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AN 
 
 ANALYSIS 
 
 OF 
 
 . HORSEMANSHIP ; 
 
 , ' TEACHING THE 
 
 WHOLE ART OF RIDING, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 MANEGE, MILITARY, HUNTING, RACING, 
 
 AND 
 
 TRAVELLING SYSTEM. 
 
 TOGETHER WITH THE 
 
 METHOD OF BREAKING HORSES, 
 
 FOR EVERY PURPOSE TO WHICH THOSE NOBLE ANIMALS ARE ADAPTED. 
 
 BY JOHN ADAMS, 
 
 RWINGMASTER. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 ALBION PRESS PRINTED : 
 
 PUBLISHED BY JAMES CUNDEE, IVY -LANE; 
 
 SOLD BY C. CHAPPLE, PALL-MALI.. 
 
 1805. 
 
 l^'•Va 
 
 mi 
 
r\ 
 
TO HIS 
 
 ROYAL HIGHNESS 
 
 THE 
 
 DUKE OF YORK. 
 
 May it Please your Royal Highness, 
 
 THE permission of 
 inscribing my humble attempt, at 
 analysing the science of Horseman^ 
 ship to your Royal Highness, does 
 
 a it 
 
IV DEDICATION. 
 
 it great honour, and will prove its 
 best passport to general acceptance. 
 A name thus illustrious, at the front 
 of my work, sanctions the instruc- 
 tions it contains, as they are pub- 
 lished under his auspices who is 
 the most competent judge in the 
 kingdom, of their merit and uti- 
 lity. 
 
 It was this consideration which 
 first inspired me with the hope, 
 that my earnest endeavours, how- 
 ever imperfect, to facilitate and im- 
 prove a practice eminently benefi- 
 cial to mankind at large, and more 
 especially to the army, would not 
 be excluded a patronage, which, 
 
 liberally 
 
DEDICATION. V 
 
 liberally embraces every laudable 
 pursuit. 
 
 The benign condescension of 
 your Royal Highness, on my re- 
 spectful application for this pur- 
 pose, far exceeded my most san- 
 guine expectations ; as you not on- 
 ly vouchsafed my request, but did 
 me the honour, also, of commu- 
 nicating my proposals to his Ma- 
 jesty, and procuring for them his 
 royal and gracious approbation ! 
 
 It becomes not me, to pronounce 
 the eulogy so justly due to the 
 conduct of your Royal Highness, 
 in exercising the important func- 
 
 a 2 tions 
 
Vi BEDICATION. 
 
 tions of Commander in Chief. Mi- 
 litary qualities, thus conspicuously 
 calculated to challenge the ap- 
 probation of the best judges — to 
 be appreciated by the impartial 
 awards of future history — and to 
 exhaust the plaudits of posterity, 
 far transcend any commendation 
 of mine ! But, as one of the hap- 
 py community for whose advan- 
 tage and glory they are now cal- 
 led forth into action, permit me, 
 to share in the general satisfac- 
 tion they afford; to pray that no 
 misfortune may ever interrupt their 
 influence ; to join the unanimous 
 wish of a grateful people, that 
 your Royal Highness may long 
 
 live 
 
DEDICATION. Vll 
 
 live their boast, their ornament, 
 and their blessing ; and to be, 
 with profound admiration and re- 
 spect, 
 
 Your Royal Highness's 
 
 Most obliged 
 
 Most devoted, and 
 
 Most humble servant, 
 
 JOHN ADAMS. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 AT a period when gentlemen find it ne- 
 cessary and eipedient to discipline themselves 
 as soldiers, for protecting us from foreign and, 
 domestic enemies, I thought a work of this 
 kind might prove acceptable to the cavalry. 
 Had it come out a few years sooner, there 
 might have been a greater demand; hut rid- 
 ing at all times will he the pursuit, recrea- 
 tion, and pleasure of those whose circum- 
 stances in the early stages of life will per- 
 mit. And nothing distinguishes the gentle- 
 man more than ease, grace, and elegance on 
 horseback. 
 
 The following sheets, therefore, I hope, 
 will be found serviceable to those who wish to 
 acquire the true principles by study as well as 
 practice. 
 
 was 
 
IX PREFACE. 
 
