THE Horse-manship OF ENGLAND, Most particularly relating to the BREEDING and TRAINING OF THE RUNNING-HORSE. A POEM DEDICATED To His Grace the Duke of Monmouth.  
LONDON: Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside, near Mercers chapel. 1682.   

To his GRACE, JAMES DUKE OF MONMOUTH.  
May it please Your Grace!  
THere is no Nation that has produced so many Eminent Persons knowing in the art of Horsemanship, as this of ours. And of these, your Grace may deservedly claim the most superlative Renown, since what others can pretend to, either by way of Theory or practise, is not a little exceeded by your perfection in both.  
To observe you guiding the managed Horse, and how becoming your seat is there, would out-do all compliment to express. And whensoever you please to commit your Person to the pleasure of the Runner or Hunter, you appear no less an ornament to those performances. This might enough incite my ambition to present you with this Poem( tho the first of this nature that I know of in any Language) however it may suffer from your accurate judgement, and whence I must allow its greatest hazard: Tho otherwise I might presume to think it capable of giving some entertainment where the Subject here treated shall appear grateful. Not doubting but persons so inclined will find here delivered( if my verse does not abate the worth of the Argument) what may improve their observation.  
Where Poesy has merit, it can be as commmendably applied to the due esteem of the Creature( of which none can claim from man a parallel-esteem with this here mentioned) as to what does peculiarly adorn the most extraordinory actions of human life. Since if the providential part( from above) be duly considered, men have as much reason to acknowledge its benignity to them in the useful subserviency of the Creature, as any other Attributes bestowed on human conservation: And which would find but an odd condition in this world on other terms. For what were it for man to be accounted a Master of Reason, if Creatures beneficially convenient and divertive were not ordained to apprehended and obey him? What value the Ancients had for the heroic swiftness of the Horse, is highly discernible from the use of their olympic and Chariot-Races: At which great Princes and Captains were not only indulgent Spectators, but had their particular Conducts in the management of this Creatures hardest speed and performance.  
But there needs no other commendation of the worth of such noble Recreations, than what your Grace has added to their embellishment amongst us, and which as much surpass all foreign Ingenuity in the same sphere of Science.  
Should your many other virtues be mentioned that have rendered you more than conspicuous in Camps and Palaces, the reality of your worth would far exceed the best protraiture of fiction, at least would require a better Muse to sing the praise of your Accomplishments than is in the power of your Grace's  
Very Humble Servant.   

CANTO I.  

WHAT Care and Science do most useful bring  
The Horse to Labour, Muse now gladly Sing:  
A Creature which Heavens vast Indulgence shows,  
Whether his toils or Pleasures men propose.  
What sensual Being has the like expressed,  
Or merits such repute in other Beast?  
Pity no higher word then Beast should name,  
The generous Service which the Horse does claim,  
Whether his use or kindness we respect,  
He doth above his sense even both effect.  
Humbly, his mighty Strength, Mankind he gives,  
And to bad Owners more desertful lives.  
His bold endurance Peace and War does grace,  
And greatness adds to Crowns, support his race.  
The feets of Verse too narrow speak his Praise,  
Or tell what care his Off-spring best should raise.  
His Speed, Strength, Beauty, Colder Regions show,  
As well as those which under Cancer glow.  
Happy, O Britain, Phoebus must confess,  
Which soil without his parching Beams can bless  
Steeds no less stout, than are their Owners bold,  
What climb such vigour boasts or fertile could?  
Nor must thou Britain call thy Stars unkind,  
If Asian Horse, or Africks, Mortals find  
More neatly figured, whilst their strengths deny  
With thine courageous toils and Might to try,  
Whilst he that would within this happy Isle  
Breed Steeds that best his pleasure svit or toil,  
Should well consider first their use designed,  
Lest his hopes fail from an improper kind;  
Course strength and shape will coursest labours bear,  
Or such the Swain supports with homely care.  
Fine feet and limbs will but too nicely tread  
The painful Journeys Plow Hinds guide for Bread.  
