds the youths appear j

N 2 The

92 THE HISTORY AND ART

The fliouiing crowds admire their charms, and trace

The parents lines in every lovely face.

Now round in rings, before their fathers, ride

The boys, in all their military pride.

Till Periphontes founding lafh from far,

Gave the loud fignal of the mimick war.

Strait in three bands dillindl they break away,

Divide in order, and their ranks difplay.

Swift at the fammons they return and throw,

At once their hoftile lances at the foe.

Then take a new excurfion on the plain,

And now retreat, and now advance again.

With well-diffembled rage their rivals dare,

And pleafe the crowd with images of war.

Alternate now they turn their backs in flight,

Now dart their lances, and renew the fight.

Then in a moment from the combat ceafe,

Rejoin their fcatter'd bands, and move in peace.

So winds delufive in a thoufand ways

Perplext and intricate, the Cretan maze ;

Round within round, the blind Mceanders run

Untrac'd and dark, and end where they begun.

The fkilful youths in fport alternate ply

The Ihifting courfc, by turns they fight and fly.

As dolphins gambol in the wat'ry way.

And bounding o'er the tides in wanton circles play.

Thefe fports Afcanius when in mighty length

He rais'd proud Alba, glorying in her ftrength,

Taught

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 93

Taught the firft fathers of the Latian name,
As now he folemniz'd the noble game ;
From their fucceflive Alban offspring come
Thefe ancient plays to grace imperial Rome.
Who owns her Trojan band, and game of Troy,
Deriv'd through ages from the princely boy.

Befides this, and other equeftrian exercifes, the
young Romans, from gallantry and poliienefs, were
accuftomed to ride before the ladies, merely to difplay
their fkill and addrefs, and recommend themfelves to
the favour of their fair fpeiTtators. The paffage in
the infcription mentioned before, which relates the
death of a perfon, who was dragged by his foot,
entangled in the ftirrup, when he had been riding
before a young lady for her entertainment, alludes to
this cuftom, as we learn from Francifcus Modius, in
his Treatife de Spe(5laculis,

Among the various colours by which horfes are
diftinguiflied, white was anciently the moft admired,
and confidered as a mark of pre-eminence and fove-
reignty.

Herodotus reports, that the Cillcians paid an annual
tribute of three hundred and fixty "jjhite horfes to Da-
rius, the King of Perfia; and in Xerxes' march againft
Greece, the chariot of Jupiter was drawn by eight
white Nyfsean horfes, the colour being appropriated
I'eligioufly to the deity. We read likewife in the book
of. Kings, that the kings of Judah were ufed to dedi

6 cate.^

y4 1 H E HISTORY AND ART

cate horfes to the Sun. Tacitus fays, the ancient Ger-
mans had certain horfes which were confecrated to their
gods ; thefe horfes were * white, and exempt from
all labour, but that of drawing the facred chariots
upon folemn occafions.

Livy relates, that Pionyfius of Sicily was drawn by
four white horfes, as well as Hiero, one of his fuc-
cefTors : and this hiftorian exprcfly reckons horfes of
this colour among the infignia of royalty, as much as
the purple robe, armed guards, and the diadem f.
Diodorus X Siculus gives an account of three hundred
while horfes, as part of a cavalcade which attended a
conqueror at Agrigentum. Romulus § in his triumph
had four while horfes harnefled to his car, and the
Roman conquerors were generally drawn by fuch in
the foiemnities of a public triumph. Nero made his
€ntry into Naples drawn by four horfes of this beau-
tiful colour. In latter times feveral Chriftian princes
adopted, or rather continued the cuftom, which lafted
for many centuries, and was obferved with the ut-

* It is to be remarked, that this colour was held fo facred, and
the fondnefs of it was fuch, that it was required in more animals than
horfes, and even in robes and garments. It appears from Ammianus
Marcellinus, lib. xxv. chap. 4, that in their triumphs and facrifices the
Romans chofe white oxen ; and fome writers (particularly Menage)
obferve, that if they could not procure oxen which were perfe^/y white,
they coloured them with chalk, whence they were called Boves creiati.

■f Livy, Dec. 3. Lib. xxiv. chap. 5.

j: Lib. xiii. p. 204, Edit. Rhodom.

§ Propertius, eleg. i. lib. 4.

mod

OF HORSEMANSHIP. ^s

mofl jealoufy and ftri^lnefs, this colour being always
confidered as the imperial badge, and confccrated to
fovereignty. The popes aflumed ir, and gave in-
du^genciei to bifliops * and princes to ufe it.

Tlie king of Naples at this day pays an annual Tief
of a JVljite Horfe to the fee of Rome, as an acknowledg-
naent for the kingdom which he holds of the pope.
When John of France was taken prifoner at the battle
of Poi(5liers, and conducted into England by Edward
the Black Prince, he landed at Southwark, and was
met by a prodigious concourfe of people. Edward,
from the moment in which the king became his pri-
foner, had treated him with fuch refpe<5l and defe-
rence, as to convince him, that, though a captive, he
was ftill a king: accordingly, when he was to make
a public entry into London, Edward took care that he
Ihould appear as fuch. The prifoner was clad in royal
robes, and mounted on a white ileed, diilinguiihed for
its beauty and lize, while the conqueror rode by his
fide, in a meaner attire, and carried by a black palfrey.
To this we may add another inftance equally flrong.
When the emperor Charles IV. paid a vifit to his coufin,
Charles V, king of France, in the year 1377, the latter
was fo jealous of his dignity and fuperiority in his own
kingdom, that to ftifle the fraalleft appearance of

* Hinc magni muneris loco, Ticinenfi Ep. Joh. & Honorins III. —
Ut album eqiium cooper turn eq^'.jtaret, in ramis palmarum, i^ fecmdd feria,
pjl pafcha. Vid. Diifrefiie in GlofT. — Ex bulla titriufque pontijicis, Vid.
Joh. Rofin. Antiq. Rom. lib. x, cap. 29,

equality, ,

9^ THE HIaSTORY AND ART

■equality, he obliged the emperor and his fon to make
their entry upon two black horfes, while he, as the only
fovereign, rode between them upon one of the oppofite
colour. Many other proofs, both before and fince this
peripd, are not wanting. Charles VII. called the Victorious,
made his public entry into Paris, mounted on a IVbite
liorfe, without caparifons (tout nudj. Margaret, daugh-
ter of James of Scotland, when fhe came to be married
to the Dauphin, fon of Charles, rode into Tours as
Dauphine, .upon a JVhhe liorfe, her attendants all being
mounted upon horfes of diiTerent colours. St. Louis
alfo is reprefented in the antiquities * of the French
monarchy, mounted upon a -white horfe ; and the
king of Yemene in Arabia, weekly makes a folemn
proccffion, always riding upon that occafion upon a
^nit ehoxio. '\.

In confequence of the veneration in which thefe fa-
cred uhhe horfes were held, the Saxon, or, to fpeak
more properly, the German princes, and chiefs, adopt-
ed the ijohite horfe, and bore it in their Standards. It
was the enfign of Hengifl and Horfa, and among other
ancient families, the illullrious prince who wears the
crown of the. Britifli dominions, bears it in his arms,
as duke of Brunfwick : and whoever confiders the
Saxon white horfe, as a judicious antiquary % remarks,
as it is placed in the Brunfwick fhield, wild, running

* Montfaucon, p. 217, 220, vol. iii.
"l" Voyages Franfois.

X Vide Obfervations on the Vale of White Horfe in Berks, by
F. Wife, 17^2.

at

bF HDliSEMANSHIP. ^J

at full fpeed, and without faddle or bridle, will be in-
clined to think it was meant to reprefent the facredu bite
horfes defcribed by Tacitus.

Nevertheiefs, if we may believe Virgil and others,
who pretended to prognollicatc the innate properties of
horfes by the colour of their fkins, and other marks,
the white fliould always be rejefled, as having few
qualities which can render them pleafmg or fcivice*
able. Some commentators, however, aflert, that by
the words color determinus albis, Virgil did not mean vii'.k
ty/i/f horfes, but thofe of a faint pale colour, fomewhat
bordering upon the cream colour, or whitifli dun : for
otherwife, as Servius obferves upon this palTage, the
poet would contradi(5l himfelf, inafmuch as that in
other parts of his poem he commends this colour, and
fays, that Turnus's horfes " furpaffed the winds in
" fwiftnefs, and excelled fnow in the whitenefs of their
" coats," which are exaiflly the praifes bellowed upon
the horfes of Rhefus, king of Thrace, by Homer.
Claudian alfo, Plautus, Horace, Statius, and PalUdius,
join in celebrating it ; the laft approves, and recom-
mends it in a Stallion ; and it muft be prefumed that
they all fpoke according to the fancy and opinion of
the times in which they wrote ; and whatever might
be the prevailing tafte, as to colour, it is certain from
experience, that there are good and bad of all. Never-
theiefs, independent of the whims of fancy, and the
abfurd refinements of philofophy, the white colour w^as,
from the earlieft times, fet apart as the moll beautiful

Vol. I. O and

ijS THE HISTORY AND ART

and pure, and confccrated to power and royalty. Mankind,
in fo doing, having ufurped it from the gods, and
made the myfteries of religious worlhip fubfervient
to human pride and arrogance. In the fyftem of the
pagan religion, it is well known, that in various na-
tions, a diverfity of animals, as fymbols, were confe-
crated to different deities, under a notion, that they
either delighted in them, or that they were myftically.
fis;urative of their attributes and characSiers. Thus it
is faid, that the chariot of Venus was drawn by Doves y
that Minerva had her Owl, and Apollo his Lyre, Thus we
find too that Jupiter, in the mythology of the Perfians,
as fupreme of gods, had his chariot drawn by eight wbits-
horfes. By Jupiter was underftood, according to the
ancient Perfian religion, the expanfion of the heavens,,
or the air, and horfes of a white colour were probably
faid to have drawn his chariot, as being of an hue m oil'
proper tdexprefs and reprefent the purity and brightnefs-
of that element. Thus the horfes of the Sun, to whom a
Chariot was given, are faid to have been of a refplendent-
rofy colour ; thofe of Pluto to have been black, and
the chariot of the moon to be drawn by a black and a
white horfe, all being fymbolical of their refpecT:ive at-
tributes.

In procefs of time, ambition and pride, but too in-
herent in the breaft of man, cheriflied and inflamed by^
tlie attainment of almoft every human wifli, and above
all, by the adulation which dependent fervility always
pays to power and fuperiority, began to dilate the

mindS:

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 99

minds of conquerors and potentates, and to delude
them fo far as to make them forget themfelves, affedl
to be gods, and have temples, altars, and divine ho-
nours decreed to them. Thus Julius Csfar was re-
proached, with having his image carried in the fame
chariot with the infignia of the gods, according to
Suetonius ; and it is to be fufpeded that white horfes
were preferred by potentates and other exalted pcr-
fons upon the fame account. Livy tells us, that Ca-
raillus, after he had fubdued the reii, a people of
Italy, entered their city in a triumphal chariot, drawn
by white hordes, highly to the offence and allonifliment
of the inhabitants, who confidered him as afluming
greater honours than belonged to an human being,
and afFeding to appear like the fupreme and omnipo-
tent Jupiter, fo true is the remark of Juvenal,

-Nihil ep quod credere de fc

Noil poj/it, cum laiidatiir Diis aqua potejias.

Nothing fo grofs that will not be deceiv'd,
Nothing fo falfe that will not be believ'd ;
When powr by fervile flattery is prais'd,
And equal to the gods a jiiortal rais'd.

When Conftantine the Great founded the city of
Conftantinople, and made it the feat of empire, he
built the famous Hippodrome, or place in which horfes
were to run, whofe ruins are ftill in part extant and
remaining. Here the races which Rome faw in her

O 2 Circus^

100 THE HISTORY AND ART

Circus, were performed with equal pomp ; and the
emperors of the Eaji teftified as great a fondnefs for
horfes, and made them as much the objedls of their
attention, as their predeceflbrs of the Weft had done
in their time. They had ftuds compofed of horfes,
colledled from various parts, which Avere maintained
with tlie greateft eare and exa^tnefs -, and the empe-
rors from time to time pubHlhed many edicts, to fix
the price, and regulate the treatment of horfes in
their dominions. Their humanity was fuch, that
a law was made, forbidding a perfon to ftrike an horfe
with a flick or club, and enjoining them to ufe a wand
or rod only. Their gratitude was fuch (if I may ufe
the word) towards fuch as had deferved well, and en-
tertained the public in the Circus, that when they
grew old, or weak and decayed, they fupported
them from the public treafury. Thefe horfes were
called Emeritiy or Difcharged ; and this cuftom was ob-
ferved in Rome, as well as in the rival empire of the

Eaft.

Their duds, as already mentioned, were compofed
of horfes brought from countries, which were known
to produce the nobleft and beft. Thofe which came
from different parts of Greece were much valued, as
well as the Phrygian and Spanifh, but the Cappado-
cians were moft admired, and bore away the palm
from all their competitors.

Among thefe, the horfes called Pahnattan and Her^
mogenian were accounted the nobleft and firft in merit.

They

OF HORSEMANSHIP. loi

They were fo prized, that they were devoted to the
fole ufe and pleafure of the emperors, it not being
permitted to fell them, unlefs by exprefs licence and
allowance. With the Palmatian and Hermogenian
horfes, it was ufual to couple Phrygian mares ; and the
produce of this mixture, efpecially if derived from the
horfes of Argccm, a mountain in Cappadocia, -was
thought the titteft and bell for the labours of the
Circus, to which they were always pre-eminently de-
voted, both at Conftantinople and at Rome. Many
conjedlures have been offered concerning the etymo-
logy of the names, Palmatian and Hermogenian, fo
famous throughout the eaftern empire. Moft of them
are futile and ill-grounded. The moft reafonable ac-
count feems to be this.

The Palmatian horfes owe their name to a perfon
called Palmatus, or Palmatius, who was rich in a.
breed of moft valuable horfes, whofe pofleftions being
feized and confifcated, his horfes were appropriated to
the emperor, and formed the moft valuable part of
the Grex Dominicus, or imperial ftables.

Palmatius is faid to have refided at Andibilis, a
town of Cappadocia, not far from Mount Taurus ; and
living in a country productive of fine horfes, by his
knowledge and care, he raifed fo generous a breed,
that they have at once perpetuated his fame and their
own.

The Hermogenian horfes were reckoned next, if not
equal in repute, to the Palmatian race. They wer3

fo

102 THE H I,S T O R Y AND ART

fo denominated from Hennogenes Ponticus, who was
a general of horfe under the emperor Conftantius,
and is fuppofed to have been the founder of this
diftinguillied kind of horfes, whofe praifes have de-
fcended to thefe times.

Bcfides the Liidus T'rojaniis, aheady defcribed, the Ro-
mans pracSlifed other cxercifes, for the purpofcs of
teaching men and horfes the different talks required
of them in war. They had a miHtary esercife, de-
fcribed by Vegetius, called the Fahs, by which the
young men prepared, and qualified themfelves for real
combat.

The Pa/us W3.S a PiHar about fix feet high, fattened
into the ground ; againfl this the foldiers made an
attack, affaulting it in feveral different manners and
attitudes, always taking care fo to manage their wea-
pons, that, fuppofmg it was a real enemy, they might
not expofe any part of their body to be hurt, while
they were llriking their adverfary. Inftead of a fword,
they ufed a rod, or (lick. They likewife run at the
Palus with lances, and threw javelins or darts at it,
endeavouring to hit particular partsj and their fuccefs
was a proof of their dexterity.

There was alfo another military fport called the
Siuintana, from one ^I'lntus, who is faid to have been
the inventor of it. In its original ftate, it feems to
have been little different from the Pahs.

The ^lintana was ufually the trunk of a tree, a poll,

or pillar, fixed in the ground, againfl which the young

4 foldiers

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 103-

foldiers pufhed their lances ; and by this means ac-
quired fcrength in their limbs, and a facility of ufing
their weapons. This Game ftill exifts, and preferves its
name, being called ^I'mtaine, and is pradlifed, with
improvements and additions, in difTerent academies,
where fuch exercifes are taught, but which now are
unavailing in war, and can only conduce to form the
body to (Irength and activity ; the introduclion of fire-
arms in other refpecfts having rendered them ufelefs.
From thefe two fports are derived the famous exercifes
of running at Heads with lances, of picking them from
the ground with points of fwords, while the horfe is
in full fpeed, of throwing darts at them, of taking
off a ring fufpended in the air with the point of a
lance, all performed on horfeback, according to cer-
tain rules and principles, cllablifhed in modern aca-
demies, which all tend to make the fuccefs of the
adventurers more meritorious, as more difficult.

Thefe, and other branches of the equeflrian art,
fuch as combats of one horfeman againft another, or
of feveral againfl an equal number, the riding a cer-
tain number of horfes in different divifions, figures
and evolutions, and thereby compofmg a Dance^ called
Iry the Italians La Fola, and by the French La Foule, as
well as the art of Faulting, are all diredly defcended
from the fports and exercifes of the Ancients, and have
been exhibited for many centuries with much fplen-
dDur and folemniry, under the names of Jujis, Ca-

roiifels, .,

104 THE ART AND HISTORY

roufels, "Tilts, and Tournaments, in mofl nations of tlie
modern world.

The origin of Tournaments is no where exacSlIy afcer-
tained, feveral nations pretending to have been the firll
introducers of them. The word itfelf is fuppofed by
fome writers to be derived from the French verb
tourner, to turn, becaufe the performers rode in rings
and circles, and were obliged to make many Turnings
with their horfes, as the laws of the game required.
Others pretend, tbat it comes from the modern Latin
word Torneamentum, which is derived from Trojamentunt,
which is formed from Troja, the Game cf Troy. One
would be apt, however, to think ex vi termini, that al-
though the fport itfelf untiueflionably owes its rife to
the Trojan game, yet, that its name is of French ex-
tracftion, aad not only given with great propriety, but
feems to be a tacit argument of its fuperior antiquity
among that people, whofe hiflorians aflert, that it was
firft known in France. Nithard reports, that at the
interview of Charles the Bald, king of France, who
fucceeded to the throne, in the year 840, and his bro-
ther Lewis of Germany, at Strafburgh, the gentlemen
of the retinue of either prince fought on horfeback, to
difplay their courage and fkill. Ducange fays, that
thefe fports were fo peculiar to the French, that they
were called CcTvfliBus Ga//;V/, or French Combats. TheGer-
n»ans alfo began to practife them about the year 1036,
and the Greeks acknowledge that they learned them
of the Franks, as their authors alledge. John Cantacu-
5 %enus

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 105

zenus fa)^, that thefe military and gallant diverfions
were firfl feen in the eaftern empire in the year i 326,
at the marriage of Ann of Savoy with the young em-
peror Andronicus Pakologiis ; but Nicetas and Cinnamits report
that the emperor Emanuel O^mmemts inftitutcd them, in
imitation of the French, about the year 1145.

The Englijlo had thefe folemnities among them, in
the reign of King Stephen, about the year 11 40, but
they were not much in ufe till Richards, * time, to-
wards the year i 149: it may not be improper to ob-
ferve, that in the reign of this prince Side-faddles were
firll known in England, as it will appear from the fol-
lowing anecdote ; and although it is mixed with other
particulars, which do not immediately relate to the
fubjedt, I venture to give the paragraph entire, as it
is to be found in J. RoJ/i Antiquarii fFarwicen. Hiji. Reriim
Ang. p. 205, in Latin. In Englifh it may be rendered
thus. " In his days alfo began the deteflable cuftoni
" of wearing long pointed Ihoes, fattened with chains
« of filver and fometimes of gold, up to the knees.
" Likewifc noble ladies then ufed high heads and cor-
" nets, and robes with long trains, and Seats or Side-
" /addles on their horfes, by the example of the re-
" fpe6lable queen Ann, daughter of the king of Bohe-
*' mia, who firll introduced this cuftom into this
*' kingdom : for before women of every rank rode as
" men do, with their legs allride the backs of their

* Tho. Hearn, prsf. ad Guliel. Neuwig. Hift. p. 49.
Vol. I. P • " horfes."

io6 THE HISTORY AND ART

" horfes." Thus far our Warwick hiftorian ; and it
is certain, that this was not the ufual way of riding
till about this time ; for Nicetas, one of the Byzantine
hiftorians, who wrote an hiftory of i i i 8, to the year
1205, fays, that at this period, women did not ride
as they ufed to do, fitting on a Side-fadd/e, but mounted
their horfes with their legs indecently ajiride. Thus
Side-faddks appear to have been ufed many centuries
ago, and before the female fex took up the fafliion of
riding like men, for which they are reprehended by
the Greek hiftorian : and hard indeed is the equejlrian
fituation of the fex ! for if they are to be accufed of
indelicacy for riding after the manner of men, they cer-
tainly hazard their fafcty too much in riding after the
manner of women.

The military fports which (not to be particular and
minute) may be comprehended under the name of
'Tournaments, were, for many centuries, the prevailing
entertainment of Chriftendom, and known to a certain
degree in Afia and Africa: but the European nations
cultivated them with an earneftnefs worthy of a better
caufe, and ambitioufly vied with one another in the
fplendour and expence with which they conftantly ex-
hibited them. The Germans, upon all occafions of joy,
were fond of reprefenting them ; the French were re-
markably addidted to them j the Spaniards devotion to
them, efpecially in their Bidl-feajis, which is a fpecies
of them, is univerfally known ; the Portuguefe enter-
tained the fame affedion for them ; the Italians and

a. Poki.

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 107

Poles were well acquainted with them, and the Gothic
-nations were diftinguiflied for performing them in the
midft of winter upon the Ice, as well as for their love
of arms and riding ; and in the rudeft times, the
horfe, his furniture, and ornaments became the efTen-
tial objedl of their care. England kept pace with the reft
of Europe, and faw many of her kings fond of dif-
playing thefe magnificent diverfions ; and the fpot of
ground near St. James's Park, called the Tilt Tard, is a
voucher of the repute in which they were held. Smith-
field was likewife famous for the frequent and fplendid
Tournaments held in it : adjoining to it, is a ftreet
called Knight-Rider and Gihfpur-Street ; fo named, it is
prefumed, from the Knights riding through it to the
tournament in Smithfield, and from the magnificent
^It Spurs, worn in thofe times, being fold there. Cbeap-
Jide was another place in which thefe folemnities were
fometimes held, as well as Barbican and Bridewell.

Mars and Fenus prefided over them ; they were the
image of IFar, without its guilt, and frequently the
femblance of PaJ^on, under the mafk of Gallantry, the
combatants afluming the title of Servans d' Amour *. The

• No knight could exift without having a declared miftrefs,
L* Amour de Dieu, et des dames, religion and gallantry being the two great
articles in the creed of Knight-errantry. An elegant and judicious
French writer marks this devotion to their miftrefies in a very peculiar
and pointed terms. 11 etoit, fays he, de rejfence de Vancienne chevalerie
d' avoir fa Dame, a qui, comme un etrefupreme, on rapor toil tons fesfenti-
tnens, toutes fes penfees, toutes fes aSiions. EfTais Hift. fur Paris par
Saintfoix.

P 2 pro-

io8 THE HISTORY AND ART

profeflion of chivalry, which flourillied fo much in
paft ages, flied a luftre, and conferred importance and
dignity upon them. At laft, however, they were
found to be produAive of bad effedts, and the occafions
of feveral fatal misfortunes ; as in the inftance of
the death of Henry 11. king of France, and of the
T'ik exhibited at Chalons; which, from the numbers
killed on both fides, was called the little War of Cha-
lons. Thefe, and other inconveniencies and difafters,
which were confequences of thefe dangerous paftimes,
gave the Popes occafion to forbid them ; and the
princes of Europe by degrees difcontinued them, re-
fleding, as well they might, that thefe feats of fkill
and courage, were degenerated into mere fliews of pa-
rade and oflentation ; that the combatants performed
too little, if they were in earneft, as well as too much,
if fport and amufement only were intended ; as well
as that from the fpirit of Chivalry, which had fpread its
delufions over all Chriftendom, thefe contells were carried
to a blameable and ridiculous excefs y holding their
exiftence folely in the rough manners of brave, but
unenlightened ages, and the abfurd laws and notions
of knight-errantry, which foon proved too weak to
ftand againft the force of good fenfe, efpecially when
armed with ihofe irrefiftible weapons, fatire and ridi-
cule. Every body knows with what force and efficacy
Cervantes wielded them in his famous hiftory of Don
^ixote, which is thought to have given thefe romantic
inftitutions the wound of which they died -, nor did

the.

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 109

the difcovery of gunpowder, and the revival of letters,
fail to contribute their fliare towards their deflrudlion.
Since their abolition, mankind have not obferved
lefs decorum and honour towards the fair fex, nor
been lefs fenfible of the power of their charms, know-
ing, that although the exterior form of worfliip may
be lefs fplendid and pompous, their devotion may be
full as zealous and fmcere ; while the ladies, gene-
roufly on their part have condefcended to liften to the
vows of their adorers, without requiring fuch rigorous
proofs of their fidelity and paffion ; feeming to be
convinced, that, unlefs in particular cafes, men may
be in love vjithout fghting, and fight without being in
love.

End of the First Part.

THE

C HI }

THE

HISTORY AND ART

O F

HORSEMANSHIP,

PART II.

THROUGH the whole animal world each
fpecies of the fame kind differ from one another,
according to the Climates in which they are born ; and
it is this influence of climate which occafions the al-
moft infinite variety of creatures, forms their cha»
radters, and feparates and diftinguifhes their qualities ;
in which, like children of the fame parent, they in ge-
neral refemble one another, but yet, at the fame time,
have always fome features and properties peculiar to
themfelves, which conftitute the difference between
each fpecies. Mankind, with refpedl to Horfes, feem
to have ftretched nature beyond the bounds flie ufually
prefcribes to herfelf, and by coupling thofe of different
countries, have created feveral vew fpecies ; fo that in
the mixture and confufion, all original national cha-

radtec-

112 THE HISTORY AND ART

rader and diftincflion are, in a great meafure funk and
loft J feveral countries, like engrafted trees, producing
horfes, which they can hardly call their own.

Having attempted, in the foregoing part of this
work, to give fome account of the regions moft
efteemed by the Jncients for their breeds of horfes, as
well as of the animals thenifelves, it remains that as
in the courfe of our fubjedl we are arrived at modem
times, we fhould alfo take a view of the horfes moft
valued at prefent in the different parts of the globe.

Among thefe Arabia ftands moft eminently diftin-
guifhed for the excellence of its horfes, and the ad-
drefs of its inhabitants in riding them. Hiftorians and
travellers unite in the praifes of both ; yet a perfon of
knowledge in the Art, will, neverthelefs, be fomewhat
perhaps embarraffed in forming his opinion, and think
it neceffary to have a fuller and clearer evidence, be-
fore he will decree the palm to them. Happy indeed
would it be for the Arts, if Artijis only were its Judges,
and people meddled with nothing but fuch things as
they are qualified to underftand : but, unfortunately
for the prefent fubjeds, among numbers of others, it
isnotfo: unfortunately for us, none of the writers
who have touched upon it, have gone far enough into
it, fo as to open and explain many particulars, with
that accuracy and fullnefs, which alone can enable us
to judge of the real merit of thefe famous riders, and
liorfes ; for the accounts given of them are fo loofe
and imperfect, that it is as difficult for a real judge to

form

OF HORSEMANSHIP. ii

J

form any precife opinion concerning it, as it would
be for a Jeweller to know what to think, if a common
Sailor were to give an account of the Dia?no/ids which he
had feen in the mines of India or Brazil ; the luftre, the
hardnefs, and other particulars, which folely conftitute
their merit, are unknown to him ; and the Jeweller
would probably be in danger of being mifled, if he
fliould truft to the ignorance of fuch a reporter.

Hence the random accounts of Jralianhor[cvnd.n{h{p,
fo much boafled and extolled, but related too fuperfci-
ajly to enable us to form any clear judgment, or know
by what means they teach and drefs their horfes to
perform the feats afcribed to them, or what their no-
tions and principles of riding are ; no writer or tra-
veller that I could ever confult, being an horfeman,
and none but an horfeman can give a clear and fatif-
faclory account of Horfemanjljip ; it is to be fufpecTted,
therefore, from this want of lawful ei-idemes, that in the
feats of Arabian horfemanfhip fo much boalled by wri-
ters and travellers, more is to be afcribed to the acti-
vity and powers of the horfes, than to the knowledge
and judgment of the riders ; who yet are confefTedly
very bold and dextrous in the faddle ; but who, by
working upon falfe rules, or perhaps without any,
never attain that grace, exaftnefs, and certainty, which
the principles of the Art, if known, would infure to
them ; principles which have their foundation in na -
ture, and are juftified by truth and experience.

Vol. I. Q^ They

114 THE HISTORY AND ART

They are reported to have then- ftirrups remarkably
fliort, which obliges the rider to fit upon his faddlc,
as if he was in an cafy chair : their bridles * are fo
powerful, as to endanger the breaking of the horfe's
jaw, if he ihould refift ; the hand being as rough and
fevere, as the bridles are cruel, and both co-operating
to bruife and tear the mouth,, and in the end to render
it callous and dead : it is a great feat of horfemanfhip
with them to flop Jljort ; this they effecl by mere vio-
lence and ftrength, and as they never previoufly make
the mouths, nor fupple the joints of their horfes, the
rudenefs of they?o/)fo fhocks the whole frame, as fre-
quently to fpoil and ruin the haunches and other
parts. The horfe-flioes ufed by them are large, very
heavy, and of a circular form, refembling in fliape
that fort of llioe, called by us the Bar-Jlooe. The pro-
vince of Sinan is at prefent eminent for its race of horfes,
of which fome arc near fixteen hands in height, and
very mufcular and ftrong ; while the breed of the
•wandering Arabs, feldom exceed the meafure of fourteen
and two inches, probably for the want of more gene-
rous nourilliment than they can find in their migra-
tions and unfettled condition. The Arabians feel no
relu(5lance to part with their horfes in fale, they being
a commodity which they breed for that purpofe, and
the Imaum raifes a revenue from the duty of horfes
which are fcnt out of the country, the tax being about
ten pounds fterling paid for each horfe.

* They are known in Europe by the name of Turkifh bits.

4 The

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 115

The grofs and ignorant ftate in which thcfc people
live, their bigotted attachment to their own cuftoms
and manners, then- little intercourfe with the more
polifhed parts of the globe, and their manner of fit-
ting on horfeback (which, though fufficient for their
purpofes, yet does not fpeak them to be acquainted
with the true feat, and is aukward and clumfy) feem
all to incline us to believe, that this fufpicion is not
groiindlefs. Neverthelefs, it muft be acknowledged,
that without thefe advantages, the Arabs and their
horfes deferve the greateft commendations ; but the
latter feem to be entitled to the larger fhare, while we
cannot but lament, that people who have fuch noble
and fine-toned Injiruments^ fliould underftand Mitjic no
better.

Thefe horfes, by the unanimous allowance of all
who have feen them, are reckoned the moft beautiful
of their kind, larger and more furniflied than thofe of
Barbary, and of the jufteft proportions ; but as very few
have been brought into Europe, it is not poffible to
fpeak of them collectively, with that jullice and accuracy,
which would decide their charadler. There is fcarcely
an Arab, how indigent and mean foever, who is not
pofTefTed of fomc. They ufually prefer (like the an-
cient Scythians) to ride Mares, experience having con-
vinced them, that they endure fatigue better, and refill
the calls of hunger and third longer than horfes, not
being fo inclined to vice, but gentle and willing, nor
fo fubjedl to neigh as the males. They are fo ac-

Qji cuflomcJ

II 6 THE HISTORY AND ART

cuflomed to be together in great numbers, that their
o-Nvners venture to trufl. them whole days by themfelves,
and are under no apprchenfion of mifchief, from their
biting or kicking one another.

The Jrabs fell fuch of their horfes as they do not like
to keep for StalHons, and are moft fcrupuloufly exa6t in
preferving their Pedigrees *", evqn for ages back-, fothat
they know, with the utmoft certainty, their parentage,
alliances, and genealogy ; diflinguifliing each family,
or breed, by different appellations or epithets, and di-
viding the whole kind into three clalTes.

The firfl: is called Ncble, being the pureft and moft
ancient, without ever having received any flain or
mixture, on the fide of the fues or dams.

The

* The following is tranflated from an original Arabian certificate, by
the learned and ingenious Mr. Charming^ eminent for his (kill in
the oriental tongues, and communicated to the author by his Grace
High Duke oi Northumberland.

1 he fhcrt account of his pedigree, and caufe of fale, are thefe.

I, the Fakir Mohammed, ion of the Hadg Chalil, fon of Sheich
Suleiman, Sheich of the village of Alchadar, adjoining to the back of
mount Sihangan, have now fold my bay mottled horfe Bik, a thorough
Arabian, fon of the bay mare Alkahila, got by N if, of Gialf, a bay
with black eyelids, a noble Arabian. Th^ mother of the horfe (Nif j
was the m.are HulTein Ali Beg. He has the full powers of generation.
T, the Fakir, who ftand in need of the mercy of the moft high God, to
whom be praife, Mohammed, fon of Hadg Chalil, fon of Sheich Su-
leiman, even I have now fold my before-mentioned horfe, who is
among my horfes, and in: my enclofure. He is a bay mottled horfe,
black eye-lidded. The witncfTes below atteft his breed and family :

the

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 117

The fecond clafs is compofed of horfes, whofe race,
though ancient, has been mixed and crofled with Ple-
beian

the laft of Safar, in the year 11 73. At this very time, the horfe
before-mentioned is fold to a fpeedy convej^er of this truft, the Sieur
fon of a chief of the Bricifli company of Frank

Merchants, of the Englifli faftory fettled on the confines of the defarts
of 7\leppo. I have contradted with him, and have received the full price
from him in good and complete payment.

Mohammed, fon of
Hadg Chalil, fon of
Sheich Suleiman, the
Alchadarite.

HufTein Abu,
Suleiman.

The Hadg Ifa,
the derwis

Seid Ibrahim The Seil
head Aga of the Feftagi, fon
Chan at Toman, of Hadg

HufTein, of
ChanToman.

Hadg Moham-
med the derwis.

Othman Alcafirah

r Ibrahim
[Alnafiat.

Sid Abd' Allah ,

Algnalhour of
Chan Toman.

The Sheich
Nachif.

To this I beg leave to add another Arabian pedigree of an horfe,
from an Appendix to the Britilh Zoology, by Pennant.

Taken before Abdorraman Kadi of Acca.

The occafion of this prefent writing or inftrument is, that at Acca,
in the houfe of Badi, legal eftablilhed judge, appeared in court Tho-
mas Ufgate, the Englifh conful ; and with him Sheikh Morad Ebn al
Hajj Abdoilah, Sheikh of the county ofSafad, and the faid conful
defired from the aforefaid Sheikh proof of the race of the grey

hotfa

II 8 THE HISTORY AMD ART

beian blood, either on the male or female fide, which,
neverthelefs, is deemed noble, but mlfaUied.

The third, and laft divifion, is made up of the com-
mon and ordinary horfes, which are fold at a low
price, while thofe of the firft and fecond clafs (among
the latter of which fomc are to be found equal to thofc
of the firft) command exceflive fums of money, when
fought in purchafe.

horfe which he bought of hhn, and he affirmed to be Monaki Shaduhi *}
but he was not fatisfied with this, but defired the teftimony of the
Arabs, who bred the horfc, and knew how he came to Sheikh Morad,
wliereupon there appeared certain Arabs of repute, whofe names are
undermentioned ; who teftified and declared, that the grey horfe which
the conful formerly bought of Sheikh Morad, is Monaki Shaduki,
of the pure race of horfes, purer than milk -j; and that the begin-
ning of the affair was, that Sheikh Saleh, Sheikh of Alfabal, bought
him of the Arabs, of the tribe of al Mohammadat, and Sheikh Saleh
fold him to Sheikh Morad Ebn al Hajj Abdullah, Sheikh of Safad,
and Sheikh Morad fold him to the conful aforefaid ; when thefe mat-
ters appeared to us, and the contents were known, the faid gentle-
man defired a certificate thereof, and teftimony of the witnefles ;
whereupon we wrote him this certificate, for him to keep as a proof
thereof. Dated Friday, 28 of the latter Rabi, in the year 1 135 :]:.

WitnelTes. Sheikh Jumat al Falibau of the Arabs

of al Mohammadat.
Ali Ebn Taleb al Kaabi.
Ibrahim, his brother.
Mohammed al Adhra Sheikh Alfarifat,
Khamis al Kaabi.

* Thefe are the- names of the two breeds of Arab horfes, which are' reckoned
pure and true ;' and thofe which are of both thefe breeds by father and motlier are
tbc moft noble and free from baftardy.

.f A proverbial exprefTion. f /. ^. 29 January, 1722.

It

OF HORSEMANSHIP. up

It is a rule with the Arabs never to let a capital mare
be covered but by a ftallion of equal quality. Each
breeder acquires a perfe6t knowledge of their own and
neighbours horfes, and of each particular relative to
them ; as their names, mark, colour, exploits, and
age. When an Arab has not an approved ftallion
of his own, he hires one for a certain fum of his
neighbours ; Jfitnejfes are called to be prefent at the
confummation, who give a folemn certificate of the
performance, figned and fealed in the prefence of the
Emir, or fome other magiftrate. hi the inflrument of
atteftation, the names of the horfe and mare are men-
tioned, and their pedigrees fet forth. When the mare
drops her foal, witnefles are called again, who fign a
frefli certificate, touching the birth of the foal, in
which they defcribe each particular, and record the
day of the birth. Thefe vouchers fiamp a great value
upon the animal, and, like the deeds of an eftate, are
given with if, when fold, or otherwife called in
queftion.

The loweft-priced mares of the firft clafs, are worth
five hundred French crowns ; many of them will bring
a thoufand, and fome even four, five, or fix thoufand
livres. As the Arabs have no houfes, but live in tents,
thefe tents ferve at the fame time for ftables for their
horfes, and homes for themfelves. Mares, foals, the
mafter, and his wife and children, lay together pell-
mell, and receive the flielter of the fame roof ; which

Et peats et dominum communi cJanderet umbm. Juv.

In

120 THE HISTORY AND ART

In the fame cavern, undiftinguifli'd, fleeps
The humble owner, and the flocks he keeps.