 I was induced to write on Horsemanship 
 from the great pleasure I took in the study 
 and practice of it, and lamented the want of 
 authors in our own language to assist my 
 pursuit. The Duke of Newcastle's Horse- 
 manship I have heard much talk of, but 
 have only seen a voluminous edition of it in 
 French, a language I am not master of 
 From the number and size of the plates, it 
 must have been too costly a book for general 
 use; and from the superfluous number of 
 prints, and great eipence of the work, his 
 Grace must have written it for his own 
 amusement, and published it for the gratifica^ 
 lion of his friends only. 
 
 I have seen Mr. Berriiigefs Horseman- 
 skip, a work translated from the French. I 
 believe the book is now scarce. I have not 
 seen one, at least, for these twenty years. 
 By what I recollect, the seat and hand 
 according to the system of the manege, was 
 very correct ; but tlie whole book zvas confined 
 to the manege only; and however just his 
 observations and remarks were, I did not 
 
PREFACE. It 
 
 tliinh the work rnuch calculated to instruct the 
 uninformed. 
 
 Another small tract I ha^e seen, wrote 
 by the Earl of Pembroke. This his lord- 
 ship intended solely for the use of the army. 
 It contains oidy a few general rules, abso-^ 
 lutely necessary for the discipline of the cor 
 'calry. His lordship, knowing the aversion 
 a soldier lias to study, and the sliallowness 
 of the common soldier's capacity, most cer- 
 tainly thought that much would never he at- 
 tended to, though the little he wrote might. 
 
 I Imve heard of other small tracts, which, 
 as I knez€ not the authors, nor he^ird any 
 commendaiions <f their z^orks, I have not 
 judged them sufficiently interesting for my 
 perusal; and, really, from the obscurity I 
 have kept myself in to those who have a know- 
 ledge of the scientific parts of horsemanship, 
 leacpect my work will share the like contempt 
 from tkem. 
 
 For 
 
XI PREFACE. 
 
 For I find those who have but a partial 
 knowledge of the art, will not admit any 
 person equal to themselves^ till they have had 
 ocular demonstration, and this must be in va- 
 riety of instances, for the mere riding of a 
 horse is not sufficient: and this is not to be 
 wondered at, since the persons 7i)ho have been 
 teaching in the schools (most part of them 
 at least) have been totally ignorant of the sci- 
 ence; and if we find not knowledge in those 
 who pretejid to teach, we cannot expect to 
 find it in other pretenders. 
 
 As I have no pretensions to literary abili- 
 ties, I have not attempted to decorate my 
 work with long digressions, and flowery lan- 
 guage, to relieve the heavy, dead page of 
 science; which, rmthout attention and study 
 for the purpose of practice and improvement, 
 were insupportable. My endeavors have been 
 to explain my meaning in the clearest man- 
 ner; not only giving the precepts, but point- 
 ing out their importance and necessity, by 
 shezmng their causes and consequences. If 
 I have succeeded in this, it is all I aimed at ; 
 
 and 
 
PREFACE. Xii 
 
 and should I not have been sufficiently clear in 
 any passage, I shall he happy to explain my- 
 self furtheVy should any gentleman think pro- 
 per to wait on me for that purpose. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 AMONG the various pursuits of man, 
 for his amusement and recreation, that of 
 Riding on Horseback seems to claim the 
 pre-eminence with those whose circum- 
 stances aiford them the means and opportu- 
 nity. And this preference is not to be won- 
 dered at, when we consider the pleasure, 
 amusement, and benefit we derive from 
 it. For, besides being conveyed wherever 
 our business or inclination requires, the eye 
 is uninterruptedly amused with the objects 
 that pass or surround us ; a beautiful land- 
 scape, or delightful view, are continually 
 presenting themselves. And as you like, 
 you may enjoy yourself in contemplation, 
 or your friend in conversation. With all 
 this, you receive the benefit of the purest 
 air, so congenial to health, without the least 
 ^ danger 
 
XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 danger of taking cold, or receiving injury, 
 which is prevented by the bodily exercise, 
 of which you take such j^roportion as your 
 strength will permit, or your inclination or 
 constitution requires. 
 