Small rest their pastures foaling Dams allow:  
Nor must their sportive young too painless grow,  
But draw such Dugs their harnessed Mothers yield,  
By some short respites as they Plow the Field;  
But when they view their burdened Mothers end  
The rigid hours they did in Furrows spend;  
And that they homeward with their Owners go,  
How soon their Foals will then their gladness show;  
Or skip before their Dams presuming they  
Shall to their Milky hopes more leisure pay;  
But Swain remember, if thou meanest to give  
Praise to the Beast for thy strong drifts must live,  
That when unto thy Cote thy Foaling kind  
Return inflamed, or foaming sweats dost find  
Stream from their sides, be 't then thy chiefest care  
That their soft Dugs thy tender Foles forbear:  
Much harm alas, to Sucklings does ensue,  
When reeking Udders they for Milk pursue.  
Hinder, O hinder their too greedy hast,  
So sweet's the mischief 'twill be sucked too fast;  
Allow fit space for scalded Teats to cool,  
Least inward griefs afflict the tender Foal;  
Whence noisome Glanders, or Impostumes spring,  
Which long Disease( or Death) too swiftly bring.  
This care the cautious Rutals well observe,  
That to advantage would their breed preserve.  
Do we not see the Horse their coats produce,  
Oft from their Tilts advanced to nobler use?  
Or else supports the Winter Journeys toil,  
Or bears the Huntsman o'er the sportive Soil.  
Such strength and speed in Steeds of vulgar race,  
( To Britains glory) use, and pleasure, grace.  
Nor needs the common man more curious be,  
Than well proportioned Strength and Limbs to see  
In Sire and Dam, to which if well he heed,  
Some Foals he'l raise above his hope to breed;  
As men behold how Nature pleasure takes  
When she 'mongst common things some wonders makes:  
Or where the Oak or Thorn do coarsely spring,  
An unexpected Fruit some Trees will bring.  
But thou whose Birth and Fortune thee shall guide  
To raise the Horse of noblest shape and pride,  
Whether for War or Pleasure be thy scope,  
Few admonitions may advance thy hope.  
Nor think thou dost thy Countreys worth decline  
If Foreign breed with its Complexion join,  
Whether from Greece thy noble Stallion be,  
Or of Arabicks swifter Pedigree.  
Nor would I have thee the neat Barb neglect,  
Whose Wind and Speed such Wonders do effect:  
Though afric most admired his feature shows,  
And where Mankind in Figure blackest grows,  
As if that Phoebus there did most dispense  
This Creatures Beauty with his influence.  
The English mere that's large and comely grown,  
Sprung from a Blood may worthy Off-spring own;  
Well she deserves best foreign Seed to bear,  
As more illustrious things from mixtures are;  
Or if with small great acts compared may be,  
It much resembles Royal Progeny,  
Which Mighty Nations in their Princes join,  
To make their Issues most conspicuous shine.  
No height of Blood does Lineage more complete  
Than in this Creature, when descended great;  
His Predecessors worth in his will show,  
Nay oft from kinder Stars exceeded too.  
Which to uphold duly thy kind observe,  
Nor think unworthy mere can Seed deserve  
From such a Sire whose loins the Horse should get  
Becomes brave Manage or a Princes Seat;  
Or such Great Captain would in battle ride,  
When Art more comely bold incites his Pride.  
No less thy diligence exact should be  
If for thy Pleasure thou'dst swift Courser see  
Which nimbly should the fewest minutes spend  
Before his Speed thy wager'd Race does end:  
Him to exalt too curious none can view  
The Male and Female his descent must show.  
Fine shapes with comely strength for him select:  
Nor e're from homely steps his hast expect;  
A care this Islands breeders must commend,  
Who Skill and Cost above all Nations spend  
To raise this Creatures nimble Strength and Might,  
No climb beside his virtues so delight;  
Or yields such Carpet green where he may run,  
Swift, next the Steeds which Heaven allows the Sun,  
If such Ambition suits thy generous mind,  
As oft our English Nobles are inclined  
To raise the Horse whose sprightly hast may claim  
The highest Rank of matchless Coursers famed,  
Think not thy Park which dear or Hart contains,  
So comely sport and feed its Lawns and Plains,  
Can to thy eye a nobler pleasure give  
Than if thy Stud and young there graceful live;  
Large wanders they with most delight would tread,  
With least confinement Wind and Speed are bread;  
Or glad's the dam when she her Foal doth see  
Start from her sides and like swift gales to flee.  