The young children will lay upon the neck, fide,
or crawl between the legs of the mare and foal, with-
out receiving the leafl hurt ; and it is even aflcrted, that
thefe animals are cautious how they move, left they
fhould incommode thefe little ones, by whom they
will permit every playful liberty to be taken. Their
matters treat them with the ntmoft fondnefs, and per-
feift good will and harmony fublifls between them ;
they are extremely nice in the care of them, and en-
deavour to engage them to perform what they require
by the gentleft means, feldom chufing to urge them
beyond the walk, which is their ufual pace ; but if
they have occafion to give the fpur, the animal no
fooner feels its fide touched by the toe of the Stirrup,
which is pointed and fliarp, fo as to anfwer the in-
tention of a fpur, but it fprings forward at once with
incredible force, runs with amazing rapidity, and leaps
over whatever obftruds its way, with the lightnefs and
vigour of a Hag ; yet is fo gentle and attentive to the
rider, and fo well taught, that if he fliould happen to
fall, it will {lop at once, tho' running at the top of its
fpeed. The Arabian horfes generally are of a middling
fize, neat and clean in their fliape and limbs, and of a
thin and llender figure. Their keepers feed and curry
them morning and night with great exacflnefs, never
fuffering the lead ftain to remain upon them, frequently

wafliing

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 121

wafliing their legs, manes, and tails, which latter ihey
encourage to flow at full length, and comb but feldom,
for fear of breaking or pulling out the hairs. They
never feed them in the day, but allow them to drink
two or three times, referving their meal till fun-fet,
when they difpenfe to each horfe about half a buflicl
of barley, well fifted and cleaned, and put in a fack,
which they tie upon their heads, where they leave it
till morning, that they may take due time to eat their
allowance. About March, when the grafs is ftrong and
plentiful, they foil them, and devote this feafon like-
wife to the work of procreation ; obferving always to
throw cold water upon the mare, the moment the Hal-
lion defcends from her back. This cuftom is obferved
by us, and other European nations, being probably
borrowed of the Ai'abians, as well as that of keeping
the pedigrees, and recording, the vidories of our race-
horfes. When the fpringis paft, the horfes are taken
from the paftures, and kept for the rell of the year
without grafs or hay, and folely upon barley, with a
certain portion of ftraw. When the colts are about
a year and fix months old, the Arabs fheer the hair
of their tails, to make them grow thicker and
ftronger.

They begin to ride the colts at the age of two years,
or two and an half at moft, rigidly obferving never to
touch them before this period, and always keeping
thofe horfes which they ride, faddled and bridled, and
waiting at the doors of their tents the whole day.

Vol. I. R The

122 THE HISTORY AND ART

The mod ancient and nobleft breeds of this country,
are faid to be fprung from the wild horfes of the De-
fcrt, of which, many ages ago, a ftud was compofed,
which increafed the breed, and peopled Afia and
Africa with thefe noble animals. Thefe horfes are fo
fleet as to outrun the OJirich, and the Arabs of the De-
fert, as well as the people of Libya, rear a great number,
and devore them folely to the chace, never ufing them
in combat, or upon journeys, feeding them with grafs,
and when that fails fupporting them with dates and
camels milk, which contributes to make them adlive-
and vigorous, without inclining them to grow fat.

From thefe accounts it is to be concluded, that the
Arabian horfes are, and have been, from all time, efleemed
to be the firll and beft of their kind ; and that it is ori-
ginally from them, that the noblefl. breeds of Europe,
Afia, and Africa proceed, being immediately or re-
motely defcended from Barhs^ defccnded from Arabi-
ans, whofe climate is, perhaps, the moft favourable
and beft adapted to the nature of horfes of any hitherto
known, iince, without going elfcwhere, in fearch of
horfes to crofs and mend their breed, the Arabians keep
it religioully pure from all foreign mixture, and truft
folely to their own ftock, which affords them a finer,
and more generous race, than they could procure by
any alliances with other horfes. So that if the climate
fliould not in itfelf be the moft friendly and congenial,
of all others to the nature of horfes, yet the inhabitants
feem to make it fo, by their nice and judicious care,.

and,

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 123

and by never permitting an horfe or mare to come to-
gether, unlefs of equal rank, beauty, and merit. By
this exacStnefs, fcrupuloufly obferved for ages, they
have raifed and refined the fpecies, and led it up to a
pitch of perfection, beyond what mere nature perhaps
could have attained, though affifted by the advantages
of a better country. With refpetT: to the climate, it is a
certain truih, that thofe agree befl with horfes which
are rather hot than cold ; and above all a dry foil is
necelTary : that in general middle-fized horfes are to
be preferred ; that care and proper management will
conduce as much almoft to their well being as food ;
that mildnefs, patience, and kind treatment, will in-
fluence their temper, gain their confent and obedience,
more efFedlually than feverity and force ; that horfes
of warm climates have their bones, hoofs, and mufcles
more compact: and firm than thofe born in colder re-
gions ; and that although warmth is more pleafing to
their conftitutions than cold, yet the extreme of either
is hurtful ; and laftly, that their Manners, charaders,
and other qualities, almoft entirely depend upon the
-climate, the properties of food, their treatment, and
education.

I will conclude this narrative with a defcription of
their manner of riding at this day. The account is
taken from a traveller, who vifited the tents of thefe
Bedouin Arabs in the year 1749, ^^^ was an eye-witnefs
of what he relates.

R 2 "It

124 THE HISTORY AND ART

" It is well known (fays he) that the chief article
*' of property in Arabia confifls in horfes, which are
" the fined and beft of their kind. Their owners ma-
*' nage them in their way very dexterouHy. Their fad-
" dies have the back part, or Cantle, fo high, that it
" reaches more than half way up the rider's back.
' The ftirrnps are flat, in the Turkifli manner, and
'* contain the whole foot. They never ufe a girth,
" which makes it more difficult to mount, and keep
" their feat. Th€ Arabian youth underftand the equi^
*' libre, and keep their body in a jufl: coimterpoife,
" being fo dextrous, that they will fland on the faddle
" while the horfe runs at full fpeed, fling their lances,
'* turn round, throw themfelves over, and fland
" upon their heads ; the horfe continuing his career
" all the time *."

The reader will remember^ that thefe performances
are related by many writers to have been inufc among
the Romans ; and the prefent times afibrd, in this
kingdom, many inftances of thefe extraordinary feats
of agility ; which, though wonderful and imufual^
are not equal to what the Rope-dancers conftantly exhibit
in their public fhews, and which can by no means be
allowed to pafs for horfemanfliip ; which depends upon
the exat^lnefs, readinefs, and fidelity with which the
horfe obeys the diredions of his rider, who is re-
quired to give them according to the known rules of

* Haflelquift..

the

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 125

the Art, and the capacity of the horfe to execute them.
While thefe feats, are only a difplay of the a(flivity and
fupplenefs of the man, without any attention to the
horfe, beyond the ordinary method of riding.

The Arabian breed is propagated in Barbary, among
the Moors, and even among the negroes, on the banks
oi Gambia and Senegal, where fome horfes of beauty and
merit are fometimes to be found in the pofleffion of the
princes and chiefs of thefe people. Inftead of barley
and oats they are fed with Indian corn, bruifed, or
ground into flour, and mixed with milk : this nou-
rifhes them, and makes them fat : and although the
country is feverely hot, they are permitted to drink
but fparingly, Arabia has peopled not only Egypt and
T'urkey, but, as it is thought, Perfia alfo with horfes,.
which formerly boafted a very generous and admired
breed of its own. Marcus Paulas fpeaks of a ftud which
could count feveral thoufand white mares ; and fays,
that in the province of Balafcia, were great numbers of
large and acfkive horfes, whofe feet were fo good, and
- their hoofs fo tough and firm, that fhoes were ufelefs
and curaberfome.

The Egyptian horfes are little known in Europe, but
the country is certainly capable of producing a noble
and ferviceable breed, equal to thofe it boafted in
former days. It is faid by fome late travellers (whofe
judgment, neverthelefs, as horfemen, cannot be re-
lied on) that its horfes are fuperior to thofe of all the

ncigli-

1 26 THE HISTORY AND ART

neighbonrlng countries ; and Dr. Shaw * afferts, that
they are preferable to thofc of Barbary, both in good-
nefs, beauty, and fize, being indebted for the 1 aft to the
fruitfuhiefs of the foil, which affords great nourifh-
ment, and for tlie former to the Arabian blood which
flows in their veins. This country is faid to have two
diftincfl breeds, one of its own, the other Arabian.
This latter fort are fo highly valued, that numbers are
purchafed to be fent to Conftantinople ; but the defpo-
tifm of the government is fuch, that the breeders are
afraid and difcouraged from raifmg a noble race, as
they are certain almoft of having them taken from them
without any price paid, or fatisfadion given ; fo that
the owners of fine horfes, will frequently lame or ble-
mifli them, that the Beys may not like them, and take
them away by force f.

Mibiopia has fo little intcrcourfe with the reft of the
world, that much concerning it cannot be known. Some
writers, however aflert, that it originally gave Arabia
the fine breed of horfes which it fo long has boafted.
Others think that ^Ethiopia owes its race of horfes to
Arabia. The horfes are generally reported to be ftrong,
nimble, and mettlefome, and (like the MenJ black. They
are kept facred from common and ignoble labours, not
fuffered to travel long and fatiguing journeys, but re-
ferved for the nobler tafks of battle, or the courfe, the
ordinary work being performed by mules. They wear

* Shaw's Travels, chap. ii.
-|- Vid. Maillet and Pococke.

4 no

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 127

no flioes ; upon which account, when they go through
uneven and rough places, the riders difmount, get
upon mules, and lead their horfes in hand, that,
by having no burden to carry, they may tread the
lighter *.

The Barbary horfes are to be found in mofl countries
of Europe. Their Foreheads are generally long, flender,
and ill-furnifbed with mane, but riling diftindly and
boldly out of their fVitbers. Their Heads, lean, fmall,
and what the French called moiitonne, or refembling that
of a Iheep. The Ears handforac, and well-placed ;
the Shoulders light, floping backward, and flat. Their
Withers fine, and Handing high ; Loins fliort and flrait ;
Flanks and Ribs round and full, without having too
large a Barrel ; their Haunches flrong and elaftic ; the
Croupe oftentimes fomewhat too long ; the Tail placed
high ; Thighs well-turned and rounded j Legs clean,
well made, and thin of hair ; the finews detached
from the bone, but the Pajlern generally too long and
bending. The foot good and found.

There are of all colours, but the moft common is
grey. They are generally cold, and flow in their
paces, requiring to be rouzed and animated by the
rider ; when they will difcover a great fund of vigour,
wind, and fpeed. They are very light and nimble,
formed to excel in running, and are generally more
valued in their offspring, than for their own perfonal

* L.LudolphHift. ^chiop..

merit::

1-8 THE HISTORY AND ART

merit ; being thought, when tranfported into foreign
countries, to get colts which excel their fires in good-
nefs : for this reafon they are valuable in fluds, cfpc-
cially if they are of the larger growth, the greater
part being but of a middling fize. The jilgerines * are
faid not to like to caftrate their horfes, but only fqueeze
their teflicles when they are about three months old,
which renders them incapable of propagation.
* It is thought that the horfes of the kingdom of Mo-
rocco are the beft, and next to them a breed called the
Mnuitain barbs. The horfes of thefe climates, as well
as of all hot countries, have always fliort and fleek
coats, with foft and fraooth hair. The peculiar merit
of the Barbs confifts in their being very fure-footed,
and of tempers moil amiably gentle, as well as very
docile and attentive. Their walk is free and bold,
their gallop very rapid, thefe being the only paces
they know ; for they are never taught to amble, nor
permitted to trot, their owners looking upon thefe
paces as vulgar and ignoble.

The horfes throughout the Levant have their hoofs
very hard, as well as thofe of Perfia and Jrabia, whofc
horfes are all fliod, but ought to have light and thin

fhoes.

T'urkey, Jrabia, and Perjia all follow the fame rules
in dreffing, feeding, and treating their horfes. They
expofe their dung in the fun, and when it is fo dried
as to become a fine and foft powder, they fpread it

* Shaw's Travels, chap. 2.

under

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 129

under them inftead of litter, continuing to dry it, as
often as it is infefted by the addition of frefli dung
falling from the animal.

This dryed dung has the effecfl upon the fkin, which
powder has upon human hair, and gives it a moll
beautiful glofs and luflre.

Turkey polTefTes a great variety of horfes. Arabians^
Tartars, Greek, Hungarian, and others, befides their own
natural breeds. The laft arc handfome, and elegantly
fliaped, have a great deal of fpirir, are fwift, and have
many agreeable qualities, but are too tender and deli-
cate. They are unequal to fatigue, have weak appe-
tites, and are foon agitated and diftrefTed. Their fkins
are foft, and fo quick of feeling, that they cannot bear
the curry-comb, for which reafon their keepers ufe
only the brufli, and wafli them : though beautiful,
and of a llriking figure, they are very inferiour to the
Arabian horfes, nor to be compared with the Perlian,
which, after the Arabian, are the fineft and bell horfes
of all the Eall. Nor are they fo well proportioned as
the Barbs, their necks being ufually weak, and too
llender, their carcafes long, and their legs too delicate
and fmall : they neverthelefs are capable of much la-
bour, and furniflied with unfailing wind. Nor ought
we to be furprifed at this account, for it is a truth,
that in all hot climates, the bones of animals are more
folid and clofe than in colder lituations ; and this is the
caufe that the Ihank-bone of horfes born in warm cli-
mats, is of a lefs diameter than thofe of horfes of

Vol. I. S the

I30 THE HISTORY AND ART

the fame fize, born under a colder Jky, while they
are in proportion flronger, and capable of greater tt-
fiftance.

The Turks ride with their llirrups fo Ihort, that
their knees are almoft as much bent, as when they fit
upon their hams upon a fopha. Their faddles are as
large and unweildy as a pack-faddle ; they faften and
fecure them upon the hcrfe by a large girth, which
paffes over them, and prevents the faddles from turning,
which their great weight would otherwife make them
do. The bridles are generally gilt and ornamented, but
otherwife very clumfy and ill made.

The Turks feldom ufe Spiirs, or carry a whip or
fwitch, neverthelefs they have an abfolute command
over their horfes, and make them do whatever they
pleafe. In riding, they ufe only a (lick of about three
feet in length, and as big as a large cane ; this they hold
by the middle, and ftrike the horfe with it on his neck
with either end, to direct: and compel him to turn j
making them run at full fpeed, and laying them out
fo rapidly, as almoft to make their bellies touch the
ground, the riders, at the fame time, flriking their darts
into a turban, or tofling them in the air, riding after, and
catching them before they fall to the ground. Others,
efpecially the ^rabs belonging to the Sultan, will leap
from one horfe on another, running at their utmoft
fpeed, others will creep under the belly, and up to the
faddle again, others will turn two or three times round
the horfe's neck, and others will ftand upright upon

6 the

OF HORSEMANSHIP. i-i

J

the faddle, and turn their faces to the tail, the horfes
all the time going at their utmofl flretch *.

After the Arabian, the Ferfian horfes are the niofl
meritorious throughout the Eaft. The plains of Perfc-
polis, Media, Ardebil, and Derbent, raife annually a pro-
digious number, which are excellent in mod particu-
lars ; but thofe bred in Kurdi/lan (a province) are reck-
oned the beft, both in beauty and flrength f . The fa-
mous travel lerP/V^ro della Falle, prefers the common horfes
of Perfia to thofe of Italy, and even to the moft ad-
mired of the kingdom of Naples.

The Perfian horfes are generally of a middling iize j
there are fome which are fmall, but not lefs valuable
for vigour and goodnefs. Some alfo are bred of large
growth, and as big as our faddle horfes. They are in
general fmall-headed, have fine and long fore-hands,
are n arrow- chefted, their ears well-turned, and well
fet on, legs rather fmall and delicate, croups well
fafhioned, and their hoofs good and firm. They are
docile, quick, light, bold, full of fpirit, and capable of
enduring great fatigue ; very fwift, fure-footed, and
of fuch refolution as to perfevere to the laft gafp ;
hardy in their conftitution, and eafily nouriflied and
maintained. Their food is barley, mixed with cut
flraw, which they eat in a bag, tied upon their heads ;
in the fpring they are turned to grafs for fix weeks.

* Dumont's Voyage. f Bell's Travels.

S z They

132 THE HISTORY AND ART

They wear their tails at full length, and are never
gelt ; are covered with cloths, and cleaned with tlie
niceft attention \ are managed with a fnaiEe, and ig-
norant of the fpur, the Perfians ufing none. Great
numbers of them are fent into Turkey and India. In
fpite, however, of thefe commendations fo lavifhly*
yet defervedly beflowed, all travellers agree in giving
the preference to the Arabian horfes, which are prized
even by the Perfians to the horfes of their own
country.

Thefe latter are apt to carry their nofes fo high, as
to flrike the rider's face with their heads, unlefs he is
much upon his guard to prevent it : for this purpofe,
they are generally rode with a martingale. The horn
of their hoofs is much better than of the European
horfes, either becaufe the climate is more favourable,
or becaufe the Perfians do not injure and deftroy their
feet by an injudicious method, or too frequent a prac-
tice of fhoeing them. A Perfian will make no diffi-
culty to tack on the firft Ihoe he finds, and adjuft it to
the foot, which is generally fo flrong and found, that
the nails may be drove in any part of it. The flioes
are light, flat, and made to fit exaftly even, without
cramps, or being turned up ; but when the ground is
hard and fmooth, the horfe is apt to flip, as well as
when it is foft and moift. It is a cuftom with fome m
mix fait with the barley, with which they feed their
horfes, to corre»5t the ranknefs of their dung, and

make

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 133

make it lefs offenlive when it is dried, and ftrewed for
litter under them.

They drefs and clean their fkins with a fort of Curry-
comb, which has no handle, and but four Graters, or
T'eeth: after having curried them, they clofe and
fmooth the hair, by rubbing it with a piece of felt.

The Perfians have great perfonal addrefs and acti-
vity on horfeback. They play at Mall mounted on their
horfes, and llrike the ball with certainty and furprifing '
fkill. They place alfo upon the top of a tree, or high
pole, an apple, as a mark to fhoot at with arrows.
They fet oiF full fpeed, and when they are got beyond
the mark, turn themfelves round towards the croupe,
draw their bows, and in this pace, and this attitude,
feldom fail to hit the apple.

The India}i breed of horfes is in no degree good or
agreeable. The chief people of the country, for this
reafon, ride thofe which come from Perjia or Arabia.

Their keepers give them a little hay in the day time,
and at night feed them with peas boiled with fugar
and butter. This diet is the chief nourifliment they
have, and it keeps up their ftrength to a certain de-
gree, for without it they would decay and perifh ; the
climate being unfriendly, and ill adapted to the na-
ture of horfes. They fometimes alfo give them Tarns.

The breed of the country is very fmall, and it is
probable that thofe climates in which the heat is ex-
cellive, are very ill-fuited to the conftitution of the
liorfe ; for thofe which are found upon the Gold

Coaft>.

134 THE HISTORY AND ART

Coail, Judda and Guinea, are as worthlefs and contempt-
ible as the Indian race. They carry their necks and
heads fo low, that they alraoft touch the ground ; and
are fo weak and tottering in their paces, that they feeni
as if they would fall every moment, and fo fluggifh, that
without beating they will not ftir at all, and with this
very Hubborn and indocile: fo that they are fit for no.
thing but to ferve for Food for the negroes, who relifh
mightily the flavour of their flefh, and have this tafte
in common with Arabs, T'artars, and Ch'mefe.

The people of this day, according to an elegant, ac-
curate, and judicious writer *, feed their horfes in the
rice fields, and when flefh is plenty, they boil the ofFal
to rags, and mixing it with butter, and fome forts of
grain, make balls, which they thruft down the horfes
throats. In afcarcity of provifion they give \h.^m.Op'mm,
which has the fame effect both on horfes and men,
for at once it damps their appetites, and enables them to
endure fatigue. The horfes of the country are natu-
rally fo exceedingly vicious, that they are not to be
broken and tamed, and cannot be brought to a(5l in
the field, with the fame regularity as a fquadron of
European cavalry. The Perfian horfes being more
gentle and tra<51:able, are often valued at a thoufand
guineas each, while thofe of India fell for fifty or one
hundred.

* Cambridge's introdudion to his Account of the War in India.

An

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 13^

An * Italian traveller and writer fpeaks of having
feen between Balfora and Bagdat, a lingular breed of
green horfes, with yellow eyes. I am no voucher for the
truth of this account, but at the fame time dare not
venture to prefcribe any bounds to the variety in which
nature is known to delight ; as to the green colour it is
certainly unknown among horfes ; and fo were, at fome
time or other, and in diiFerent countries, many other
colours, which are now familiar; and as to iho: yellow
eyes, they feem to be no more extraordinary, than the
Ferret eyes, by which a breed of cream-coloured horfes,
belonging to his Majelly, and now in the royal ftables,
are peculiarly diftinguifhed.

The horfes of this laft nation ftand in no better
eftimation than thofe of India. They are weak, fpirit-
lefs, and ill-made ; in fome parts of the kingdom
they do not exceed three feet in height. Almoft all of
them are gelt, and are fo daftardly and timid, as to be
unfit for war; fo that it may be faid that this country
was conquered by the Tartar Horfes, which are a race ex-
tremely adapted to war ; and although but of a mode-
rate fize, are ftrong, nervous, proud, full of fpirit,
bold, and adive. They have good feet, but fome what
narrow, their heads are well-fhaped and lean, but too
fmall. The forehand long and ftifF, and their legs
over-long : yet with all thefe imperfections, they muft
be accounted good and ferviceable horfes, being uncon^-

* Viaggi de Gafparo Balbi, p. 31, 1590.

querable

13^ THE HISTORY AND ART

querable by labour, and endowed with prodigious
fpeed. The Tartars live with them almoft in the fame
manner as the Arabs do with their horfes ; when they
attain the age of feven or eight months, they make
their children ride them, who exercife them in fmall
excurfions, and fliort reprifes, dreiling and forming
them by degrees, and early and gentle difcipline ;
but inuring them to undergo (as the Parthians did
before them) hunger, thirfl, and many other hard-
fliips. They never put them to any ferious labour
before the age of fix or feven years, when they re-
quire of them the fcvereft fervices, and compel them
to incredible fatigue, as travelling two or three days
without refting, and paffing four or five with no
more, or better nourifhment, than an handful or two
of grafs, given every eight hours, and an entire day
without quenching their thirft. Thefe horfes, how-
ever, which are fo robuft, and endure fo much in
their native country, lofe their vigour, and decline
when removed into China, or the Indies^ but thrive
very well in 'turkey and Perjia,

They are of a good fize for the faddle, and are Fa~
cers by nature. Their owners, like the ancient Geloni
and Sarmatians, make the animals fupply them with
food, for they eat their flefli at this day, as well as the
Curds, or lac concretum of the mare's milk, mentioned by
many ancient writers *.

■ * Vid. Bell's Travels to Ifpahan.

The

O F H O R S E M A N S li I P.

j/

The Tartars have in all ages been famous, under
different names, for their love of horfcs, and fkill in
riding.

It is a practice with them, fays an author, who
wrote the Hiflory of the Conqueft of China, by this
people (Palafox) to tye the reins of their bridles to
their girdles, and by the motion of their bodies alone
to govern and direct their horfes ; putting them into
different attitudes, and making them perform a va-
riety of evolutions. By this method they have their
hands at liberty to ufe their weapons, which they ma-
nage with moil remarkable flcill, and for which they
have been diflinguiflied in all ages beyond other na-
tions. Some will hold their bows in the fame hand in
which they hold their bridles, and at the fame time
draw the bow, and guide their horfe with great ad-
drefs, always riding with their ilirrups very fliort, in
order to colleifl themfelves better, and be able to rife
up as it were, when they arc going to attack an
enemy, and flrike a blow.

The diilrid called Liit/e Tartary has a breed of fmall
horfes, wliich the inhabitants value fo much, as never
to permit them to pafs into the hands of flrangers.
Thefe horfes poffefs, in a fmall compafs, all the good
and bad qualities which are to be found in their
neighbours of Grand Tartary, and are an inflancc,
that cuftom and education will induce a fimilarity of
manners, and operate almoft as powerfully as nature
herfelf.

Vol. I. T Grc.^J/Ia,

jcsS THE HISTORY AND ART

o

Clrcajfia, Mlngrelia, and the adjacent parts, are flored
with horfcs, which are of a better mould, and jufter
proportions than thofe of Tartary, and confequently
are admired and vakied. The CircafTians are equal to
the greateft fatigue, and celebrated for it.

The breed of horfes in Greece have to a degree fhared
the fate of other valuable benefits, the produdlions of na-
ture, and the w^orks of art and induftry, which were for-
merly the portion of that once flourifliing and diftin-
guiflied country. All cruflied and extinguillied by the
oppreflion, violence, and ignorance of its favage con-
querors, the Greek horfes make no confiderable figure
in the modern catalogue, nor are the breeds much
cultivated ; it is faid, however, that there Hill are fomc,
particularly in 'Thejjaly, which belong to the Grand Sig-
ner. Some of the iflands in the Archipelago are fur-
nifhed with good and valuable horfes, efpecially CretCt
but none of eminence fufficient to make them prized
by other nations, or entitle them to particular notice.

The nations of Afia and Africa, except the Cbinefe,
never geld their horfes. Some kingdoms of Europe
likewife have not yet adopted the pravStice. Cajiration
deprives the animal of a confiderable partof his flrength^
fpirit, and courage, robs him, in fatft, of his very
Soul, and leaves him a mutilated, daftardly, and unna-
tural creature ; but, at the fame time, makes him
mild, patient, more obedient, and confequently fitter
for many purpofes, and more agreeable to many
riders.

RvJ/la.

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 139

Rv[fia is not unfurnifhed with liorfes, but has never
yet been able to raifc a bi'ced that has been much re-
garded by other nations ; the country, as the Duke of
Newcaftle fays, being lefs adapted to breed horfes,
than to nourifh Bean^ of which animals it can boaft
very noble and capital races. This empire, how-
ever, and all its various dependent dates, is fo altered
and improved, fmce this great horfeman wrote, that
it feems at prefent to be entitled to a better chara6ler,
and' more confideration than he bellowed upon it.

The Ruffian horfes are fmall, but hardy, and able to
endure great fatigue, without fufl'ering much in their
fpirit, ftrength, or conflitution. In thofe places where
the foil is richer, and herbage more abundant, the
breed is larger, and of a llouter mould. The fovereign
and many of the nobility have Studs in various parts of
the country. There is an imperial one upon the river
Riiduia^ deftined to fupply the guards with horfes,
formed to contain four hundred mares and abovit fifty
horfes. The flallions are Danijlj horfes, and fomctimcs
Turks. The former are purchafed at a large price, ge-
nerally coiling eight hundred Rubels each, or one hun-
dred and fixty pounds fterling. Thofe of the Turkilh
breed are handfome, and finely fhapcd, but too flight
and weak for heavy cavalry.

The Kalmuck horfes are fomewhat higher than the
Ruffian common horfes, and fo tough and flrong in
their conflitution, as to be able to run three or four
hundred Englifh miles in three days. They fubfifl

T 2 fummer

I40 THE HISTORY AND ART

fummer and winter folcly upon grafs in the great de-
farcs, which arc between the rivers Don, Folga, and
7~aik. In winter time they fcrape away the fnow with
their feet, and eat the dead grafs which is under it, and
the tops of young trees and flirubs. Tliey recover very
foon in fummer the damage they fuftaincd from the
rigours of the wintry feafon.. After Midfummer the
grafs becomes very dry and hard, when they retura
to the great meadows, which are on the banks of the
Volga, and other rivers. They go in great herds, of
four or five hundred, and even a thoufand horfe. Such
an herd is called in the Ruffian, and all the Tartarian
and Kalmuck languages, T'aboon. They are excellent
fwimmers, and pafs the river Volga, which is from one
to two miles in breadth, with great eafe ; fo that when
a Ruffian has bought one of them, and brings it on
this fide the river, didant an hundred miles (Englifh)
from the place where its firil raafter, the Kalmuck, lived,,
the horfe will pafs the river, and find its way to the
Taboon. They are fo cheap, as to be bought at firfl
for one Rnbel, or four fliillings flerling each horfe.
They are feldora put to draw carriages, but devoted
chiefly to the faddle. They are brought with difficulty
to eat barley, oats, or any kind of grain, preferring
to them grafs, either frefli, or dry and withered.

The Nogay horfes are a breed belonging to the Tar-
tars, which are of the Nogay tribe, and are fubjeds to
the Kalmuck Rban, but different from thofe Nogayan Tar-
tars, who are a part of the fubjeifls of the Tartar Khan

of

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 141

the Crlm, anci live between Bender and Otcha Kof, about
the Dniejier, and are called Tedfan, or Tedifan, in the Tar-
tarian language, wliich word fignilies leven thoufand
becaufc originally this horde amounted to that number.

The Nogay Tartars in Ruffia live between the Don,
rolga, and Talk, among the Kalmucks, having their
paftures afligned, as well as the Kalmucks, by the
Khan. They remove northwards during the fumraer ;
about Michaelmas they repafs the ro/ga, and live to the
fouih towards the river Ruban, and Tcherhjps. Thefe
horfes are extremely hardy, and live in the fame man-
ner as the horfes of the Kalmuck, but are (\ronQ;er,
higher, and trained to draw carriages : they are fold
to the Ruflians from ten to fifteen RiibeJs each.

The Turcomans, a free nation, living between tlie
CafpianSea, and the lake Jral, have horfes of the fame
nature as thofc of the Ncgay Tartars.

The Biffokirs are a nation fubjecft to the Ruflians, and
have a race of horfes ftouter and better than the
Nogr.y horfe, and accounted mofl excellent Amblers.

The better fort of thefe horfes will fell for fifty,
fixty, or feventy Riibels each, in proportion as their Am-
ble is efteemed. The common breed are bought at
twenty or thirty Riibels each, and deftined to mount tlic
dragoons in the Ruflian fervice. Many private Bajljkirs
keep Taboons- of three or four hundred mares. They go
fummer and winter in the fields, few horfes, which
are employed in the winter, to draw fledges, being
houfed, or fed with hay.

The

142 THE HISTORY AND ART

The Kirghin Rhaijjaks arc a nation divided into three
Hordas, the great, middle, and little Horda. They are
reckoned, in fome degree, to be fubje(5t to the R.uffian
government, but pay no tribute, and may rather pafs
for a free and independent nation, living under ful-
tans, whom they themfelves ele6t. They have great
T^aboons of horfes, of the fame breed as thofe of the Brjh-
kirs : in fumraer the horfes are fed in the great defart,
bordering on the river Talk. In winter the T'aboons re-
move to fandy places, where the fnow never is fo deep
as on the reft of the defart. Some drive their Taboons
near the lake Jral, and the river Sir-Doria, where large
tracts of ground are covered with reeds, on which the
horfes brouze, and are nouriflied. The horfes of this
people are lighter, and more {lately than thofe of the
B-iPokirs. They ferve to mount the Ruffian cavalry. A
fair is held annually near Orenburgh, and the fortrefs of
TroitJJjoy, where many thoufands of thefe horfes are fold
to the Ruffians, or bartered againil other merchandizes.
Thefe horfes never eat hay ; they are ufed and fami-
liarized to the firing of guns, which the Khghin-RaiJJ'acks
employ in hunting and war ; many of thefe horfes
are as good Amblers as the Bq/bkirian horfes.

The T'cherkfijps are a nation which live in the Caucafus,
near the fources of the river Ruban and Terek, the
former of which falls into the fea of Azof, and the
latter into the Cafpian fea. Thefe people were formerly
fubjecls of the Crim Tartars ; but fince the year 1709,
. have been a free and independent people. Their horfes

4 are

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 143

are about the fize of the Kalmuck horfe, ill-made, with-
out elegance or proportion, and ewe-necked for the
mod part, but of fuch ftrong and hardy natures, as to
be able to run five or fix hundred Engliili miles in
three days.

The Step, or w^ild horfi^, is an horfe of the defart :
there are three different kinds of thefe wild horfcs.
The horfes of the defart about Azof, live between
the Pahs Maotis and the Dou. They owe their origin
to the fiegc oiAzof, in the year 1697, when the great
army being obliged to employ a prodigious number of
horfes to bring ammunition and food, were compelled
to fufFer their horfes to go deep into the defart, in or-
der to fubfiH them ; the animals availed themfclves of
this permifilon, flrayed to great diftances, became
wild, and created a new breed. They are generally of
one uniform colour, inclining to red, the hair of their
fkins being curled, and waved like a lamb-fkin ; but
when they grow old, it changes to a moufe-grey, their
manes and tails being black, and having a black lift
along their backs. They live in great Taboovs. The
ftone- horfes keep watch round about, and give a fignal
by neighing of the approach of man, or any object:
that alarms them ; upon which, the whole troop, with
inconceivable fpeed, run deeper into the defart. During
the winter, the Kofjacks of Bachmont, and other Donijfo
KoJJacks drive them into deep valleys, full of fnow, and
catch them with a noofe. The greateft part of them
they kill, with a fpear, the younger are kept for ufe,

and:

144 THE HISTORY AND ART

and being coupled to a tame horfe by an baker, for
months together, grow gentle and obedient ; and arc
thus trained for draught, and are found to be infi-
nitely ftronger than a common horfe. The Khabmicks
fometimes hunt thefc horfes as their food, and ufe
their fkins for cloaths in winter.

The Tarpms are a kind of \yild-horfes, in the defart,
ead of the river IVik. They are of a middling fizc,
roundiih, (liorr, generally of a blueifli-grey colour,
with big heads, and ewe-necked. They are taken
v/ith a noofe, and broken to the faddle, by being
coupled to a tame horfe.

The Roolans, or Turchans, are another kind of wild-
horfcs, in the great defart. They are higher than the
T'arpans, nioufc-grey in colour, with long upright-
ftanding ears, their manes and tails thinner and
fliorter than the common breed, their coats long and
thick. They feed by thoufands together in one Taboon.
The Kirghii Rhaijfaks flioot them with guns, and cat
them.

All kinds of horfes are eaten by the Tartars and
Khalmucks. A foal is reputed a great dainty. Mares
milk is likewife a frequent drink, which, when kept
and fermented, becomes' intoxicating, once diflilled,
it is called Roomyfs, twice, Arekha, and is very ftrong
and inebriating. The TchcrejmJJ'es and Tcheiiuajfes, pagan
nations, near the foJga, in the government of Ragaij,
ufe the horfe in their facrifices, and chiefly white ones,
pfpecially in their great annual folemnities in autumn;

of

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 14^

of which none can partake, unleis he firft has bathed,
and put on a clean Hiin.

The Kalmuck horfes are never Ihod, nor does it appear
that fliOes are neceflary, the cUmate being very dry,
and the ground generally firm and hard -, the hoof
likewife is fo folid and indurated, that nothing can
hurt it. As the Kalmucks never ufe flioes, who are
next in fltuation and connexion with the Ruffians,
neither do the more bai'barous and remote nations ;
inafmuch as that they would have received the pradlice
from the Kalmucks, as the Kalmucks from the RiiJ/ians.

Ail thefe people, as well as the Turks, and other
Eaftern nations, have folid Horfe-Jhoes, which cover the
whole fole of the foot, and not the margin only, like
the European flioes : the Ruffians ufe this fort of flioe
fometimes, but feldom.

The Stirrups of the Tartars, and other Eailern people,
are hung very fhort, and very broad at the bottom
where the foot flands, exactly like the Turkifj flirrup
already defcribed.

The Tartars of the Krlm never undertake an excur-
fion, without allowing three horfes to one rider.
Many ancient nations obfei-ved the fame method ; and
the ancient Gauls had a body of horfe called Trimarkijla^
named thus becaufe each foldier had three horfes at-
tending him, fo that when one was either killed in
battle, or overcome by fatigue, he might immediately
mount another *. , In

* Vid. Gmelin's Voyage to Siberia. Vid. Muller's Hlft. CoL

Ritchkof 's Topograph, of the the Orenburgh Govern. Philofophical

Vol. I. 'U Tranfad.

1^6 THE HISTORY. AND ART

In the empire of RnJJia, it is a law ordained, that
no horfe (hall carry above fifteen 'Bud, each of forty
pounds weight, KuJJian weight, in fummer, and in
winter, during the fnow, and ufe of fledges, above
twenty-five or thirty Viid ; by this rule we are fome-
what enabled to judge of the ftrength of the horfes,
and of the difference of the roads in fummer and
winter.

The VoTijh horfes are very hardy, flrong, and ufeful,
but have not many agreeable or dillinguifhed qualities.
They are generally of a middling fize ; thofe of Lithu-
ania are ftill fmaller, but have their merit for the pur-
pofes of eafy riding, many of them going the Amble^
which pace is much approved by the Poles, Rujians^
Tartars, and other Eaftern nations.

Some other adjacent tracts or regions are furniflied
likewife with horfes, which are too inconfiderable to
deferve a particular defcription ; or, to fpeak more pro-
perly, may be comprehended under thofe of the horfes
already mentioned. The Poles are reported to ufe no
flioes for their horfes *.

In the marfhy parts of FruJ/ta, in the IVerders, or Low
Countries, towards the mouth of the Vijlula, are a breed
of good, tall, ftrong horfes, refembling the Friejland
horfes, but not equal to them in conftitution and per-

^ Tranfaft. 1766, — 67. — Specimen Hilt. Naturalis Volgenfxs, auftorc
J. R. Forfter, who fince has mod obligingly communicated many
particulars from his own obfervations.

* Vid. Voyage to Siberia, par Auteroche.

feverance

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 147

feverance in labour, having generally bad feet, and
feldora being well-fliaped and handfome. The Ruffians
and Pruffians buy large numbers of them for their ca-
valry, at the price of about eighty rixdollars each
horfe, which is about eleven pounds fterling. The
King of Pruffia has fome ftuds near T'ilfet, furnilhed
with foreign ftallions, valuable, and well chofen from
the beft breeds of Naples, Denmark, Spain, and Turkey.
Many of the FriiJJian noblemen have likewife ftuds upon
the fame plan as thofe eftablifhed by the King. The
breed are commonly graceful and well-moulded, but
are thought to fail in point of llrength, nor to have
that fire and fpirit which are fuch neceflary ingredients
in the compofition of a fine horfe.

The horfes of Sweden, from the barrennefs, and ex-
treme coldnefs of the climate, are low, and fmall :
the Norway breed come under the fame defcription, and
are nervous, adlive, and hardy,

Pontoppidan, in his natural hiftory of this country,
fays, that in the year 1302, a man, whofe name was
HuJeickfon, was the firft who gave his horfes oats in this
country ; whence he had the nick-name of Horfe-Corn.

^od in Korvegia primus equos avena paverit.

The horfes here are not fubjeft to fo many difeafes as
in mod other countries, and in particular the Staggers.

It is not ufual to geld them, as in many other places,
for which reafon they are full of ftrength and fpirit,
and preferable to geldings.

U 2 The

14S THE HISTORY AND ART

The Norway horfes arc better for riding, than
draught ; their walk is cafy, they are quick, active,
full of courage, and very fure-footed ; fo as to be
able to go in the bad roads of this kingdom, where
the fine Danifli horfes would be fo embarralTed as to
endanger their own, and their rider's fafety. When
they go down a fteep cliff on ftones laying like Heps,
they firfl tread gently with one foot, to try if the ftone
they touch is faft ; and in doing this, they muft be
left to their own difcretion, or the beft rider would
run the rifque of his neck : when they are to go down
a very fteep and flippery place, they draw their hinder
legs under them in a furprifing manner, and Aide
down. They fliew great courage in fighting with
bears and wolves, which they are often obliged to do,
efpecially with the former ; " for when the horfe per-
ceives any of them near, he attacks his antagonift
with his fore-feet, which he ufes like Drumjlicks, to
ftrike with, and ufually comes off conqueror. Many
people would not believe this, till Stadtholder Uibe,
in the prefence of Frederick IV. made the experiment
with one of his coach-horfes at Frederickjhourgh. The
creature fell upon a bear let loofe againft him, and
foon difpatched his enemy. Sometimes, however, the
bear, which is twice as ftrong, gets the better, efpeci-
ally if the horfe turns about to ftrike with his heels.
If he attempts this, he is ruined, for the bear inftantly
leaps upon him, and fixes himfelf upon his back : in
this cafe the horfe gallops away with his enraged
7 • rider,

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 149

rider, till, by lofs of blood, he drops down, and ex-
pires.

