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- 