In Summer let thy Mares full pastur'd go  
In some choice Soil where Streams propitious flow:  
The purest Flood does best their Thirst alloy,  
And fills the Teats thy Sucklings Milk convey;  
No parched Herbage can their food supply,  
Or Lakes that half to Mud at Solstice dry:  
The barren Soil too soon thy Foals will shrink,  
Nor there will nimbly scope the Rivers brink:  
Although their sprightly shape they much delight,  
When Floods reflect its Beauty to their sight.  
Their growth and pleasure fill of Milk does bring,  
As early buds must feel the warmest Spring.  
Much observation heedful Breeders make  
Before their Foals their tender Dams forsake  
Whether his strength, speed, courage, thou wouldst know:  
His growth and spirit well all these will show.  
If stirring, active, and of nimble heel,  
The steps he treads will seem no ground to feel.  
Slothful and dull their phlegm will soon betray,  
What life has tempered life will most convey.  
Ere Winter come, or Autumn thou dost see  
Well spent with could, or frosts benumn the three,  
Provide due shelter where thy stead does go,  
Much warmth and food this season them allow.  
No curious skill or cost thou needest employ  
To save thy young from Winter's fierce annoy:  
Tho North or East Winds  shed their keenest due,  
Or curled with joy locks tall Groves do show.  
Homely( if sure) thy care enough does speak  
Large room tho' thatched thou seest the Swain does make  
His full Glebs safety, numbering with glad gain  
The fertile Treasure he doth there sustain.  
formed like its Model will protect thy young,  
Most for that use of figure choose Oblong:  
It's floor smooth wrought with earth well hardened see,  
Or who'l dislike if laid with flint it be?  
Firm treading will their tender hoofs enure  
To those bold steps their riper age endure.  
Nor will this safeguard more thy stead protect  
From Winter's rage, than when sols beams effect  
In Cancer's glowing Claws their scorching heat,  
And stinging lust to busy flies create.  
This shelter will their equal comfort be,  
As mortal sense would from extremes live free.  
No season of the year thy stead needs fear,  
If this one safety thou allowst thy care.  
Or grant thy breed does range where no leaves grow,  
Or copse where rain( like buds) thick drops does show:  
Account such shade no want, since thou wilt find  
Their skins far more refined with Sun and Wind:  
Or those smooth gales on tops of Hills do glide,  
Where thy Foals gladly scope with nimblest pride.  
Air least restrained, their Tempers most rejoice,  
As what is most itself is Nature's choice.  
Thy breed thus settled, curiously observe  
Which in thy own esteem do best deserve.  
Shapes with good Colours joined, be sure prefer,  
Where Nature paints the life she least doth err.  
To this, experienced Horse-men most submit,  
Like critics whose nice skill advanceth Wit.  
Seldom or never kindly Features meet  
But they express an inward soul more great.  
Yet in thy Stud if thou perceiv'st there be  
Some Foals whose shapes, than colours, more agree  
With best perfection, see thou do not scant  
To such thy due regard, since 'tis no want,  
If outward accidents of Beauty fail  
So no essential evils thence prevail.  
Oft have been Duns and chestnuts of worst hue,  
With course Bays Sorrils Cole-blacks seldom true:  
Yet of these some in virtue have out-done,  
Even best brown Bays and Grays for Wagers run.  
Nor think thy generous young amiss do show,  
If they loose figured or uneven grow  
From one to their fith year, when thou mayst find  
Such comely shapes unite as boast their kind.  
Often, alas! the heedless breeder gives  
Praise to the Foal that less desertful lives,  
When strength with beauty too composs'd appears,  
And early seems to fix his growing years,  
Beware thy hopes too vainly then prevail,  
Which in ripe time thou't soon perceive to fail:  
When to thy eye no such wished features show,  
As if thy Horse's youth did backward grow.  