Denmark, and the dukedoms of Ho^Jiein and Oldenburg,
boaft a large variety of horfes, which have fo mucli
vigour, pride, courage, and grace, that for the Coa:J.\
the fervices of JFar, and the Manege, they can be fur-
pafTed by few, although they often fail in elegance of
limb, and fymmetry of parts, having thick Forehands,
Shoulders fomewhat heavy, Backs rather long, and Croups
too narrow to correfpond with the fore-parts, hi fpite,
however, of thefe defecfts, they have fuch generofity of
nature, fuch ftrength and brilliancy, together with
fuch animated and commanding ^fJ?/(3?z, that when they
can be found with the above-named imperfedions cor-
recle4, and more poliflied and juft in their con-
flrudlion, they become as bright an ornament as a fol-
dier or horfeman can wifh to pofTefs ; and for a na-
tural difpofition and capacity to perform the Ifigh airs
of the Manege, fliine diftinguiflied and praifed above
other nations.

In the illands of Fcrroe, fubjecl to the crown of Den-
mark, there is a race of horfes of fmall growth, but
ftrong, fvvift, and furc of foot, going with great eafe
over high hills, and other places with fuch certainty,
that a man may more furely rely upon them, than truft
to his own feet. They never are fliod, and feed abroad
both fummer and winter, without ever coming under
(helter.

In

ISO THE HISTORY Ainx^ nKi

In Suderoe, another of thefe illands, they have a
lighter and fwifter breed than in any of the reft : t he
inhabitants catch their fhcep, which are wild, by hunt-
ing them with a dog. When they intend to take any,
they mount their horfes, knowing how to ride them
up and down hills in full gallop, through moorifh
places, and over rocks and ftones, fo that the horfes
fear nothing when they are in the chace, and when
the place is too difficult for them to ride over it to pur-
fue their game, they leap from their horfes, in the
midft of the courfe, and take their beft advantage
againll the fheep, the horfes running after them, till
they leap upon their backs again. Some of thefe
horfes are fo taught, that the man overtaking the
fheep on horfeback, the horfe will grafp, and hold it
between his fore-feet, till the man takes it up *.

The frozen and ungenial country of Lapland, has
alfo its horfes : they are fmall of ftature, like the men,
but aftive and willing, fomewhat eager and impatient,
but free from vice. They are ufcd only in the winter
feafon, when they are employed in drawing fledges
over the fnow, and tranfporting wood, forage, and
other neceflaries, which, in the fummer, are all con-
veyed in boats. In this feafon the horfes are all turned
into the forefts, where they live with fmgular order
and polity, forming themfelves into diftindl troops,
and keeping within their quarters, where their owners

* Feroce, et Feroa referata. — 1676.

2 arc

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 151

are fure to find them ; all returning of their own ac-
cord, when the feafon changes, and the earth no
longer fupplies them with food. In travelling, they
will frequently take large mouthfuls of fnow, which
melts into water, and mull be meant to quench their
thirft. When their maflers defign to flop them, they
lay hold of their T'aih ; this difcipline they underfland,
and obey implicitly *.

The ^Spaniards ftand very forward in the national lift
of noble horfes, fecond at leaft to the Arabians, and
placed by many, and with fair pretenfions, before the
Barb. Their forehands are long, fomewhat thick, and
cloathed with a full and flowing mane ; the head a
little too coarfe, and fometimes hawk-nofed, ears long,
but well -placed, eyes large, bold, and full of fire :
their carriage lofty, proud, and noble ; Shoulders often-
times thick ; Breaji large ; Loins often a little too low ;
Ribs round ; and the Belly frequently too full and fwell-
ing ; the Croup round and full ; the Legs well formed,
and clear of hair ; the Sinew at a diftance from the
bone ; the Pajiern joint frequently too long, and weak,
like that of the Barbs ; the foot long and deep, re-
fembling that of a mule, the Heel being high and
narrow. Thofe of the fineft breeds are generally well
trufTed, and well-knit horfes, adtive and ready in their
paces, of quick apprehenfion, have a memory rather
too faithful, obedient to the utmoil proof, wonderfully

* Voyage au Nord, par Outhier.

docile

I j2 THE HISTORY AND ART

docile and affeclionate to man ; full of fpirit and cou-
rage, tempered with mildncfs and good nature, and
generally very eafy in all their paces ; of a moderate fizc
for the mod part, although fized horfes are fometimcs
to be found among them. Thofe which are bred in
Upper Andahifia are deemed the mod valuable, although
they generally have their heads too long, and difpro-
portioned ; but this blemifli, and many others which
may happen, and are not eflential, are all amply
atoned by numberlefs pleafmg, good, and great qua-
lities ; by the fweetnefs of their tempers, the beauty
and even majefty of their motion, and the affecliion
and fidelity with v/hich they ferve their mailers : fo
that enriched and adorned with thefe grateful qua-
lities and high accomplifhments, they are thought to
eclipfc the reft of their kind in the fervices of war,
the graceful airs of the manege, the pomp of caval-
cades and public folemnities *, and very juftly to merit
the title which that difcerning judge, the Duke of
Newcaftle bellows upon them, when he calls them
" the Kings of horfes."

^ Lono- aco, and indeed at all times, they were fo efleemed, as to
be confidered as cfiTential to public entries, and folemn proceffions ;
other nations being dcfuous to procure them, and always employing
them upon thefe occafions. When Queen Elizabeth made her entry
into Oxford, fome Spanifli horfes were led in the proceffion.— 7;W«^i
fucrant aliqtioi AJlurcones, /inefejforihus^ auratis Sericifque Ephippiis inftrati.

Hearne's Tradls.

Tlic

OF HORSEMANSHIP.

J :}

The Fortugal Horfes, or rather Mares, were famous of
•old for being very fleet, and long-winded — whether
this character of them was really true, or only the
opinion of ignorant people, cannot now be deter-
mined. If it was true, the modern race is wonder-
fully changed and degenerated from the qualities of
their anceftors, for, at prefent, they are far from me-
riting much praife upon this account.

Portugal in general is a mountainous country, and
many reafons have concurred to injure the breed of
horfes in this kingdom ; when it was annexed to the
crown of Spain, the mother-country was preferred for
the eftabliflimant of Studs ; and the pradtice theji was to de-
vote the very few diftriifts in Portugal which are pro-
perly fupplied with herbage and water to breed horned
cattle for the fliambles and plough, and mules and alTes
for many other laborious tafks. — Hence horfes in Portu-
gal (although the natives are exceedingly fond of
them) have been confidered rather as creatures of
pomp and pleafure, than of fervice and utility, except
in war, and as fuch the king and nobility, fmce the
independency of the kingdom, have always chofen to
fupply their wants from Spaiii, as far as the mounting
of the troops, and the purpofes of parade and amufe-
ment require. If the Portuguefe, however, fliould
turn their thoughts to Breeding, there is no doubt but
their country would produce precifely the fame fpecies
of horfes, as that for which Spain has always been fo
diftinguiflied. At prefent the Portugal horfes are in

Vol. I. X no

ISA- THE HISTORY AND ART

no repute, and differ as much from their neighbours
the Spaniards, as Crabs from apples, or Sloes from
grapes»

The Italian horfes were formerly more beautiful, and
of greater fame, than the prefent race are thought to
be ; this degenerate alteration is faid to be owing to a
neglecft of the breed, and a decay of that fpirit whicli
formerly animated the Italians, the fathers of modern
horfemanfhip. Neverthelefs this country is not defli-
tute of many generous and beautiful breeds, dif-
perfed in ftuds, which arc formed in different flates.
and diftrii5ts.

The Neapolitan horfes have always been renowned,,
and iliine both in the Saddle and the Traces, Great
numbers are bred in Sicily, a kingdom always extolled;
for the fuperiour merit of its horfes — The Neapolitans'
are fubje(3: to have great heads, and thick forehands,,
are untradlable, vicious, and confequently dilEcult xa
be fubdued and dreffed, this being their national cha-
izditr : to balance thefe faults, they are large and
Ilrong, and charm the fpe(5lator with their animated
carriage, and majeftic action. They have a wonderful:
genius for the Piaffer, and excel on all occalions of
pomp and parade. Thofe of Sardinia and Corfica are:
fmall, but nimble, bold, and full of fpirit.

The Swijs horfes partake of thefe qualities, and
were formerly accounted ferviceable in war.

Ger-

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 155-

Germany is by no means deftitute of generous and
noble horfes, ufeful for many different purpofes ; yet
they arc reckoned to be heavy, and not to be good-
winded, although the finer breeds come from Turks
and Barbs, which are kept as ftallions in many parts
of that extenfive country, as well as from Italians and
Spaniards. They do not fucceed fo well in the chace
and running as the Humgarian and Tranfylvanian horfes ;
which are of a lighter llrudlure, cleaner limbed, of
good wind, and able to run at a very confiderable rate.
Bohemia produces a variety of horfes j but, whether from
natural defe<5ls, or the want of care and culture, they
are not diftinguifhed by any eminent qualities.

The HuJJ'ars and Tranfylvanians are accuftomed to flit
the noftrils of their horfes, under a notion of giving
the breath a freer paflage, and improving their wind,
as well as to render them incapable of neighing, which
in war is oftentimes inconvenient and improper ; this
operation perhaps will not totally deprive them of the
power * of neighing, but will certainly make the found
fofter and more feeble.

The Croatian horfes are nearly allied to the Hungarian
and Bohemian, in all the leading qualities and outlines
of character. Thefe, as well as the Poles, are re-
markable for being, as the French term it, Begiit, or
keeping the mark in their teeth as long as they live.

* The old writers recommend a cloth or lift to be tied round the
tongue for this purpofe, which if it can be kept on without injury,
nnay anfwer the delign more efFedually.

X 2 Hol^

1^6 THE HISTORY AND ART

Holland furnifhes a race of horfes, which have much
fame, but their beft fervice is in the coach — They are
in much repute in their own, France, and fome other
countries. The beft come from Frifeland. The coun-
tries of JuUers and Bergue alfo raife fome, which are
much approved. The FlemiJJj horfes are inferiour in
value to the Dutch, having big heads, with a channel
towards the noftrils, like a Pike, and are therefore
named by the French 'Tete de Brochet. Their feet are
unreafonably large, and flat, and their legs fubjeft to
watry humours, and fwellings in the heels.

France abounds in horfes of all kinds, but neverthe-
lefs knows but few, which, as a breeding country,
do honour to her foil and climate, although great
pains have been taken, and very fkilful men em-
ployed at various times, to eftablifh and cultivate a
generous breed. Some parts of the kingdom, how-
ever, produce horfes, which they need not be afhamed
to rank with thofe of places more famous, and fuch
as would incline us to think, that the fault is not
alone, if at all, in the Climate. The beft of thofe which
are fit for the faddle come from Limojin -, they refcmble
the Barbs in many particulars, and, like them, are
fitteft for hunting : they are flow of growth, demand
much care and nurfmg in their infancy and youth,
nor ripe for work till they are eight years old. There
are alfo very good Bidets or Bonies to be found in An-
vergne, Poitou, and Burgundy, but after Limofm, Nor-
mandy claims precedence, for its handfome, generous,

and

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 157

and ferviceable breed ; which, if they do not excel fo
much as fome in hunting, yet are fuperiour in war,
being llouter, and better moulded, and arriving at the
fulnefs of their growth in fliorter time. Lower Nor-
mandy and the diftridl of Cotentin give a very good fort
for the coach, which are nimbler and have more ela-
fticity in their motions than the Dutch horfes — Franche
Compte and the Bouknnois raife numbers likewife for
common ufes — It is remarked that the French horfes
are apt to have their ihoulders too loofe and open, as
thofe of the Barbs are too confined and narrow.

Navarre, which borders upon Spain, has a kind of
horfes which partake of the properties of both thefe
countries, and although not celebrated or fought after,
have notwithflanding their Ihare of merit ; being
light, adlive, and nervous, efpecially the finer fort,
which are better and more valuable, in proportion as
the Spanjjh blood prevails in their compofition.

The finer and better fort of the more modern Eng-
lifli horfes, are defcended from Arabians and Barbs,
and frequently refemble their fires in looks and ap-
pearance, but diflfer from them confiderably in fizc
and mould ; being more furniflied, flout, and lufty.
In general they are ftrong, nimble, of good courage,
capable of enduring excefiive fatigue, and, both in
perfeverance and fpeed, furpafs all horfes in the world
— At the fame time it is objected to them, that they
are void of grace, and want that Expreffion, if I may

ufe

Ij8 THE HISTORY AND ART

life the word, in their figure and carriage, which is fo
-confpicuous in Foreign horfes, aud fo beautiful and at-
tradtive, as even to be eflentially requifite upon all oc-
calions of pomp and parade : but inftead of difplaying
a dignity of motion, and a confcious air of checrful-
nefs and alacrity, as if they fliared in the pleafure and
pride of their riders, and were almoil fenfible of hu-
mian pafTions, they appear in all their a^flions, cold,
indifferent, unanimated. This is fo apparent that the
mofl heedlefs and ignorant fpe(5lator, who fliould,
upon any occafion, fee them contrafted with horfes of
ABioiif would be flruck with the difference ; would
be uninterefted with the tame and lifelefs behaviour of
the one, and ravifhed with the fenfibility and well-
tempered fire of the other ; which, like the Sparkling of
generous wine in the glafs, at once charms the eye,
and gives a proof of innate fpirit and goodnefs. — Be-
fides this, the Englifh horfes are accufed, and not un-
juftly, of being obflinate and uncomplying in their
tempers, dogged and fullen, of having ftiff and inac-
tive flioulders, and wanting fupplenefs in their limbs :
which defedls make their motions conflrained, oc-
cafion them to go near the ground, and render them
unfit for the Manege.

This is the charadcr of the Englifh horfe ; to which
it may not be improper to add fome remarks and
anecdotes, which may tend farther to open and fet
forth the national hiflory of the animal.

Eng-

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 1^9

England has at all times, even in its rudeft ftate,
been pofleflcd of a breed of horfes fufEcient to anfwer
every purpofe for which they were given. Cafar^
when he invaded this ifland, found its inhabitants
not only well furnifhed with horfes, but alfo very
dextrous and expert in the management of them. * He
fpeaks of their fcythed chariots, and celebrates their
fkill and addrefs in driving them j fo that it is certain
the ufe of horfes muft have been long familiar to
them, and the creature much valued, if, in a ftate
bordering on favagenefs, they knew the art of taming
it fo well. From thefe early and dark times the horfe
has always flouriflied and been cheriiLed with lingu-
lar attention in this kingdom.

I4 is neverthelefs impolTible to trace or give any de-^
fcription of the fpecies ; for, as a judicious and
learned f naturalift obferves, " Thofe which exift
«« among the Indigena of Great Britain, fuch as the
« horfes of Wales and Cornwall, the Hobbies of Ire-
** land, and the Shehies of Scotland, though admirably
" well adapted to the ufes of thofe countries, could
" never have been equal to the work of war."

This is probably true j but we cannot hence con-
elude that tliere might not have been a ilouter and
larger breed in feveral other parts of England, where
the paftures are rich, and afford more nourifhment,

* Strabo fays they ufed ornaments df ivory in their bridles. Lib. iv.

-^ Pennant's Brit. Zoolog.

iir

1 6o THE HISTORY AND ART

it being certain, that the fize of animals may be re-
tarded or advanced, by the quantity and quality of

o

the food on which they are fupported ; as it is known
that in lean and barren foils, cattle of all kinds, are
fmall *, while, on the other hand, generous land
abounding with herbage, will produce animals of a
much larger growth. Nor is it unlikely, that the
Englifli had in early times, as now, horfes of different
fizes and charaders, and perhaps as various, as the parts '
of the kingdom in which they were bred. Although it
is more probable, as the fame curious and accurate ob-
fervers of nature inform us, that thofe which were
employed in the fervice of war, as well as for draught,
in latter times were the offspring of German or FkmiJIj
breeds, mended by our foil, and a judicious culture,
and that the prefent race are defcended from them.

The venerable Bede, fays, that the Englifh began to
ufe faddle horfes about the year 631, when prelates
and others rode on horfeback, who till then were
wont to go on foot ; but that, if upon urgent occa-
fions, they were obliged to ride, they ufed mares t
only.

In the reign of Atheljlan the Englifh became fo jea-
lous of their horfes, and entertained fo high an opi-

* Bio Nitaus, fpeaking of the Britons in the north part of the ifland,
fays their horfes were fmall and very fwift. Vid. Camden Brit.

•^ As a mark of humility, the mare not being fo full of pride and
fpirit as the horfe,

nlon

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 16 1

nion of their merit, that a law was made by this
King to prohibit their exportation, unlefs deligned for
prefents. This law feems to prove, that even in thofe
times they were much prized in other countries, and
that the demand for them mull have either been very
large, or the breed not numerous at that time ; fince
otherwife that monarch, as well as fome of his fuc-
ceflbrs, inftead of preventing the exportation, would
have done better to have encouraged the breed, fo as
to have kept pace with the demand, and brought con-
fiderable fums of money into this country ; but pride
and jealoufy forbad ; which, equally blind and jirong,
ftill operate in Spain, in "Naples, in Turkey, and other
places, from which it is not lawful at this day to re-
move an horfe into another country. Befides this,
trade at that time had made but little progrefs, nor
were its advantages duly confidered ; the commerce of
the time being chiefly limited to Germany. This is a
reafon alledged by the above-cited writer, why the
horfes of thofe days mull have been purely natives,
becaufe, as he fays, the Germans could not have been
in want of horfes of their own breed.

This conclufion, however, though plaufible, is not
certain : for although they could not have been in
want of horfes with which their own territories could
have furniflied them, yet they might have been de-
firous of having horfes which were bred in England,
although defcended on one fide, if not on both, ori-
ginally, from horfes of their own country, mended

Vol. I. Y and

i62 THE HISTORY AND ART

and improved by the foil and climate, "W-hich operate
very powerfully, and produce all the variations and
diflindlions which we fee in the animal and Vegetable
worlds. With refpedl to the horfes of this country,
this is really the fadt at this day, and has immemorably
been fo ; for admired and valued as they are, and have
been, there is no pure and unmixed blood among the
finer, if among the middling breeds, as among the
Arabs, but all of the firft clafs are diredlly or remotely
allied to foreign blood. The foil and climate, there-
fore, mull be thought greatly to contribute in form-
ing their merit ; otherwife, rich and curious perfons
of other nations would adl more wifely to raife a
breed of their own, to fupply their wants from thofe
very countries, where the anceftors of the Englilh
horfes are brought ; but they find by experience, that
the defccndants of thefe horfes do not thrive and fuc-
ceed fo well in other countries as in this nation, owing,
no doubt, to the fecret operations of nature, and to
the more apparent efFedts of foil and climate, or, to
what the French call in Fruity the Gout de Terroir.

•^lippe folo natttra fubeji.

Notwithftanding the fondnefs which Atheljian difco^
vered for Englifli horfes, and his jealoufy of their be-
ing fent into other countries, it is certain that he en-
tertained a good opinion of fome Foreigners, and received
fcveral as prefents, which were fent from the conti-
nent.

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 163

nent. It is probable many came from Germany ; of
fcveral foreign horfes he was, however, undoubtedly
polTefled, for in his Will * he bequeaths the horfes
given him by T'burbrand, together with the white horfes
given him by Liefbrand ; and it may reafonably be pre-
fumed, that as the perfons who gave thefe horfes were
Saxons^ the Gifts likewife came from the fame country :
although it appears that he had horfes from many
different parts of the continent ; for it is reported of
this monarch, that his charaiSler and fame were fpread
fo far, that fundry Princes ■\ fought his alliance and
friendfhip, and fent him " rich prefentjj, precious
*' ftores, perfumes, and the fined horfes, with golden
« furniture." And it is to be prefumed, that a wife
mionarch, and lover of horfes, would avail himfelf of
tljis foreign afliflance, to diverfify and improve the
breeds of his own kingdom.

The Conqueror brought many horfes with him from
Normandy, and fome, perhaps, of other countries,
which contributed ftill farther to augment the variety
of breeds in this ifland ; but Roger de Belefme, created
Earl of Shrewfbury, by the victorious monarch, rendered
a moft eflential fervice to the nation, by introducing
the ftallions of Spain into his eftate in PowiJJand, and
through them a more generous and noble breed than
this kingdom, perhaps, had ever known. Giraldus

* The will is in Latin, and in the pofleffion of Thomas Aftell, Efq;
f Anderfon's Orig. of Commerce, p. xlix. vol. i.

Y 2 Cani'

164 THE HISTORY AND ART

Camhrenjis takes notice of them, and Drayton, the poet,
celebrates their excellence.

This race feems to have been calculated at once for
the purpofes of war, and the exhibitions of public fo^-
lemnities, of which horfes are always a very effential:
and ornamental part : for it is not known that at this-
time, nor till a much later period, that horfe-races
were introduced into England: although this agreeable
and ufeful diverfion, if confined within certain regu-
lations, might have been cultivated with great pro-
priety among a people fond and proud of their horfes,
and that at a time, when bodily exercifes alone were
the amufements of all forts of men ; and efpecially,
as the Englifli had opportunities of being inftrucfted in
them by the Romans, who generally kept their own
euftoms wherever they came, and left their impreflion
behind them, when they departed. We may, there-
fore, reafonably conclude, that they were either ig-
norant of thefe fports, or, what is more likely, pre^
ferred the parade and magnificence of tilts and tour-
naments, in which the ftrength, a(5livity, fpirir, and
beauty of the horfe, as well as the fkill and courage
of the rider, could be more ufefuUy employed, and.
more gracefully difplayed.

h appears, however, from a fingular and curious
Latin tradl, that in the reign of Henry II. both tourna-
ments and horfe-races, or fomething very like races,
were cultivated with much earneftnefs and care. Smitb-
jield was then the chief theatre for thefe fports, as well

as

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 165

as the firft market for all forts of horfes. This place
was originally -called Smooth-field, planus cam-pus & re &
nomine, from its being a fmooth level piece of ground,
and therefore fet apart as a proper fpot, on which to
Ihew and exercife horfes. Without one of the gates
of the city, fays the hiftorian, is a certain field, plain
ov fmooth, both in Name and Situation. Every Friday (as
at prefent) except fome greater fellival intervene, there
is a fine fight of horfes brought to be fold. Many come
out of the city to buy or look on j to wit, earls, bar-
rons, knights, and citizens. It is a pleafant fight to
behold the horfes there, all gay and fleek, moving up
and down, fonae in the Amble, and fome in the Trot,
which latter pace, although rougher to the rider, is
better fuited to men who bear arms. Here alfo are
colts, yet ignorant of the bridle, which prance and
bound, and give early figns of fpirit and courage.
Here likewife are maneged, or War-horfes, (DextrariiJ of
elegant fhape, full of fire, and giving every proof of
a generous and noble temper. Horfes likewife for the
cart, dray, and plough are to be found here ; mares
big with foal, and others with their colts wantonly
running by their fides.

Every Sunday in Lent, after dinner, a company of
young men ride out into the fields on horfes which are '
fit for war, and excellent for their fpeed. Every one
among ihem is taught to run the Rounds with his
horfe. The citizens fons ifTue out through the gates
by troops, furnifhed with launces and fliields : the

younger.

\66 THE HISTORY AND ART

younger fort have their pikes not headed with iron,
and make reprefentation of battle, and exercife a fkir-
mifh. To this performance many courtiers refort when
the court is near, and young ilriplings, yet uninitiated
in arms, from the families of barons and great per-
fons, to train and pradlife. They begin by dividing into
troops, fome labour to outftrip their leaders, without
being able to reach them ; others unhorfe their anta-
gonift, without being able to get beyond them. At
other times two or thre-e boys are fet on horfeback to
ride a race ; the fignal being given, they fet off, and
pufli their horfes to their utmoll fpeed, fparing neither
whip nor fpur, urging them, at the fame time, with
loud fhouts and clamours, to animate their endeavours,
and call forth all their powers *.

The next period in which any particular mention is
made of horfes, is in the reign of Edward II. It ap-
pears from the annals of this prince, written by John
de Trokelow, in the year 1307, that Edward was very
fond of horfes, and fent for them to Chaiiipagne in
France. He alfo gave a commiffion, in the fecond
year of his reign, to Bynde Bonaventure, and his brother,
pro viglnti dextrariis et duodecim jumentis emendis in partibus

•*«• See the account of London by Stephanides, at the end of the
8th vol. of Leiand's Itinerary. The fame paffage, inferted in Stow's
Survey of London, is full of moft fhameful inaccuracies, which have
been complained of already by Burton, in his commentary on Anto-
ninus's Itinerary,

Lorn-

OF HORSEMANSHIP. \6^

Lombardia: and requires all his friends and loving fub-
je(51:s to affift them in this important commiffion *.

The genius of Edward III. naturally inclining him
to war, confequently made him fond, as he is re-
ported to have been, of its images and reprefentatives,
tilts and tournaments ; horfes are too efTentially ne-
cefTary to both, not to have been deemed by him ob-
jects highly deferving his care and attention. He v^^as,
therefore, cautious and provident to be well fupplicd
with them ; and his own kingdom not being able to
anfwer his wants, as well may be prefumed, he pur-
chafed from time to time from other countries. We
find him indebted to the count of Hainault 25,000
florins for horfes, which he had furniflied. The horfes
which the King had bought, were all 7narked, fo as to
diftinguifh the property.

This prince likewife fends to France, pro quatuor dex-
trariis, feu magnis eguis "j".

The fort of horfes then in ufe for princes, military
perfons, and others of rank and diftind:ion, were called
Dextrarii, Edward bought thefe horfes to equip him-
fclf for a war, in which he was engaged againft Scot-
land, and to folemnize a Tournament which he was tO;
give at Werks ; for which fervices thefe Dextrarii were
accounted moft fit, and always deftined to them.

* Rymer, vol. i. p. 135. f Ibid. vol. ii. p. ^6.

Ibid. vol. ill. p. 1 10. Ibid, p, 181.

They.

i68 THE HISTORY AND ART

They were ranked at the head of all other fpecies
of horfes, and anfwered for the moft part to what is
meant at prefent by a maneged horfe, or one drcjjed and
difcipHned for war ; to which, and the exercife of the
tournament, they were fet apart ; for, upon common
occafions, perfons of rank and conlideration always
rode upon horfes of inferior degree, diflinguiflied by
the names of Courfcrs, Amhkrsy Palfreys, Hackneys, Nags,
and Poneys, recommended by their eafy paces, and
quiet temper. In feveral countries, it was a cuflom
rigoroully obferved, that no knight of chivalry, or
other gentleman, fhould ride upon a Mare, it being
thought difhonourable and vile.

The mares were always devoted to the cart, and all
the ignoble fervices ; and whether upon this account
it was thought difgraceful in a gentleman to ride them,
or whether they were put to thefe fervile tafks merely
bccaufe they would not ride them, is a quellion hi-
therto undetermined. The Spaniards, Turks, and fome
other nations, Hill adhere to this abfurd notion, upon
all occafions.

The moft obvious and natural reafon which can be
afligned for this partiality againft the mare, feems to
be, that the female fex is thought (^mong horfes at
leaft) not to have the ftrength, fire, and dignity of the
male, and therefore is not fo correfpondent to the
chara(5ler and pomp of a Knight, or warriour, as the
horfes ; nor, as it was not a general cuftom to geld
liorfes, could they have been trufled among the op-

pofite

OF HORSEMANSHIP. i6c,

•pofite fex. In other refpec^s there is no reafon to
think them inferior to horfes, and, cateris paribus, al-
ways fuperior, as being perfedt in nature, to Geldings.

The horfes known by the name of Dextrarii in
Latin, Dejiriere in Italian, and Dcjirier in the French
languages, were fo called from the word Dextra, figni-
fying in the Latin, the Right-Hand ; they all having
been carefully handled, drelled, or maneged, as we call
it, from the Italian word maneggiare, which, in its lite-
ral fenfe, means no more than fmiply to handle. Others
fay, that it is to be taken in ^ Jigurative {Qn{e from the
word Dextra, importing the Dexterity and readinefs with
which they work under their riders ; and others, that
they are fo denominated from being led by grooms,
when they attended their mailers into the field or lifts,
by the Right-hand. The firfl: explanation feems to be the
mod clear and juft.

Thefe Dextrarii were alfo called magni Eqiii, or great
liorfcs, becaufe they were required to be of the largeft
fize, and were always intended to ferve in war, or in
the exercifes of the T'ournament, which were nearly al-
lied to it. As the riders were cloathed in complete ar-
mour, they were of a prodigious weight, and confe-
quently demanded very flrong and able-bodied, as well
as tall horfes, to carry them through their enterprizes :
great and Jized. horfes were therefore required, in oppo-
fition to Palfreys, Courfers, Nags, and other common
horfes : and forafmuch as thefe great horfes were all
required to be drejfed or taught, that they might per-

Vo L. I. Z form

I70 THE HISTORY AND ART

form their tafks with more readinefs and fidelity ; and
as it is neceflary that the rider fliould have knowledge
and fkill to guide his horfe^ thofe perfons who pro-
fefTed the fcience of arms were obliged to learn the
art of managing their horfes, in conformity to certain
rules and principles ; and hence came the expreflion
of learning to ride the great Horfe.

Thefe heavy-armed troops were called in dqffical
Latin CataphraSli : the light-armed cavalry were ftiled
in unclajjical Latin, Hobkarii, fi'om their riding Hobbies, or
fmall horfes, in French called Habbin, or Jlubin, from
the Italian word Ubino, fignifying a fmall horfe, as the
word Hackney is derived from the French, Haqiiinee, and
that from the Italian Acbinea, which means a quiet ordi-
nary horfe.

Modern horfemen will, perhaps, be furprized to
hear, that thefe tilting and war-horfes were all taught
to amble ; an ufurping pace, which, for fome cen-
turies, almoft univerfally depofed th€ T'rot.

In the account of the expences of purchafmg and
bringing into England the horfes which were bought
for Edward in France, among other articles, in the
difburfements of his wardrobe, upon this occafion we
find 'Trammels (Traynellii, for the accounts are written
in Latin) charged as an article, and with the follow-
ing addition, explanatory of their ufe, in teaching
horfes to amble. Hand aliter fciUcet appellabant injlrumenta.
ilia, qidbus ufi funt fabri ferrarii, Jive folearii (anglice far-
riers), ut eo faciliiis ad tolJutim incedendwn redderentiir eqiti,

qnem

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 171

qiiem qnidem incejjum mollem (ambling) lingua vocitamus verna-
cida. The word Traymells, or TrayneUs, feems to be taken
from the Italian word 'tramenarey to Jloake^ to wriggle ;
which term is very exprellive of the motion of the
amble. Thefe were made of yarn, or ftrong lift, and
frequently of iron, like chains, or fetters : in forming
of which laft, it was neceflary to employ, fabri ferrarii,
or fmiths, and Solearii, thofe who fhod horfes with
iron ftioes, with a long point coming from the toe,
being put upon the hinder feet, to teach horfes to
amble, which fhoes might be comprehended under
the word T'rammels, as producing the fame cfre(5l.

In the reign of Henry VII. (for in a work like this,
there muft be wide gaps) Polydore Firgil reports, that
the Englifli were wont to keep large herds of horfes
in their paftures and common iSelds ; and that, when
the harveft was gathered in, the cattle of different
owners fed promifcuoufly together, for which reafon
they were obliged to caftrate the horfes : for as a large
number of Mares went together, as well as geldings,
\iJioned horfes had been admitted among them, much
diforder and mifchief muft have happened. No horfes,
therefore, were allowed to mix with them, and it is at
this day contrary to law, to turn a ftoned-horfe into a
common pafture. Hence the neceflity of gelding.
Thofe horfes which were kept to cover mares, were
always confined in fafe and inclofed grounds, but
more frequently in the Stable, and were called Equi ad
Stabulum, by contra(5lion Stallu??i, Whence the Italian

Z 2 term

172 THE HISTORY AND ART

term Stallone, the French E talon, the Englifli, Stallion, or
jialled horfe, are derived ; which expreffion prevails,
and is in ufe at prefent with regard to the ox, ^?lfhich
fometimes being kept from the pafture in order to be
fattened, is called thejiall-icd, and Hailed ox.

The fame writer fays likewife, in confirmation of
the cuftom of ufmg ambling horfes, " that the Englifli
" were not given to trot, but excelled in the fofter
'• pace of the Amble"

The prince above-mentioned was fo fenfible of what
advantage a llrong and generous race of horfes is to a
kingdom, that he earneftly promoted, and encouraged
the culture of them. It feems to have been at all pe-
riods of time, an univerfal defire to have large horfes,
for fraall and weaker forts could not have executed
the bufinefs required of them ; and it appears by an
adt of parliament of the eleventh year of this reign,
that the number of Englifh horfes fent abroad was fo
exceflive, that it was neceflary to attend ferioufly to
this grievance, and prohibit all farther exportation.
The acH: recites, that not only a fmaller number of
good horfes were left within the realm, for the defence
thereof, but alfo that great and good plenty of the
fame were in parts beyond the fea, which in times paft
were wont to be within this land ; whereby the price
of horfes was greatly enhanced here, to the lofs and
annoyance of all the king's fubjctfls within the fame.
To remedy this, an adl was made, by which no owner
of an horfe fhould prefume to tranfport it out of the

kingdom,

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 173

kingdom, upon pain of forfeiture of the fame ; nor
any mare of the value of fix fliillings and eight pence,
without the king's fpecial licence, upon pain of for-
feiture of the fame mare, the owner, or his deputy,
receiving for the faid mare, the fum of fix fliillings
and eight pence at the time of feizure: the mare or
mares to be fold openly, by the proper officer, for the
beft price offered, and the half or all the over-price to
be to the king, and the other part to him who feized :
and farther, that no mare fliall be fent out of the land
which is above the value of fix and eight pence, and
under the age of three years, without paying the king's
cullom of fix and eight pence per mare, the king's
fpecial licence being firft obtained. Befides this, ano-
ther claufe follows, which muft have been fo effe»5lual,
as almofl: to make the preceding regulations totally
ufelefs. It enadls, that if any perfon will give for any
of the mares fo to be carried, feven JJjillings, it fhall be
lawful for him to take away the faid mare for his
own ufe, if flie had not been taken before by the
king's officer, nor the king's licence firfl obtained ; it
being lawful for any denizen notwithftanding, to
tranfport an horfe abroad, without the king's licence,
provided fuch horfe be for his own ufe, and he de-
clares upon oath, at the time of Ihipping, that he does
not intend to fell them.

Another acft was made to prevent the felling, ex-
changing, or fending horfes or mares into Scotland,

wliich

174 THE HISTORY AND ART

which availed itfelf confiderably at this time of the
fuperior Englifli breed *.

Thus it appears from the meafures taken to keep
the Englifh horfes in their own country, that they
were always fo valued and admired by other nations,
that England had not a number fufficient for her own
demands. Two things were neceflary to preferve to
this kingdom exclujively^ the benefit of its own horfes.

The prudence of feveral fucceeding kings, attended
ferioufly to this work, and by prohibiting exportation
on one hand, and encouraging a numerous breed on
the other, applied a twofold remedy, and did almoft
all that the cafe could require. Nor would any thing
have been wanting to the completion of their wifhes,
but (which was done in after times) the appointment
of public rewards and gratifications, as an incitement
and recom pence to thofe who fliould moft effedlually
advance the breed. Chambers, in his Di»5lionary, under
the article Saddle, fays the Englifli did not ufe them till
the reign of this king, who iflued an order enjoining
their ufe. This alfertion, however, is not counte-
nanced by any adt of parliament, or proclamation.

In the reign of the fucceeding prince, a particular
regard was paid to the raifing a breed of good and
flrong horfes, and laws were made for the more cer-
tain attainment of that defign. The only method of
fecuring ftrength and fize in the progeny, is to feledl
the fires and dams, of a certain proportion, fize, and

* Thefe ads were repealed by Charles II.

mould,

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 175

mould, and to permit no mare, or ftallion, to breed»
but under thefe reftridions.

A law was accordingly made, which directed, that
every brood mare Ihould be, at leaft, fourteen hands
high *-.

This produced a very natural and juft efFecl, and
gave the kingdom many ftout and ufeful horfes, in-
fomuch that Carew, in his Hiftory of Cornwall, fup-
pofes this law to have been the occafion of lofmg al-
moft entirely the fmall breed of horfes, which were
peculiar to that country ; and it is the fame in the
principality of IVales, where the little breed, once fo
abundant, is now almoft extindt ; their fcarcity being
a proof what changes air, food, and a mixture of blood,
can produce in the animal world. The lofs, however,

•* In a period fomewhat earlier than the commencement of this
prince's reign, a book was printed, probably the firfl: of its kind ever
feen in England, entitled, Properties and Medeycines for an Horfe,
^to, printed by Wynkyn de Worde, about the year 1500.

In Ames's Hiftory of printing, the 4 to edition, 1749, he gives a lift of
fome books, printed by Wynkyn de Worde, at Weftminfter, or in •
Caxtonh houfe ; they are without date, but he fays they were printed
before the year 1500.

The above-mentioned book of medicines for horfes is certainly prior
in time to Fitzherbert's book on Huft^andry, which Ames fays was
printed in izmo, in 1548 : and in page 263, he mentions another
edition of it. This book has been generally thought to have been
written by Judge Fitzhcrbarde, but miftakenly, for the author was one
Fitzherbarde, an horfe-courfer. The book is extant. Vid. certain
ancient trads concerning the management of landed property — Re-
printed for Charles Bathurft, 1757.

- J cf

176 THE HISTORY AND ART

of thefe Pigmies, which Mr. Carew regrets, was well
repaired by a race of larger, and more able-bodied
horfcs ; for ihefe little animals, however pleafmg and
ufeful in their own craggy and mountainous country,
could not extend their merit beyond its bounds, being
too inferior to the taflc of war, the fpeed and fa-
tigue of hunting, the fplendour of tournaments,
and the magnificent pageantries of the times, efpe-
cially of this reign *, which all writers agree were
excellive.

There is alfo a particular entry in the Journals of
the Houfe of Lords, which fhews how much they had
this caufe at heart. Hodie (viz. 15 June, 1540) tandem
leBa eji bil/a educationi equonim procerioris jlatura <£ ccmmuni
omnium confenfii, nemine difcnpante, expedita^

By another a<5t of parliament of this king, we may
perceive what anxiety there was for having large horfes.
Some of the regulations are rather fmgular, but judi-
cious, for the law is framed fo as to confider indivi-
duals in a comparative view of their rank and cireum-
• fiances. Every archbifhop and duke are obliged under
penalties, to keep feven trotting ftoned-horfes for the
laddie, each of which is to be fourteen hands high, at
the age of three years. There are afterwads very mi-
nute dire(5tions, with regard to the number of the fame
kind of horfes, which are to be kept by other ranks
and degrees, each in proportion to their circumftances
and ftation.

* Vid. Sir T. More's Poems.

Each

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 177

Each perfon having benefices to the amount of one
hundred pounds yearly, or a layman, whofe wife fhall
wear any French hood, or bonnet of velvet, are obliged,
under the penalty of twenty pounds, to keep one fuch
trottynge flonehorfc for the faddle. This flatute con-
tinued unrepealed till the 2 i ft of James I. though, in
fa(51:, repealed by the eighth of Elizabeth, as to the
Ifle of Ely, Cambridgelhire, and many other counties,
(which the preamble recites), which, on account of
their rottennefs, unfirmnefs, moifture, and waterifh-
nefs, were not able to breed, or bear horfes of fuch a
fize.