 Exclusive of these benefits, there is such 
 a pleasure and gratification in riding, and 
 riding well, that the young, especially, with 
 hale constitutions, are quite fascinated with 
 the practice : and really their horses, when 
 mounted, as we often see them, by elegant 
 women, seem to vie with the conscious satis- 
 faction they occasion with their fair riders. 
 
 How strange then is it, that the art of rid- 
 ing and managing horses should be so much 
 neglected, that very few, indeed, know or 
 think that any such art exists. Let us en- 
 quire into the cause of such total disrespect to 
 this pleasurable science; and I believe it 
 will be found to originate, for the most part, 
 in the masters themselves. For, certain it 
 is, masters of old taught only one style of 
 riding, which was the manege; and this be- 
 ing 
 
INTRODUCTION. XVll 
 
 ing the truth and foundation of all good 
 riding (which I must acknowledge it is, 
 and shall make it so appear) they neither 
 practise nor taught any other. The ob- 
 vious consequence is, that gentlemen are as 
 emulous of riding fast, as of riding well; and 
 finding persons who had learned to ride in a 
 style so ill calculated to travel far, or fast, 
 or endure its fatigue; they ridiculed the 
 idea of learning to ride at a school, but pre- 
 ferred, or sought to copy, a hunting-groom, 
 or racing-jockey. 
 
 Thus the manege got into disrepute ; and, 
 being neglected for many years, at this time, 
 out of the many who are called riding-mas- 
 ters, few are equal to teach the manege ; 
 and reciprocal contempt has subsisted be- 
 tween the manege riding and jockey riding 
 ever since. Now, to reconcile both, and 
 make them friends with each other, these 
 sheets, I flatter myself, are in some mea- 
 sure calculated ; as there is no better way 
 of reconciling animosities, than making each 
 party appear to be in the right; which is cer- 
 
 b tainlv 
 
Xvm INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tainly the case here, since both styles of 
 riding will be found proper for their respec- 
 tive purposes. 
 
 And first the use and utility of manege 
 riding: — 
 
 Manege riding is the science whereby you 
 become acquainted with, and learn, the su- 
 periority you have over the horse, by a pro- 
 per correspondence of the hand — teaching 
 the effect and power, every variation of 
 situation and aids produce, with the the- 
 ory and knowledge of dressing horses — 
 improving yo\x\: horse after what manner 
 you please, rendering him obedient to the 
 most delicate touches, riding him with the 
 greatest ease and exactness, and making 
 him display himself in the most elegant atti- 
 tudes, and move either forward, backward, 
 or sideways. 
 
 By this method of riding, you ride with 
 perfect security ; for though you ride with the 
 highest animation, and occasional rapidity, 
 
 you 
 
INTRODUCTION. XIX 
 
 you never suffer the ascendency of the hand 
 to be transferred to the horse : thus by the 
 continual restraint the horse is under, he is 
 prevented from making the speed his capa- 
 city would admit; and tlie more he exerts 
 himself to that purpose, the sooner he is ex- 
 hausted. 
 
 It is evident this style of riding is not suit- 
 able to those who want to trot at the rate 
 of from 12 to 16 miles an hour; or gallop 
 at the rate of 20. No wonder, then, that 
 it should be so little sought after, and the 
 preference given to the common mode of 
 jockey riding. 
 
 Nevertheless, the study and knowledge of 
 the manege has many advantages : for you 
 are not confined to ride in the manege style 
 when you find it most convenient to ride in 
 any other ; and certainly, if you ride fast 
 long distances, or a hunting, the manege 
 style is not calculated for ^^our own ease, or 
 that of the horse. But whenever you adopt 
 the proper style for these extended paces, 
 
 b 2 and 
 
XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and suffer the horse to take a support and 
 ascendency of the hand, you can, when 
 you find it necessary, more readily recover 
 the superiority of the hand than those who 
 are totally ignorant of the science. Many 
 of these you see pulling and labouring 
 with all their might, to no effect ; and fire- 
 quently exposed to imminent danger, from 
 not being able to manage their horses: 
 and this they never attribute to their want 
 of skill, but to the hardness of the horse*s 
 mouth. 
 
