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 



