Book VII. ART OF HORSEMANSHIP. 1003 



will teach them to back, and to go into the shafts. They ought not, however, to be made to draw any 

 other than a very light empty cart till their fourth or firth year; nor ought they to be put into the slialts 

 of a threshing machine belbre their fifth year. The first work to which an agricultural horse may be 

 applied is harrowing ; but this during the fourth year only half a day at a time, or with a light harrow 

 the whole day. Next he may be put to plough with similar care and caution in regard to strength. In 

 general, agricultural horses require very little training ; but one thing is too often neglected, and that is, 

 teaching plough horses a quick step, and keeping them at that step ever after in working them. By not 

 attending to this, and leaving the step to be regulated by lazy spiritless ploughmen, the loss to many 

 farmers is very considerable. 



Sect. XIII. The Art of Horsemanship. 



6f)71. Horsemanship, as an art, is unquestionably of very ancient date, and it is curious how very dif- 

 ferent are the modes by wliich it is practised in different countries ; but which differences are yet prin- 

 cipally conlined to the situation of the legs of the rider ; for wherever the horse is used to carry the 

 person, it is by the rider placing himself astride the animal. Horses were used in this way for centuries 

 before any apparatus was used or applied to their bodies to spare fatigue to the rider ; and we know that 

 the first saddles were mere pads strapped round the body, but without the appendages of stirrups. In 

 England, riding is systematically divided into two kinds, which are manege and jockey riding. 



&Qli. Manege riding, called also riding the great horse, in the strict application of the term, was formerly 

 more practised than at present ; and required a system of education for both horse and rider long and 

 severe. Horses perfectly broke for the manege were formerly taught several paces and motions, as ambling, 

 pacing, passaging, yerking, capriole, and cornetti. The practice of these artificial cadences, it is supposed. 

 Injures the natural pace of the horse ; and this circumstance, luiited to a particular form of horse (defective 

 for other purposes) being required for the elasticity of these actions, has tended to bring manege riding, as 

 formerly practised, into disrepute. Manege riding also taught the constant application of the seat of the 

 body of the rider to the seat of the saddle, during all the motions of the horse ; and as a severe edu- 

 cation, and a particular form, had bestowed ease and elasticity to the rudeness of the manege horse, the 

 inconveniences of this seat were not felt. But when another form of horse, capable of great speed over 

 excellent roads, was in general use, this kind of riding was found hurtful to both horse and rider; fatigu- 

 ing the one, and injuring the other. 



6673. Tfie art of proper riding, as practised among experienced horsemen, is derived from a knowledge of 

 the judicious application of the aids of the bridle, as taught in our schools, and as practised in the army 

 generally ; and also from a proper application or placing the body on the horse. These we certainly owe 

 to manege riding ; and a knowledge of them is as essential to the safety of the rider, as it is to the'grace 

 of his appearance as a horseman. The proper art of riding embraces all that is taught in the best schools, 

 or practised on the road ; and is equally applicable to both. This is allowed to its fullest extent by those 

 who have possessed themselves of the requisite information and practice on the subject ; but is denied by 

 those who, wedded to field riding, contend that the perfection of horsemanship consists in a snaffle bridle 

 and a jockey seat. 



6674. The use of the curb bridle is considered in the schools to be essential to good riding : by it the 

 horse is not only restrained, but he is also aided and assisted. He is alternately thrown on his haunches, or 

 forced on his forehand, by which changes fatigue is prevented to both. Great nicety, however, is required 

 in the use of the curb ; and without an inclination and ability to use it lightly and dexterously, a snaffle is 

 tlie best and safest bridle. The curb is to be operated by a gentle turn of the wrist only ; and the action of 

 the hand in this respect should be as fine and as pliable as the fishing rod and line. 1 he force of the 

 curb should in every instance be proportioned to the mouth of the horse. 



667;>. Tlie best form of saddle for general riding is one in which the cantle is not so high as the military, 

 nor so low as the racing saddle. The pommel should be no more raised than is necessary to keep the whole 

 completely free from the withers. The stirrups should be substantial, not only to prevent breaking, but 

 also that by their weight they may fall to the foot when accidentally slipped away ; which is of more con. 

 sequence than at first sight may appear. If they are of the spring kind, it is also desirable : but it is still 

 more so, that the spring stirrup leather should be used ; which prevents the danger arising from horses 

 catching the leather in the projections of doors, gates, &c. Having saddled and briuled our horse, we will 

 proceed to mount our rider. 



6676. If you would mount with ease and safrfi/, says Hughes, stand rather before the stirrup than be- 

 hind it; then, with the left hand, take the bridle short, "and the mane together, help yourself into the 

 stirrup, with your right, so that, in mounting, your toe do not touch the horse. Your foot being in the 

 stirruj) raise yourself till you face the side of the horse, and look directly across the saddle ; then, with 

 your right hand, lay hold of the hinder part of the saddle, and, with your left, lift yourself into it. When 

 mounted, let your position on the saddle be square, and the purchase of your bridle such as not to pull 

 your shoulders : and let your body be in such an even posture as if you held a rein in each hand. In 



holding the bridle, grasp the reins with your hand, which 

 047 should be held perpendicular with the reins passed, the lower 



witiiin the hand, and the upper between the fore and next 



fingers {fig. 847.). The reins are then brought over the fore 

 finger and firmly held by the thumb. It is often directed to 

 place the little finger between the lower reins; the practice 

 of this may be optional with the rider, and in a very fine hand 

 is desirable. The bridle should be held at such a length as to 

 enable you if your horse stumbles, to raise his head and support 

 it with your arms; and by throwing your body backwards at 

 the same time you frequently save a horse that would other- 

 wise fall. 



6677. J graceful and proper seat on horseback is greatly de- 

 pendent on a right disposition of the legs and thighs, which 

 should hang nearly straight down, easily, and without force or constraint : all which is brought about 

 from above; by placing the body flat and evenly on the saddle, and opening the knees, whereby the fork 

 will come lower on the saddle, (fi^- B48.) The thighs should be applied to the saddle and 

 to (he sides of the horse by their umer surfaces, so as to bring in the knees and toes ; and 

 although the line may be properly broken by some little irregularities, yet the foot, the 

 knee, the hip, and shoulder, should deviate but little from one perpendicular line. The 

 ball of the foot should rest within the stirrup, and should be even with the heel, or very 

 ^ 848 slightly elevated above it. Avoid any stiffiiess in the legs, thighs, or body ; all should be 

 lax, but in a state to be able to embrace the horse, either for support, or as aids to him. 

 The loins, particularly, should be lax and pliable, as a coachman's on his box; and for the 

 same reasons : for by sitting thus loosely, the rough motions of both are broken. To de- 

 pend on the embrace of the knees for support is to lose the benefit of a true equipoise of 

 body, and is rather to stick on a horse than to sit on one. 



6678. When you are troubled with a horse that is vicious, which stops short, or^by rising 

 or kicking, endeavours to throw you off, you must not bend your body forward, as is com- 

 monly practised in such cases ; because that motion throws the breech backward, and moves 

 you from your fork, or twists and casts you out of your seat ; but the right way to keep your seat, or to 