At five, and six years old, when use requires  
Thy stead should managed be to thy desires,  
Least value such where disproportions meet,  
Nor hope from them performance swift or great.  
The Horse then even formed still most delight:  
Higher behind than forward, loathe his sight.  
Nor so far smooth thy wishes to expect,  
That future time shall mend this bad defect.  
His due growth being summed, 'tis Nature's course  
To leave such marks in Steeds she formeth worse.  
At four years old the Horse that's truly bread,  
And generous Spirits feels of Sire's long dead;  
Omit no time with all thy pleasing skill  
To win his soft obedience to thy will,  
Letting him well perceive with gentle hand  
The Bridles rain his first and last command.  
With which if he the Saddles use doth know,  
And yield his back with due submission too,  
A many mischiefs thou't avoid betime,  
Which too neglectful horsemen make their crime.  
Wherefore if best experience thou't embrace,  
Till six years past let usage in no case  
Afflict thy Horse, lest Maladies accrue,  
Thy skill and care will prove redresless too.  
Splints, Windgalls, Curbs, and Spavens worst of Cures,  
The Horse o'er laboured young, too soon endures.  
Tutor his youth by slow and soft degrees,  
His growing strength requires thy kindest ease.  
Or as the Child must gentle pastimes know,  
Yet from the Rod receives instruction too.  
So with indulgence joined let stripes command,  
Lest thy Steeds stubborn Youth forget thy hand.  
Too much a vicious sense informs the Horse,  
That less by kindness tutored is than force.  
But where thy tender dalliance can't 'allure,  
See that thy Horse thy stripes does well endure.  
His Youth( like man's) improves pernicious ill,  
Unless correction then commands his will.  
His due age come, with full obedience joined  
Expect performance worthy of his kind.  
Till when let usage his delight improve,  
Pleasure with toil to toil will raise his love.  
Time must thy Horse and thy Instructor be,  
Nor hope too soon his speed and might to see.  
Some Horses shapes will soonest strength complete:  
In others, far more late, perfections meet.  
Well thou mayst know the long and tall require  
More time to fix the vigours tho'ut desire.  
Whilst low and little sooner do unite  
The utmost periods of their growth and might.  
Nor think such Steeds will less deserve thy praise  
Which Natures longest care does virtuous raise:  
What slowly sees perfection, who'l not say  
Time does endear as long with least decay?  
More Precepts on this Subject needless were,  
It being so obvious to thy use and care.  
What next respects the Horse thou'dst gladly bring  
In fewest minutes o'er four miles to spring.  
If my Muse well instructs, I'll let thee know;  
Till when this period thy due thoughts allow.    

CANTO II.  

THE Horse that's young, and untaught yet to feel  
Four miles swift labour on his nimblest heel,  
Experience bids thy patience should attend  
Till time repays the time thy hope does spend.  
Nor think that Phoebus doth revolve too slow  
His Annual Orb e're thy trained Horse doth know  
Thy wager'd Match, one year at least see past,  
Before thou dost attempt his utmost hast.  
Till when, with pleasant ease his labours guide,  
More to incite his swift desires and pride.  
Delight will win him to endear his toil,  
As love improves what heedless force may spoil.  
When morning breaks, and thou some Hill dost take  
Where he his airy scopings first doth make  
E're thou descend unto the flowing stream  
To cool his limbs and duly quench his flamme,  
Be sure no sweat thou dost provoke to rise,  
If thou thy Horses worth and health dost prise.  
Use no more speed than will his warmth supply,  
Lest hurtful chills from his draughts inward lie.  
The evening come, and season fit for thee  
To ride thy Horse where he must watered be,  
With the same caution let him walk and scope  
As best his Wind and pleasure may provoke.  
Yet take this difference from experience too,  
If thy convenience does it well allow,  
That for his evenings air thy Horse should ride  
The Flat, or Mead, where purest streams do glide.  
Contiguous to such skelping turf, that he  
May there his nimble strokes delight to see.  
The soil that's low no less thy Horse enseams  
Than Hill where gusts he draws with morning beams.  