 I have convinced several, by changing 
 horses, and shewn they were governable 
 with the greatest ease by a hand that knew 
 the power and effect it possesses. Some, 
 indeed, by being long accustomed to a 
 heavy, insensible hand, had habituated 
 themselves to a position whereby they could 
 endure the severity of the hand, wanted 
 some salutary lessons, before they could be 
 rode with pleasure and safety. 
 
 Since, 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXI 
 
 Since, then, I allow the manege is not 
 the style of riding for travelling, hunting, 
 or racing, of what service can it be to the 
 generality of persons whose pursuits tend 
 that way : I answer, much advantage is to 
 be derived from it ; because the manege 
 being the foundation and groundwork of all 
 good riding, you will only adopt the conve- 
 nience of one, and reserve the excellence 
 of the other, by Avhich you acquire the 
 greater security, and become the more per- 
 fect horseman. 
 
 I have seen several persons, who have 
 been in the habit of riding from their infan- 
 cy, and who ride well and boldly a hunting, 
 or elsewhere; yet if, by chance, a horse 
 happens to be restive, stops short, turns 
 round, and refuses to obey the bridle, or 
 answer the spurs, very awkward, and desti- 
 tute of knowledge or ability to act effect- 
 ively, and really in danger of being thrown; 
 not from any extraordinary efforts of the 
 horse for that purpose, but from the defect 
 
 b3 in 
 
XXU INTRODUCTION^. 
 
 in the seat; which, though sufficient to keep 
 them in the saddle in the natural straight-for- 
 ward paces of the horse, exposes them to 
 danger in the most trifling incidents that 
 may casually occur. 
 
 Thus, though the ordinary modes of 
 riding may gratiiy and convey j^ou on the 
 horse's back wherever your will directs, yet, 
 for want of knowledge in the true principles 
 of riding, you are continually exposed to in- 
 numerable hazards, which vou do not see, 
 nor will attribute to the true causes when 
 they happen. 
 
 For instance, if the horse trips, and you 
 tumble over his head, and break vou nose, 
 you ascribe it to the horse's falling, and I to 
 your bad riding; as you had no business to 
 fall with vour horse, but should have as- 
 sisted him, and prevented the accident. 
 The general cause of horses falling is more 
 the fault of the rider than the horse; i. e. 
 bad sitting and heavy hands. Not but that 
 the best riders may meet \\ith an acci- 
 dent ; 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXIU 
 
 dent; against which, however, scientific, 
 or manege riding, is the greatest security. 
 And horses that are over-loaded, tired, or 
 leg wear}^, are liable to fall ; but in these 
 circumstances, the rider's particular atten- 
 tion should be their safet}^, and prevent 
 them. 
 
 You are often told the horse reared, and 
 the person fell off behind, that the horse 
 might not fall backwards on him; but the 
 occasion of the horse's rearing is not given : 
 perhaps the severity of the rider's hand was 
 the cause. ^ — But, admitting fright or any 
 other circumstance might be the cause, the 
 person seldom allows the impropriety of his 
 riding ; which, under such circumstances, 
 might increase his danger, or have occa- 
 sioned the disaster. 
 
 Another tells you that his horse shyed to 
 the other side of the road, and he thereby 
 lost his stirrup, and fell into the ditch. He 
 does not say, he fell because he could not 
 ride, but because the horse shyed, — And 
 
 b 4 who 
 
XXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 who has not heard of several persons, who, 
 riding against another horse, or meeting a 
 carriage in a narrow part, could not stop 
 the horse, but ran against the shaft, killed 
 him, perhaps, on the spot, or providen- 
 tially escaped with only a few contusions 
 and bruises ? I will venture to say, no 
 prudent horseman ever met with such a dis- 
 aster. 
 
