OF HORSEMANSHIP. 119 



them, but being by Nature impatient of all Reftraint, from 

 the Moment that they feel any Pain or Difficulty in furnifli- 

 ing what you afk of them, they will difobey and deceive 

 you in the very Inftant that you thought them gain'd. — It 

 requires much Skill to know how to begin with fuch Horfes, 

 and to confirm them in their Bufinefs. — Take it for a cer- 

 tain Truth, that you will never fucceed, if your Horfe is 

 not perfedly obedient to the Hand and Heel ; if he is not 

 fupple, and able to work upon one Line or Path, with Free- 

 / dom and Eafe ; and if he is not likewife very well feated 

 upon his Haunches in his T'erre-a-'Terre^ which he ought 

 to be able to execute perfeftly well., 



Curvets are improper, and never fucceed with Horfes 

 which have bad Feet, or any Weaknefs or Complaint in their 

 Hocks, whatever Powers and Qualifications they may other- 

 wife have. — They are likewife apt to encourage a Horfc that 

 i? ramhigue in his Vice, and are capable of teaching one which 

 is not fo by Nature, to become ran2mgue^ ii he is not aciju fl- 

 ed and brought to this Air with great Prudence, Indeed,. 

 Impatience and Fretfulnefs often make a Horfe defperate 

 when put to this Manage ; and not being able to endure tlie 

 Corredion, nor comprehend the Aids, he betakes himfclf to 

 all forts of Defences, as well as that being confounded through 

 Fear, he is bewilder'd, and becomes abject and jadidi. — It 

 is almofl: impofTible to fay wliich of thefe Imperfections are the 

 moft difficult t6 be cured.— Before you put a Horfe to make 

 Curvets^ he ought to work Terre-a-Terre ; and if he can: 

 do this, he ought to be able to change Hands upon c?i2 and 

 two Lines ^ to go ofr readily, and to make a good Stop. After.- 

 'J this 