From both alike effects of good accrue,  
As Art should Nature's aid each way pursue.  
Calm pleasure, what good Horse-man does not choose,  
By soft degrees to clean the Horse he'l use?  
His speed and strength are safest thus refined,  
And what assisteth both, his running wind.  
Each of these Virtues should thy care employ,  
Tho few proved Horses all alike enjoy.  
Some Wind and toughness far less want than speed;  
Others run fast yet fainty spirits breed.  
When thy stead's duly kept, thy proof will tell  
Which of his coursing glories most excel.  
No sign, like proof, good Horse-man e're will trust,  
Or unknown Virtues wager to his cost.  
The first experience in thy young trained Horse  
Thou shouldst approve in hope to make good course:  
Is, that his swiftness be to thee well known,  
Swift, is a worth, best Runners surely own;  
Other perfections thou mayst hope from time,  
Whilst late, or never, slow Horse mends his crime.  
Some from the Horse well bread and shaped suppose  
All coursing Virtues which their hopes propose.  
But trust not Species as thy certain guide,  
Or with thy Purse maintain such Horse untried,  
Lest to thy Cost thy rash experience find  
The stead of fair Descent below his kind;  
As oft in Mankind men unwilling see  
Unworthy Issues of high Pedigree.  
Yet lineage still prefer in stead thoud'st raise  
Nobly to win the speedy Coursers praise.  
From generous Blood like virtue oft descends,  
Whilst mean as seldom itis mean worth amends.  
Nor must thou always thy best hope neglect  
If Natures outward Beauties less affect  
Thy well got Horse, or that his shape and grace  
Less comely show the virtue of his Race.  
From sure Experience know, there oft have been  
Steeds coarsely formed, yet worthy of their kin;  
Or such when trained uncouthly stroke the Plain,  
Or whose rough mouths thy hand does most complain;  
Yet, even of these, sure proof their famed does tell,  
Whilst some of breed and feature less excel.  
A glory, Nature sometimes loves to show  
When Soul and Spirit outward form outdo:  
But what should I such circumstantials speak,  
Which every Horse mans care does obvions make;  
Or how, and when, thy Horse would feed or rest,  
With Intervals in which his smooth skin's dressed,  
Things too much vulgar for my Pen to teach:  
And which, thy Grooms mechanic skill may reach.  
Yet still remember that the Owners eye  
Doth best observe neglects in Keepers lie;  
Too oft their Crime and Sloth abuse the Horse  
Which un-neglected might have won his Course.  
Thus have I known the stead( bad Master leaves),  
That soon to future famed new merit gives,  
Or from mean glory does to greatest rise,  
And wins the Palm where first he lost the prise.  
Th' improved Horse his Conqueror oft subdues,  
And in his Triumph most his owner shows.  
This to their cost Ill Horse-men frequent know,  
And what is worse, in famed are losers too.  
Thy Horses humour should well studied be,  
That labour, food, or ease, with it agree:  
His Bodies state and Limbs exactly find,  
Nor judge thy care of both can be too kind;  
Many defects thou mayst this way prevent  
And fit his Spirit best for thy intent.  
The tender Horse should gentle usage know,  
Sharp heats and airings most to him are foe:  
What suits each temper best let each endure,  
If thou their swift performance wilt 'allure.  
This order chiefly doth this Horse assist.  
Anothers Spirit would as much resist.  
To no one rule or thing commit thy Trust,  
A varied Science speaks good Horse-man most.  
Nor small Philosophy's required to know  
The Horse's Nature and his Virtue too,  
A skill, the great and noble must incite,  
That would experience well this swift delight.  
In Running Horse tho' many graces are,  
Their worst de●raction is man's worthless care.  
Use and delight his high Perfections show,  
And is of Horse the chiefest Jewel too:  
But what need I his value more relate  
Which has from generous Man such ancient date;  
Or tell what Prince or Worthies did delight  
The swift observance of his conquering flight;  
Or on the speedy Coursers Back would guide  
His sportive Glory with his winning Pride.  
Enough my Muse could such Records produce,  
Whilst she returns to more familiar use.  
