2 he Compleat '^ockejjf. 43 



veiling, an eafy Trot is beft, the which you may kno.v i[ ho be prone to 

 by obferving his Legs: 



Thus, when his Kear Fore-Leg and his Off Hinder-Leg move toge- 

 ther, or his Near Hinder-Leg and his Off Fore-Leg ; and farther oblerve, 

 that if when he moves, he be quick to raife his Legs from the Groui;d, 

 and do it iliort and with an even d'itance, makii-g but little Treads, he 

 wiW likewife Pace very well; for if he lift up his Feetblandringly or 

 carelefly, it denotes he is given to Stumbling, and will be ofc troubled 

 with Lamenels ; if he ftrikes his Legs a-crofs or take no wide is in his 

 Steps, it denotes he is fubje£l to Trip, Interfere or Fall; if he take not 

 his Step even, it fhews an unwillingnefs to Travel and a weaknefs in his 

 Limbs ', if he tread large Steps he is fabjeft to over-reach and Strain him- 

 felf, if he be put to the Speed. 



Again, if you chu fe a Horfe for eafe and plealant Journey, you muift 

 chufe an Ambler, which you may know rhus ; if he move both his Legs 

 on the fame Side together, Fore-Leg and Hinder-Leg, and that lie tnuft 

 do, large, nimble, and eafie; for if he tread fliort and iliulliing he is no 

 good Ambler ; yet if he be very nimble at his firft beginning to Pace, it 

 denotes he cannot long hold it. 



Nov/ for hunting either of Buck, Stag or Flare for Speed on the Road, 

 or to Ride Poft ; if you chufe a Horfe then you muft take one who 

 has naturallv, or has been taught the Racing Pace, which neither Trot 

 nor Amble, but between both, and is the eafieft of all, though it gnin not 

 ■Co much Ground, the which you may obferve by the fame Method as you 

 did Ambling. 



The next I have to treat of is Galloping, which is natural to all the for*- 

 mer Paces but the Amble ; for an Ambling Horfe will immediately be 

 brought to Gallop,by realbn it confifts almoft of the fime Nature with it, 

 only a flower and not fo much ftraming ; for it being a fwift Pace, by 

 long ufe has lo inured the Horfe to it that he cannot without fome time 

 and inffructiou frame his Leggs to it, but will fall into a Pace •, if he be 

 overmuch fpurred, beaten or forced, that can properly be called no Pace 

 but a confuiion of all together, but perfefts all things, lb in time you may 

 bring him to Gallop as you pleafe if no Imperfeftion in his Limbs reftrain 

 him. 



Now I jliall lay down fuch Obfervations as you may infiiliibly know a 

 good Galloper by. Firft, If he raife his Feet fwift and clearly from the 

 Ground, but not too high, and that he neither rowl nor boggle in his 

 way,nor ftriketh his Belly with his Feet. If he take large Reaches vv'ith his 

 Fore-Legs^ and his Hinder follow quickly, in which you muft obierve 

 that he do not cut under the Knee or on the Shank, which is called by fome 

 the Galloping, but by others the Swift-cut, or that he tlirows not his Leg§ 



A a a 2 crolF) 



