The School of Recreation | Page 7

Head, bring him straighter by degrees; let him but gently feel it, till his Head be brought to its true perfection.
Having observed this well, lead him forth into some soft or new Plowed Land, trot him about in your hand a good while: Then offer to Mount; if he refuse to suffer you, trot him again; then putting your foot into the Styrrop, mount half way; if he takes it impatient, correct him, and about again; if not, cherish him, and place your self a moment in the Saddle, dismount, cherish, and feed him with Grass, or Bread: All things being well, remount, even in the Saddle, keeping your Rod from his Eye; then let one lead him by the Chaff-Halter, and ever and a-non make him stand, and cherish him, till he will of his own accord go forward; then come home, alight gently, dress and feed him well. This Course in few dayes will bring him to Trot, by following some other Horse-man, stop him now and then gently, and forward; not forgetting seasonable Cherishings and Corrections, by Voice, Bridle, Rod, Spurs.
Being thus brought to some certainty of Rein, and Trotting forth-right, then to the treading forth of the large Rings. And here first examine your Horses Nature, before you choose your Ground, for, if his Nature be dull and sloathful, yet strong, then New-Plow'd-Field is best; if Active, Quick and Fiery, then Sandy-ground is to be preferred; in the most proper of which mark out a large Ring, of a Hundred paces circumference. Walk about it on the right seven or eight times, then by a little straightning your right Rein, and laying your left leg calf to his side, make a half Circle within the Ring upon your right down to its Center; then by straightning a little your left Rein, and laying your right Leg Calf to his side, make a half Circle to your left hand, from the Center to the outmost Verge, and these you see contrary turned make a Roman S. Now to your first large Compass, walk him about on your left hand, as oft as before on the right, and change to your right within your Ring; then Trot him first on the right-hand, then on the left, as long as you judge fit, and as often Mornings and Evenings, as the Nature of your Horse shall require. In the same manner you may make him to Gallop the same Rings, though you must not enter it all at once, but by degrees, first a Quarter, then a Half-quarter; and the Lightness and Cheerfulness of your Body, not the Spur, must induce him to it.
The next Lesson is to Stop Fair, Comely, and without Danger. First see that the Ground be hard and firm, then having cherisht your Horse, bring him to a swift Trot, about Fifty Paces, and then straightly & suddenly draw in your Bridle hand; then ease a little your hand to make him give backward, and in so doing, give him liberty and cherish him; then drawing in your Bridle hand, make him retire, and go back; if he strike, ease your hand: if he refuse, let some by-stander put him back, that he may learn your intention and thus he may learn these two Lessons at once.
To Advance before, when he stoppeth, is thus taught: When you stop your Horse, without easing your hand, lay close and hard to his sides both Calves of your Legs, and shaking your Rod cry, Up, Up; which he will understand by frequent Repetition, and Practice: This is a Gracefull, and Comely Motion, makes a Horse Agile, and Nimble, and ready to turn; and therefore be careful in it: That he take up his Legs Even together, and bending to his Body; not too high, for fear of his coming over; not sprawling, or pawing; or for his own pleasure; in these faults correct him with Spur and Rod.
To Yerk out behind is the next Lesson, thus learnt, Presently upon your making him stop give him a good brisk jerk near his Flank, which will make him soon understand you. When he does it, cherish him; and see he does it comely, for to yerk out his hinder Legs, till his Forelegs be above Ground, is not graceful; or one Leg yerk't farther out than the other; or one Leg out while the other is on the Ground; in this case a single Spur on the faulty side, is best. But to help him in Yerking, staying his Mouth on the Bridle, striking your Rod under his Belly, or Touching him on the Rump with it.
To Turn readily on both hands, thus: Bring his large Rings narrower, and therein gently walk him, till acquainted. Then carry your Bridle-hand steady