The reafon for enjoining ftone-horfes to be kept,
muft have been for the fake of breeding, and for the
fuperior labour they are thought to be able to un-
dergo ; and as they were more expenfive to maintain
than mares or geldings, it being necefTary to feparate
and keep them apart, the rich and noble only are re-
quired to keep them in numbers proportioned to their
rank and ability ; while the lower people ufed Geldings^
for the advantage of turning them to grafs. Brood-
mares, two at leaft, were ordered to be kept by thofe
who had parks, enclofures, and other convenicncies.

Baked bread, known by the name of Horfe- bread,
was the ufual food of horfes, inftead of oats and
other grain: regulations were made concerning it in
this reign, by parliament. Peafe likcwifc were given
in food.

Vol. I. a a It

178 THE HISTORY AND ART

It may not, perhaps, be unentertaining to the
reader, to perufe the following lift of horfes, as it
will give him a notion of the times, and fet before
him the different forts then in ufe among the nobility
and others. The extra6t is taken from a manufcript,
now in the poiTeffion of his Grace the Duke of Nor-
thumberland, and lately printed, under the title of
" The Regulations and Eftablifhment of the Houfhold
" of Algernon Percy, the Fifth Earl of Northumberland^
" Begun anna I s I 2 . London, printed i 768."

It begins, *' This is the ordre of the chequir rout
" of the nombre of all the horfys of my lordis and
" my ladys, that are apoynted to be in the charge of
''• the hous yerely, as to fay : gentill hors, palfreys,
" hobys, naggis, cloth-fek hors, male-hors. Firft,
" gentill hors, to^ Hand in my lordis liable, fix. Item,
" palfreys of my ladys, to wit, one for my lady, and
*' two for her gentill-women, and ©one for her cham-
" berer. Four hobys and naggis for my lordis oone
" faddill, viz. oone for my lorde to ride, oone to lede
•' for my lorde, and oone to flay at home for my
« lorde.

" Item, chariot hors to ftond in my lordis flable
" yerely. Seven great trottynge hors to draw in the
*• chariott, and a nagg for the chariott man to ride ;:
" eight. Again, hors for lorde Percy, his lordfhips-
" fon and heir. A grete doble trottynge hors for my
" lorde Percy to travel on in winter. Item, a gret do-
»* ble trottynge hors, called a Curtal, for his lordlhip

" to

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 179

« to ride on out of towncs. Another trottynge
^* gambaldynge hors for his lordfhip to ride upon wh^n
" he comes into townes. An amblynge horfe for his
" lordfhip to journey on dayly. A proper amblyng
" little nagg for his lordfliip when he gaeth on hunt-
" ing or hawking. A gret amblynge gelding, or trot-
*' tynge gelding, to carry his male."

Such were the horfes of ancient days, ranked into
clafTes, and allotted to different fervices.

The gentll horfe was one of a fuperior and diflin-
guiflied breed, fo called in contrail to fuch as were of
a mean and ordinary extrafftion. The Italians at this
day call their noblefl breeds, Razza gentile. Gentleman
is underflood in this fenfe, fignifying a perfon of better
birth and family. Nemejian ufes the very word in this
^fenfe.

» — Gentili f anguine jirmus.

Palfreys were an elegant and eafy fort of horfes,
which, for their gentlenefs and agreeable paces, were
ufed upon common occafions by military perfons and
others ; who referved their great, or managed horfes
for battle, and the tournament. Their pieaiing qua-
lities foon recommended them to the fair fex, who
having no coaches, ufed thefe palfreys, and always tra-
velled on horfcback.

Hobys were flrong, active horfes, of rather a fmall
fize : they are reported to have been originally natives

A a 2 of

i8o THE HISTORY AND ART

of Ireland, and were fo much liked and ufed, as to
become a proverbial cxprellion for any thing of which
people are extremely fond. Nags come under the fame
defcription, as to their fize, qualities, and employ-
ments,

Clothfek, was a cloak-bag horfe, as male-horfe is one
who carried the portmanteau. Horfes to draw the
Chariott were JVaggon horfes ; from the French word
Cbarrette, whence the Englifli word Cart ; for coaches,
nor Chariots (in our acceptation), were not known at
this time. A gret doble trottynge horfe, was a tall,
broad, and well-fpread horfe, whofe bed pace was the
trot, being too unweildy in himfelf, or carrying too
great a weight, to be able to gallop. Dobk or double fig-
nifies broad, big, fwelled out ; from the French double,
who fay of a broad-loined filleted horfe, that he has
les reins doubles — ^ double bidet. The Latin adjedlive du-
plex, gives the fame meaning ; Firgil fpeaking of the
horfe fays, at duplex agitur per lumbos fpina, Georg. iii.
and Horace, Duplice jicu. A Curtal is an horfe whofe
tail is cut, or fliortened — in the French Curtaud. A
gambaldynge horfe, was one of fliew and parade, a ma-
naged horfe from the Italian Gamba, a leg. An ajn-

blynge horfe is too well known, to need an explanation.
The Amble long before this time, as well as for a long
while after, was fo favourite a pace, and fo much liked
for its eafe and fmoothnefs, that almoft every faddle-
horfe was taught to perform it, efpecially thofe which
were rode by the rich, the indolent, and infirm : fo

that

OF HORSEMANSHIP. i 8 1

that Markham, who wrote in the reign of James I.
fpeaking of ambling horfes, fays, " take away thefc
" horfes, and take away the old man, the rich man,
" and the weak man's, nay generally all men's tra-
" vels ; for coaches (then known) are but for llreets,
" and carts can hardly pafs in winter."

Henry was undoubtedly very fond of horfes, and
fo thoroughly convinced of what advantage they are to
a kingdom, that he did every thing, both by his
authority and example, to introduce and fupport a ge-
nerous breed, of which the nation was at this time
fliamefully unprovided. Sir Thomas Chaloner, in a
Latin poem, entitled De Republicd Anghruvi injlaurandu^
I S7 9i which he compofed in the early part of the
reign of Elizabeth, while he was embailador from the
queen to the court of Spain, cenfures the ignorance
and folly of his countrymen, in neglecfling to pro-
mote a race of valuable horfes in their own country,
which, from the many fuperior advantages it enjoys,
he fays, was capable of furnifliing more beautiful and
ufeful breeds, than thofe of foreign parts, from which
they were fo fond of being fupplied: he reproaches them
for their want of Stallions, fet apart, and kept merely as
fuch ; and fays, that they had no Horfes, but what were
vile and ordinary, which were fufFered to run proraif-
cuoufly in the paftures with mares, producing a worth-
lefs and defpicable breed : he therefore recommends a
reparation from the mares, which fhould be confined in

parks

t82 the history and ART

parks and enclofures, where they may run fecure and
immolefted. Hence he takes occafion to proclaim the
praifes of Henry Vill. for the attention which he paid
to horfes, and for his zealous endeavom'S to flock this
nation with a variety of breeds for different purpofcs,
by importing the fined, both horfes and mares, from
Turky, Naples, Spain, and Flanders ; extolling him at
the fame time for his addrefs and fkill in bodily exer-
cifes, particularly horfemanfhip, in which, he fays,
this monarch was confummate, and equal to Cajior
himfclf. From the concurrent teftimonies of other
writers, and from the time when this poem was pub-
liflied, which was not till after Henry's death, there is
great reafon to think thefe praifes were fmcere, unlefs
the author may be thought to have complimented
Elizaleib in the commendations he fo laviflily beflows
upon her father ; which mode of panegyrick may be
termed flattery once removed.

Nor was this monarch only folicitous to introduce
and eftablifli a generous and ferviceable breed of horfes
in the kingdom, but he extended his cares farther
and endeavoured to make his plan flill more ufeful, by
providing experienced and fkilful perfons to prefide in
his llables, and fpread by their means the rules and
elements of horfemanfhip through the nation. This
ufeful and becoming art, as the Duke of Newcaftle
fays, began, or rather revived, about this time in A^^-
pks. The perfon who firft taught it there was named
PignatcIU. Henry invited two Italians, who had been

I his

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 183'

his fcholars, into England, and placed them in his fer-
vice. From one of thefe were defcended the Alexanders,
who were riding-mafters, mentioned likewife by the
Duke, and whofe fcholars filled the kingdom with
horfemen.

The King likewife had an Italian farrier, named.
Hannibaky who was looked up to by his EngliQi brethren
as an oracle ; and who did notdifcover great rayfteries,
but yet taught them more than they knew before.

Sir 'Philip Sydney, in Elizabeth's reign, introduced the
Signers Profpero and Romano. Robert Dudley, Earl of
Leicefter, and Matter of the Horfe to the Queen, re-
tained in his fervice an Italian horfeman, whofe name
was Claudio Curtio. He wrote a book on the Jrt, which
is ftill extant. Thefe, and fome v/ho came afterwards,,
at different intervals, formed many horfemen, and
laid the foundation of the Manege in England.

Nothing remarkable concerning horfes happened in
the fliort reign of Edward VI. but it appears from an
2iOi of parliament, made in the firft year of his reign,,
that horfes were highly valued ; for this ad confiders
the Healing of them among the blackeft crimes, and
takes away the benefit of clergy from horfe-ftealers, to-
gether with thofe convi6led of Houfebreaking, Sacrilege, and:
Murder. All other offences and felonies indeed, except
treafon, were afterwards entitled to this benefit, thought
excluded, by later atfls of parliament

*

Obfervat, on t.he Stat, p. 4.64, 3d edit.

By

1 84 THE HISTORY AND ART

By thefe prudent and judicious meafures, the
Engliili breed of horfes was not only improved in
ilrengfh and fize, but alfo greatly increafed'in number.

The ufe of coaches was not known in England till
the year 1580 (in Queen Elizabeth's reign) when
they were introduced by Filz-AiJen, Earl of Arundel *,

Till this period, I'addle-horfes and carts were the
only methods of conveyance "for all forts of people ;
and the Queen rode behind her Mafler of the Horfe,
when llie went in Hate to St. Paul's'. This falliion, how-
ever, prevailed only in the former part of her reign, and
was totally extinguiflied by the appearance of coaches.
Their introdudion occafioned a much larger demand
of horfes, than former times had wanted ; and fuch
was the number of them employed in this fervice,
that at the latter end of the Queen's reign a bill was
propofed in the Houfe of Lords, to reftrain the fuper-
fluous and ejceffive ufe of coaches. It was rejected
upon the fecond reading: the Lords, however, di-
rected, that the Attorney General fliould perufe the
ilatiues for promoting the breed of horfes, and con-
lider of fome proper bill in its room f .

The invention of gunpowder being known, and fire
arms generally ufed, the heavy armour fell into dif-
repute, and a light fort was only ufed : a lighter and
more adtive horfe therefore became neceflary, and

* Anderfon's Orig. of Comm. p, 421, vol. i.
' ■\ Journals, Nov, 7, 1601.

were

OF HORSEMANSHIP. i8^

were accordingly cultivated and ufed. Sir John Smytbe,
in his treatife on the good effedls of archery in armies,
written the year after the attempt of the Spanifli
Armada, fpeaks of this fort of armour and horfes with
difapprobation and contempt, and fays, " their horfe-
" men alfo ferving on horfeback with launces, or any
" other weapon, they think very well armed with feme
" kind of head-piece, a collar, and a deformed lights
'♦ M/Vibeaft."

This was the origin of the light and fleet breed of
horfes in this country, which became as neceflary
when the weight of the riders was fo confidei'ably
IcfTened, as the flrong and flower fort were, when
heavy armour was worn.

t Thofe diftinguiflied trials of fpeed and vigour be-
tween horfe and horfe, were not as yet eftabliflied and
praftifed, in the manner in which they are exhibited
at prefent. Nor were any horfes kept merely for the
purpofe of difplaying their fpeed upon certain occa-
flons, at ftated feafons, and confecrated, like the run-
ning horfes of latter times, folely to the turf. It is
neverthelefs certain, that this comparative method of
proving the goodnefs of horfes, was known in thefe
times -, and that private matches were made between
gentlemen, who, <lepending upon their own fkill, rode
their horfes themfelves.

Lord Herbert of Cherbury mentions thefe races, and
fpeaks of them with a groundlefs and abfurd difap-
probation.

Vol. I. B b " The

i8^ THE HISTORY AND ART

"■ The exercife * I do not approve of, fays he, is run-
*' ning of horfes, there being much cheating in that
" kind : neither do I fee why a brave man fliould de-
" light in a creature whofe chief ufe is to help him to-
**- run away" as if cheating was incident to any fport,
or more fo to this than to others ; or that a man, be-
caufe he is mouatcd on a fwift horfe, muft be a pol--
troon, and run away. This quaint Lord might, with
equal reafon, have objected to a man's legs for being
flrong and active.

As hunting was the chief amufement of the nobir
lity and gentry, they had a method of trying the.
fpeed and goodnefs of the horfes deftined to that
fport.

It was called the Trahi-fcent, and fo denominated,
becaufe the fcent which the hounds hunted, proceeded
from fome animal which had previoufly been trained
along the fields, and over hedges and ditches, accord-
ing to the pleafure of the perfon who trained or drag-
ged it after him. The rival horfes were to follow the
hounds which hunted this fcent, and give proofs of
their fpeed and merit, in competition with one another.
Of all chaces this was reckoned the fwifteft and moft
trying, becaufe the Scent lies the hotted ; fo that the
hounds run all the time at the utmoft ftretch, and the
horfes muil have been exerted to their utmoft powers
to keep pace with them. Befides, ia this manner of

* Life of Lord Herbert, publifhed by Mf. Walpole, p. 51.

hunting^

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 187

"hunting, the fport was always ready, wh en a fox or
hare might not eafily be found ; and this way of
matching and running hunters, in order to try their
fpeed againfl one another, while they followed the
dogs, was thought to be more cheering, both to the
riders and horfes, than to make them run fnnply
againft one another, or againfl T'ime, as the prefent
praftice is.

There was likewife another Chace, called by horfe-
men the IVild-Goofe chace, and thus defcribed *. This
chace is never ufed but in Matches only ; where neither
th€ hunting the hare, nor the running iTmn-fcents, are
able to decide which horfe is better. In this cafe horfe-
men found out this chace, which is called the Wild-
Goofe chace, from its refemblance to the flight of }Fild-
Geefe, which, for the moft part ever fly after one another,
and keep an equal diftance as it were from one another.
So in this chace, after the horfes are ftarted, and have
run twelve fcore yards, then, which ever horfe can
get the leading, the other is bound to follow wherever
he goes, and that too within a certain diftance, as
twice or thrice his length, or elfe to be beaten up
(whipped) by the triers (judges) which ride by to fee
fair play : and if either horfe get before the other
twelve fcore yards, or according as the match is made,
then the hinder horfe lofes the match ; and if the
horfe which at the beginning was behind, can get before

^ Markham's Cavalarice, lib. iii. p. 1 1.

B b 2 that

i88 THE HISTORY ANI> ART

that which f>ji led, then is he likewife bound to fol-
low, till he can either get before, or elfe the match
be loft and won. It is well known that this chace ftill
preferves its name in a common proverb, and that many
people follow it, •without knowing that they do fo.

In the fucceeding reiga of James, horfemanfhip be-
gan to difplay and enlarge itfelf more confiderably
than in any former time ; having received many ad-
ditions and refinements from the different matters who,
taught and pra6lifed it throughout Europe.

Public races were now eftabliflied, and fuch horfes
as had given proofs of fuperior abilities, became
known and famous, and their breed was cultivated^
and their pedigrees, as well as thofe of their pofterity,
in imitation, perhaps, of the Arabian manner, pre-
ferved and recorded with the greateft exadtnefs. Ga7'~
terljy in Yorkfhire, Croydon, near London, and fome*
times Theobalds, on Enfield Chace, when the King was re-
fident, were the fpots where the races were run.

They were performed very nearly under the fame
rules, and upon the fame principles as at prefentj and
the horfes were prepared for running, by all the dif-
cipline oifood, fhyfic, airing, fweats, and clothing, which
compofes the prefent fyftem.

The weight alfo which each horfe was to carry, was ri-
gidly adjufted, the ufual weight of the riders being ftated
at ten ftones, who were put into fcales, and weighed
before they ftarted. All, or the larger part of the moft
famous races through the kingdom, were called Bell"

Courfes,

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 189

Courfei, the prize and reward of the conquering horfes,
being ?i.* Bell ; and it is fubmitted as a ConJeBure, whethet

the

* Camden expredy mentions this, as likewife the cuftom of laying
large wagers upon the fpeed of the contending horfes — Calateiium
7wnus {th.t forell of Galtres j — Hodie equorum folenni curfu, in quo vi£lor^
equo Camipa.nu\a. aurea. prcemio proponitur, celeberrimum : vix enim credibilc
quanta hominum muUitudo ad bxc certamina undique confluat, ^ quantis de~
pojitis pignoribus de equorum velociiate cancer tetur. Vid. Camden's Britan.
fub Tit. Yorkfliire.

It has been faid in the foregoing part of this work, that the an-
cients were wont, among other ornaments and devices, to deck
their horfes with Bells. The following paflages feem to confirm this
aflertion.

Capijira fifiuhfa cami, quibus appenfa funt tintinnabula, in qua infpi-
rantes equi vocem tuba mittunt. Bulledgerus from Hefychius.

Ibid, from Euftathius. Fijtulati cami habuere adjun^a tintinnabula,

quibus infpirantes equi fonitum tuba edidere.

Apuleius. Phaleris aureis, fucatis epbippiis, purpureis tapetis, frcenis
argenteis, piSlilibus balibeis, tintinnabulis perargutis exornatum equum.

Bulengerus from the Greek, cap. 17. jErea alligata fronti cum mulds
imimmbvXi^ terror em facit.

Virgil. Primus equi labor eji animos atque arma videre
Bellantum, lituofque pati, traSluque gementem
Ferrerotam, (^ Jlabulo fnenos audire (onantes.

Propertius. Sifrxna fonantia/cJ?^

Serviet afpir equus

From fimilar authorities, we have equal reafon to believe, xhzt Bells

were ufed as an article of horfe-furniture among the moderns, in this

and other countries. Chaucer, in his Canterbury Tales, fpeaking of

the Monks, fays,

« Full

ipo THE HISTORY AND ART

the phrafe of hearing the Bell, which implies being
comparatively the befl, or moft excellent, and corre-
Iponds with the expreffion of bearing the Palm among
the ancients, as a reward decreed to the fwiftefl horfe

« Full many a dainty horfe had he in liable,
*' And when he rode men might his Bridle hear
" Gyngelyn in a whiftling wind als clere
" And eke as loud as doth the chapel bell."

Cotton, Virgil traveftied.
«* Mean time queen Dido was not idle,
*' And ^z«^/^ ^/«f/^ went her bridle."

Rabelais makes Pantagruel take the Bell out of a fteeple, and hang
it upon his mare's neck, which moft probably alludes to the cuftom of
horfes wearing Bells. The laft, but ftrongeft inftance, becaufe it is
very recent, is from Congreve's play of the Old Batchelor ; where com-
paring a new married man to a race-horfe going to ftart, he fays,

«' With gaudy plumes, and gingling Bells made proud,
»' The youthful fteed fets out, and neighs aloud."

After reading the above paflages, and more particularly the laft,
few people, it may be prefumed, will doubt of the cuftom that once
prevailed of dreffing horfes with bells. At Naples they ufe them occa-
fionally for pleafure and parade at this day, and to a kt of coach-horfes
will add 2i feventh, hung round and covered with Bellsy which ring
and gingle, as the horfe proudly moves on.

However true the fafts may be, neverthelefs, although I have been
neither idle nor inaccurate in my enquiries, I have hitherto been unable
to gain any particular information upon the fubjed -, and with refpeft to
the lines quoted from Congreve, I have been fo unfuccefsful as never to
find any paflage from hiftory, oral tradition, or any account whatever
concerning it, although there muft be people ftill living who were con-
!temporary with the author, and may well be fuppofed to have fcen and
known the faft to which he fp plainly alludes.

in

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 191

in a race, is not more aptly deduced from this cuftom,
and more forcibly applied, than from the method of
tying a Bell round the neck of the Sheep, which leads
the flock, and is therefore accounted the bell.

This King bought an Arabian horfe of one Mr. Mark-
ham, a merchant, and gave the large price of 500I. for
the purchafe. He was the firft of that country which
England had ever feen; and it is furprifing, coniidering
the feveral expeditions to the Holy Land, and other
parts of the Eaft, that none had ever been imported
before.

The Duke of Newcaftle, who fpeaks from his own
knowledge, which was confummate, defcribes him
to have been of a bay colour, a little horfe, and no
rarity for fliape ; no more than was the famous horfe
fince known by the name of the Godolph'm Arabian. As
to the horfe bought by King James, it is to be fuf-
pedled that he was bad and worthlefs in himfelf, or
elfe his country cannot have all that merit which is fo
laviflily beftowed upon it, for its natural properties in
producing fuch fuperior horfes. He was trained for
a Courfcy but difgraced his country, and was beat by
every horfe which run againfl him. This account
is given by that eminent judge of horfes and horfe-
manfhip, who feems not to confide in the relations
given of the Arabian horfes, by travellers and com-
pilers of voyages, which, from the ignorance of the
reporters, are generally too fuperficial and extrava-
gant, to deferve much attention, and never give any;

^. infor?-

i()2 THE HISTORY AND ART

information, which is fufEciently clear and authentic,
to enable us to decide upon their merit, which, it is
probable, if it could be exadly tried and ftated, wOuld
not be found to be fo fuperior to the Englifli horfes, as
it is reprefented, either in fpeed, refolution, or pati-
ence of fatigue.

The fon and heir apparent of James, Henry Prince
of Wales, had an early and eager difpolition to thofe
exercifes, which tend at once to engage and employ the
mind, form the body, and add grace to ftrength and
adlivity. For thefe reafons he cultivated horfemanfliip
with equal pleafure and application, and the art would
have boafted in him its greatefl ornament and fupport,
had not an untimely death deprived the world of this
amiable prince, and the Manege of an affectionate and
zealous protedtor. All that is known of him, is, that
he loved it extremely, that he procured feveral foreign
horfes, as the fitted to be employed in it from their
natural talents, and the gracefulncfs of their motion ;
and that Henry IV. of France fent an experienced and
eminent horfenian, whofe name was St. Antoine, to in-
{lru(5t him in the art, There was a riding-houfe in St.
James's palace, in which this young prince exercifed
himfelf, and received his leffons.

Several other writers upon the fubjedt of horfes,
fpeak of his love and fondnefs of them, both in the
Manege and hunting, and conceived great hopes of the
advantages which the kingdom would reap from the
Smds which he formed, and the Races he eflabliflied.

Hence

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 193

Hence Withers introduces Britannia thus lamenting
his death :

" Alas, who now fliall grace my tournaments,
" Or honour me with deeds of chivalrie *?

hi this reign alfo the merit of the Englifli horfes
began to be fo acknowledged, that many w^ere pur-
chafed, and fent into France, where they continue to
be fo much valued and admired, that a great com-
merce is flill carried on, and numbers yearly fent into
that kingdom, as well as into Germany, Holland, Po-
land, and other places.

Bajfompiere f, in his memoirs, gives an account of
their introduftion, and of the name given to them, at
their firft appearance in France. He fays, that the
court being at Fontainbleau, it was the fafhion to play
for large and ferious fums, and the Circulation being
very brifk, they called the counters which reprefented
money, i^uinterots, becaufe they palTed and repafled from
one player to another, with as much quicknefs and
rapidity, as the Englifh horfes were known to run,
and which were called ^linterots, from the name of
the perfon, who the year before had brought them into
France ; which (he adds) were fo admired for their
fpeed, that Englifli horfes have, fnice that time, been

* Prince Henry's Obfeq. Eleg. ai, page 3(8. Lond. 1617.
-f- Menooirs, vol. i. page 206.

»

Vo L. I. C c always

1 94 THE HISTORY AND ART

always employed in hunting and journeys ; a practice
till then unknown.

Towards the latter part of this reign it appears,
that the Englifli method of keeping and ordering their
horfes was thought fo proper and judicious, as to be
recommended and copied in France, and, perhaps,
elfewherc. It is fafeft to houfe and rub an horfe after
being heated, as the Englifli hunting and running-
horfes are, fays a French writer upon this fubjed:.
Surfleet's Tranilation of Lietand's Maifon Ruftique.
The tranflation of this book was publiflied in the year
1616; and the original mufl have been a book of
fome credit at that time, otherwife, it is to be fup-
pofed, an Englifhman would not have thought it
worth while to give a tranflation of it.

The reign of Charles was embroiled and diftra(fted by
fcenes which were brought too home to his own bufi-
nefs and bofom, to allow him to attend to thofe arts
and improvements which are the children of peace,
and muft be nurfed by leifure and tranquillity.

This King, like his brother Henry, was neverthelefs
very fond of the Manege, and, according to the tefti-
monies of Hillorians, a very judicious and accom-
plifhed horfeman.

As an * inftance of his attention to the Jrt of
riding, confidered in a public and national light, he
ifliied a proclamation in the third year of his reign,

■^From the original in the Coll. of the Society of Antiquar. No. 74.

2 which

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 19^-

which enjoins the ufe of Bitts inftead of fnaffles, which,
at that time, were ufed in the army. The procla-
mation fets forth, that his Majefty iSnding by experi-
ence, that fuch horfes as are employed in the fervice,
are more apt and fit to be managed by fuch as fliall
ride them, being accuftomed to the Bitt, than the Snaffle^
he, therefore, ftridtly charges and commands, that no
perfon (other than fuch only as his Majefty, in refpe<5l
of their attendance on his royal perfon, in times of
Difport, or othewife, fliall licence thereunto) £hall in
riding ufe any Snaffles, but Bitts only.

This regulation was judicious, for bitts were more
becoming, and better fuited to the troops, as fnaffles
are in general fitter for times of Difport, by which (it
is prefumed) racing and hunting were meant, and for
which they were referved.

The fondnefs for Englifli horfes among the French,
which began in the preceding reign, continued in this,
and the Englifli underftood the merit of their own
horfes fo well, as to be prudently jealous of their ex-
portation, and encreafe in the French dominions, as
appears from the following extracSt from the lately
primed journals of the Houfe of Lords ; viz.

" Die Sabbati 16 Die Jnlii, 1645. Dom. Proc.

" It was moved, at the requcft of the French agent,
*' that a pafs may be granted, for tranfporting twelve
" horfes and two mares into France for the Duke of
'' Orleans : and it is ordered, that he fliall have leave to

C c 2 " tranfport

ig6 THE HISTORY AND ART

' tranfport twelve hoifes, but no mares, as there is a
" ftatute againfl it ; and the conctirrence of the Houfe
" of Commons is defn-ed therein."

In fpite, liowever, of this jealoufy and {lri»5lnefs, not
to let Englifli horfes be fent into France, it fhould feem
that there was no unwillingnefs to let foreign horfes
be brought into England ; for we find that this Prince,
in the fixth year of his reign, granted a fpecial licence
to William Smith, and others, to import horfes, mares,
and geldings into this kingdom : the faid Wiliiarn
Smith, and others, are alfo enjoined to import Ccacl-
horfes. Coach-mares, and coach-geldings, which are not
to be under fourteen hands in height, nor under the
age of three years, nor exceeding feven * : and from
the frequent importation of horfes by our kings, it
feems probable, that they fet a greater value upon fo-
reign horfes, than on thofe of their own country ;
and there are not the lead traces of the Englifh horfes '
being efteemed in the early parts of Rymers Collection.

We learn likewife from a memorial prefented to
Charles by Sir Edward Harwood f, touching the ftate of
the kingdom, that there was a great deficiency of good
and {lout horfes for its defence, infomuch that it was
"a queftion if it could have fur nifhed 2000, that would
have been equal to 2000 French: the caufe of this

* Rymer, vol. 8. p. 131.

■\ Haikian Mile. vol. 4, p. 2^0.

evil,

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 197

evil, the memorialift takes to have been, the ftrong
addiction which the nation had to racing and hunting
horfes, which, for the fake of fwiftnefs, were all of a
lighter and weaker mould ; and he propofes, as a re-
medy of this grievance (and moH infallible it would
have been), that noblemen and gentlemen, inftead of
making races for Bells * (as before mentioned), fliould
keep ftronger horfes, which might be fit for war, and
train them and their riders in military exercifes. This
wholefome advice would probably have been purfued ;
but the remainder of the reign was fo ftormy, that
men were forced to fell the pafture, to buy the deed,,
and no regard could be paid to any improvement or
iifeful defign, the advancement of which generally de-
mands much preparation, and fofter times than this
period was able to boafl.

"When Charles II. was reftored, the arts, fciences and
pleafures followed in his train, and were reftored to a
nation, from which the troubles of the preceding
reign, and of Cromwell's Interregnum, had driven them
away. This pleafure-loving monarch greatly encou- •
raged that branch of riding, which is called Racing.

* About the latter end of this King's reign, it was cuftomary to
have races performed in Hyde- Park. This appears from a comedy
CdWtd the. Merry Beggars, or Jovial Cre^x;, written in the year 1641 —
" Shall we make a fling to London (fays one of the charafters of the
" piece), and fee how the fpring appears there in the Spring Garden^
" and in Kyde-Park, to fee the Races, horfe and foot."

Dodjlefs ColUmon of Old Plays.

He

1 93 TPIE HISTORY AND ART

He gave public rewards and prizes, and delighted to
be a witnefs of the contells of the courfe ; and when
refident at JVindfor, had races run at Datchet Mead ; but
the moil diilinguiflied fpot for thefe trials was New-
market, which, from the fitnefs of the ground, was firft
chofen, and has ever fince been facred to thefe Sports^
which are itill as fuperior in England, as thofe of
Olympla are faid to have been in Greece *.

The glory of this place now burfl out in the
brighteft fplendor. The king ufed to honour the
races with his prefence, and ellablifhed an houfe for
his reception. He condefcended fo far as to be a

* Long before the inftitution of races, this chofen piece of ground
was frequently honoured by the prefence of thofe kings who loved
hunting, it being remarkably favourable to that fport. The manfion
now called the King's-Houfe, was their refidence, when they went to
Newmarket for the purpofe of hunting ; and it was not till fome time
before the troubles of the reign of Charles I. that this traft was deftined
to be an horfe-courfe ; but the races eftablifhed here felt the miferies of
the times, were difcontinued during the civil wars, nor revived till the
reltoration of thefbn and fucceflbrof the monarch who had firft diftin-
guifhed and prote£ted them. It Iliould fcem likewife, from the follow-
ing exrraiSt, that the fcience of racing was well underflood in this reign,
and advanced to a degree, almoft equal to the refinement of thefe en-
lightened times. Mejfieurs Hamillon envoyerent (fays the author) des
■Cbevaux a M. le Due de Chevreufe, pour aUer voir la courfe de Monfieur
Germain neveu de Milord St. Alban^ le quel fur un petit cheval noir fut en
55 minutes a neuf milks loix du lieu dont il partita et on il revint ; fi bien
qu'en une heure (moins cinque minutes) il fit 1 8 milles, et g^.gna la gageurt
qu'il avoitfait. Un autre en mefme terns fit vingt milles^ et voulut de gager de
refaire a I'injiant la mefme chafe fur le meme cheval.

Monconny's Travels, tome i. page 23.

Can-

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 199

Candidate, kept and entered horfes in his own name,
and by liis attention and generofity, added dignity,
importance, and luftre to the inftitution, over which
he prelided. Bells, the ancient rewards of fwiftnefs,
were now no longer given, but in their flead a filver
Bowl or Cup, of the value of one hundred guineas.
Upon this royal gift, the exploits of the fuccefsful
horfe, and his pedigree, were generally engraved, to
publifh and perpetuate his fame ; and feveral of thefe
trophies are now in the polTefTion of different people.
The cuftom of keeping race horfes at Newmarket is ftill
continued by the fuccefTors of this king -, but the fum
of one hundred guineas is given in the room of the
filver bowl *. Charles is reprefented by the duke of
Newcaftle, as having had much knowledge in horfes,
and as an experienced and able rider f- In his reign
the adl of Henry VII. before recited, for prohibiting the
exportation of horfes, was repealed, and another
paffed, by which horfes were permitted to be fent
abroad, upon paying a duty of five fliillings each.

James the fecond has the honourable teilimony of
the above-mentioned duke of Newcaftle, as being a
good horfeman ; but his reign was too unquiet and

■^ It is difficult to reconcile this charaft^r with an account of Charles
given by the above- cited author. " Je paflai par les ecuries du roy
qui font fort mal garnies, aufll n'aime t'il point les chevaux du manege.

P- 35-

f Some allowance is due to the duke of Newcaftle from his con-
nexion and fituation.

fliort,

200 THE HISTORY AND ART

fliorr, to have allowed him to difcover his fentiments
and inclinations upon the fubjecSt of liorfes — All that
is known farther of him, is, that he loved hunting,
and for that purpofe preferred Englifli horfes, of
.which he had fcveral always in his ftables in France ;
and exprefled a peculiar fatisfacftion in having them,
and that at a time, and in a fituation, in which it is
natural to think, they were rather likely to have given
him uneafmefs and mortification, than to have afforded
him pleafure.

When nWiam III. was advanced to the throne, he
not only added to the plates given to different places in
the kingdom, but rendered a more necefTary and im-
portant fervice to the nation : he founded an Academy
for riding, and invited from France a very capable
and experienced horfeman. Major Foubert, to prefide
over it.

It is to be prefumed, that this prince mufl have ob-
fcrved that a general difregard to the art, and almoft
a total ignorance of its principles prevailed at this time
throughout the nation ; and he no fooner was fenfible
of the difeafe, than he applied the remedy, and did^
at leafl in his prudent and generous intentions, what
fo long had been wanting in the plan of his predecef-
fors, to render it confiftent and cfTedual. It is afto-
nifhing to think how this work, fo immediately ne-
cefTary, could have been deferred fo long ; and that
while rewards were given, publick trials appointed,
and laws enacfted, to promote an ufeful and generous

breed

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 2oi

breed of liorfes, no ftep fliould have been taken on
the other hand to qualify and inllruc5l the youth of
the kingdom in the fuperiour art of riding : for the
getting upon the back of an horfe, to be conveyed from
one place to another, without knowing what the ani-
mal is enabled by nature, art, and pra(ftice to perform,
is not Riding : the knowledge and utility of which
confifls in being able to difcern, and dextrous to em-
ploy the means by which the horfe may be brought
to execute what the rider requires of him, with pro-
priety, readinefs, and fafety ; and this knowledge in
the man, and obedience in the horfe, like foul and
body, fliould be fo intimately conne<5ted, as to form
One Perfect Whole; this union being fo indifpenfably ne-
ceflary, that where it is not, there is no meaning be-
tween the man and horfe, they talk different lan-
guages, and all is confufion. — While many and fatal
mifchiefs may enfue; the man may be wedged in the
timber which he flrives to rend, and fall the viiSlim
of his own ignorance and raflmefs.

Queen Anne continued the bounty of her prede-
cefTors, with the addition of feveral Plates. Her royal
confort George prince of Denmark is faid to have been
remarkably fond of horfc-races, and to have obtained
from the queen the grants of feveral plates, allotted to
different places. The author of a work in 12 mo. re-
lating to the antiquity and progrefs of horfe-races, 8cc.
printed in the year i 7 69, fays, that in the reign of this
princefs, gentlemen bred their horfes fo fine, for the

Vol. I. Dd foke

202 THE HISTORY AND ART

fake of fpeed only, that they became quite ufelefs,
when a public fpiritcd gentleman obferving this error,
left thirteen hundred guineas, for thirteen plates, to
be run for at fuch places as the crown fliould appoint,
whence they were called royal plates ; upon condi-
tion, that each horfe ihould carry twelve Hones weight,
the belt of three heats over a four-mile courfe : no
authority, however, is cited to fupport this account,
and the regiflers of the lord chamberlains, at the
Jewel-office, and of the king's mafter of the horfe,
evince the contrary, and prove the plates to be yo/(?/y the
royal bounty.

George the Firft, towards the end of his reign, dif-
continued the P/ates, and gave the fum of one hun-
dred guineas in their room. The royal bounty, con-
veyed in this fliape, was certainly more judicioufly
conferred, if confidered in a public and national light,
inafmuch as it was more ufeful and efficacious : for,,
notwithflanding that a nobleman, or perfon of fortune,
might eye the Czip upon his fide-board with a confci-
ous pride and pleafure, the Guineas will fpeak more
perfuafively to the private perfon and farmer, as they
will help at leaft to repay the expences of keeping the
horfe which won them ; and anfvver many other ne-
ceflary purpofes.

In the thirteenth year of his late majefly, an acft was
paired for the fuppreffion of races by Poiieys, and other
fmall and weak horfes ; by which all matches for any
prize -under the value of fifty pounds are forbid j and

4 ^Y

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 203

by which each horfe entered to run, if five years old,
is obliged to carry ten ftone j if fix, eleven ; and if feven,

twelve This fl;atute had a two-fold intention, and was

framed not only to prevent the encouragement of a
vile and paltry breed of horfes, but likewife to re-
move all temptation from the lower clafs of people?
who conftantly attend thefe races, to the great lofs of
time, and hindrance of labour j and v/hofe behaviour
Hill calls for fl;ri^5ler regulations, to curb their licenti-
oufnefs, and correct their manners.

The Scotch nation, from early times, pofTefi^ed a
breed of horfes which they much efteemed, and which
were held fo much in repute by other countries,
that it became necefTary to hinder their exportation,
by laws and reftri^tions. By an a6l of parliament of
James the firft, 2d. parliament, chap. 31. no horfe that
was not paft three years old could be fold out of the
kingdom, under pain of forfeiture to the king. By
another a(ft of the firft parliament of James the Sixth,
chap. 22, it was forbid to tranfport any horfe out of
the realm, upon pain of forfeiture to the king of fuch
horfe, and the lliip and goods of the tranfporter. The
preface of this act particularly mentions tranfporting
of horfes to Bourdeaux, from which place there was a
great demand, as well as from other parts, fo as to
make a fcarcity and dearth.

hi the tenth parliament of James the Third, a juft
and wife act was pafiTed, whereby every Fairier who fliod
an horfe, and pricked his foor, through ignorance or

D d 2 drunk-

204 THE HISTORY AND ART

(Irunkenncfs, was obliged to depofit the price of tlie
horfe till he was found, and furnifh the owner with
another ; and, in cafe the horfe could not be cured,
the Farrier was obliged to pay the price, and indemnify
the injured owner. — By another aft of James the Sixth,
pari. 7, chap. 122, it is fet forth, that among other
occafions of Dearth of Visuals, which then prevailed in.
the realm, there was one particularly hurtful, which'
was tlie keeping of horfes all the fummer upon hard'
meat, ufed commonly by perfons of mean eilate, Cowp--
pers, (dealers) with intention to make merchandize
of the faid horfes, being for the moft part fmall nags,
and not horfes of fervice, it it ordained that no fub^
jeft, not being an earl, prelate, lord, or great baron, or
any of his highncfs's privy-council, feflion, or landed
gentleman, that can fpend of his own one thoufand
marks of yearly rent, all charges deduced, fliall keep
any fort of horfes at hard meat yearly, longer than the
15th day of May, nor take them from grafs, before
the 15th of Oftober, under the pain of forfeiting the
faid horfes, or paying the value of them to the king.
By an aft likewife of the faid king, to correft the too
great addiftion to horfe-races, and the laying large
wagers upon horfes, it is ordained, that if any man
win above the fum of one hundred marks, the fur-
plus fhall be given to the poor ; and if the colleftor,
iherilF, or juftices, are empowered to profecute for the
recovery of the fame, and in cafe of failure or negleft
fo to do, ai-e liable to be informed againil, and pay

double

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 205

double thereof, half to the informer, and half to the
poor.