Next food and airings see such care thou take  
That thy stead may his Sweats securely make:  
Sweats, above all, do clean his inward part,  
And clear gross humors clog his Wind and Heart.  
But 'tis a labour, well provide to know,  
That should thy Horses strength still under-do;  
Lest he too soon a weakened Spirit feel,  
Or faint when it should aid his nimble heel.  
Whilst pleased with toil, he'l gladly next aspire  
T'exceed thy hope, when most thou shalt require.  
Once in each week most knowing will admit  
To give their heats in time and season fit.  
Others each six days hold the fittest time,  
Which may in both or either be no crime;  
The Horse considered well his strength and state,  
To which his Sweats should usefully relate.  
But trust no certain Prescripts I advice.  
Or first consult thy stead to be more wise.  
His Symptoms will far better thee direct  
Although his Stars conceal their close effect;  
Who knows not but some kinder hours dispose  
Both Man and Beast which other more oppose:  
And how they Food and Rest regretful take,  
With every Pleasure Soul and Body make.  
Enough this tells thee how thou shouldst fulfil  
Thy Coursers praise tho' with a vari'd skill.  
Nor need I here express or time or place  
Which most incite thy Horse to speed his Race;  
Or with what Art thy careful hand should guide  
His stroking Limbs when he doth Wager'd ride.  
Whilst soon thou't grant thy courser can thee show  
The how, and where, of his Perfections too.  
Some Hill or Flat with ready hast endure,  
Others the easy slope does most 'allure.  
Trust there his speed where he loves best to run,  
Love by its power in Horse has wonders done;  
Which swift affection let thy skill incite,  
He more than wins that wins with most Delight.  
Nothing beyond thy Runners might propose,  
Or inconvenient weight on him dispose:  
Weight above all things does impede his course,  
And when 'tis given soonest beats good Horse.  
Few pounds are pressures, well experienced know;  
Whence ston or half-Stone seldom they allow.  
Small is the skill which meetly may enjoy  
This pleasure if men fitly care employ.  
Whilst generous sense best notions will Improve,  
As noblest things oblige the noblest love.  
wouldst thou thy Coursers famed and wager try,  
Or with delight on his back four miles fly,  
( As oft our noblesse and our Gentry do,)  
And not assist in thine his merit too:  
Or think thy eye below itself descends  
If thy Grooms part by thy observance mends.  
Trust me, this Art's above mechanic sense,  
Or such the vulgar's slothful thoughts dispense.  
But what need lines industriously aspire  
T' incite that Science worthy minds desire:  
Which Nature in this climb selecteth most,  
The Coursers famous breed and praise to boast;  
Nor judge thou dost thy diligence misspend  
If each trained Horse does not complete thy end.  
Or with such winning Heel doth purchase famed  
As thence accrues to him good Coursers name.  
Whilst thou perhaps in such mayst virtues find  
Worthy thy pleasure in a noble kind;  
If chase of dear or Hart thou dost delight  
And on thy Horse pursu'st their speedy flight.  
The well proved Hunter, who will not esteem,  
Whose sportive toil the greatest highly deem.  
His tough and constant speed the Hound ore-run,  
And chase not ended with the setting Sun.  
No stead strict labour harder does endure;  
And next if thou to War wouldst him enure,  
His shape and spirit thy armed weight will bear,  
And teach his Foe his active strength to fear;  
Swift to assail and speedy to pursue,  
And if Fate bids retire thy safety too.  
Good Blood in Horse is seldom so far lost  
But in some virtue it acquits thy cost,  
Nature's Perfections different ways do lye,  
What fits not one use t'other may supply  
More on this subject my Pen could dilate,  
But what enough can speak this Creature great,  
Or tell what famed or merit they acquire,  
Who Steeds( of noblest worth) to raise aspire,  
Though Fiction Pegasus in Heaven does place,  
Most do suppose on earth he winged his Race;  
Or did below from such swift Blood proceed  
As might complete our English Coursers breed;  
Whose praise my Muse ambitious was to Sing,  
And deems it meetest there to close her Wing.   
FINIS.