This kingdom, at prefent, encourage a fleet breed
of horfes, and the nobility and gentry have many fo-
reign, and other llallions of great value, in their pof-
feffion, with which they cultivate the breed, and im-
prove it with great knowledge and fuccefs. Like the
Englilli, they are fond of Racing, and have a celebrat-
ed courfc at Lciib, which is honoured with a royal
plate, given by his prefent majefty.

The wifdom and generofuy likewife of the nobility
and gentry have lately ere(5ted a riding-houfe in the
city of Edinburgh at their own expence, and fixed a
falary upon the perfon who is appointed to diretfl it.
This kingdom has been famous for breeding a pecu-
liar fort of horfes called Galloways..

Tradition reports that this kind of horfes are fprung
from fome Spanl/h llallions, which fwam on fliore from
forae of the fhips of the famous Spanifh armada, which
were wrecked on the coaft, and coupling with the
mares of the country, peopled the kingdom with their
pofterity. They were much efleemed, and of a mid-
ling lize, llrong, adlive, nervous, and hardy, and were
called Gallouays, from being firil known in the county
which bears that name. They are commended by
the duke of Newcadle. From the care and attention
paid at prefent to the culture of horfes in this nation,
it is to be expected that it will foon be able to fend
forth numbers of valuable and generous breeds, def-

tined

2o6 THE HISTORY AND ART

tined to a variety of purpofcs, and equal to all : the
country being very capable of anfwering the wifhes
of the judicious breeder, who need only remember
that colts require to be well nouriflied in winter, and
fheltered from the feverity of a rigorous and change-
able fky.

The kingdom of Ireland has, for many centuries,
boafted a race of horfes called Hobbles, much admir-
ed and valued for their eafy paces, and other pleafmg,
ufeful, and agreeable qualities *j of a middling fize,
flrong, nimble, well-moulded and hardy: — many forts
of good and ferviceable horfes are bred in this king-
dom, which anfwer the pleafurable and neceflary pur-
pofes of life perfectly well, and are capable of mount-
ing the Light troops very properly. The nobility and
perfons of fortune have flallions of great reputation
belonging to them ; but chufe to breed for the 'Turf, in
preference to other purpofes ; for which, perhaps, their
country is not fo well qualified, from the moiflure of
the atmofphere, occafioned by excefs of rain, and other
caufes, which hinder it from imparting that elaftic
force, and clearnefs of wind, fo necelTary for the exer-
tion and continuation of extraordinary fpeed ; and
which are folely the gifts of 2idry foil, and an air more
pure and refined. This country, neverthelefs, is cap-

* Cafnden fays they are very excellent, and go not as other horfes
do, but pace very foftly and eafily.

Camden's Tranfl. by Gibfon, Vol. II. p. 1312.

able

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 207

able of producing fine and noble horfcs, if feconded
by a judicious care, and other requifites, which its in-
habitants are very able to beftow.

The horfes of the Ifle of Man are generally lefs than
thofe of England ; but as the land improves, fo do they j
and, of late, forae have been bred of no inconfiderable
fizc. This is the account given of them by Camden, as
they were at the time when he wrote.

They have a particular dwarfifh breed in the moun-
tains, which are very hardy, whofe fmallnefs alone re-
commends them to the pleafure and ufe of chil-
dren.

There were, feme years ago, a very particular breed
of tight, ftrong, and very little horfes, between Pen-
zance in Cornwall, and the Lizard Point, called Goon-
ellies, and fo denominated, from a large traft of land
where they were bred, known by the name of
Goonelly.

In many parts of that extenfive continent of the
Weft-Indies, a variety of horfes are to be found both
in a tame and favage Hate. It is generally thought
that the horfe is not an indigenous animal of the
Weft-Indies, but was introduced by the Spaniards,
whofe horfes were the firft the natives had ever feen.
Some learned and curious perfons however have en-
tertained doubts concerning this opinion, and pro-
duced weighty and plaufible arguments to prove that
thefe creatures exifted in America before it was known
to the Europeans. — As a farther difcuftion would be

need-

2oS THE HISTORY AND ART

needlefs, and foreign to the prefent fubjed, we will
leave the matter undecided ; obicrving only, that the
general and more probable notion is, that America is
indebted to Europe for the horfe *.

The territories belonging to Spain have, at this day,
a noble and elegant breed, little inferiour to their SpaniJJj
anceilors, which firfl peopled this fourth part of the
globe. — Their incrcafe has been prodigious, and feve-
ral of the Indian tribes are acquainted with their ufe,
and employ them to their pleafure and advantage, as
we find in the account of the late difcovery of Pata-
gonia.— When Sir Walter Raleigh went thither, they
were in fuch abundance, wild in the woods, that
the Indians killed them merely for their fkins, which
were beautifully marked and fpotted, and of uncom-
mon colours.

All who have feen, or give any defcription of
them, are very flowing of their praifes. — Commodore
f Byron fpeaks of them as having uncommon merit,
and X Ulloa fays, that the boafted fwiftnefs of the Eu-
ropean horfe s is DuHnefs, when compared to the cele-
rity of thofe of South America. One fort of thefe
horfes, called Jguilillas, not only excel in the amhJe, a
pace univerfally pradifed here, but are fo fuperiour in
their gallop, that no other horfes . can contend with

* Vid. Johannes de Laet notas ad difTertat. de gentium American,
origin. Hugonis Grotii. pag. 12.

-j- Byron's Narrative. % Voyage to S. America, p. 236, 464,
Vol. II.

thcm^

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 20^

them. The author fays, that he was pofTcfled of one
of this breed, which often carried him from Callao to
Limay which is two meafured leagues and an half,
through a very bad and Honey road, in twenty-nine
minutes, and brought him back again within a minute
or two of the fame time, without taking off the bridle.
This fpecies is not handfome, but eafy to the rider;
very gentle and docile, yet full of fpirit and intrepi-
dity. In the kingdom of Chili, the women are par-
ticularly famous for their fkill in horfemanfhip.

The province of Kew England has a very peculiar
fort, originally brought from England, which are faid
to amble naturally ; this pace they perform with great
fpeed, and with fuch fafety and exacT:nefs, that, altho'
otherwife valuable, they are chiefly efteemed for pof-
fefllng this talent, which they exert in a degree very
fuperior to all other horfes.

In taking a review of the flate of horfes in Eng-
land, from early times to the prefent, they feem to
have been divided but into two general cI^l^qs, vjhxch.
may be ranged under two diftinifl periods of time. In
the firft sera, as it was an univerfal cuftom for horfe-
men to fight in arm.our ; the burden was fo heavy,
and the fervice fo fevere, that none but large a.ndJ?ou(
horfes were equal to the tafk ; neither, from the bad-
nefs of the roads, could horfes of a much lefs fize,
and inferior ftrengtb, have been difpenfed with either
for journies, or in the cart. It was therefore the con-
ftant endeavour of this nation to raife fuch a breed

Vo L. I. E e as

^lo THE HISTORY AND ART

as fliould be able to anfwer the purpofes required
of them ; inllances and proofs of which have been
cited in the foregoing part of this work. This prac-
tice began about the time of Henry II. or fomewhat
earlier, and continued till towards the end of the
reign of Elizabeth ; at which period I bound the firft
asra, and range under it the firft Divijton, or clafs,
of horfcs, univerfally called Great. The conflant aim
of the legiflature was to flock the kingdom with
horfes of this character ; and although it appears to
have been difficult in the execution, from the many
a(^s of parliament and proclamations to fupport and
enforce it, yet it is not eafy to know from what
caufes this difficulty could fo frequently occur ; fince,
if this country did not naturally produce large or Great
horfes, ftallions and mares of a luftier growth might
have been, and were frequently imported from various
pans, cfpccially from Flanders, Holland, and Germany;
from the horfes of which country, the black breed of
coach horfes (now worn out) as well as thofe ufed
in our troops, which, in many engagements, from
their weight and ftrength, have been almoft irrefift-
ible, are known to be originally defcended : neither
can it be admitted, that England cannoi produce
large horfes, for the herbage is fo abundant, and
the ground fo various, that it can raife horfes of
the largeft ftature, and almoft of any intermediate
fize, at the will of the breeder ; and it is known
that the draught-horfes of Lincolnfliire, StafFordfliire,

Leicefter-

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 211

LeicefterjQiire, Northamptonfhire, and fome other coun-
ties are the Giants of their kind. The duke of New-
caflle complains that our horfes are often tco big, by
reafan of the moifture of the air, and wetnefs of
the ground : fo that when the contrary effeds ap-
peared, they muft have proceeded either from want of
judgment in the choice of the mare or ftallion, or both,
or from negledt of the foals, in not fupplying them
with good and fufficient nourifliment in winter, and
expofmg them in a weak and tender ftate to the va-
rious cruelties of that feafon.

About the reign of James, armour, being rendered
ufelefs by the invention of fire-arms, was laid afide,
and the Great horfc not only ceafed to be neceffary,
but, upon many occafions, became even improper.
Lighter and more nimble horfes were therefore brought
into ufe ; and here begins the ara, which comprehends
the fecond clafs of horfes, called the light or fwift
breed.

To encourage and promote a race of thefe horfes,
proclamations indeed were not iffued, nor flatutes en-
abled, but more powerful methods were adopted, and
employed perhaps with too much fuccefs. Public re-
wards were given, wagers allowed to be rifked, and
races inftituted ; which, from the curiolity they excite,
and the plcafure they afford, always draw an in-
credible number of fpedators, fo as almoft to fupply
the place of an Olympic triumph to the owner of the
victorious fteed ; and from thefe concurrent caufes,

E e 2 prove

212 THE HISTORY AND ART

prove a mod powerful excitement to felf-intereft and
V cnaulation ; too powerful perhaps for tlie advancement
of that plan which they were originally intended to
promote : for, as if mere fpecd were the only requifite
in an horfe, all other properties and qualities have
been facrificed to it ; and it is almoft incredible to
what a degree of fwifcnefs the firft-rate breeds of this
kingdom have been Urained and wrought up ; but,
lofmg on one hand what they gain on the other, and
-jDeakened as refined, they become lefs ferviceable from
the excefs of the very quality which is reckoned their
chief recommendation : whereas, if ftrength and fpeed
were to go hand in hand, and join in due proportion,
the nation would foon fee a race of horfes capable of
fliining upon other ground than a Green Carpet, and
equal to every fervice which ufe or pleafure can de-
mand. Neverthelefs, however highly gifted the horfes
may be, there are duiies incumbent alfo lipon thofe
who are to ride them, without an attention to which,
all the talents of the horfe, inllead of being called forth
and improved, will be cruQied, extinguiflied, and
nature have been kind in vain. — Thefe Duties are
comprehended under one head, the Art of Riding.
This art has fo long been negleded and defpifed, that
one would almoft be prompted to conclude that a
fatality had conftantly attended it in this country ;
favoured as it is with every advantage for breed-
ing, nourifhing, and procuring the fmeft horfes of
all forts J and with a nobility and gentry, whofe

love

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 213

love of cxcrcife, atStivity, courage, perfonal endow-
ments, and commanding fortunes, v/ould qualify
them to take the lead, and •witch the JJ^orld uith r.obJe
Horfemanjljip ; yet, with all thefe high privileges, they
have fuffered it to languifli, and almoft perifli in their
hands : for a length of time it has been able to boaft
but a very few perfons who have flood forth as its
avowed friends and protectors. The duke of Nsw-
caftle honoured it with his pra^lice, and greatly enrich-
ed it with his knowledge. His treatife is a proof of
the vafl fcience he pofTefled, which, neverthelefs, from
the random manner in which it is wrote, the want of
method and perfpecuity, the redundancy and tau-
tology in which it abounds, has done juftice neither
to the art, nor to the Urong fenfe and infallible pre-
cepts with which it is replete. Fortunately for horfe-
manfhip, and for all who love and praiTtife it, its other
pride and fupport flill lives and rides. He never yet
has thought proper to convey his knowledge to others
by means of the Vrejs^ but, (like the Athenian of old) does
more than other people 'wrhe. His Horfe is his Pen, up-
on which he difpenfes fuch noble ocular inftru6lions ;
that if the duke of Newcajile thought himfelf entitled to
the homage of the Hor/^'-kind *, the -nobler applaufe
and acknowledgments of all Hv/emeii^ mull be confeft
to be equally due to Sir Sidney Medows. Sir JJllliam Hope
laid his ofl^ering upon the altar of horfcmanfhip, and

* Vide two prints at the head of the book publiflied by T. Sol-
Jeyfel.

gave

214 THE HISTORY AND ART

gave the world a tranflation of a French work much
efteemed at that time, and rendered ftill more valuable
by the notes and additions which he made to it.

The prefent Henry earl of Pembroke, (non corpus Jine
peSlore) is an illuftrious labourer in this vineyard : he
has honoured the art by compofmg a treatife upon
** The Method of breaking Horfes ;" and pradiling what he
preaches, inflru(5ls the world both by precept and
example.

Such long has been the ftate of horfemanfliip in

this kingdom ; but fmce the acceflion of his prefent

Majefty, the profpecT: has brightened, and better times

begin to dawn. Since this happy event, the Art has

raifed itfelf a little, and given fome figns of recovery »

public riding-houfes have been opened, which are

largely encouraged, and frequented by the youth of

the nation: many are calledy and it is to be hoped, many

v/ill be chofen. — Several private Maneges have likewife

been eredled by the Princes of the blood, fome of the

Nobility and Gentry, and, to crown all, his Majefty has

cre(5ted one for his immediate ufe, where, in his own

perfon, he cultivates, prote(5ls, and honours the Art, in

fo diftinguifhed a manner, that under the influence of

his illuftrious example, we may expect to fee the golden

age of horfemanfliip revive, and that men will not

much longer ''complain * of the want of excellent

" horfes, nor the horfes groan for want of worthy

" riders."

* C Morgan's Perfe<5b. of Hoifeman. 1609.

4 Thus

OF HORSEMANSHIP. 215

Thus have I endeavoured to trace the hiftory of the
equeflrian art from its earliefl appearance among men,
but more immediately from its two great fources, Greece
and Rome.

The invention of bridles and faddles, the general
rules for riding of modern races, which are a copy of
the ancient, and almofl whatever elfe relates to the
animal, cannot without injuftice be afcribed to any
other origin. Such as it was received from the an-
cients, it is thought to have continued till fome time
in the fourteenth century, when the famous PignatelU
arofe in Naples, who engrafting his own fuperior me-
thods upon the ancient flock, opened a fchool, and dis-
played his knowledge to the equeftrian world. What
additions the Art has fince received, and what the ele-
ments are which compofe it, I will attempt to fet forth,
in the fubfequent volume, under ihe comprehenfive
title of the Manege ; firft begging the reader's permif-
lion, to lay before him a tranilation of the treatife of
Xenophon upon horfemanfhip : a work not only refpcc-
table for its antiquity, and for being the only one which
has furvived the ravages of time, but ftill more valu-
able, as coming from one who as a General, Hijiorian, and
Pbilofopher, flione with diftinguiflied lullre, in a very
polifhed and difcerning age.

To this I am happy to be permitted to join a dilTer-
tation on a kindred fubje(5l, the ancient method of coup-
ling horfes in a chariot. A method hitherto fo httle

under-

2i6 THE HISTORY AND ART

underftood, as to have been almoft unknown. — I flatter
myfelf, likewife, that the reader will be pleafcd no lefs
with the accuracy with which it is fet forth, than with
the erudition which it contains, and will join the
honour of his praifes, to the acknowledgments which
are due from me to Governor PownalL

Fkciit eqms curruque volans dat jrcenajecundo.

Virg. iEn. i.

XENO-

X E N O P H O N's

TREATISE

O N

HORSEMANSHIP.

From the Greek.

Vol. I. Ff

X E N O P H O N's

TREATISE

O N

HORSEMANSHIP.

From the Original Greek.

INTRODUCTION.

AS it has happened that much of our time has
been fpent in riding, and we think that we
have thereby acquired a fkili in horfemanfhip,
we are defirous of informing the younger part of our
friends, what method we judge the moft proper for
them to ufe in the management of their horfes. A
treatife on this fubjeifl has been written by the fame
Simon *, who dedicated a brazen flatue of an horfe in
the Eleujinium f at Athens, and carved upon the bafis a

* Little is known of this horfeman and writer, but what is preferv-
ed of him by Xenophon. — His Treatife quoted by our author is lofl:.
He is mentioned likewife by Julius Pollux, Apfyrtus, and others.

-f- The Temple of Ceres.

F f 2 re pre-

2ZO XENOPHON's TREATISE

re pre fen ration of his own performances. Whenever
we happen to be of the fame opinion with him, in any
particulars, we fliall not erafe them from our book,
but deliver them with greater pleafure to our friends,
as thinking ourfelves more worthy of credit, for hav-
ing the concurrence of his judgment, who was fo ex-
pert in the art: whatever he has omitted, we fliall en-
deavour to fupply.

I

C H A P. I.

N the firft place, wc will fhew how any one
may be leaft liable to impofition in buying an
horfe.

In a colt that has not yet been broken, it is plain
that the Shape muft chiefly be confidered ; for, having
never been backed, he can give but very uncertain
ligns by which to judge his temper.

The firft part to be attended to is the Foot ; for as an
horfe would be of no ufe though the upper parts were
very beautiful, if the foundation were infufficient to
fupport it; juft fo a war horfe would be good for no-
thing, how much foever he excelled in all other points,
if he had bad feet ; for that alone would difable him
from uiing his other advantages.

Upon examining the feet, firft obferve the Hoofs : the
thick are much preferable to the thin. In the next
place, take notice whether they are high, or low and

flat,

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 221

flat, and this both behind and before. The hoofs that
are high have the yro^, or rather the fole, at a diftance
from the ground ; whereas an horfe whofe hoofs are low
moves equally on the ftrongeft and tendered part of his
foot, like a bandy, or bow-legged man.

Simon is right in affirming, that a good foot may be
known by the found * — The hollow hoof rattles againft
the ground like a drum.

Having begun from below, let us proceed regu-
larly to the higher parts of the body.

The bones of the Pajiem muft neither be too ftraight,
like thofe of a goat, for fuch a iliffnefs in the joint
would be uneafy to the rider, and the legs are more
fubjeft to inflammation ; nor, on the contrary, fhould
they be too much bent and low, left the fetlock fhould
be galled, and lofe its hair, when the horfe is ufed in
clayey or ftoney ground.

* Monfieur Bourgelat, in his preface to the fecond volume of Les
Ekmens Hippiatriques, reprehends this remark as trifling and falfe -, and
if our author is to be underftood literally, and the words feem to per-
mit no other conftrudlion, the criticifm is certainly jufl. — It may be
but candid, nevertheleis, to think that Xenophon could mean to fay
no more than that the feet, if well formed, and in good condition, could
bear to be ftruck againft the ground fo forcibly as to make it ring and
found ; and that this noife was a proof of their foundnefs, otherwife the
horfe could not bear the fhock, fo as to make his Beats firm and
diftind.

^adrupedante putrem foniiu qualit ungula campum.

Virg.

Let

222 XENOPHON's TREATISE

Let the bones of the leg be large ; they are the pil-
lars of the body; yet not over-burdened with veins or
flefh *; for in going upon rough grounds, it happens
that a defluxion of blood and hard tumours are brought
on, the legs grow large and fwolen, and the ikin
widens ; which having once loft its tightnefs, the Fibula,
or fmaller bone of the leg, frequently gives way, and
makes the horfe lame.

If the colt, in moving, bend his knees j- freely, you
may conclude he will do fo when he comes to be rode;
for all of them, by time and ufe, acquire a greater
freedom of motion in their knees. — This is an excellent
quality, and thofe horfes which want it, are more apt
to ftumble, and fooner tire.

The Thighs X under the fhoulders, if they are large,
appear ftronger and more graceful, as in the human
form.

A wide cheft is to be preferred for beauty and
flrength, as it enables an horfe to continue § the fame

motion

* The author means, that the legs fliould be lean and dry, and the
veins and finews diftinft, firm, and compacfl.

-f- This is fo clear and evident, that the rule is obferred by the judi-
cious to this day. — As it is certain that no horfe, which has not a fup-
plenefs in his joints, and can bend his knees, can go either with fafety
or grace.

t Thefe are now called the Arms; they begin from the Ihoulder,
and reach to the knee.

§ This is owing to the fpace being larger, ano the limbs confequent-
ly enabled to move with more fpring and play, than if they were confined

^ in

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 223

motion of his legs for a longer time, without inter-
miflion.

Let the neck differ fo much from that of a Boar,
that it rather may refemble the fliape of a Cock's ; it
fhould not hang Hoping downwards from the chell,.
but rife eredl towards the fummit of the head ; and
be light and eafy in its flexible parts. — The head, in
general, (hould be boney *, but the cheek bones fliould
be fmall. The horfe's neck will then be carried di-
re(5lly in front of his rider, and his eyes be fixed on
what is before his feet. One of fuch a mould will be
lead able to overpower his rider, though he has ever
fo much fpirit, for horfes do not make fuch an attempt
by arching their necks, and bringing their heads near
their chefts, but by turning up their nofes, and ftretch-
ing out their necks.

It is proper alfo to obferve, whether the Jaws f or
Bars are tender or hard, or whether they are of dif-
ferent tempers ; when that happens, their mouths are
generally bad.

in narrower room; and the maxim is fo juft, that it is praftifed by all
horfemen, though perhaps unknown to fome, that this dodlrine was
preached and pradifed fome thoufand years ago.

* That is to fay, the head Ihould not be flefhy, but lean and dry ;
and thefe properties, added to fmall bones, will compofe a link Head,
which is efteemed the moil: beautiful.

f I have added the word Bars, as explanatory of what Xenophon
calls the Jazvs ; although it muft be confefled that the good or bad
temper of an horfe's mouth depends much upon the formation of the
yaws, and the fetting on of the Head.

2 An.

224 XENOPHON's TREATISE

An Eye which ftands out from the head, has more
appearance of quicknefs, and of diftant fight, than one
which looks hollow, and feems to be funk in the head.
Wide Nojlrih afford room for freer breathing, than clofe
ones ; and, at the fame time, give a nobler and fiercer
look: for when one horfe quarrels with another, or
grows warm and animated under his rider, you may
obferve that his noftrils fwell and widen.

The Head is properly large towards the top, and the
Ears fmall.

If the point of the fhoulder is high, it gives the
rider a fafer feat, and makes the connedion ftronger
between the fhoulders and the body. If this part is
Broady the feat is better, and it is more beautiful to be-
hold.

When the Side is deep, and fwelling towards the bel-
ly, for the moft part, it makes the rider's feat more
eafy, and the horfe appears ftronger and fuller of

ilclh.

The fhorter and broader the 'Loim are, fo much more
eafily he raifes his fore-parr, and brings his hinder
forwards, or und'^r him : befides, in fo doing, his belly
will appear fmaller, which, when it is large, partly dif-
fio-ures him; renders him to a certain degree weaker,
and lefs able to bear any burden or weight.

The Haunches fhould be broad and well-furnifhed,
and in proportion to the fides and cheft.

When

O N HO R S E M A N S H I P. azj:

When all parts of an horfe are firm and folid, he
is lighter for the courfe j and confequently more
fpeedy.

If the Thighs * under the Tail, or Hocks, are diftinclly
feparated, he will extend his hinder legs a great way
under his belly ; and, in fo doing, will carry his rider
with more flrength and fwiftnefs, and be better in
every point. — Of this any one may be convinced, by
confidering that a man, when he takes a thing from
the ground, Hands with his legs aftride and open.

The Tefiicks f of an horfe Ihould not be large ; but
their proper fize cannot be determined in a colt.

What has been faid upon the Pajierns, the Legs, the
Fetlocks, and the Hoofs, of the fore-part of the Horfe, may be
applied to the fame parts beUnd.

I will now fubjoin by what means any man Inay
make the beft guefs at theyfoe of a colt : that which is
foaled with the hngejl legs will be the talleft ; for the legs
of all four-footed animals do at no time increafe much
in fize ; but the other parts grow fo ^ to become pro-
portionable to them.

* By this we are to underftand that the Hocks, which he calls the
thighs under the 'Tail, fhould be at a proper diftance from each other,
in oppofition to that fhape or mould of an horfe in which they turn /a,
and almoft touch each other ; tlie French call horfes fo formed Crochu,
and we Cat-ha?mned, from their refemblance in thefe parts, to the hinder
legs of that animal.

j Apfyrtus fays they fhould be fmall.

Vol. I. ^S He

326 XENOPHON's TREATISE

He who examines the fliape of a colt by thefe rules,
feems to us to have the beft chance of getting a good
horfe ; one that is well-footed, well-bodied, llrong,
handfome, and large. And although it fometimes
happens that colts alter as they grow, yet we may, with
afTurance, rely upon our judgment formed upon thefe
obfervations ; for many more change from worfe to
better, than from better to worfe.

CHAP. 11.

Wl E will now proceed to the right method of
breaking a colt. Thofe who are appointed to
ferve in the cavalry among us, are men of large pro-
perty, and fuch as bear a confiderable part in the go-
vernment of the ftate ; and it is furely then much
more becoming the young men to attend to the good
management of themfelves, and the art of horfeman-
fhip; or, if they^nderftand that already, to continue to
exercife themfelves therein, without being profefled
riding-mafters ; while the old will be more properly
employed in ferving their families, friends, and coun-
try, either in its civil or military concerns.

Thus it is plain, that whoever is of my opinion, in
this refpeft, will fend his colt * out to be broken; and,

in

* It is to be inferred from this expreflion, that in our author's time,
if not long before, there were certain perfons who profefled to break

coksy

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 227

in the fame manner, as when one fends a fon out to be
inftrud:ed in any art, he will put into writing in what
he requires his colt fliould be prai5tifcd, before becomes
home again. For this will be a direiflion to the horfe-
breakcr; to which he ought principally to attend, if he
expe(fts to be paid.

Care fliould be taken that the colt, which you de-
liver to him, be gentle, temperate, and fond of man.
Of this the owner may be informed at home, chiefly
by means of his groom ; who ought to reflect:, that
hunger, thirll, and other things which provoke the
colt to rage and uneafinefs, come upon him of them-
felves ; but that he is fupplied with food and water,
and delivered from what offends him, by the affiftance
of man. If the groom conliders this, and a(fts ac-
cordingly, the colt will be brought not only patiently
to endure and perform what is required of him, but
will alfo conceive a fondnefs for man.

Let the perfon to whom his education is intrulled,
ftroke and rub the colt in thefe parts of his body
■where he is likely to receive moft pleafure ; thefe are
thofe which are moft covered with hair, and where he
is leaft able to aflift himfelf, when any thing difturbs
him. The groom likewife Ihould be ordered to lead
him through crowds, and familiarife him to fights and
noifes of all kinds ; and when he is alarmed at any

colts, and were public riding-mafters ; which proves that the Art was
much confidered and cultivated in Greece, even in thofe early ages.

Gg 2 of

228 XENOPHON's TREATISE

of them, let him convince him, not by force and fe-
verity, but by patience and gentlenefs, that he has
nothing to fear. Thefe are the rules which we re-
commend to the unexperienced, having (as we think)
faid enough concerning the methods to be taken in
breaking of colts.

CHAP. III.

T F the horfe to be bought has already been rode, wc
"^ will give fome diredlions, which a man Ihould ob-
ferve, who would efcape being deceived in his pur-
chafe.

Firft of all, be fure to know what is his age. One
who has no longer the marks in his teeth, neither
affords much room for hope, nor is fo eafily fold
again.

When it is evident that he is young, then let it be
obferved how he bears the bit to be put into his
mouth, and the head-piece about his ears. This may
beft be known, if the buyer fees the bridle put on and
taken off.

The next attention muft be to his behaviour, when
he receives his rider upon his back : for many horfes
will not fubmit, without difficulty, to bear fuch things
to be done to them ; which being done, they know
would bring them under fubje<5tion, and be the means
©f compelling them to work.

Another

ON HORSEMANSHIP. azp

Another thing to be noted, is whether, when the
rider is mounted, the horfe is ready and wilHng to go
forward, and leave his companions, if they are near
him ; but rather hefitates, and cafts his eyes upon them,
as refufmg to leave them.

There are others who, from not being entirely re-
duced, and made obedient, when they were firfl under-
taken, grow fo headftrong and furious, as frequently
to run away with the rider, and leave the place of
exercife *.

Mouths which are bad, and have loft their feeling,
from the imperfedlion of the Jaws, or hardnefs of the
Bars, may be discovered by riding the horfes with a
Bit, called the Chain f ; but the better method is en-
tirely

* From this exprefllon it is to be inferred, that the Greeks exercifed
and taught their horfes out of doors, and knew not to avail themfelves
of the advantage of a covered Manege.

•\- It is very difficult to form any idea of the author's meaning, with:
refpeft to this word. — The original Greek term, niSn, fignifies a Chain,
Shackle, or Fetter-, and a chain, without much in:ipropriety, might be
put into the mouth of an horfe, and be ufed as a fort of a Bit, or elfe
it may be underftood to be placed on the outfide of the mouth, in the
hollow of the Chin, or upon the Beard, as it is called, in the manner of
our bits, or over the nofe, as a cavezon. Thefe fuggeftions, however,
are mere conjeflure, and as fuch are left with the reader. The au-
thor's meaning, in general, as to this paffage, is likewife fomewhat ob-
fcure ; for although he tells us that the badnefs of the horfe's mouth
maybe known by riding him with this Chain, yet he fays, immediately
after, that it is better that the method fiiould be totally changed; but
does not inform us what that method is which he wifhes we fhould purfue.

None.

230

XENOPHON's TREATISE

tirely to change the way of working. For many horfes
do not attempt to run away, unlefs they have a bad
mouth; or are, at the fame time, going homeward, and
eager to get thither. It is necelTary likewife to know,
whether, when the horfc is animated and exerted to a
briflc pace, he will flop readily, turn back, and obey the
rider.

He ought alfo to be put to the trial of his obedience,
by being now and then roufed, and provoked by a
blow ; which, if he receives it without refentment or
anger, it is a mark of a good and generous temper.
An army which refufes to obey its general, or a fervant
who will not fubmit to his mafler, are both entirely
ufelefs ; but a refratftory and difobedient horfe is not
only of no fervice, but will degenerate into a traitor,
and bring his rider to deflrudtion.

As we take for granted, that the horfe to be bought,
is defigned for war, he ought to be examined in every
particular, which that fervice requires. — Such as, his
vigour and adlivity in fpringing acrofs a ditch, leap-

None of the Commentators take any notice of thefe difficulties. — Stephem
indeed explains the word Uih, to be a method of exercifing horfes by
means of a Chain, and quotes our author, adding that it was ufed to
make the horfe turn to either fide ; and then it might eidier be the rein
of the bridle, or rather a longe, with which the horfe was pulled and
worked, to make him fupple to either fide; for which purpofe, it
might be cuflomary to ufe a Cbain. All this, however, is but fuppofi-
tion, and 1 muft confefs my inability, to give any certain infor-
mation. Vid. infra.

ing

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 2ji

ing over walls, rufhing upwards againft a bank, and
jumping down from the top of one. He fhould like-
wife be tried in mounting up, and defcending from a
fteep hill, or running acrofs it. — Thefe experiments
will prove whether his fpirit be good, and his body-
found and ftrong.

Neverthelefs, it is not to be concluded, that an horfe
who is not equal to all thefe trials, is abfolutely to be
rejeded; for many may fail in thefe attempts, not from
want of fpirit or ability, but for want of ufe and ex-
perience ; which, when they have been taught and
difciplined, will perform thefe exercifes perfeftly well,
provided that they are found, and endowed with cou-
rage and refolution.

A fufpicious and timid horfe muft be abfolutely
avoided. For with this cowardly difpofition, he will
not advance to charge an enemy ; and, from his fear
and fliynefs, may be fo troublefome as even to fling
the rider, and expofe him to great danger.

The qualities and temper of the animal fhould like-
wife be examined, that it may be known if he has
any vices, of what kind they may be, and whether he
Ihows them towards men, or other horfes ; likewife
how he bears being handled or dreffed ; fmce from his
behaviour, in thefe circumftances, he becomes valu-
able or ufelefs to his owner.

A furer judgment may alfo be formed of his docility
and patience, to be bridled and mounted, as well as in;

per-

.232 XENOPHON's TREATISE

performing his different exercifes ; if, after having
gone through his labours, you make him repeat the
tafk, and begin again ; for, if after having finiflied his
work, he w^ill renew and go over it again with chear-
f ulnefs and good-will ; he gives a notable proof of his
obedience and fubmiflion.

In fhort, when an horfe has good feet, is gentle, fuf-
ficiently fpeedy, willing and able to undergo fatigue,
and, above all, is obedient, it may be concluded, that
he is poffelTed of all the qualities neceffary for military
fervice, and will prove moft fafe and ufeful to his
rider.

On the other hand, fuch horfe s, which, from a cold
and fluggifli nature, demand much beating and infti-
gation ; or fuch, which from a fiery and capricious
temper, require fuch attention as to keep the rider al-
ways upon his guard, are not to be valued or chofen,
inafmuch as they are not to be trufted, and may ex-
pofe the rider to great mifchief.

CHAP. IV.

TH E next care a man fliould take, after he has
found an horfe to his mind, and purchafed
him, fliould be to provide a flable fo fituated, with
refpedl to his houfe, that he may fee him very fre-
quently ; and to have his Hall fo contrived, that it may
be as difficult a tafk to fleal the provender out of the
2 manger,

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 233

manger, as to take his own vidluals out of the
Larder.

He that neglects thefe things, feems to negletfl him-
felf ; fince it is plain that, in times of danger, the fafety
of the matter is oftentimes intruded to the horfe. — Such
a ftall is not only fafe againll theft, but fliows alfo
when an horfe feeds, or leaves his food uneaten.
When this appears to be the cafe, either that he is
furfeited, and his body is too full, fo as to require evacua-
tion, or elfe that he has been over-worked, and demands
repofe, or that fome diforder is coming upon him.
Now it is the fame with horfes as with men, all dif-
tempers taken in time are more eafily cured, than when
they have been fuffered to fix themfelves, and have
corrupted the conftitution. The fame attention which
is given to fupply an horfe with food, and to let him
have due exercife, that he may be healthy and ftrong,
is alfo requifite to be obferved, in order to keep his
feet in proper condition. Moid or fmooth floors will
injure even thofe hoofs, which are by nature good and
found. The firft evil is to be remedied by a declivi-
ty, or flope in the floor ; the fecond may be prevented
by making a Stone-pavement, each Stone, of which it is
compofed, being about the fize of the horfe's hoof. —
This fort of pavement will cool, harden, and improve
his feet, merely by his fl:anding upon it. The groom
mufl remember to lead the horfe out of the flable, when
he is to be cleaned and drefled ; and after the firft

Vol. I. Hh - -•• meal,

2 34 XENOPHON's TREATISE

meal, to remove, or turn * him from the manger, that
he may return to his food, to his fecond or evening
feed, with frefli appetite.

In order that the Stable-yard may beft anfwer the piir-
pofe of hardening \ and ftrengthening the horfes feet,

let

* Our method of keeping a large quantity of litter and dung under
the horfes feet is wrong and injudicious. The litter, mixed with dung,,
heats the feet and legs, and makes the hoofs become dry and brittle.
Befides this, the horl'c is not fo much tempted to lie down at night, as
he would be, if it were removed, and fpread under him again at
proper fealbns. The fame error prevails in keeping the rack conti-
nually crammed with hay, which the horfe being obliged to fmell
continually, is brought to naufeate and loath it.— A certain portion
fhould be given at a time, of which, if the animal leaves any part, it
ought to be remove^ ■■, that by having wanted food for a certain time,
his appetite may call for it ; he will then relifli what he eats, and
thrive better upon a fmall quantity thus dealt out, than on a much,
larger improperly given.

-j- As much isfaid in the preceding chapter concerning the beft method
of preferving the hoofs, and rendering them hard and tough, by the
means of a Jlone pavement on which the horfes were to ftand when in
the ftable ; it may not be thought foreign to the fubjeft, to add a more
particular account of the ancient method oi Jhoeing horfes, if that term
may be ufed, for an occafional covering of their feet. Mention is made
in fome * ancient authors of this praftice. Yet it is certain, that if we
undcrftand the coverings of the feet in ufe among them to be the fame
as the modern Jhoes, or like them in any refpefl, we labour under a
palpable miftake. The ancients did not Jhoe their horfes-, that is to fay>
tiiey did not nail upon their hoofs any pieces of iron, or of other metal,
in the form and (hape of the modern horfejhoes; but when they intended

* Catullus, Appian, Pliny, Suetonius.

to

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 23^

let four or five loads of round ftones, of about a pound
weight, be thrown down in it, having a ridge, or bor-
der

to defend them from any thing that might annoy them in travelling, or
the hardnefs of the ground, they faftened upon their feet^ by means
of ftraps and ligatures, a fort of Snndal-f, Stocking, or what -we call BoolS'
Thefe were made ofSeJges twifled together like zMat, or elfe o^ Leather^
and were fomecimes ftrengther.ed with plates of iron, and adorned by
rich and oftentatious people with filver and gold, as in the inftances of
Nero and Poppxa. In the colledtion of the late Baron Socks, Paftes of
antique ftones, now in the Britifh Mufeum, there is one which repre-
fents a foldier binding, or tying, on this fort of fhoe, which, being add-
ed to other authorities, proves the faft to demonftration, as the above
pafTage of Xenophon, and the contrivance of the ftone-pavement, make
it clear that fhoes were unknown in his time.

It is remarkable that the Japanefe, at prefent, have a fimilar kind of
fhoes with the common fort ufed by the ancients. They are twifted,
of ftraw, with ropes, likewife of ftraw, hanging down from them, with
which they are fattened about the horfe's feet, inftead of the European
iron fhoes, which are not ufed in this country. They are foon worn
out in flippery and ftoney roads, and muft be often changed for new.
For this purpofe, the men who look after the horfes always carry
a competent ftock with them, though they are to be found in every
village, and offered to fale by poor children begging along the road.

The horfes of Japan are generally fmall, but fome of them not in-
feriour in fhape and fpeed to the Perfian breed. They are ufed both
for the faddle and draught. Vid. Kempfer's Hiftory of Japan, tranf-
lated by Scheuzer.

I have not been able to difcover in what sera, or in what country,
the modern art of fhoeing took its rife. The earlieft proof I have
met with, is the fhoe faid to have belonged to the horfe of ChilJerk,
who lived in the year 481, and is preferved in Montfaucon's Anti-
quities of France. It perfedtly refembles the fhoes in ufe at prefent.

t Rei Ruflicx Scrip. Editio Gefner.

H h 2 It

23<5 XENOPHON's TREATISE

der of iron, that they may be kept together, and not
fcattered and loft. The horfe being obliged to Hand
upon thefe ftones, will procure the fame advantage to
his hoofs *, as he would, if he went upon ftoney
Toads every day : and when he is rubbed down, or
curried, it muft neceflarily happen that his hoofs
will be ufed in the fame manner * as if he walked

It is to be remarked, that it was a cuftom among the ancients, which
defcended to the early modern ages, to bury their horfes with their
owners, and to prefer fuch as were moft valued and beloved. In
Homer, Achilles facrifices fix to the manes of Patroclus. The grooms,
or equerries, or favourite fervants, were alfo devoted to the fame fate-
Vid. Herodot. Lib. iv. In the year 1710, a tomb was dug up at Bloisy
in which were found the bones of an horfe and dog. Vid. Montfau-
con's Antiq. de France, p. 14. Vid. alfo Effai's Hift. fur Paris, p.
234, vol. iii.

It may not be impertinent, with reference to this fubjecSt, to relate
the following odd particular belonging to the caftle of Oakham, in
Rutlandlhire, which is maintained and in force at this very time. This
caftle was built foon after the Conqueft, by JVakelin de Ferrariis,
who, as he gave fix Horfe-flooes for his arms, obtained the following
grant j viz. the firft time any baron of the realm pafTes through Oak-
ham, he forfeits a ftioe from his horfe, unlefs he chufe to redeem it,
which generally is the cafe, by finding one in its place. The forfeited
fhoe, or that made in its ftead, is fixed, with the nobleman's name, on
the caftle-gate. Sometimes they are made very large, and gilt, in pro-
portion to the fum of money given in lieu of the real fhoe, (which is
permitted to be done) and great numbers are to be feen on the gate.
This Wakelin de Ferrariis came into England with the Conqueror, and
was created by him earl of Ferrers and Derby. Vid. Brook's Difco-
very of Errors, in the Catalogue of Nobility, p. 198.

* Vegetius fays, that the floor of the ftable fhould not be made of
foft wood, but of folid hard oak, which will make the horfe's hoofs as
hard as rocks.

abroad.

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 237

abroad. Thefc ftones will likewife harden his
feet. But when fo much pains are likewife taken
to harden his hoofs, let it not be forgot to form
and make his mouth tender. This is to be done
by the fame methods which are obferved to foften.
human flefh f.

CHAP. V.

"IT THOEVER underftands horfes himfelf, will take
^ ^ care to have a groom that has been taught to
treat them properly. — In the firft place, he fhould fee
that the knot of the halter, which confines the horfe
to the manger, fhould not hurt his head j for, as he is
often moving his head to the manger, if the halter is
not eafy about his ears, it may gall him ; and that
having once happened, may render him lefs trac-
table, both in bridling and drefling. Let the groom
have orders to remove the litter and dung every day ;,
this will give him lefs trouble, and be better for the
horfe;

He ought alfo to put a muzzle upon the horfe,
when he takes him out to clean, or for other pur-

-f- By doing nothing to injure or hurt it, fo as to make it infenfible
and callous, and then it will naturally be foft and tender.

pofeSj,

2 3§ XENOPHON's TREATISE

pofes *, and in general wherever he goes, and is not
bridled ; for the muzzle prevents his biting, without
interrupting his breath, and hinders him from exe-
cuting any vicious defigns.

The halter with which the horfe is tied fhould be
fixed above his head, becaufe, when any thing offends
his face, it is natural for him to try to get rid of it,
by toiling his head upwards ; and if he is thus tied,
that motion, inflead of tightening, will flaken his
halter.

In dreilmg the horfe, it is right to begin with the
head and mane ; for if the upper parts are not clean,
it is in vain to make the lower ones fo. Let the reft
of his body be cleanfed with all forts of dreiling in-
flruments, and the duft wiped off the way the hair
lies. But the hair on the back-bone fliould not be
touched with an inftrument, for fear of injuring it, fo
as to make it unfit to bear the rider.— -It fliould be
rubbed with the hand only, and fmoothed down the
way it naturally grows.

* In the original and literal fenfe, it is, when he takes him to the
Rolling-place. It means, that the horfe (hould be muzzled when he is
turned out of the liable into a field, yard, or other place, where he may
tumble and roll himfelf. The Greeks thought this a wholefome prac-
tice, and very refrefhing after fatigue. Apfyrtus recommends it; and
Vegetius fays, when an horfe forbears to roll himfelf, it is a fymptom
of his not being well. "Let this horfe roll himfelf upon the fand, and
" then lead him to the ftable," fays a Charailer in the Clouds of Arifto-
phanes, A6t i. Se£l. i.

The

^

ON HORSE M ANSHIP. 239

The head mud be waflied with water : as there are
many bones in it, it would hurt the horfe to rub them
with iron * or wood.

The Forelock fhould be wafhed alfo : this tuft of hair,
though pretty long, does not obftrui5t his fight, but is
a defence to his eyes. Providence certainly has fur-
nifhed the horfe with it, inilead of the long ears which
alTes and mules have for the fame purpofe.

The T'ail and Mane fhould like wife be wafhed and
cleaned, that the hair may grow ; for the longer the
tail is, the farther the horfe is able to reach f, in
bruiliing ofi whatever may difturb him ; and the Mane

is

* This implies that the Greeks ufed Inftruments for the purpofe of
cleaning their horfes, as we do Curry-combs ; and perhaps the moderns
are indebted to them for thefe utenfils.

•f- Thefe obfervations are fo true and juft, that one would almofl
think it needlefs to dwell upon them -, yet fuch is the cruelty and ab-
furdity of our notions and cuftoms in cropping, as it is called, the ears-
of our horfes, docking and nicking their tails, that we every day fly in
the face of reafon, nature, and humanity. Nor are the prefent race of
men in this iOand alone to be charged with this folly, almoft unbe-
coming the ignorance aud cruelty of favages ; hutxhtn fore-fathers, fe-
veral centuries ago, were charged and reprehended by a public canon,
for this abfurd and barbarous praftice : however, we need but look in-
to the ftreets and roads to be convinced, that their dcfcendants have
not degenerated from them; although his prefent Majejly^ in his wif-
dom and humanity, has endeavoured to reclaim them, by iflliing an
order that the horfes which ferve in his troops fhould remain as nature
defigned them :

Who never made her work for vwn to mend, Dryden.

The

240 XENOPHON's TREATISE

is of ufe in giving a better hold to the pcrfon who is
to mount him.

Befides, the Mane, Forelock, and Tail, are bellowed upon
the horfe as a grace and ornament. A proof of which
may be, that Brood Mares do not fo eafily admit the em-
braces of JJes, till the breeders of Mu!es have purpofely
fti ipt them of thefe beauties *. W.ifliing of the legs

The title of the canon is,

Ui reliquias riluum poganorim qui/que abjiciat.
Equos vejlres turpi confuctudine detriincatis, nares finditis, awes copulatis^
Vitum etiam et fur das redditis, caudas amputatis, et quia illos ilUfos habere
potejlis, hoc nolenles, cunffis odibiles redditis. Equos eliam plerique in vcbis
comedmit, quod nullus Chriflia)!orum in Orientalibusfacit, quod eliam evitale.
Concilium Calchutenfe. Vid. Spelman's Councils cf England, where are
the decrees of the council of Calchut. vol. i. p. 293. See alfo Collier's
Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, vol. i. p. 137.

" From the influence of a vile and unbecoming cuftom, you deform
and mutilate your horfes. You flit their noftrils, tie their ears together,
and, by fo doing, make them deaf: befides this, you cut off their tails;
and, when you may enjoy them uninjured and perfeft, you chufe rather
to maim and blem.ifh them, fo as to make them odious and difguftful
objefls to all who fee them. Numbers of you likewife are accuftomed
to eat your horfes ; a praftice of which no Chriftians in the Eaft were
ever "uilty. — This alfo you are hereby admoniflied to renounce en-
tirely."

The French call an horfe whofe tail is cut, nn Cadogan, from the
name and title of lord Cadogan, who ferved under the duke of Marl-
borouo-h in the reign of queen Anne ; and is faid to have firfl introduced
this cuftom of docking the troop-horfes.

It is thought by fome, that the cutting of the tail diminiflies the fwift-
nefs of the horfe ; it certainly does in grey-hounds and birds, efpecially
in turning.

■*(■ This is a ftrange aflertion to come from the pen of fo grave and
exa£t a writer as Xenophon. The reader is left to form what opinion

he

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 241

we do not mention, becaufe it is fo far from being
of fervice, that the hoofs are even injured by being

he pleafes of it ; many other authors likewife mention this particularity,
which tends only to make the account more ftrange. Julius Pollux
lays, that the mares were made confcious of their own deformity, by
feeing themfelves in fountains and clear waters. — Vid. alfo Anatol.
HjTrn-iosTfixtov, lib. i. cap. 14. — Pliny, lib. viii. cap. 42. — Ariftoc. lib.
vi. cap. J 8. — iElian. lib. ii. chap. 18. Notwithftanding this humane
doftrine preached by Xenophon, it appears that it was a cuftom among
fome nations, to fheer the manes and Ihorten the tails of their horfes,
as we learn from Camarcrius *, who quotes Plutarch and others, in
thefe words. — Plutarch, fpeaking of the Sicilians, fays. Hi enim vic-
iores equis lauro ccronatis, caftivi vero ionjis crinibus ulebantur. Hoc etiam
Fazellus tejiaiur mnfine caufd igitur prater infolitavz rem, viirati funt Itali
equitatum Germanicum Cafaris MaximJliani, quum contra Vmetos helium ge-
reret, quoad pkrifque equis Juha detovfa cauda mutilate ejfeni : nejcie7ttcs vi-
delicet id fieri, ut equi hdc mutilatione alacriores et fpind dorfi robujiiores fi-
erent. Sic legimus apud Paulum Venitum Tartaros equis fuis, qiics hc.bent
prteftantijfimos, auferre folere de ojfe caiida nodos duos vel tres, ne equusfef-
foremferiat, et ne caudam nunc hue, nunc illuc fle3ere pojfit. Turpe nam hoc
judicant. ^

The Sicilians, when viflorious in battle, ufed to adorn their horfes
with crowns of laurel ; but, if defeated, they ftieered their manes. Fa-
zellus fays, that in the war between the emperor Maximilian and the
Venetians, the Italians were exceedingly furprifed to fee the German
horfes without manes, and with (hort or docked tails ; not knowino-
that this was done under a notion of rendering them ftronger in the
loins, and more alert. Paulus Venetus fays, likewife, that a certain
nation of the Tartars cut off two or three joints of the tails of their
horfes, of which they have a very valuable breed, to prevent the animal
•from moving his tail from fide to fide, and ftriking the rider, which
thing they did not approve.

* Horse fubcifivas.

Vol. I. Ii wetted

242 XENOPHON's TREATISE

wetted every day. One fhould be fparing too in
cleaning the belly; it is troublefome and difagreeabl^
to the horfe, and the part, by being clean, is more
likely to attradt fuch things as may be ofFenfive to it ;
and, notwithflanding all the pains that may be taken,
the horfe is no fooner led out, than he will be made
as dirty as before. — Wherefore, entirely omit it, and
let it fuffice to have his legs rubbed with the hand.

CHAP. VI.

WE will now iliow which is the beft manner of
cleaning and drefling an horfe, and, at the
fame time, fafefl to the groom. If he Hands in a
line * with the horfe while he is cleaning him, he
runs the rifque of being flruck in the face with his
knee or hoof. But if he {lands fide-ways, and places
hirafelf out of the reach of his foot near the flioulder,
he is fecure, and may take up the foot and examine
and pick it. This rule fhould be obferved in hand-
ling his hinder legs. In general, let it be obferved,
that whatever he intends to do to the horfe, he (hould
go as little as poflible to the head, or tail ; for then, if
the horfe is inclined to be villous, he has an advan-
tage over him. But if you approach him fideways,
you have it in your power to treat him as you will,

* That is, if he Hands direftly oppofite to the horfe.

without

ON HORSEMANSHIP. i.^%

without danger. The fame is to be obferved with re-
fpe<ft ta the hinder legs.

In general, let it be obferved, that whatever the grooni
wants to do with the horfe, he fhould be very cautious
in coming near his head or heels, for, if he is difpof-
e4 to be vicious, he has the man in his power ; but if
the man approaches the horfe fideways, he is in a fe-
ciire pofition, and cannot be hurt.

We do not advife the perfon who has the care of
condufling an horfe from one place to another, to go
behind him, becaufe, in this fituation, he is leaft able
to defend hirafelf, and the horfe is more at liberty to
difobey him ; neither fhould he go before, and by
holding a long rein, endeavour to compel the horfe to
follow, for he may then be mifchievous and unruly,
turn round to either fide, get the man within reach of
Jiis heels, and do him an injury. Nor, when many
horfes arc led together, is it eafy to prevent them
from interfering with one another. But an horfe that
is led by a man going at his fide, is lefs able to do
hurt, and readier to be mounted on a fudden, if occa-
fion requires.

In order to put the bridle on moft conveniently, the
groom fhould go to the Near fide, and put the reins
over his head, letting them fall upon his fhoulders.

Then having the Headjiall in his right-hand, and the
Bin in his left, if the horfe receives the latter in his
mouth, he has nothing to do but to fix the bridle : if
he refufes, he mufl hold the bitt to his teeth, and put

I i 2 his

244 XENOPHON's TREATISE

his middle finger into his mouth, to prefs his Barrs (
upon this, generally fpeaking, the horfe will open his
mouth ; but if he refills, he fliould fqueeze his lip
againll the Dog-tooth, or tufk ; and this feldom fails of
having the defired effeft.

Let the groom be fure never to lead the horfe with
the reins, leaft he fhould diforder and fpoil his mouth ;
and obferve alfo to fix tlie bit fo juftly, that the horfe
may feel it properly, without having any uneafinefs
from it, which would happen, if the bit were placed
too high : on the contrary, if it were to hang too low
upon his barrs, he might get it between his teeth, and
be able thereby to elude its efifecfts.

In thefe particulars the groom fhould be very exadl,
for if the horfe cannot be brought to receive the bit in-
to his mouth, he is utterly ufelefs ; but if he is accuf-
tomed to be bridled, not only when he is going to be
rode, but alfo for fome time before he is fed, and the
bridle is left upon him for fome time after, it may be
expefted that he will readily receive it whenever it is
offered to him.

It will likewife be requifite, that the groom fhould
learn how to place another on horfeback after the
Perfian * manner ; fo that in cafe his mailer fhould

be

* We muft here remind the reader, that the ufe of ftirrups was not
Jcnown, and confequently the methods praftifed in the time of our au-
thor, to get on horfeback, were to Vault, to mount from an Horfe-block,
or after the Perfian manner, which Volaterannus informs us was done

by

.>>-••

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 245

be fick, or grown old or infirm, he may have fome
body at hand who can lift him on, or may fupply his
friend with one who can perform that office.

But there is one rule to be inviolably obfcrved
above all others j that is, never to approach the horfe
in a paffion ; for anger never thinks of confcquences,
and forces us to do what we afterwards repent.

When an horfe is Ihy of any thing, and will not
come near it, he fhould be taught that there is no
room for his apprehenfion, efpecially if he has cou-
rage and fpirit. If this cannot be otherwife done, the
rider fliould take hold of the thing which is the caufe
of his fright, fhould fliow it to him, and then endea-
vour gently to lead him up to it. On the contrary,
if he fhould force him by blows and feverity, they
would encreafe his terrors, and the horfe would think
that what he then fuffers is abfolutely occafioned by
the thing of which he is afraid.

The groom like wife fhould underfland how to place
his horfe commodioully and fafely, when he prefents
him to the rider to mount. It is, however, like wife
necelTary for the rider to know how to get up, altho'
the horfe fhould not prefent himfelf in the eafieft and
moft favourable poflure j becaufe one is not only oblig-

by the help of a fervant or flave, who accompanied his mafter, and
bending his back, his mafter mounted from it, and likewife got down
from his horfe upon it, and thence to the ground. Xenophon men-
tions this method likewife in his inilAPXlKos.

edl

z^6 XENOPHON's TREATISE

ed to ufe different horfes at different times, but even
becaufe the fame horfe is not always equally quiet and
patient to be mounted.

CHAP. vn.

OUR next bulinefs fliall be to give fome direAions,
which fhould be followed by every good rider,
when he is going to mount his horfe.

He mufl firft, with his left-hand, gently take hold o£
the rein, which is fattened to the lower part of the bit,
or to the chain that goes under the chin, handling it
fo lightly as not to check the horfe, if he raifes him-
felf in mounting, by taking hold of the mane near
the ears ; or if he fprings from his lance *. "With his
right-hand let him take hold of the bridle near the
fliouldcr, and of the mane at the fam.e time, that he
may in no refpedt pull the bridle as he rifes : when
he makes his effort to fpring up, let him raife l^is

* This manner of getting on horfeback from the lance or fpear,
has, till lately, puzzled all the antiquaries and commentators, who have
not been able to give any fatisfadtory account of it. In the colleftion
of the Pales Jntiques, belonging to the late celebrated baron Stecb, there
is one which reprefents a foldier as going to mount his horfe by the
afTiftance of his fpear. The fpear is planted at the fide of the horfe,
and has an Hook upon the fhaft, on which the man placing his foot,
cafily beftrides the horfe. This, at firft fight, explains the above paf-
fage. Livy mentions likewife this method of getting on horfeback,
as practifed by the Roman foldiers.

6 body

3

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 247

body with his left hand, and flretching out his right,
lift himfelf up, for by thus mounting, his figure will
appear graceful even behind. Let him keep his leg
bent, and avoid touching the back of the horfe with
his knee : his leg being brought clean over to the
Off-Jide, let him then feat himfelf upon his horfe.

It feems an excellent cuftom to pra6tife mounting
on the Off-fide *, that he may be able to do it if at any
time he Ihould happen to have the horfe in his hft-
hand, and the fpear in his right. For this purpofe
nothing more is required, than to do with the left
parts of the body what was done with the right, and'
"vice verfa.

This method is alfo farther ufeful, becaufe no fooner
is the rider mounted, than he is prepared to charge-
the enemy, if there fhould be occa£on.

Whether he ufes a Cloth f, or rides upon the bare-
back, we would not have him fit in the attitude of one
who drives a chariot |, but as if he was (landing
eredt with his legs fomewhat aflride, for thus his

* Another gem, in the fame collcftion, gives us the figure of a fbldier
ftanding by an horfe in the attitude of a man going to mount him on
the Right-^\dc; and there are many other ancient impreflions which
jhow the fame thing.

N. B. This colledtion is now in the Britilh Mufjeum.

•f- It is to be remembered that the Greeks, inftead of Saddles^ ufed
Cloths or Houfmgs^ and the lower fort often rode without any.

X That is, not as he would fit in a chair, but uppn his twift or
fork.

thighs

248 XENOPHON's TREATISE

ihighs will cling clofer to the horfe, and, being up-
right, he will be better able to wield his lance, and ^'
llrike with more force.

The leg, below the knee, muft hang loofe and eafyj
if it is kept llifF, and (hould ftrike againfl any thing,
it might be hurt or broken ; but being at liberty,
whatever it encounters it will give way, while the
T'bigb remains unmoved. Indeed the whole of the
rider's body fhould be, above the knees, as pliant as
pollible, that he may be able to endure more fatigue,
and be lefs liable, when he is attacked, to be either
pulled or puflied from his feat.

When he is feated, the horfe muft be taught to con-
tinue quiet till he has got every thing he wants,
gathered the reins even in his hand, and placed his
fpear in the moft convenient manner.

Let him keep his left-arm clofe to his fide, which is
the moft becoming pofture, and that in which he can
exert the greateft power. The reins fhould be of equal
length, ftrong, not llippery nor thick, in order that the
fpear may occafionally be held in the fame hand.

When the rider direds his horfe to go forward, let
him begin at a flow rate, for this prevents confufion.

If the horfe carries his head low, let the rider hold
the reins high ; and, vice verfa, this makes the moft
graceful appearance.

The horfe will fooner make his body fupple and
pliable, by being fuffered to go his own pace for fome
time, which will prepare him to be exerted and ani-
mated

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 249

mated with the whip. To begin or fee off to the left-
hand, is generally moll approved : this may beft be
done, if the horfe, at going off turns to the right *;
and the fign is given him with the wand or whip.
He who prefers the Left, fliould begin from the Right ;
and when the horfe is ready, and in a proper pofture,
the rider fhould make the Change, and wheel off to the
left. The horfe being thus turned to the Left, will
Lead with his Left-Foot, and to the Right with the Right-
Foot.

We recommend that manner of exerciling an horfe,
which is called IlsJrj f, becaufe it ufes him to turn to
either fide, and fupples him both to the Right and
Left.

The horfe alfo fliould be worked ftraight forward, as
well as upon a circle, as the change from one to the

* The meaning of this feems to be, that when the rider intends to
go to the Left, he fhould firft turn a little to the Right, in order to take
a compafs, and turn the horfe to the left with more freedom and
grace,

-f- This has already been mentioned, but here the word Uih feems
more plainly to indicate a chain, which was ufed to make the horfe
work to both hands, and probably was intended to operate in the
fame manner as the Loiige in our maneges j or elfe it might be a Side
rein, which was ufed according to the hand to which the horfe was
worked. Vid. Julius Pollux, Lib. i. cap. 2. — He and Stevens men-
tion two methods of working, flraight forward, and upon circles, to
either hand, and cite the above mentioned paflage. Mefychius feems
to explain it in this manner ; others think the mh was a fhackle, or
chain, faftened to the feet, in order to form the pace, and make the
horfe lift his legs, and acquire a lofty adion. Aldrovand.

Vo L. I. Kk other

k

2^0 X E N O P H O N's T R E A T I S E

other will make him ready in both, and pleafe and
relieve him from fatiffue.

It is neceflary to pull the horfe in and fupport him
while he turns ; for it is neither eafy nor fafe for him
to turn fliori, when going faft, efpecially if the ground
is rugged or flippery.

When the rider thus pulls up and fupports his horfe
iipon the turn, he mufl; remember to do it with great
exadnefs and delicacy, and to fit (leady and even him-
felf ; as he may be fure a fmall matter may difcompofe
and endanger both himfelf and the horfe. As foon as
the horfe has finifhed the turning, and is upon a ftrait
line again, pufh him forward * vigoroufly, and put
him to his fpeed. Thefe exercifes will fit him for the
exigencies of war, in which it will be neceflary for
him to wheel and turn, both for purfuit and retreat,
as well as to go forward with fpeed and readinefs.

When the horfe appears to have been exercifed
enough, it will be proper to let him reft a certain
time, and then fet ofi" at once into full fpeed again ;
and that to and from other horfes that may be with
him. This being done, ftop and let him remain quiet
for fome time, and then put him to his exercife again j
for many occafions may happen in which thefe prac-
tices will be ufeful, and infure readinefs and obedi-
ence to the rider.

* This method of working an horfe is called, by the French writers,,
the Envje d'alUr, and is moft ufeful.

Laftly,

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 2^1

Laftly, when the time of difmiffing him. comes,
and the man is to alight, let him take heed not to do
it among other horfes, nor among the fpeiflators, but
in the place in which he has been worked ; in that
very fpot let him receive the reward of eafe and
repofe.

CHAP. VIII.

THERE being frequent occafions to ride an horfe
up and down lleep grounds, and on the fides of
them ; as alfo, to leap over ditches, and upon high
places, and down from them ; it is neceflary that all.
thefe things fhould be learnt and pradliifed both by
man and horfe ; who may thus become a mutual pre-
fervation, each to the other, and rendered thereby more
ufeful to the public.

If here we ftiould be accufed of unneceflary repeti*
tion, becaufe we have made mention of thefe qualities
already, we deny the charge : for then we recommend-
ed the examination of the horfe, as to thefe particu-
lars, before he was bought ; whereas now we affirm,
that a man fhould teach them the horfe, which is al-
ready his own ; and we will Ihew him how it ought
to be done. The right way then for one to proceed
who has a raw horfe, and quite ignorant of leaping, is
to hold him loofely by the rein, and get over the ditch
firll himfelf J and thus by leading the horfe, endeavour

K k 2 to

252 XENOPHON's TREATISE

to make him leap over and follow. If he will not
obey, let fome body behind flrike him with the whip
or fwitch ; whereupon he will leap, and not only the
necelTary diftance, but much farther than was requir-
ed. For the future, there will be no need to beat him,
for, if he does but fee a man coming behind him, he
will immediately leap. When he has been accuftom-
ed to this for a certain time, let him be mounted and
tried, at firft, at fmall leaps, and put by degrees to
larger; and juft as he is going to rife, let him be prick-
ed with the fpurs. This alfo fliould be done upon
other occafions, when he is required to leap, inafmuch
as that the fpurs will quicken and animate him to rife
and gather up himfelf clofely and compacftly, and pre-
vent him from dragging his hinder parts, which would
be unfafe and dangerous to the rider.

As hills and inequalities of ground will often occur^
the horfe fliould be praftifed firft to go down hill, and
fhould be taught this lefTon in foft ground; when he
is ufed to do this, he will go down more readily than
upwards. Nor need any one apprehend that his
Ihoulders will be hurt, when they are informed that
the Ferjians and Odnjians * keep their horfes as found
and healthy as the Grecians, although it is their cuftom
to ride races down hill.

We will now mention what is to be done upon
thefe occafions by the rider. When the horfe raifes

* A people of Thrace.

his

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 255

his fore-part, in order to leap, he fhould lean forward,
by which means the hinder-parts will be relieved, and
the man feel the fhock lefs forcibly; and in the mo-
ment that the horfe is coming to the ground, he fhould
throw his body back, by which means he will, in fome
degree, elude the violence of the motion, and prcferve
the juftnefs of his feat.

When the horfe leaps over a ditch, or llretches up
a rifmg ground, it is a good pracT:ice for the rider to
take hold of the mane *, that the horfe may not have
the incumbrance of the bridle to ft,ruggle with, as well
as the difficulty of the ground. But when going down
a fteep or declivity, the man Ihould fling his body back,
and fupport the horfe with the bridle, to prevent him
from falling headlong down the hill.

It is proper to exercife the horfe fometimes in one
place, fometimes in another, aod more at one time
than another -, by this he will not be fo apt to con-
ceive a diflike to his tafk, as he would, if he were al-
ways to be worked in the fame place, and for the fame
fpace of time.

Since it is neceflary to be able to ride readily upon
all forts of ground, to have a fure and firm feat, and

* Whatever notions the Greeks might have of this method, and al»
though it is prefcribed by Xenophon, it feems to be flatly againft truth
and the principles of the Jrt. For the bridle, inftead of being an in-
cumbrance to the horfe, will be of great afliftance, if feafonably and
judicioufly ufed; and by guiding and fupporting, will prevent him from
falling.

ta

254 X E N O P H O N's TREATISE

to be able at the fame time to handle one's arms dex-
teroufly ; the pradice of hunting, where the country-
will permit it, is very proper and commendable : where
there is no opportunity for this, the following expedient
may be fubilituted in its place, and performed by two
horfemen. One fliould a^l the part of an enemy who
flies from his purfuer through all kinds of places, and
as he retreats, fling his javelin, and try to annoy him ;
the other, having his weapons blunted, whenever he
comes within reach, fliould aim at him, or if he over-
takes him, ftrike him with his fpear ; and if they clofe
with each other, let one of them pull his adverfary
towards himfelf, and fuddenly pufh him back again,
which is the way to difmount him. It will then be
the bufmefs of him who is pulled and puflied in this
manner, to fpur his horfe forward ; by doing which,
he will probably unhorfe his antagonifl, and efcape
himfelf.

If two armies being near each other, a real fkirmifh
fhould enfue, and one party Ihould purfue, while the
other retreated, and fo perhaps alternately attacking
and defending as circumftances require ; upon fuch
occafions, it is requifite that an horfeman fhould have
his horfe in fuch obedience, as to be able to depend
upon him in whatever he may require, inafmuch as
by his addrefs and docility, he will be enabled to an-
noy his enemy, and provide for his own fafety.

In

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 255

In fine, Providence has granted to men the advan-
tage of communicating their thoughts, and inftrudting
one another, by the means of Speech ; but it is obvious
this gift is denied to horfes. The beft method then of
conveying your intentions to them, and, as it were, of
declaring your mind, is to reward them when they do
as you wifli, and to punifh them when they are difo-
bedient. This rule is exprefled in few words, but is of
univerfal ufe in horfemanfhip.

For an horfe will certainly be more willing to receive
the bridle, and refign himfelf to his matter, if he is re-
compenfed for fo doing, and will leap and perform all
his exercifes with alacrity, if he is taught to expecfk that
his compliance will be rewarded with eafe and refrefh-
irient.

CHAP. IX.

THUS having fhewn how you are to proceed in
the choice of a colt or horfe, when you intend
to purchafe, as well as how they are to be treated
when bought, particularly if they fliould be deflined
for war ; we will farther direct what is beft to be done
when you undertake one that has too much fire, or one
that is cold and fluggifli.

Confider then that fpirit and ardour are in the tem-
per of an horfe, what pallion is in the mind of man ;
and as he who fays and does nothing offenfive, is leaft
liable to provoke a man fubjed to anger ; fo he who

avoids

25^ XENOPHON's TREATISE

avoids freting and teazing an horfe is moft likely to
make him quiet, and reconcile him to his duty.

When fuch an horfe therefore is to be mounted, all
polTible care fliould be taken not to alarm or offend
him ; and after he is mounted, he (hould be fuffered to
fland flill a longer time than ufual, and be directed then
to go on by the moft gentle figns. Let him begin at a
flow rate, and increafe his pace by fuch fmall degrees,
that he may pafs to a quicker motion almoft without
perceiving it.

Horfes which are quick and hoc in their temper
like men, are difturbcd by any thing that affeds them
fuddenly, and apt to be furprifed by unufual fights and
founds. When you wilh therefore to flacken the pace
of an eager horfe, which hurries on too faft ; and to pa-
cify his fury, fo as to make him go temperately, or
even oblige him to flop, you fhould not attempt to do
it at once, and with violence, but artfully and by de-
grees, gently pulling him in, then yielding the bridle,
and playing with his mouth in fuch a manner as if
you intended rather to win his Confent, than /or^re his

obedience.

In forming an high-fpirited horfe, it fhould be
known that, in order to make him gentle and quiet,
he fhould be rode ftrait forward, and be put to make
fhort Turnings as feldom as polTiblej he fliould like-
wife be kept to a flow and calm pace for a long time
together j by this prudent and mild treatment, his im-
petuofity will moft probably abate, and his temper be

foftened

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 257

■ foftcncd and rendered more tradable. Such an horfc
lliould be worked with a fmooth and eafy bit, rather
than with a rough one. However, if the latter is ufed,
its feverity may be mitigated by the gentlenefs of the
hand which holds it, and which may make it as eafy
as the Smooth one *.

If any one, on the contrary, thinks that by riding
faft for a great while, and tiring his horfc, he fhall .
fubdue his fpirit ; his opinion is diredtly oppofite to
truth. In thefe cafes, the horfe always endeavours to
get the better by main force, and, (like an angry man)
through the violence of his paffion, often brings irre-
parable mifchief upon himfelf as well as his rider.
Horfes of this difpolition fliould alfo be withheld from
going at their utmoft fpeed, and upon no accotint be
fuffered to run againft others j for the horfe that is
moft eager to contend, is alraoll always moft fiery, and
fuch contention would encreafe his impatience.

The Smooth bit is more convenient to be ufed to thefe
horfes, than fuch as are harfli and Rough ; but if a
rouo-h one is ufed, the hand of the rider fliould be
fo light and delicate as to qualify its force.

The rider alfo fliould remember to keep a firm feac
upon a fpirited horfe, and to fit evenly and quietly, fo

* This obfervation is moft juft : it is from the manner of managing
them alone that bits are eafy or fevere to the mouth of the horfe; other-
wife, as the duke of Newcaftle fays, the bit-makers would be the beft
horfemen.

Vo L.I. hi as

2i-8 XENOPHON's TREATISE

CIS not to difcompofe the animal by the motion of any
part of his body, and to balance himfelf fo truly as
not to be obliged to lay hold of any thing f to pre-
ferve his feat. — An horfe fhould likewife be taught to
know the different founds made with the tongue ; in-
afmuch as they are a kind of Jids or direcftions of the
rider, and ferve to animate or pacify, according to their
different Tones. The rider fliould alfo remember to
perfevere in retaining the fame founds ; for were he to
change them, and fometimes ufe one, and fometimes
another, arbitrarily, the horfe would be confounded,
and jiot underfland him, as he can alone be inflrudled
in his meaning by pra(5tice and repetition.

If you are to approach an horfe who is alarmed
at the found of the trumpet, or any other noife, take
care to do it in fo calm and cautious a manner, that
you yourfelf may not difcompofe him, and add to his.
fear, but fo as to gain his confidence, and then you
will be able to footh and reconcile him; and for this
purpofe, if you have opportunity, you may bribe him,,
by giving him fomething to eat.

After all, an impetuous and fiery horfe is unfit for
tlie purpofes of war, and fhould, upon account of his
lemper, be rejefted.

f It was necefTary to keep the mofl exaft equilibre of the body, and
the firmeil hold upon the horfe, as they had not the advantage of faddles'
and ftirrups, as nientioned before.

As-

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 2^9

As for a fluggilh bead, the befl; manner of treating
him will be, in mod inftanccs, to obferve a method di-
redly contrary to that which is prefcribed for the
management of one of an oppofite charadler *.

CHAP. X.

IF any one wiflies to have an horfe poflefTed of all the
qualities requifite for war, and, moreover, ftately and
beautiful: he muft take care not to oflend or harafs his
mouth, by a rafh and indifcreet hand; and, likewife,
never to ufe the IVbip or Spur, but with great modera-
tion and judgment. Ignorant people exped to make
the horfe appear more brilliant and beautiful by thefe
violences, whereas the contrary effeft is fure to hap-
pen, for the horfe becomes fo difordered and irregu-
lar by thefe provocations, that he no longer attends
to his manner of going, no longer fees the way be-
fore him; but being interrupted, vexed, and diftreffed,
and falling into confufion, hurries his rider and him-
felf into manifeft danger; and that appearance he will
make in this fituation, far from being graceful, will
be very unbecoming.

* In forming horfes to different purpofes, thofe who are employed
about them Ihould deal with them as Pbyficians treat difeafes ; viz. by
Contraries. — ^. fluggifli horfe fhould be animated and rouzed ; and one
which is of a fiery nature, fliould be pacified and reftrained.

LI 2 But

a6o X E N O P H O N's TREATISE

But when an horfe is taught to go regularly and
fmoothly, with a rein rather loofe and eafy, to bear his
neck alofr, and to Curl it fomewhat towards his head,
he then does thofe very things in which he himfelf
delights, and takes the greateft pleafure. A proof of
this may be, that when lie is at liberty in a paflure,
and meets with other horfe s, and efpecially Mares, he
will erzd: his head and neck, raife his tail towards his
back w^ith courage and vigour, trots high and ftately,
rejoicing in his courfe, and proud of himfelf. If
therefore the horfeman can prevail upon him to ap-
pear, when mounted, in the beautiful attitudes he na-
turally afTumcs when at liberty, he will make him
become fond of being rode ; and whenever he appears,
he will exhibit a moil ftriking and pleafmg figure to
the fpciflators, from his pride, fprightlinefs, and acti-
vity : we will now point out what is to be done, in or-
cer to attain thefe defixable ends.

In the firft place, the horfeman fhould be furniflied
with two bits at lead. Of thefe, let one be fraooth and
eafy, with large knobs or rings * ; the other fhould have
heavier rings, not Handing fo high, and armed with
fliarp points or Teeth. When this is put into the
horfe's mouth, he will be offended, and diflike it, but
will hereby be taught the, difference between the two,
and be induced to relifh the fmooth bit with double

* Julius Pollux mentions thefe orbs or rings, and our Olive bits feem
to rcfemble them,

7 plea-

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 261

pleafure; with this latter he fiiould ufually be rode,
after having had his mouth made and fettled by the
fougb bit.

If, however, he fhould pay no regard to this, but be
hard upon the hand, there mull be an addition of
Rijigs, to bring his mouth under ftri(5t command.

The rough or Sharp bit is made to operate in a
greater or lefs degree, according to the JVorking of the
horfeman's hand, and as the reins are flackened, or
pulled tight. Whatever number of bits are necefTary,
it is better they fhould be eafy and flexible ; for, when
an horfe has a Solid and Stiff one in his mouth, the whole
of it bears upon his bars, juft as one cannot take up
any part of a fpit, without lifting the whole ; whereas
the other refcmbles a chain, the only part of which is
firm and hard, which is pulled and llretched ; the refl
is flexible and hangs loofe.

The horfe feeling this hang in his mouth, endea-
vours to catch it with his teeth; and by twifting his
tongue and jaws about for that purpofe, lets the bit
drop lower down than it ought. To remedy this, fome
rings are fallened in the middle, v;ith which the horfe
playing * with his tongue and teeth, endeavouring to

■^ We have a fmall chain in the upfet, or hollow part of our bits,
called a Placer, with which the horfe playing with his tongue, and roll-
ing it about, keeps his mouth moid and frefh. And as Xenophon hints,
it may ferve likewife to fix his attention, and prevent him from writh-
ing his mouth about, or, as the French call \t,f aire fes forces.

catch

2^2 XENOPHON's TREATISE

catch them, and the bit remains in its proper place j
and the horfe forbears to try to diflodge it. Left any
one fhould be ignorant of what we mean hy flexible and
Jiiff bits, we will explain ourfelves. A bit is flexible,
or eafy, which is compofed of broad and fmooth joints,
fo that it may eafily be bent, and every bit is eafier in
proportion as its joints are large and pliant. But if
the parts of the bit do not move eafdy, it is ill put to-
gether, and becomes fharp and fcvere. But whatever
fort of bridle is ufed, the horfe fhould be fo formed by
it, as to perform all that is required of him, or elfe he
will not be fuch as we have defcribed.

The hand muft neither be held fo ftri(fl; as to con-
fine and make the horfe uneafy, nor fo loofely as not
to let him feel it. The moment he obeys and anfwers
it, yield the bridle to him ; this will take off the ftrefs,
and relieve his bars, and is in conformity with that
maxim, which fliould never be forgot, which is to carefs
and reward him for whatever he does well. The mo-
ment that the rider perceives that the horfe begins to
place his head, to go lightly in the hand, and with cafe
and pleafure to him ('elf ; he (hould do nothing that is
difagreeable, but flatter and coax, fuffer him to reft a
while, and do all he can to keep him in this happy tem-
per. This will encourage and prepare him for greater
undertakings.

There is a plain proof to be given, that an horfe takes
pleafure in going faft. When he is at. liberty, he fel-
dom chufes to go flow, but naturally delights to run

and

ON HORSEMANSHIP. -6^

and bound along, if he is not compelled to continue
t longer than he likes ; in which cafe he would grow
difgiitled, for nothing in excefs is pleafing eiiher to
horfe or man. As foon as he is brought to perform
his exercifes with truth and grace, after a turn or two,
let him be exerted and urged to a fwifrer pace. When
he is fufficiently frank, and prompt to fet off at once ; if
in that moment when he is going in confequence of
the rider's aid, he reftrains his ardour, by pulling him
in to a certain degree, the horfe being on one fide urg-
ed to go forward, and yet held back at the fame time
by the hand, his pride and courage will be fo rouzed
and animated *, that, as it were in a rage, he will
advance his cheft, fhift his legs, and lift them from
the ground, but not with all the eafe and pliancy that
is requifite, and to which he will arrive, when prac-
tice has taught him to bend them, with more coolnefs
and regularity.

Y/hen he is thus inflamed, and his courage called
out, if the hand is yielded to him, miftaking the loofe-
nefs of the rein for a deliverance from all reftraint,
he will immediately bound forward, exulting, and
confcious of his own qualities, as if he had a pride in
difplaying his graceful motions and attitude, and
imitating the manner and gait which he affumes when

* This is what, in the Modern Mamge^ is called the XJnicn, or putting.
together, and tends at once to try the refolution of the horfe, raile his
Ariion, and improve his figure.

he

H

XENOPHON's TREATISE

he approaches any of his own fpecies. The fpeclators
conceive a thoufand good qualities to belong to fuch
an horfe, and bellow large praife upon his fpirit, refo-
lurion, courage, and beauty.

Thus have we tiniflied this part of our fubjed, hav-
ing faid enough, we hope, for the fervice of thofe who
delight in this fort of horfes.

C H

P.

XI,

HEN any one chufes an horfe for Parade, he
muft take care to procure one whofe carriage
and Jclicn is lofty, and brilliant. Such horfes are not
over eafily found, but the cffential qualities are cou-
rage and ftrength. The power of rearing the body
does not fo much depend upon the pliancy of the
legs as fome think, but upon the fliortnefs of the
loins, and ilrength and fupplenefs of the haunches.
An horfe of this mould will be able to extend his hin-
der legs far forward under him. To teach him to
riic, and balance himfelf ^upon his haunches, the horfe-
man fhould pull him up with the bridle, and fupport
him a little at firil in his hand; upon this hint, he
probably will rife, and, in the moment in which he is
up, the bridle lliould be yielded, that he may feem to
do it willingly, and his attitude appear unconflrained,
and more graceful to the fpedators ; and he Ihould

(land

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 26^

fland in fiicli a poilure as to difplay his belly to thofe
who are oppofite to him.

There are fome who teach horfcs to rife, by (Irik-
ing the fetlocks with a ftick; others order a man,
who attends for that purpofe, to hit them upon the
upper part of the legs * We, however, look upon it
that the beft way of teaching them is to follow our
fore-mentioned rule : that whenever they anfwer the
horfcman's wiflies, and obey him chearfuUy, they
fliould inflanily be rewarded by a cefTation from toil ;
for what they do by conftraint (as Simon fays alfo) they
do without underftanding, and with no more grace or
pleafure than an adlor would perform his part upon
the ftage, if he was whipped and beat all the time-
The man and the horfe would certainly make but very
difagreeable figures. The only true method is, to,
inftrudt an horfe in his bufinefs by figns and Aids, and
to engage him to perform it with good-will and alacri-
ty. If, therefore, when he has been worked fo feriouf-
ly, as to fweat and be fomewhat fatigued, and you per-
ceive that he rifes up, and complies with all that you
demand of hun, you inftantly get off, and difmifs him,
there is no queflion but he will joyfully accept every
occafion of repeating the fame, whenever you fhall re-
quire it of him.

* This method ftands juftified by the praftice of modern horfe-
men.

Vol. I. Mm Thefc

2^6 XENOPHON's TREATISE

Thefe are the horfes upon which gods and men are
reprefented fitting ; and fuch men as are able to ride
them v/ith judgment and fkill, are looked up to with
admiration. For an horfe in this attitude, is a fight fa
very beautiful, fo delightful, fo attradting, that it en-
gages the attention of all who fee it, both old and
young. No body leaves him, or is tired with gazing
upon him, fo long as he continues in this moft becom-
ing pofture *.

However, if the perfon who is pofTeft of fo valua-
ble a creature, happens to be an officer, and is to ufe
him in the troops, he ought not to be fatisfied with
enjoying fuch a diftini5tion alone, but fhould endea^
vour to have his troop mounted as nobly as himfelf,.
that the general appearance may be more beautiful,
from being uniform and alike. Now, if an horfe of
this kind fhould go at the head of a troop or regiment,
ftepping, in exa(5l Time and Cadence, with lofty a<5lion,
and full of fire ; and if the horfes which accompany
him in the march, fliould not be equal to him in thefe
qualities, they would undoubtedly appear mean and
contemptible. But if they are all equal, and ftep to-
gether in juft time, there arifes fuch an harmony from
the truth of their motions, enlivened by their neigh-
ing and Bloining, that the whole exhibits a moll liriking,
fpe(5tacle.

* This attitude is known to modern horfemen by the term Pefade..

Laflly,

ON HORSEMANSHIP. ^6^

Laftly, if a man buys good horfes, trains them to
fervice, forms their motions, and prepares them with
Ikill and prudence, not only for the purpofes of v/ar,
but likewife for pomp and pleafure ; nothing but the
irrefiftable power of ill fortune can hinder him from
making them Hill more valuable. They will rife in
merit and price, and he will be famous and admired
for his talents and fkill in the equeftrian art.

CHAP. XII.

THE laft thing we have to do, is to defcribe what
armour is neceflary for one who is to fight on
horfeback. 'The firft article is the coat of mail, which
fliould be made to fit the body exadlly, and which will
then be able to carry it : whereas, if it is too large,
the flioulders alone muft bear it ; and if too fmall, it
will be rather an incumbrance than a defence. As
the neck is a mortal part, let a covering like a coat of
mail be made proportionable to it, it will not be un-
graceful, and, if properly made, will receive the rider's
face, when he pleafes, as high as his nofe.

We efteem the Boeotian helmet above all other; for
without obllruding the fight, it moft efFe6lually pro-
t€6ls every part above the coat of mail. The breaft
plate fliould be fo contrived, as not to prevent a man
from fitting down or {looping.

M m 2 About

2^8

XENOPHON's TREATISE

About the middle, and the hips, and the adjacent
parts, let there be a fufficient number of Ikirts to de-
fend them.

If the left-arm is wounded, the rider is difabled:
we therefore recommend the piece of armour lately
invented, and denominated from the hand ; for it co-
vers the flioulder, the arm, the elbow, and the hand,
as low as the bridle ; it will alfo ftretch out and bend,
and, moreover, fecures the part under the arms, which
is left defencelefs by the coat of mail.

The right-arm muft be lifted up, when the horfe-
man intends to fling his lance, or llrike the enemy.
It fhould not be confined with the breaft-plate, but, in-
ftead thereof, fhould have jointed armour, which may
unfold upon flretching the arm, and clofe upon con-
tra6ting it. It feems better alfo that it fhould be
drawn upon the arm, as boots are upon the legs, than
fattened to the mail. The part that is bared, upon
raifmg the arm, fhould be covered with calves fkin, or
brafs ; otherwife a dangerous confequence might hap-
pen.

As the fafety of the rider depends, in a great de-
gree, upon that of the horfe, let him too be furniflied
with an head-piece, breaft-plate, and armour for his
fides, which will likewife cover the rider's thighs.
Above all, the belly and flanks fhould be guarded, for
they are dangerous parts, and liable to be mortally
wounded.

The

ON HORSEMANSHIP. 269

The bandage, or Girth, which confines the Cloth to
the horfe's back, muft be fo contrived as not to hurt
the rider who fits upon it, nor gall the horfe.

This is the complete armour of an horfeman and his
horfe ; but as the legs and feet of the former will like-
wife require to be defended, as they will not be fuf-
ficiently guarded by the covering of the thighs, leather
boots will be very convenient, and ferve at once for ar-
mour for the legs, and fandals for the feet.

Thefe are the defevjive arms : a fufficient guard, with
the afliftance of heaven. With refpeft to offevfive wea-
pons, we prefer the fcymiter to the fword ; for the ad-
vantage which the horfeman has from his height, re-
quires a cutting rather than a pointed weapon.

Inftead of a fpear, which may be broken, and is in-
convenient to carry, we advife two javelins of cornel
wood, becaufe a fkilful warriour may throw one, and
ufe the other in front or rear, or on either lide, as well
as that they likewife have the advantage of the fpear
in being ftronger, and more eafy to be carried.

The greater the diftance from which the javelin is
thrown the better ; as it affords a man more time to
turn about, and recover his arms. We will defcribe,
in few words, the right way to throw the lance.

If a man, advancing his left-fide, drawing back his

right, and rifing upon his Thighs, call the lance with

its point a little upwards, it will fly with the greareft

force, and to the greatefl diftance, as well as with the

2 furefl

270 XENOPHON's TREATISE

fureft aim, provided it be in the diredion of the mark
it is defigned to reach.

Thus have we finifhed our rules and inftru(?lions,
founded upon experience, and compiled for the ufe of
young horfemen.

D I S S E R-

DISSERTATION

ON THE

Ancient Chariot; the Exercife of it in the Race;

AND

The Application of it to real Service in War,

Thomas Pownall to Richard Berenger^

AS you defired, in confequence of a converfation
which we had together upon the fubjedt of that
ancient armament, the Military Chariot, that I would look
out fome papers which I had formerly put together
on that fubjedl ; I have obeyed your commands, and
can only fay, that if you think they may prove matter
of curiofity or amufement to any of your readers
they are very much at your fervice, to make that ufe
of them which your judgment fhall fugged ; and if,
by way of explanation of the fubjeifl, they fliould prove
of the fame ufe to others, which (I conceive) they have
been to me in the courfe of my reading, the utmoft
end that can be expeded from them will be anfwered.

The defcriptions of this armament, the horfe and
chariot, which one meets with in the ancient poets
and hiilorians, referring to a thing of common ufe
and notoriety, miglit indeed become to ihofe who were

couver-

27^ DISSERTATION ON THE

converfant with the thmg itfclf, fufflciently explanatory
of the pecuhar ufes, properties, and actions fpecified ;
but, to a reader, in thefe diflant days, when the thing
no longer exifts, they are too vague and obfcure, not
to want a regular, full, and dhlinct explanation.

In fearching through the fcholiafts and annotators,
we find nothing precife and fatisfaiftory, and the draw-
ings from coins and marbles leave us equally unin-
formed — Thcfe feldom mark any particulars of the
harnefs or carriage, or of the manner of joining the
horfes to it. It was not the intention of the artifts,
who wrought thefe defigns, to mark the detail. It
was fufficient that they charaderifed the fpecific a6lion
meant to be exhibited. Befides this, their inattention
in thefe general defigns to the minute rules of per-
fpecT:ive, added confufion to indecifion.

In confequence of this date of darknefs and doubt,
I put together, on a few fheets of paper, all the paflages
which in the courfe of reading had occured to me on
this fubjeft, with fuch remarks as the prefent moment
fuggefted : and I did it with a view of trying how they
might elucidate each other ; and as I foon found, as
further opportunities occurred to me, that there were
feveral marbles and coins which afforded fpecimens of
pares in many particulars of this fubjed, I form-
ed the defign of comparing the defcriptions in thefe
paflages with fuch reprefentations of this equipage as

I might

t

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 273

I might hereafter meet with in coins or marbles, or
drawings made from them.

The refuU of this inveftigation enabledme to draw up
fuch a particular detail of this military equipage, as left
me in no difficulty of underllanding any defcription or
narrative which I met with of the ufe or application of
the chariot, either in war, or in the race.

In treating the fabjedt, I Ihall avoid that parade of
literature, which crouds the margin with quotations,
and fhall confine myfelf folely to the refult of my in-
quiries, referring, in my alTertions, to fuch authorities
only, and in my defcriptions to fuch pafTages only, as
are abfolutely neceflary to the explanation.

The ancient military chariot had but two IVheels.
The height or diameter of thefe, in no inftance that I
have met with, exceeded the height of a man's knee.
There are fome inftances of thefe wheels being of one
plain difc, firmly compa^led with iron ; but the com-
mon form was fuch as our wheels of the prefent day
bear, having fometimes four, fometimes fix, and fel-
dom more than eight fpokes or radii ; the fellies being
armed or fhoed with brafs.

The ufual length of the Jxel-tree was * feven feet in
carriages of burden, as well as in thofe of war, drawn
by one yoke or pair or horfes. When there were more
horfes abreaft, the axle extended to the extreme breadth
of the whole rank, or at leaft to the interval between

* Hefiod.
Vol. I. Nn the

274 DISSERTATION ON THE

the outfide hoife, and that next to him There
is a particular defcription of this matter in the
Military Chariot, defcribed by Zenophon *. " They had
" ftrong compadt wheels that could not eafily be
" broken, and long axle-trees which would not be
" liable to an overturn." This dimenfion of the
wheels, and this length of the axle tree, accounts for
every action of the chariot, which would be otherwife
inexplicable ; namely, the driving in full career upon
all kinds of ground, over heaps of arms and flaugh-
tered bodies, without being expofed to (otherwife a
common accident) an overturn. It is from this length
that we meet with defcriptions of the axle groaning
under the weight of two fuperiour heroes. — It is this
length of the axle which allows room for fuch a
breadth in the car, as gives fpace for a warrior to
ftand and acft on either fide the driver. But this mat-
ter is put out of difpuie by the examples to be found
in the ancient coins and marbles ; you there fee the
wheel on the fame perfpeclive bafe with the outfide
horfe. The head of the axle was capped with a nut
or box to fecure the wheel upon it, which nut was
ufually in the form of a Lion's, or Leopard's head.

The Temo, or pole, called by the Greeks 'Pujuo? t> was
fixed to the axle-tree, and tied to it by two ftrength-
ening cheek-pieces, as at c in fg. A, which I have taken

* Zenophon CyripcEd. lib. vi. 17.
■j- Iliad, V. 729.

8 from

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 275

from profefTor Scheffer de Re Fechiculari ; this form is con-
firmed by feveral palTages defciibing it. The end next
to the axle-tree is therefore called the furca, or, in
Greek, Xrn^h^ and ^iirXh ^vXov. The other end, which
lay upon the yoke, was called d)(pog *, and by Curtius,
fummns teino ; that the temo was inferted into the axle-
tree, is plain from Ovid f defcribing the wreck of
Phaeton's chariot.

IlUc frana jacent, illic tetnone revulfus,
Axis .

The body of the chariot was fixed upon this part where
the axis and the temo united, and fo ftrongly were all
compa6led together, that while we frequently read of
the yokes being torn oflf from the temo by the violence
of accidents, yet we never meet with an account of
the temo being wrenched off from the axis, except in
the one inftance of the chariot of the fun driven by
Phaeton.

At the other end, there was either a hole through the
folid body of the pole (or a ring affixed to it) through
which a pin (fet eredl in the middle of the yoke) pafT-
ed in the harnefiing the horfes by this yoke to the
chariot, as will be feen prefently. This hole or ring,
(<rin/^. A,) is called by Homer, Iliad xxiv. 272, y.pixav.
In the original ufe of thefe chariots, each pair or yoke

* Iliad, V. 729. f Metamorph. lib. iii.

Nn 2 of

^1G D I SS E RT AT I O N ON TH E

of horfes were liarnefled to the chariot by a feparatc
tcmo or pole. — When there were one pair — there was
only one temo. — When two or more yoke, tv/o or more
poles. In the firft cafe, the temo was fixed in the
middle of the axis as before-mentioned ; in the fecond
cafe, the two temones were io fixed as to leave two
fourths of the whole length between them, and one
fourth towards each end of the axis. There is in one
of Mr. Hamilton's drawings from the ancient Tufcan
mns and vafes, Plate 130, vol.1, an example of this
cafe, where each temo forms each fide of the frame of
the body of the chariot. When there were three pair
or yoke of horfes abreaft, of which alfo there are in-
ftances in the antique marbles, &c. there is fuppofed
to be three temones : you will in Zenophon read of
rsl^oi^vfJLOc ix Xitii^v cxjw, and oxjoi^v{/.oc. But you muft
not underftand that in all thefe inftances, and in all
cafes, the feveral yokes, or pair, were abreaft ; in
fome inftances, they were a-head of each other, with a
temone perpetuo. The length of the temo was ac-
commodated to the length of the horfes, leaving no
more fpace between the hind quarters of the horfe and
the chariot, than was fuflScient for the horfe to move
his hind legs clear of the carriage.

The Carriage thus defcribed, the Body of the chariot
comes next under confideration : in the firft place, it is
clear that in the military equipage the body was not a
feparate diftinft part moveable, but fixed, and adlually

a part

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 277

a part of the whole compared together infeparably, as
is above faid of the example in Mr. Hamilton's draw-
ings. The body of the chariots of ftate and parade
were moveable, fo as they were taken off from the car-
riage and fet carefully by, when not in ufe, and only
put on and hung by braces, when wanted for ufe, as
we read of Priam's chariot in the 24th book of the
Iliad. The carriage is there called ajua^a, and the body
'rsrsi^iv^oi. All thofe chariots which we read of in Ho-
mer, as being fo occaCLonally hung on upon, or with
braces, are of that fort ; but in the military chariot,
the body and the carriage were but different parts of
the fame, one infeparate compadled whole. We find
that, when Pallas returned from the engagement, the
body of her chariot is not taken off from the carriage,
but the whole oc^y.oiTX fet up inclining againft the
wall *. When Jupiter returns from the battle to
Olympus, the whole x^i^oirx is fet upon a bafe or
altar. Whereas Priam's chariot is an example of the
firft fort, as is that of Juno mentioned in the fifth
book of the Iliad ; where, being a ftate or parade cha-
riot, it is faid of the body, called ^i<p^oc, that

Braces of gold fufpend the moving Throne.

The carriage is there called oxoc- Although thefe
parade chariots might be fo hung upon braces, and
fixed occafionally on the carriage} yet thofe ufed in

* Iliad, lib. yiii.

war.

278 DISSERTATION ON THE

war, and in the race, could not have flood the violent
(hocks to which they muft have been liable, if they
were not firmly compared and fixed ; and they appear
fo to be in all the examplars which I have feen,

Mr. ProfelTor Scheffer has defcribed the parts of the
body of the chariot with the exadlnefs of a mechanic,
.yet he has not touched upon the article of the hang-
ing or bracing it upon the carriage : nor has he taken
any notice of the difference above defcribed, between
the Parade chariot thus braced on, and the MilJary cha-
riot. The form of the body of the chariot is fo well
known, that it would be a mere wafte of words to de-
fcribe it, and a needlefs expence to give a drawing of
it. I will only obferve, that the front of the body was
made breaft high, and rounded like a fliield, fo as to
anfwer to the driver the purpofe of that defence, and
was for that reafon called dcr7n^icr-)(Yi, or the fhield part.
The fides of the chariot floped away backwards almoft
to the bottom, or floor of the body, but differently, and
by various lines in different bodies. The hinder part
was open, and although not higher from the ground
than the height of a man's leg, yet there was fome-
thing of a ftep to it called 'ufls^voi. Whether the body
of the chariot was extended in breadth to the full ex-
tent of the axle-tree, is no where fpecified ; I think that
in no cafe it extended further than to the interval be-
tween the two outermoft horfes. However, from the
ufe made of it in actual fervice, it muft have been of
a breadth fufl^icient to allow the oflicer to ftand either

on

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 179

on the right or left of the driver, as the nature of the
fervice fliould require : on the coins and marbles we
find the officer fometimes on the right, fometimes on
the left : in the impreffion of a coin given by Scheffer,
the officer is on the left-hand ; in a baflb releivo in
the church of St. Felix at: Spalatro, as publiflied by Mr.
Adams, the officer is on the right.

The bodies Hyperteria or Capfas, ufed in the race, were
merely adapted to the carrying one perfonj the diffe-
rence of thefe are plainly difcernable in the various
defcriptions of them. There is in fome of the exemp-
lars of the chariots in the race, an appearance of the
charioteer's being bound or braced in by a belt, or
fomething like it, vfhich may perhaps have been of
ufe in that cafe; and indeed fome of the accidents
which we read of in the race, feem to confirm this
fuppolition. But this could not be the cafe in military
fervice, for neither the acTtions nor the accidents in
battle, fo frequently defcribed, could have been fo per-
formed, or have happened, if the charioteer, or officer
ferving in the chariot, were fo tied in. I refer to fuch
a<5lions and accidents, as the officers difmounting and
remounting, and tumbling headlong to the ground out
of the chariot when flain.

The next confideration will be to examine the har-
nefs of the horfes, and the manner of tackling them
to the yoke, and of fixing the Toke to the Temo of the
carriage. The only parts of harnefs which I have
met with in reading, or feen in drawings, are the col-
lar

28o DISSERTATION ON THE

lar and body-girth : the one called * >.B7txhx ; th e
other MaaxoiT^KTTn^ic. The Lepadna^ or Collar, was a
thick broad leathern belt, confifting, to all appearance ,
of feveral folds fluck together, and bound at the edges ;
fo cut and fhaped as to fit the neck and breaft, with-
out prefling or pinching in one part more than in an-
other, when buttoned on. This collar, and the man-
ner of buttoning it, may be feen in the drawing, {Fig.
C a,") taken partly from the horfes over the great gate
of St. Mark's church at Venice, and partly from a bafTo
relievo in the temple of Jupiter at Spalatro. The fame
collar, with fcarce the leafl: change of form, may be
feen in numberlefs examples, although not perhaps
with the fame diftinftnefs.

The body-girth, or Mafchalifteris, {Fig. C b,"" was alfo a
broad leathern belt ; this alfo may be feen in almoft
every exemplar of the chariot and horfes.

{FigXc.) Both thefe were fixed to the yoke which lay
upon the withers, bound to it by xhefubjugia, ox jugalia
hra. The collar was more particularly applied in
drawing ; the latter in keeping fteady, and flopping the
carriage. From the manner in which the horfes were
harnefled to the yoke, no other tackling was neceflary,
or ever ufed, unlefs fome trappings, or ornamental ad-
ditions ; but, flridlly fpeaking, the collar, girth, hra
jugalia, and yoke, were all the harnefs properly fo
called.

* Iliad V. 729.

The

ANCIENT CHARIOT. iSt

The yoke or Ji/gum was of wood, of a length fufE-
cient to reach from the withers of one horfe to thofe of
the other, leaving a proper diftance between them for
the temo. It was of fuch a breadth, and fo curved and
hollowed in its form,/^. J, e,e, that the refpedive ends
which refled on the Aoipog, or withers of each horfe,
might lie there with eafe to the horfe, and with fecu-
rity to the carriage. Each end of the yoke was va-
rioufly carved and ornamented. The middle part of
this yoke was fo curved, ^^. A J, and hollowed, as to re-
ceive (the oiK^oc) the end of the temo, which was laid
upon it. In the middle of which concavity a pin or
peg called by Homer \£Vx<;^,j%. A a, was fixed ereft, fo
as to pafs through either the folid body of the head
of the temo, or through a ring called by Homer K^iKog,
affixed to the end of it. I have taken notice of this
hole or ring in fpeaking of the temo. When the temo
was affixed as above to the yoke, it was faftened and
bound to it by the long leather thong called Ztvyo-
S'ecrfxoc, or mejfabos. The length being generally be-
twixt fifteen and eighteen feet; that mentioned by Ho-
mer is nine cubits, or thirteen feet and an half. This
thong was of crude or white leather, in order that it
might be more pliant in its ligatures. That thefe liga-
tures might be fecured againft flipping or giving way,
the yoke had three or more groves, J?^. A t^r, or niches
cut in it, called o^(p«Ao<, in which this thong is funk

* Iliad, xxiv.
Vo L. I. Oo ia

sSi

DISSERTATION ON THE

ill the tying. There were alfo affixed upon the yoke
hooks or rings, (Fig.Albbb) called ou£?, through which,
fays Euftathius, the reins which guided the horles were
pafiTed. The drawing in the plate will beft defcribe
this jugum, for every part of which there is fufficienc
authority even in this palTage alone of Homer. The
method of harneffing the jugal horfes was as follows :
The charioteer firft put on upon the horfes the lepadna
or collar, and the mafkalifteris, or body-girth. They
then laid the yoke acrofs their necks upon the lophos
or withers, where it was tycd to the lepadna and maf-
kalifteris by the jugalia lora f. He then brought them
thus yoked to the chariot, and laid the pole of the cha-
riot upon the yoke, paffing the eftor through the krikos,
the hole or ring at the end of it, after which he
bound (Fig. DJ both firmly together, tying them trebly
or threefold $ on each fide, (Fig. Cd). After which the
reins, which came from the horfes' head, were pafi^ed
through the rings fixed upon the yoke. In a baflb re-
lievo on a fepulchral urn, exhibited in Piranifi, there
is an exemplar of the adt of harnefiing the horfes to
the jugum. If the reader is curious enough to turn to
the pafFage above cited from Homer, of which I have

f It appears from Homer, in the paflage above cited, that this was
done in the ftable before the jugum was fixed to the temo; but the
ufual way was, after having harnefled the horfes, to tye the jugum to
the temo, and then bring the horfes to the jugum thus fixed, and tackle
them to the jugunu

;t Homer.

made

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 2S3

made fo much ufe in this defcription, as alfo to that
in the fifth book of the Iliad, v. 7 i 9, — and to refer his
eyes to the many examples which he may fee in draw-
ings from antiquities, (many very fine examples of
which he may fee in Mr. Adams's drawings from the
remains at Spalatro ; two in the compartments of the
frize of the temple of Jupiter, and one in a bafTo re-
lievo in the church of St. Felix,) he will find eveiy
thing moll minutely confirmed, which I have above
defcribed : he will fee from this defcription of the
harnelling the horfes to the chariot, the reafon why
no traces or harnefs, according to our idea of fuch,
are ever feen, and why even the pole or temo is fcarce,
if ever, feen. — This defcription of the manner of af-
fixing the yoke to the temo or pole, and of harneffing
the horfes to the yoke, will explain every paflage that
occurs in common reading, fo far as relates to the bi-
jugae, or chariots drawn by a pair, or one yoke of
horfes.

Before I proceed to the more mixed kind of equi-
page, I will juft mark, as I pafs, that the ancients fome.
time ufed carriages drawn by one horfe, which had
fliafts as our prefent common carts have. Which
fhafts were tackled to the collar or Lepadna, in the fame
manner as at this day ; how the weight of the fhafts
and carriage were fupported, I have no where feen or
read. The only inftance which I remember, at prefent,
to have feen of this fort of carriage, does not particu-
larize the manner in which this weight was born.

Oo 2 The

284

DISSERTATION ON THE

The reader will find the inftance which I refer to in
one of the paintings found at Herculaneum ; it reprefenis
a grotefque, or emblematic carriage, being one of
thofe fingle cars drawn by a hawk or parrot, and
-driven by a grafshopper. Here, as in the drawing
from the Tufcan vafes, the fide pieces of the floor or
TovoQ of the body of the chariot continued make the
fliafts.

It has been remarked above, that the ancients, in the
moll early ufe of the chariots, ufed as many poles as
they had yokes, or pairs of horfes in the carriage
abreaft ; but this was not always fo, for we read in
Homer, in the cafe of Achilles's chariot, of an additional
extrajugal horfe 5 as alfo in that of Priam's chariot, of
two extrajugal horfes. I fhall therefore proceed to de-
fcribe the manner in which they harnefled thofe ex-
trajugal horfes, when they ufed one or two additional
harnefled in this manner. It was very fimple, and will
therefore be the more eafily explained and underftood :
. It appears that the ancients wifely ftudied in thefe ar-
maments, to avoid every unneceflary matter that might
become the occafion of embarraflTment or entanglement
in the execution.

As to the harnefs of this extrajugal horfe, it does
not appear that any other was ufed (as indeed not ne-
ceflary) than the lepadna or collar. For this horfe bore no
part of the weight of the chariot, nor was he in any
way concerned in flopping it, but fimply for drawing j
and he drew by a trace called a|WT^ov, inftead of a pole.

^ This

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 28^

This oiy.zpov is feen, belidcs the temo, in plate 130, of
vol. I. of the drawings of Mr. Hamilton's Tufcan vafes.
This trace was extended, between the jugal horfe and
extrajugal horfe, from the riapyjop/a to the axis. It will
appear that this pareoria was not attached to the yoke,
but was limply a trace by which the collar of the
extrajugal horfe (called therefore Iloifriopoc) was joined
to that of the next jugal horfe.

In the inftance of three horfes harnelTed to the cha-
riot of Achillesy lent to Patrochis, we read that after Juto-
medon had harnelTed the two immortal ileeds, Zanthos
and Balios, under the yoke, he harnefled Pedafos by
the UxpYjopix, or extrajugal traces. This extrajugal
horfe was called, from this particular harnefs, Hoccriopog^
or, from the long trace by which he drew, called Xsipoiy
I,£ifOCOC, or I,sip(X<pof>oc, which the Latins tranflated fu-
nalis.

The effed of the accident which befell this horfe,
as defcribed by Homer, proves that this horfe was not
harnelTed to the yoke. He fays, that upon this horfe's.
being wounded and falling down dead, the jugal horfes
were diftradted, or drawn afunder as far as the yoke
would permit without breaking, for although the yoke
creeked with this flrefs upon it, it was not broken,
nor were either of the horfes feparated from it. The
coupling reins, called, by Virgil, concordia frsna, were
confounded and entangled. But the moment that this
extrajugal horfe was feparated by cutting the trace,
the jugal pair flood again in their due order, and the

reins-

^^

-86 DISSERTATION ON THE

reins were righted. If the traces by which this extra-
jugal horfe was faftened had been any way tackled to
the yoke, he muft, by his falling, have pulled both the
horfes the fame way, and not afunder ; but by his pul-
ling them afunder, it is clear that he was joined by the
harnefs to the horfe, and not to the yoke, as 1 have
above defcribed, drawing by a trace which pafTed be-
tween this outfide horfe and the jugal horfe to which
he was tied. This again accounts for our not feeing
in the drawings even the body-girth, or any drawing-
trace on the outfide horfe of the quadriga, in thofe
cafes where extrajugal horfes were ufed.

Neflor alfo had an extrajugal horfe in his chariot,
which Paris killed; and being flain, the old man, in
like manner, difencumbered his equipage of him, by
Cutting the Pareorla.

The defcription of this one extrajugal horfe ferves
likewife for the other on the other hand, as that
was intirely limilar.

This defcription of thefe extrajugal horfes will an-
fwer to the explaining every adlion or evolution of the
chariot, both in battle and in the race.

With refpe6t to the harneffing four horfes abreaft,
the two on the outfide might be extrajugal ; but
1 am convinced (efpecially as I read it in Zenophon)
that when more pairs were put abreaft, each pair
had a temo or pole j and a peculiar fort of carriage
for carrying great burthens is adlually fo defcribed ;
but the quadrigse, which were moft in ufe, were
7 certain-

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 287

certainly moft commonly drawn with a pair of jugal
horfes, and a pair of extrajugal horfes coupled on each
fide. The bufmefs of guiding, keeping fleady, and
flopping the carriage, depended chiefly on the jugal
pair; that of wheeling up each extreme axle depended
on the ftrength and adtivity of the refpedive outfide
extrajugal horfe, as will be feen prefently.

The conftruftion and the compolidon of this equi-
page of the Bij'uga, the Irlg^e, and ^adriga, being thus
defcribed, the exercife of thefe in the games, and the
application of them to fervice in war, is the next point
to be inquired into. This inquiry will flill more il-
luftrate the matter.

The whole of this is contained in one line in Homer,

which Mr. Pope tranflates thus :

Praftis'd alike to turn, to flop, to cliace.
To dare the ftiock, or urge the rapid race.

If we view this line in the light of fcience, we fhall
find that it does very minutely defcribe every manoeuvre
ufed in the evolutions of the chariot, the advancing
and retreating, and thofe fudden rapid wheelings to
the right or left, by which they make their almoft ir-
reliftible attacks ; which motion, as I fliall afterwards
explain it, is appropriated, of very ancient time, to the
movements of the knights in the game of chefs.

♦ Iliad viii. 107,

In

288 DISSERTATION ON THE

* In gyrum greffiis magno impete lunat
Curvatos.

The great excellence and perfeftion of this manege
•was firil f ^o to bit the horfes, that their necks might
be pliable and obedient to the reins : the next confilt-
ed in teaching the horfes to move by fuch X meafured
fleps, that the whole equipage, when two, four, or fix,
were joined together, might move as one body with-
out confufion : Thirdly, to train them to run with ve-
locity, and to inure them to courage and hardinefs, in
either attacking by an impetuous flaock, or in receiv-
ing firmly the attack. The laft was in dreffing them
to execute the various evolutions of wheeling with
docility, activity , and velocity: in fhort, fays Zenophon,
to do all other things which they would have occafion
to perform in adtual fervice, to run over all kind of
ground, to llretch up the fleepeft afcents, and to rufh
down the fliarpeft declivities.

The chief excellence in driving v:ra.s Jieadinefs, fo as to
proceed whether moving in the right or curve line,
in one uniform diredion, and not to and fro by a va-
cillating and finuous motion. But the great excel-
lence of the horfes, as well as the highefl fkill of the
driver was called forth, in performing the wheelings
to an exaA given curve, under full fpeed.

The chariot race was inftituted for the exercife of
this military fkill, to encourage and afford opportuni-

^ Vids Sacchia Ludus, f Zenophon.

.^ Which you fee dcfcribed in all the ancient coins and baflb relievos.

ties

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 28^

ties of difplaying it j and was fo regulated as to re-
quire the beft horfes, the higheft finiOied manege, and
the moft perfed: Ikill in driving. To complete the
noble competitors in this moft difficult manoeuvre of
the wheeling, the courfe was always fo laid out, that
the race depended chiefly on the performing this dif-
ficult evolution. He that will read with the eye of
fcience old Neftor's advice to his fon in the Iliad, Book
XXIII. v. 306, will need no other explication of this
matter.

. The courfe was generally of that length that the
race was finifticd by going once round ; although
fometimes, in the more confined circus, the chariot
went four times round, making feven wheelings, rec-
koning thofe round both termini taken together. The
route of the race was from the right wheeling to the
left, round the extreme meta or terminus and then re-
turning back to the fame ground, fo as that the meta
or terminus from which they fet out fliould be upon
their right -, and, if the courfe confifted of more rounds
than one, then wheeling to the right round this meta,
and fo alternately in a line, making the Arabic figure
of 8. Now four rounds thus performed will make
juft feven wheelings. I am confcious that this opinion
is new ; but being pcrfuaded that I am grounded both
in the nature of the thing, and by fufiicient authority,
as will be feen prefently, I venture to give it out.

According to the opinion commonly received of the
chariot race, that the competitors ftarted from the

Vol. I. P p right

290 DISSERTATION ON THE

right of the barriere, and wheeling to the left round

the meta, always went the fame way, always wheeling

to the left in every circuit, whatever the number of

rounds were, there arifes a moil inexplicable injujlicey

as to any chance that the merit of fwiftnefs in the

horfes, or of fkill in the driver could have, except what

they derived from their place upon the right or left,

which mere lot gave them. For when there were from

ten chariots to forty at fometimes, all arranged abreaft

at the barrier -, that upon the left, and that upon the

right, would run courfes of very different lengths, in

the proportion of the leffer or larger circle that their

lot deflined them to.

The explication of this difficulty given by Mr. Weft,
in his difcourfe on the Olympic games, only adds con-
fufion to it. The whole flcill and courage of the cha-
rioteers were (he fays) employed to obtain the point of
advantage at the wheeling, and he defcribes them in
this attempt all driving foul of one another, by direc-
tions all converging to this point ; this, I fay, may add
to the confufion, but does not relieve the difficulty, for
ftill the chariot, which was placed upon the right of all,
had, in this firft attempt, the hypothenufe, or longeft
fide of the triangle to run, while the chariot upon the
left had only one of the Legs of the fame right-angled
triangle, and fo the reft in gradation ; and what a
fcene of unavoidable inextricable wreck muft all thefe
chariots rufliing together, in converging lines, have
made. This feems fo abfurd, that one cannot but re-

jea

i

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 29!

jeJl it at firft fight, from the nature of the thing itfelf.
But this attempt of running foul on one another, and
crofTmg upon each other, is contrary to faB, is con-
trary to the laws of the courfe, which forbad all fraud,
all croffing or joftling, as our modern racers term it.
And we find in the 23d book of Homer's Iliad, that
Antilochiis was deprived of the prize he claimed (which
prize was given to Menelaus) becaufe he (Antilochus)
had crofTed upon, and attempted to run foul of the
chariot of Menelaus.

All this perplexity is relieved, and the difficulty
cleared up, by the explication which I have given
above : for by that route of the race, he that was outer-
moft at the fetting oif, returning to the fame gi'ound
with the ftarting-poll upon the right, would be inner-
moft at the coming in ; and if the race confilled of
more circuits than one, the competitors would be al-
ternately outermoft and innermoft at each alternate
wheeling. So that he who ran the largell circle in the
firfl circuit, would run the leifer in the fecond, and
vice verfa.

Whoever will read the account of the chariot race
in the Elecira of Sophocles, and will particularly attend
to the nature of the accident which happened between
the Thracian and Lybian cars j and to the fatal one
which befel Orejles at the clofe of the race, will be con-
firmed in this opinion. The narrative tells us, That
the chariots having finiflied the third iiratit, and run-
ning the fourth, fome of them had made the feventh

P p 2 wheeling,

292 DISSERTATION ON THE

wheeling, and were got again into the ftraight right
line, at that moment of time the JEniaii charioteer com-
ing up to the Meta, in or near the point where the
route of the courfe muft crofs ; and his horfes, hard
of mouth, breaking from him, fwerved and run foul,
with their front direct, upon one of the Lybian cha-
riots. This is an accident that could not happen, if
the returning line did not crofs upon the outgoing
line, by the chariots running the courfe in the figure
of eight. But the circumftances of the difaller of the
car of Oreftes puts the matter out of all doubt.

The narrative proceeds, and fays. That this accident
between the Lybian and iEnian chariots drew after it
an almoft general wreck of the chariots then running.
But that the Ikilful Athenian, who was lafl but one,
obferving his time, bore to the right out of the courfe,
and fo avoided them. That Oreftes, who lay by in
the race, as having horfes of that rating way of go-
ing, that he depended upon the pufh at the lafl: for
his fuccefs y finding that now was the time to make
his pufh, bore ftill more to the right, in order to
pafs the Athenian J and, for this purpofe, having given
the left-hand rein to his horfes, moft unfortunately
run with the end of his axle-tree againft: the Terminus,
at the coming in. Now unlefs this terminus had been
upon his right at the coming in, this accident thus
defcribed could not have happened ; but being upon
the right, every previous accident naturally leads to it.

8 How-

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 293

However, as the route of the race generally conCfted
but of one long courfe, returning again to the ftarting-
poft, the only wheeling performed in it was to the
left ; but to make that matter even and fair, the cha-
riots came in upon the left of the ftarting-poft, as
above defcribed ; fo that thofe who were outermoll ac
the wheeling round the meta, and had there the dif-
advantage, were innermoft at the coming in, and had
that difadvantage made up to them.

As in thefe courfes of one circuit, which were the
moft common, the only wheeling performed was ta
the left round the meta * ; the horfe of the higheft
vigour and greateft velocity was harnelled extrajugal'
upon the right : and for the like reafon, the bed ma-
neged and moft flexile horfe f was harnelTed extra-
jugal on the left, becaufe the firft was to bring round
th€ chariot in the ac^ of wheeling, and the latter to
maintain a kind of equably moving fulcrum, upon
which the whole motion of the wheeling depended ;
fo that each had his perfe6lion, and each was firft and.
moft excellent in his refpeflive property; the attending
to which diftinftion might have cleared Scheffer's dif-
ficulties. The horfes of the quadrigce were generally,
though not without exception, mentioned in the follow-
ing order. Firft, the extrajugal on the right: Second,
the extrajugal on the left. Third, the jugal on the

* Vide Scholiaft in Antigone Sophocles.
f Vide Sophocles Eledram.

• right.

294 DISSERTATION ON THE

i-ight. Fourth, the jugal on the left. T mention this,
as it will be necefTary to explain fome terms which the
reader will meet with in Homer, in Sophocles, and in feve-
ral of the other claffics.

Let the reader be led next, by this inquiry, into the
application of this equipage ; thus compofcd, and thus
exercifed to adlual fervice in war, he will find thefe
chariots acfting as diftindl fmgle bodies, in ruihing
upon and breaking the ranks of the infantry, fome-
times by a dire(51: perpendicular attack upon the front, but
more commonly by wheeling fuddenly to the right
or left, and bearing down in a tranfverfe line along tlje
front, fo as to elude the points of the enemy's fpears
advanced in front. He will find them fometimes Hop-
ping fliort upon a fudden halt, and (landing unmoved;
while the officer, who was carried in them, jumps
down upon the ground, and puts himfelf at the
head of the infantry, or engages in fingle combat.
At other times he will find them coming fhort about,
and retreating. He will find them, upon other occa-
fions, a(Sting in a compaft corps, formed into a rank in-
tire, in order to break the enemy's front, and then, by
their various evolutions, making way for the infantry
to pafs up to action ; at other times he will find them
drawn up in a body upon the wings, and fometimes
as a corps de referve in the rear. In fliort, if we
confider thefe chariots, trained as they were with fuch
fkill and difcipline, and exercifed to fuch great per-
feiJtion, in wheeling to right and left with fudden and

impetu-

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 295-

impetuous velocity, we fliall eafily perceive how every
evolution of the cavalry might be performed in the
fame manner as the modern cavalry perform the mo-
dern evolutions of wheeling by fours ; as alfo, how
they might change their fronts, refolve themfelves into
lefTer bodies, and unite again into one. I could quote
inftances of all thefe manoeuvres, but I think it will be
more pleafing to the reader to apply thefe obfervations
himfelf to the many inftances which he will meet with
in the courfe of his ftudies.

Various were the methods taken and pracftifed to
evade this attack, which could not be rejijled by the in-
fantry, fuch as wheeling back and opening to the
right and left ; but the only one I fhall take notice of
is the manoeuvre mentioned by Polyanus * in his flratage-
mata. He fays that Alexander, having learned that the
Thracians had a powerful body of this chariot cavalry^
trained his Macedonians to couch upon the ground, and
with their fhields thrown over them to form a teftudo,
over which the chariots of the enemy might pafs with-
out effeifl.

As this Britifli ifland was, in the very early ages of
antiquity, and prior to the fiege of Troy, planted by co-
lonies from the great commercial nations in the eaflern
piirts of the Mediterranean fea ; fo the learning and
arts of thefe polifhed people flouriflied in this land :
the aftonifhing monuments of the Druids, who were
the priefts of thofe colonies, are proofs of a knowledge

* Lib. iv. c. 3. §. II.

in

296 DISSERTATION ON THE

in mechanics, which we of this enlightened day only
wonder at, but are at a lofs to account for. This ufe
of the chariots pradifed only by the Afiatics and Ly-
bians, v/as the peculiar art of war in which the Bri-
tons excelled, and was peculiar to them. Although
thefe colonies, and indeed almoft the remembrance of
them, had been, in the time of Julius Csefar, over-
whelmed by the barbarifm of the natives, and of other
uncultivated people, who had tranfmigrated from the
continent of Europe ; yet this peculiar Afiatic art
.<Sif war, the fame as that ufcd at the fiege of Troy,
continued to be ufed even fo late as the time of his
invafion, by the then inhabitants : in this manege wc
find they excelled to a very high degree of perfection.
Diodorits fays cxprefsly, that they ufed chariots in war
exatSlly in the fame manner as the heroes in the Tro-
jan war * are faid to have ufed them. They ufed the
fame method of forming the line of battle, the fame
method of attack, and particularly that of the tranj-
verfe attack, which is what Cicero, in the 6 th epiflle
of his 7th book, refers to in the caution he gives Tre-
batius to guard againft thefe fudden unexpeded mo-
tions. The Britifh order of battle, which Cafar de-
fcribes in the 24th chapter of his 4th book of the
Gallic war, ConcUio Romanorum cogntto, premijfo eguitatu et
ejjedariis quo plerumque genere in praliis uti confueverant, reliquis
copUs confeculi funt, is exactly the fame as that formed by

* Lib. V.

the

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 297

the Greeks defcribed in Iliad IV. I could quote other
paflages to the fame purpofe, but this is fufficient.

As this was the peculiar art of war amongfl the an-
cient inhabitants of this country, fo had they the fame
folemn races, to train and exercife their youth to this
difcipline, and to maintain the fame honour towards
thofe who excelled in it. There are, to this day, remain-
ing in England fome veftiges of the Curfus in which they
ran thefe races ; which races, being attendants on the
folemn meetings of religion, the curfus were near their
temples. The mod remarkable is that near Stone-
henge, which is a long tracSl of ground, about 350
feet (or 200 Druid cubits) wide, and better than a
mile and three quarters (or ^000 Druid cubits) in
length, enclofed quite round with a bank of earth,
ftretching direftly eaft and weft. The goal and
career are at the eaft end. The goal is a high bank
of earth, raifed with a Hope inwards, whereon the
, judges are fuppofed to have fat. The line of this
bank is north and fouth, diredly acrofs the curfus,
beginning from the fouth bank of the curfus, not
reaching quite to the north, but leaving a fpace there
for the chariots to pafs to the career, between this goal
and the north bank, or fide of the curfus. The metaj
are two tumuli, or little barrows, at the weft end of
the curfus :

Some tomb, perhaps of old, the dead to grace,

Or then, as now, the limit of a race. Pope's Homer.

Vol. I. Q^q As

/

21^8 DISSERTATION ON THE

As old Neftor defcribes the meta of the curfus on the
plains before Troy.

From the very (late and form of this hippodrome, or
curfus, my conje6lure, as to the manner in which the
race was performed, is confirmed in faift. Here we fee
that the chariots fet out from the career, on the right
(or northward) of the goal, and ran to the weft end j
whence, wheeling to the left round the metse, they re-
turned again eaftward and muft pafs again to the north-
ward, or left of the goal, keeping it on their right in
their coming in to the career, at the end of the race, as
I have before explained the race mentioned in Sophocles.

Doctor Stukely, not adverting to this route of the
race, but feeing that it muft end to the northward of
the goal, at the eaft end, has been led to imagine, con-
trary to the fad of conftant practice, that the chariots ran
from the eaft along the fouthern fide, and then wheel-
ing to the right, north about the meta^, returned on the
north fide, and fo ended to the northward of the goal.
But the explanation which I have given is agreeable to
pracflice, and confirmed by this exifting fadl.

The hyppodromes, or curfus, were called, in the
language of the country, rhedagua ; the racer rhe-
dagwr, and the carriage, as we find, rheda.

One of thefe hippodromes, about half a mile to the
louthward of Leicefter, retains ftill, under the various
corruption of fpeaking and writing, the old name

Rhedagua ', in the corrupted one Rawdikes,

6 Dodor

ANCIENT CHARIOT. 2^9

Docftor Stukely fays there is another of thefe near
Dorchefter ; another on the banks of the river Lowther,
by Perith in Cumberland ; and another in the valley
jufl without the town of Royfton.

Such were the equeflrian fports of the ancient Bri-
tons, who even in their PaJIimes encouraged a warlike
fpirit and emulation, and advanced the public welfare;
for by making pleafure fubfervient to fcience, and con-
fidering the race only as an exhibition of military Ikill,
they dignified the fport, and made their cavalry no lefs
the delight and ornament of peace, than the fupport
and terror of war."

APPENDIX

T O T H E

FIRST VOLUME.

PAGE 14. " Their manner of riding," &c.] In
latter times, however, Arrian, fpeaking of them,
fays, that Saddles were not in ufe among them, nor had
they Bridles made after the fafliion of the Greeks and
Celts ; but, inftead of them, they governed and guided
their horfes with a thong or flrap, cut from the raw hide
of a bull, which they bound acrofs their nofes -. on the
infide of this Nofe-band, they fixed certain little pointed
pieces of iron or brafs, moderately fharp; the richer
fort ufed ivory. In the mouth a fmall piece of iron
was put, like a Bar, or Spit, to which the reins were
tied : when thefe were pulled, the mouth-piece ope-
rated, and the fmall teeth which were on the Nofe-band,
pricking the horfe, obliged him to obey, and anfwer
the will of the rider *. The modern inflruments, called

* Arrian Hift. Indie, lib. 17.
Vol. I. R r CavefonSf

':

30Z APPENDIX.

Cavefoiis, from the Italian word Cavezza, an halter, Col-

lar, or Head-ftrain, may probably be derived from this

invention. JElimi likewife, who wrote poflerior to Ar-

rian, fpeaks of the I-iidians as expert horfemen ; and fays,

that they rode and managed their horfgs by means of

a Bridle, but not of that fort which is called the Lupa-

tum, with (harp points of iron fixed to it, in order to

prick and harrafs the mouth j but that they neverthelefs , fl

were fo fkilful, as to make their horfes perform as well

as if they had been rode with it, and awed by its feve-

rity *.

Page 2 0. " As we learn from Strabo."] Callration
was pratftifed long before Strabo wrote, but he feems
to fpeak of it as being a cuftom more peculiarly be-
longing to the Scythians and Sarmatians than to any other
nations. His words may be rendered thus: It is pecu-
liar to all the Scythian and Sarmatian nations to cailrate
their horfes, for the better management of them ; for
though they are but fmall, they are neverthelefs met-
tlefome, and difficult to be governed f-

Page 38. " Many of the terms," 8cc.] Much learning is
difplayed, and much information may be gained upon
this fubje(ft from the following extraft, entitled,
" DifTertation Litteraire, fur Une Colonic Egiptienne,
'• etabli a Athenes, Sec. par Fred. Samuel Schmidt de

* yElian, lib. 13. f Strabo, lib. 7.

2 '' Berne."

APPENDIX. 303

«' Berne," printed in a volume called Archxologia,
or Mifccllaneoiis Trad:s, lately publiflied by the learned
body of Antiquarians, London, 1762.

The intention of the moil ingenious author is to prove
that colonies came from Egypt to fettle in Athens,
which brought the arts and fciences in their train, and
planted them in Greece, among \ivhich the art of riding
was introduced and eftabliflied. The author fpeaks of
two different colonies, under two different leaders
which came from Egypt and fettled in Athens : thefe
were Cecrops and Ericlhomus. Having related the hiflory
Df Cecrops, he proceeds to give an account of the other
colonift) Eri5lbonius, Hiflorians and chronologifls, con-
tinues our author, mention two different kings who
were known by the fame appellation, and were fome^
limes miflaken for each other. Their names were
Erecitbeus, or EriBhonius ; according to the fcholiafls of
Homer both were the fame. One of thefe chiefs was
the fourth, and the other the fixth king of Athens.

The firft of thefe, as we are told by Diodoriis Siaihis,
was of Egyptian origin, and Attica being defolated by a
famine, fupplied it with corn ; in confideradon of the
friendfliip and alliance which formerly fubfifted be-
tween its inhabitants and the Egyptians, that is, for
the fake of the colony which was eftabliflied in Athens,
under his predeceflbr Cecrops.

The ridiculous and abfurd etymologies by which
the grammarians pretended to explain the name of

R r 2 EriBbonius,

304 APPENDIX.

EriBhonius, fo as to make it be derived from the Greek

language, engaged our author to fearch for it in the

Egyptian, the language of that country whence this

hero originally came. He flatters himfeif with being

able to give at leaft a very probable reafon why this

king was diftinguifhed by this name, whofe derivation,

he fays, is this. The old Egyptian word is Ericko, whence

the Greeks formed Erichthonius ; as from Jpol/o, Apollo- .:

•nius. This name is compofed of £r/, facere ret aliciijus

auSlorem ejfe ; which fignifies, to become the inventor,

or author of any thing ; and Cbto, or ichlo, egiius, egui-

tatus, an Horfe, or Cavalry. Thefe two compounded

ma.'ke Erichto, that is, the Inventor or Author of Horfes.

This is the charader and employment which the an-
cients unanimoufly gave to Erkhthonhu. Virgil ex- A
prefly *:

Primus Erichthonius currus & quatuor aiifus J-

Jiingere equos, rapidifque rotis injijiere viBor.

Firft Erichthonius dar'd with rapid fkill
To yoke four Heeds, and guide the vigor's rapid
wheel. Warton.

Servius, Arijiides, and other commentators, confirm this
account, arjd afTert that this hero was the firll who drove

* Georg. iii. verf. 113.

horfes

APPENDIX. 305

horfes in a car, or chariot, and introduced the art into
Greece, as the Tbejfalians are faid, by the author above-
mentioned, to have been the firft pra(5tifers of the art
of riding, and of fighting on horfeback.

To perpetuate the memory of fo great a benefit, and
fo noble an invention, Eri6thonius, after his death, was
placed in heaven, and is reprefented in the ancient
fphere, under the names of Juriga and Jgitator, viz.
Driver, or Charioteer.

But what moft tends to confirm this etymology, and
fliews this colony in a clearer and fuller light, is, that
Ericbthonius or Erichtheus, is one of the titles of Neptune.
Lycophron, Tzetzes, Hefychius, and other ancient writers
affirm, that with the Athenians Erichthonhu is Neptune.
Plutarch, in two places, makes mention of Neptune
Ericbthonius, fo called, as our author conjedures, from
an opinion entertained among the Greeks, that he was
the firft who made them acquainted with the horfe, and
taught them how to manage him. Sophocles and Dio-
dorus Siculus atteft the fame thing, Paufanias fpeaks of
an Equejirim ftatue of Neptune, which was erecfted in
Athens ; and to account for the title of '{TrTCt©^^ or
Horfeman, being given to Neptune, has recourfe to equi-
tation, the invention of which art he proves to have
been attributed to him. The hymns of Homer afcribe
likewife two employments to this deity, Equitation and
Navigation.

1 In

3o6 APPENDIX.

In Italy the fame creed prevailed. The ETrufcans rc-
prefented Neptune fitting in a car, drawn by horfes, as
may be feen on a monument, among other antiquities
of that nation, publifhed by Dempller. Upon the fame
account, Romulus dedicated the games called Confualiu,
in which it was cuitoraary to crown the Horfes, to this
deity.

The Jncients go ftill farther with them, Neptune was
deemed not only the inventor of the art of riding, but
alfo the Creator of the horfe. Nothing is more known
and common in their mythology. Virgil and Lncan
dearly prove it. He appears, therefore, to have the
juftell title to the name EreBbeus, which belonged to
him in its fulled fignification, not only as being the
author of riding, but likewife as having given the horfe
to man for his ufe and pleafure. He is therefore moil
properly fliled by Pamphus, the mod ancient hymno-
grapher, Yttttuv ^olrj^oi, the Giver of horfes.

In this place, two doubts probably may occur ; it
may be afked, why this Egyptian colonift is called Nep-
tune or EreBheiis ? and why the invention of horfeman-
fhip ftiould be attributed by the ancients to both I and if
it might not be upon this account, that the Egyptians, who
came by Sea into Greece, were the firll introducers of
equitation in that country. This folution is not fatif-
fa6lory, another more juft be advanced ; Equitation, with
txiQ. ancients, was always the emblem of Navigation^
The truth of this has been demonftrated by Monfieur

Freret,

APPENDIX. 307

Freret, in his ingenious refledlions upon the fable of
Bellerophon. The Pegafus, or winged horfe, of this hero,
being, according to this author, a Slip, in which h.e
failed upon his expeditions, which was given to him by
Neptune. This god is faid Hkewife, in the Greek, mytho-
logy, to have called forth an horfe from the bofom of
the earth, in the well-known difpute he is reported to
have had vn'xth Minerva ; that is to fay, he recommended
Navigation to the Athenians, as Minerva, by producing
an Olive-tree, intimated to them the benefits of Jgricul-
ture. Hence Erichthonius gained his name, bccaufe he
brought the corn 'in Ships, defigned for the relief of the
Athenians, aiHidled with a famine. Hence the fable of
the Trojan Horfe, which was a Ship filled with foldiers.
Hence Plautus fays,

Nempe Equo Ugneo per vias ccerukas
Fe5li efiis

You are carried over the fl^y-coloured Roads (waves)
upon a woodeji horfe.

Page 45". " The Theflalian horfes," &c.j King Alfred,
in his tranflation of Orofms, fays, that Philip of Mace-
don's view in undertaking to conquer the TheiTalians,.
fb as to make them at leaft his allies, was becaufe they
excelled all other nations in fighting on horfeback.
This is cited from Alfred's verfion, not only becaufe it
is Royal authority,, but becaufe it is more flrongly ex-

t preffed

30 8 APPENDIX.

prefTed than in the original, which runs only Ambitione
habendorum equitiim T'heJJ'alonun, Orof. lib. iii. cap. i 2. This
is taken from a manufcript, given to the Society of
Antiquaries by their late moil amiable and worthy Pre-
fident, Dr. Charles Lyttelton, Bifliop of Carlifle.

The Mafter of the Horfe to this King, is the firfl of
whom any mention is made belonging to any Britifli
Prince. His name is Ecgiief; he was Hors-The?i, or Horfe-
Tbane, Equorum Magijler^ to Alfred *.

Page 59. " Men of military eminence,'' &c.lThe old
feudal barons reprefented themfelves on horfeback upon
their feals, and none below the degree of a Chevalier had
a right to the horfe. There are in the pofTeilion of
Thomas Aflle, Efq. two original feals of Robert Ferrers,
fome time Earl of Derby. While he was Earl of Derby,
his feal was a reprefentation of himfelf on horfeback,
in armour, brandifliing his fword ; and bearing upon
his fhicld, and the caparifons of his horfe, his coat of
arms, raire, Or and Gules ; but after he was deprived of
his earldom and eftatcs (50 Hen. UI.) for raifing forces
a fecond time againft the king, he ufed upon his feal
his family arms alone, without the horfe.

Paae 6 8. "Their chief employment," 8cc J The allotted
fpace the horfes were to run in thefe trials of fpeed

* Gibfon's Saxon Chronicle, p, 97.

and

APPENDIX. 30^^

and vigour, was feven times round the Circus. Aufo-
nius fays of Pbofphorus^

Septenas foUtus viBor ahhe vias.

It appears likewife from the fame authority, that
thefe fmgle racers were ufed to contend with the ^la-
driga, or chariots drawn by four horfes. Aufon. Epitap.
3J-. See this alfo confirmed by Sidonius Apollinaris,
Carmen 23. lib. 373.

Page 73." The Etruvian, or Tufcan breed, is praifed
by Oppian."] Volaterrannus celebrates thofe of Sardi-
nia. Non enimfcimus quaks Mulos Clodius habiierit^ aut mulas
'Titus An^iius Milo ; — aut iitrum Tufco equo federit CataUna an
Sardo. Flavius Vopifcus in Firmo, cap. 6.

Page 77. " Inftead of a curry-comb, they put a co-
vering upon their hands."] The Greeks made ufe of an
inftrument of iron for the fame purpofe, called Marnica,
and explained by Hefychius, to be an Irc7i Hand.

Page 78. "To tie rollers of wood."] This is no un-
frequent thing in the prefent fyflem of Horfemanfliip,
and to a certain degree will have a good effedr. Ploi/ghed
fields were alfo thought to conduce to the fame end ; in
which it was ufual to break and exercife horfes, till of
late ; the utility of working in riding-houfcs having al-
VoL. I. S f moft

510 APPENDIX.

mod fuperfeded them : the Parthian method, defciibed
in page i 7, was intended for the fame purpofe.

Page 97. " The IFbite fliould always be reje6ted."]
A notion has always prevailed, that thofe animals
whofe fkins are entirely white, are lefs valuable than
thofe af other colours, efpecially hoifes. An ele-
gant and curious obferver of nature, decides very
confidendy againft this colour in horfes. " II ell
" bien vrai," fays he, " qu'on a obferve, depuis plus
•' de dix huit cent ans, que Ics quadrupedes dont . la
" robe eft blanche, fans bigarrure, ei fans melange,
" font moins vigoureux, moins robufces que leur ana-
'* logues d'un poil pcint ou bariole : il n'y a pas tant de
" force vive^. ni tant de refiftance dans les mufcles et les
" nerfs d'un Cheval ne blanc, que dans ceux que dans
••- ceux d'un Cheval noir ou bai.'.'

0

In other animals particular opinions have likewife
been received and maintained, with r^fpedl to different
Co/ours, which are thought to influence the qualities of
the animal. " En HoUande," fays the fame author,.
" on a reconnu, par ime longue fuite d'obfervations,
*' que les vaches rouges font d'un temperament infe-
«« rieur, et moins fecondes que les vaches noires, ou
" tachetees de noir et de blanc, auili I'efpece rouge a
** t'elle ete entierement bannies des paturages de ce pays *." '

*■ Recherches Philofoph. fur les Americains, 1770.

On

E N D I X.

311

On the contrary, the red cow's milk is the raoH cfteem-
ed in this country,

Page I 26. " Dr. Shaw aflerts," &c.] The author's
words are, " The horfes here are very fine, efpecially
" thofe of Upper Egypr, being of the Arab and Barbary
'* race. They have one great fault, which is that
** their necks are generally too fliort, and the people
" value their horfes, as they do their women, for the
" largenefs of their bodies.''

Page 138. " Never geld their horfes," Sec] This
cuftom, now fo frequent, feems to have been intro-
duced by the Turkijlo or Hungarian nations, who took
pofleflion of ancient Pannonia. It is remarkable, that
the French call a gelding, un Cheval Ongre, that is an
Hungarian horfe, which feems to indicate, that the Franks
firft learned the art and cuflom of caftration from the
Hungarians. The Germans call a gelt horfe a JJV.lack,
which feems to prove, that they were made acquainted
with this practice from a nation which is called Jl''aJ~
lochia J and it is certain that the Huns and the Hungari^
ans, or, as they call themfelves, the Madgians, and after-
wards the Patzinaks (all which are Turkifli tribes) or
branches of that nation, which was called 'Toukotie by
the Cbincfe, and Turks over all the Orient, were fettled,
for fome time at leaft, in IVallacUa. The Poles call a geld-
ing OgbJer, to indicate that they firft got the art of geld-
ing horfes from the Ougburs, one of the ancient Hunnic

S f 2 tribes

3 12 APPENDIX.

tribes, mentioned by Pnf. Rhetor, fo that there is much
reafon to conclude that the Jrt came originally from
the Huns and Hungarians. What is more remarkable, is,
that to this very day, a great many Hungarians travel
every year into Germany and Poland, in order to caf-
trate any animal that is offered to them, which they
do for a fmall reward. They come to the very Ballick
every fummer, and are very expert in their bufmefs.

Page 141." They are fold to the Ruffians," Sec] The
horfes of this people are purchafed by the Ruffians,
who every year buy fo great a number as forty thou-
fand, which are brought to Mofcow, and fold at a low
rate. They are pot-bellied, lean, their fkins being
hard and coarfe ; their necks flefliy and clumfy, with
large heads, and would be defpifed and rejefted by all
who fee them, were they not known to be endowed with
great fpeed, and able to bear labour and want of food
to a great degree. Iter in Mofchov. Auguftini Baronis
de Mayerberg, A. D. i 6 6 i , p. 32.

Page r47. "The horfes of Sweden," &c.] Englifh
horfes, fays an author who wrote many years ago;
efpecially for the Pad, are of great efteem in Sweden ;
the horfes of the country being generally of a fmall
breed, and 'Trotters, fomewhat like our Welch and Scotch
nags : the Queen and fome great Lords have a breed of
large and handfome horfes, but not many of them.

Moft-

APPENDIX. 313

Moft of their horfes for the coach and fled, and war,
are brought out of Denmark and Germany, where they
have llore of good ones, but none for beauty, mettle,
and the fervice beyond the EngUfli. A. D. 16 5 3.
Whiielock's EmbafTy to Sweden, vol. i. p. 257, which
is printed by Dr. Morton, and will foon be publifhed.

Page 154. " In Sicily, a kingdom always extolled,''
&c.] The nobleil and moft excellent horfes are bred in
this country (Calabria), of large fize, and exceeding
fwiftnefs. Gabrielis Bai. de Antiquitate Sc Situ Cala-
bria", Romse, 1737, Folio, cap. 21.

Page 161. " Except defigned for prefents," &c.] In'
the fame reign a common horfe was valued at half a
pound ; but a fine horfe was to be rated according to
his beauty.

The following particulars, which fliew what at-
tention the ancient Britons paid to their horfes, may
not perhaps be improper to be added, nor difpleafin^
to the curious reader.

We find from Howel Dda's Laws *, that amono- the
ancient Britons, the king's villani were obliged to
furnifh him with horfes, to carry his baggage in his-
armies ; and every perfon who held lands in villanage,
was obliged to attend with a horfe and an axe,

♦Eol.. 166. This prince compiled his code of laws about the year 876..

and.

314 APPENDIX.

and to aflifl in building the king's camps and forts,
being maintained at the king's expence f. In the fame
Laws X are many curious particulars concerning
horfes : amongft others, I fhall mention the following.
A colt under fourteen days old was valued at 4d. Under
a year old, the value was 2 4d. From the time he en-
tered his fccond year, his value was 48d. In his third
year he was worth 6od. and he was then to be deemed
fit for ufe. The value of a palfrey was i 2od. A
pack-horfe was of the fame value. A cart, or plough-
horfe was worth ^od. A perfon that fold a horfe was
to anfwer for his being free from the three following
iqward complaints : a giddinefs for three days before
the time of fale ; a broken wind for three months ;
and a dropfy for a year -, and he was not to tire when
upon a journey with others : and he was further to
warrant, that he neither loathed food nor water ; and
if he was fubjeft to thefe failings, the feller was either
to take the horfe back, or to return a third part of the
price. The qualities of a horfe of burthen are thefe,
viz. that he fhould carry a load, draw a carriage up or
down hill, and not to be refty.

If a perfon lamed a horfe, he fliould forfeit the va-
lue of the horfe ; and if he mutilated him, he fliould
forfeit the third part of the value to the owner.

He that cut off the hair from a horfe's tail, v.^as
obliged to maintain him till it was grown again, and

-f lb. 167. j; lb. 230.

4 in

APPENDIX.

oM

in the mean time to furnifh the owner with another.
Bur if a perfon cut off the hair from a ftalHon's tail, he
he fliould forfeit 240!. and if the tail was cut off, the
horfe was deemed unfit for fervice. He that galled
the back of a borrowed horfe was ro pay 4d. and if the
Ikin and flefli were rubbed off to the bones, he was to
pay I 6d.

He that mounted a horfe without the owner's con-
fent was to pay 4d. and 4d. more for every Rbandir *
that he rode him.

Whoever was fufpe6led to have killed a liorfe pri-
vately, and denied it, was to purge himfelf by the
oaths of twenty-four compurgators.

Stoned horfes were not to be fliut up from the mid-
dle of April, till the middle of June. Fol. 289.

The matter of the horfe was to hold his lands free.
The king was to find him a horfe and cloatlis ; and the
queen, linen.

His lodging was to be near the granary, that he
might more conveniently infpeft the corn. He was to
have a double portion of corn for his own horfe.
When the King made a prefent of a horfe, he was to
have 4d.

When horfes were taken from enemies, the mafler
of the horfe and the grooms were to have the colts un--
der. two years old.

*■ Thought to be nearly equal to a league.

TJie

3i<^ APPENDIX.

The king's grooms were to have the king's old riding
^aps, gilt faddles, fpurs, boots, and other riding fur-
niture. The chief groom was to officiate for the mailer
of the horfe, in his abfence -, and when he mounted or
difmounted he was to hold his flirrup.

Page 164. " In the reign of Henry II." Sec] Foreign
horfes were imported by this prince, as appears from
the allowance made for the fubfiftence of the king's
horfes, which were lately brought from beyond fea,
by the treafurer. Madox's Hillory of the Exchequer,
page 2^2,

Page 207. " Variety of horfes,'' &c.] There were no
horfes in Virginia before the Englifli fettled there ; but
now they have good flore, though negligent in the
breed. It is true, that there is a law that no ftoned
horfe (hall be kept under a certain lize, but it is neg-
ledted. Such as they are they fell cheaper than in Eng-
land, being worth about 5I. a piece. They never flioe
them, nor ride them in general ; yet when they do,
they ride pretty fharply ; a Planter % pace is a proverb,
which is a good hand-gallop. The Indians have not yet
learned to ride ; only the King of Pomoukil hath three or
four for his own faddle.

Clopton's Account of Virginia, in the Philofophical
Tranfa(5i:ions, vol. iii. p. 593. wriuen in, or near the
jSime of Charles 11,

Page

A P P E N D i X. 317

Page 209. " Full of fpirit," &c.] The author of an
elegant work, lately publifhed, confirms this account.
The American horfes, which are increafed prodigi-
oufly, are fo far from degenerating from their Spaniih
ancellors, that they furpafs them even in merit j they
are fo fpirited and hardy, as to go fixty leagues with-
out Hopping, or taking food ; and will travel three days
fucceflively, without eating or quenching their thirft.
In fpite of this, they retain their vigour, and are adlive
and light beyond imagination. I have produced proofs,
fays the author, in my voyage to the Malouine IJJands, after
having been an ocular witnefs of all I relate. Diflerta-
tion fur L'Amerique, par Dom. Pernety, Berlin 1770.

The following is the account to which the author
alludes. The horfes of Paraguay are famous and cele-
brated throughout the New World; they form a great
part of the wealth and fubflance of Morae-Video, being
indifcriminately in ufe with the White people, the Mu-
lattos, and the Negroes ; and their number at lead equals
that of the human fpecies.

It is neverthelefs certain, that however valued they
be at Monte-Video, this place may properly be lliled an
Hell, or place of punifhment, to ihefe «dmired ani-
mals ; for the people frequently will work them for three "
days together, without giving them either food or
water, and treat them with as much cruelty as the
Arabs do their camels-. •

Vol. I. T t The

3i8 APPENDIX.

The horfes neverthelefs are very valuable ; they have
all the vigour and vivacity of the Spanifli race, from
which they are defcended, are very (ure-footed, and of
furprifing agility. The ftep of their walk is fo quick,
yet fo extended, that it is equal to the fwiftell trot, or
the hand-gallop of other horfes. Their pace is the
Anbk, and the hinder-foot accompanies and goes be-
yond the fore-foot fo far, as to be in a line, if not be-
yond the fore-foot of the oppofite fide, which makes
their motions twice as rapid as thofe of other horfes,
and more eafy and agreeable to the rider. Beauty is
not their portion ; but they are entitled to every com-
mendation for their lightnefs, courage, and calmnefs
of temper. Their owners never trouble themfelves to
procure either hay or ilraw to feed them, but make
them live in the fields throughout the year ; the fea-
fons never being fo hard as to know any froil fufficient
to freeze the rivers, or deftroy the plants and other
things upon which they fubfift.

Thefe horfes are never fhod. Their faddles are very
different from thofe ufed in Europe : a coarfe and thick
piece of (luff, which is fofr, is firft put on, called Scbu-
aderos ; a girth is tied over this, then a piece of flrong
leather is added, of the fize of the faddle, which co-
vers the croupe, and ferves as an houfing : this the
inhabitants call Carne'ros. Upon this leather they place
the faddle, which refembles our pack-faddle, and upon
it they gut one or more flieep-fkins, covered with their

wool.

APPENDIX. 319

wool, and ftained or dyed with one or more colours,
which they name Peilhon, and fecure the whole with a
fecond girth. The llirrups are fmall and narrow, as
they never put the foot beyond the toe, even thofe
whofe feet are bare and naked.

Their bits are of iron, without bofTes, and formed of
one piece. The reins are compofed of many fmall flraps
of leather joined together, and are at leaft fix or feven
feet long, being intended to ferve for whips as well as
for reins. A piece of iron, in the fhape of half a cir-
cle, furrounds the lower jaw, afts as a curb, and pro-
duces the fame eflfeft. Riding is fo common and fre-
quent at Monte-Video^ that the women are as praftifed and
fkilful as the men ; and by their addrefs and a(5tivity
feem to juftify the ancient hiftory of thofe renowned
female warriors, the Amazons *.

Page 241. " You chufe rather to maim,"] &c.
HoUinfhed fpeaks of an Englifli nobleman's Bob-tail-
ings as he calls it, a fine horfe, that his friends might
not afk it of him ; which proves what a detriment and
blemifli it was to an horfe at that time (the reign of
Elizabeth) not to have his tail full and complete.

• Hiftoire d'un Voyage aux Ifles Maloiiines, &c. a Paris, 1770.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

ERRATA in the FIRST VOLUME.

Page I, line 1 5, for to It made, read to have hen made.

II, 1. to, ior horfemau, TtiA horfeman.

15, note, I. 4, for Varmer, read s'armer.

17, 1. 7, for or, read on purpofe.

17, 1. 16, for augufiat, read angujiat\ 1. 14, for peccaverat Orphius, read pacaverat
Orpheus.

»8, 18, iot Libya, red Lydia; Ae\e mentioned above.

41, note, 1. 3, for Tidor. Hijp. read I/dor. Hifp.

48, 1. 24, for except •which, read luhich, excepting.

53, 1.24, ior luhere, read •whence.

66, 1. 17, for ^ij </<jr/, read its dart.

79, 1. s4, for permitted to fend, read permitted them to ftnd.

99, 1. 19, for deceived, read received.
i»7, 1.7, for foreheads, read forehands.
129, 1. ult. for climats, read climates.
J 60, 1. 12, for obfervers inform, vezd obfer'ver informs.
405, 1.3, for encourage, rezd encourages. 1. 17, for are, read ;V.
ao8, 1. 18. for 0/", read w.

»i3, 1. penult, for t'wo prints at the head of the book, read of his.
»ao, I. 17, (oT horfe, read houfe.

»i4, 1.21, for in»f J AiV hinder under him, read An'/;^ A« hinder legs under him.
J35, 1. 9, for baron Socks, read baron Stoch.
241, note 1. 9, for Camarcrius, read Camerarius,
2j6, 1, ult. for Confeculi, read Confecuti,

EXPLANATION of the PLATES

AND

REFERENCES TO THE RESPECTIVE PAGES

O F T H E

FIRST VOLUME.

Frontispiece. A Centaur.

At the head of the dedication. A white horfe, being the arms of the
houfe of Hanover, page ^6.

Plate r. Suppofed to reprefent Darius^ faluted king of Perfia, when
he had gained the empire by the neighing of his horfe ; — and given
here only to fhew the conformity of the manner of riding between
the ancient and modern Eaftern nations, page 14.

Plate 2. No. i. A Parthian horfeman, page 16.
No. 2. A Sarmatian horfe, page 21.

Plate 3. No, i. A Roman foldier pulling a Numidian from his
horfe.
No. 2. A Mauritanian horfeman, page 23.

Plate 4. Two Grecian horfemen, taken from the freeze of the temple
of Minerva in the Acropolis of Athens ; the whole extent
of which is one continued bas-relief: and, according to
Mr. Sleuart, (who obligingly furnifhed me with jhis defign)
reprefents the Panathenaic pomp, or a proceffion in honour
of Minerva; as the above learned gentleman will more
particularly explain in his fecond volume of the Antiquities
of Athens, page 45.

The Lances, fhield and vafe, at the bottom of this print

given by the fame perfon, are taken from the wall of an

Vol. I. U u an-

^

EXPLANATION of the PLATES, Sec; ,

ancient building (now a church) near the Gymnafium of
Ptolemy at Athens : the three lances have thongs of lea-
ther faftened to them, by which the foldiers mounted their
horfes, and clearly explain the exprefllon of Xenophon,
when he fays one of the methods of mountingwas 'nr\ $u^x-
T(^, or from the fpear, page 246.

Plate 5. No. i. The emperor Trajan ; meant to fhew the Roman
manner of riding, page 58.
No. 2. The emperor Theododus, with a faddle on the
horfe, not unlike thofe now in ufe, page 62.

Pi ATE 6. No. T. Ancient bridles, page 40.

No. 2. An ancient horfedioe, fuppofed to have belonged to
the horfe of Childeric, king of France, Anno. 481. found
in his tomb, and preferved ia Montfaucon's Monum. de la
Monarc. Fran, page 255.

No. 3. An ancient bitt, from Montfaucon, page 40.

No. 4. An ancient fpur, from the fame, page 40.

No. 5. Ancient whips, from Scheffer, page 41.

Plate 7. No. i. Figure of an horfe, among others, fuppofed to have

belonged to the king of the ^adi, in the time of Marcus

Aurclius, and given here to fliew a little fort of Saddle, re-

fembling the pad of thefe times, page 62.

No. 2. The ficrure of an horfe faddled and bridled in the

time of William the Conqueror, as reprefented in the Ba-

yiux tapcftry in Dr. Ducarers Journey through Normandy.

No. 3. and No. 4. An ancient Britifli or Roman fpur (the

rowel wanting) and bitt: both dug out of a large burrow,

in the road from London to Bath, called Silbury Hill •, and

fuppofed, by antiquaries, to have been the tumulus, or

place of burial, of the Britifh king Coel, whofe daughter

Helena was the mother of Conjlantine the Great. Commu-

oicated by Guftavus Brander, Efq.

Plate 8^

T/i?re Tiiiwo ro///n/ i\i(V/ S/i/r iifn^,
D7n?m ntf tf^ Pinifuvi- .

t^C't/(/l

a. GtTxer, o. The IrotU. oThe Meia.

A ii.Edtin- tAe Pi/>?y err PL^fa.

bnu OiJc£t! rifi/fit, f/tjv n^/i^A l/ic K^ii/it) inn.

d.Th^Beftd intrT^/iicA /^k^I'ff/^cn'Jifnc lat/. y ^f/

B a.T/u^4erO(i, Suniyf/iiui Te7/u^. ip-fpoin^ oft/zePi/^g^.

t'T/ii'F/irai been^^ two (Aec^firi£&> h/ n>/uc/i t/iej'if/e'wcuf /'iavt:/ iZ/rnlmade'.iiieada/ tv tA^'.Aax/trxe, d/.

,"'^.'. . Tj, x>/ {nt^et/n/j befiTV'%^l7^:Ai/nd ifJfTl/ie^i) oft/t^Jltnve'n^^'>yfiA/>urt>^'rV'^(Htnd/b^^

cSecfurtv oftkeY^£e /a^tn^ ufHm'tAe f[7^^v.

dTAr J£znni'7- i7ft/i^ tTet^nt> 7rcti/ni'n^ t/i^/vni^/i- t/i^ f't-n^o of tJie/YoA^e^.

to ii Yoke.

E|X P L A N A T I O N of the P L A T E S, &c;

PtATE 8. Two perfons about an horfe, one holding up one of his

legs, the other being fuppofed to be going to bind on a

fort of Stockings ufed in the place of the modern Shoes,

page 235-

No, 2. A foldier going to mount on the Right Side,

page 247-
No, 3. A foldier mounting from his Lance, page 246.
Thefe three reprefentations are taken from baron Stoch's
CoUeftion of Pates Antiques, in the Britifh Mujeum. Vid.
alfo Winkleman's Monum. Antiq. lUuftrati, &c.

Plate 9, Horfe and harnefs, &c. Vid. DifTertat. on the ancient
Chariot, &:c.

Tajl Piece. Equus Noricus, {landing before a pillar, crowned with
three palm branches, exprefiive of three viftories ob-
tained in the race.

/