 Therefore, by a scientific knowledge of 
 riding, you are guarded against the several 
 contingencies that may unexpectedly hap- 
 pen, and are deterred from rimning into 
 dangers which ignorance but too frequently 
 incurs. You have likewise the advantage 
 of improving such horses, that come into 
 your hands, who are awkward from defec- 
 tive breaking, or bad riding ; and, I believe, 
 most persons feel an extreme pleasure in 
 the improvements they make ; as it is a 
 confirmation of the goodness of their hand, 
 and a proof of their abilities. 
 
 Not 
 
INTRODUCTION". XXV 
 
 Not only manege riding has been con- 
 temned, but inanege breaking ; and I have 
 heard several assert that a horse broke by 
 a riding-master was spoiled. This idea is 
 easily accounted for ; as the higher and 
 better a horse is broke, the more unsuitable 
 he is for an awkward rider. Awkward 
 horses, and awkward riders, suit each other 
 best ; in short, the one is made so by the 
 other. 
 
 But to explain this prejudice further, 
 many persons, unacquainted with the prin- 
 ciples of Horsemanship, have their ideas of 
 it so confined, that they perceive no other 
 excellence than riding bold, and riding fast. 
 And such as can ride a trotter best, or 
 gallop the fastest, are, in their estima- 
 tion, the best riders. I do admit there is 
 much skill and great merit in both; and 
 blame only for admitting that no other 
 perfection or improvement can be made in 
 a horse, than extending his speed ; to 
 which, the lightening a horse's mouth, and 
 uniting him, is so diametrically opposite. 
 
 2 In 
 
XXVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In answer to such, 1 beg to remind 
 them, that breaking a horse, and training 
 a horse are very different things. The 
 breaking a horse consists in famiUarizing, 
 reconcihng, extending, bending, supphng, 
 and uniting him ; teaching the hand and 
 heel, whereby you can, with the greatest 
 ease, put him from one pace to the other ; 
 the horse having no preference, does all 
 equally well, having had suitable lessons to 
 capacitate him thereto. But this education 
 only qualifies him for any purpose his o^^^Qer 
 may hereafter require of him ; if he wants 
 him for harness, it is no detriment to him ; 
 if he wants him fast in the trot, he must 
 train him to that pace alone ; if to canter, 
 [which is a term we do not use in Horse- 
 manship; we call it the gallop shortened, 
 or united ; for what we conceive the can- 
 ter, is an imperfect pace, which is a slow 
 gallop disunited; and in derision we say 
 two up and two down : running and ambling 
 trots are in like manner exploded] you may 
 practise him to that till he will do nothing 
 
 1 else : 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXVll 
 
 else ; and if for racing he must have his 
 training and gallops for that purpose. 
 
 Gentlemen who do not give explicit di- 
 rections in what manner they like their 
 horse to ride (for every one's desire is, to 
 have them well broke), may be satisfied, that 
 very little inconvenience will arise from the 
 horse's mouth ; and their hand, not accord- 
 ing, at first, for a few times riding, will reduce 
 the mouth to a level with their hand, and 
 bring them in unison together ; so that they 
 may (as they generally do) take upon them- 
 selves the merit of making the mouth, after 
 the riding-master had spoiled it. 
 
 Not that I would infer that the riding* 
 master's pains are useless ; and thrown away, 
 in these cases: no, the horse has derived 
 benefit, which, though unperceived by the 
 owner, will remain with him ; and his mouth 
 with occasionally riding by a good rider, 
 may be preserved and restored. For the 
 horse, once properly broke, does not depart 
 
 from 
 
XXVlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 from it by choice, but for the accommoda- 
 tion of his rider ; and may be said to be- 
 come all things to all men. 
 
 Having said as much as I think necessary 
 in defence of the Manege, or Horsemanship, 
 I shall only add one simile, to conclude the 
 subject : — the art of Penmanship, from its 
 analogy to the word Horsemanship, is the 
 first that presents itself^ and for aught I 
 know, is as applicable as any : — 
 
 In penmanship, the large text and round- 
 hands may be compared to the manege seat 
 — in which, exact proportion and correct- 
 ness, in every particular, is studied, learned^ 
 and executed. — the German Text, Italian, 
 cutting letters, and striking flourishes, I com- 
 pare to the several lessons and ornamental 
 airs of the manege ; and the engrossing and 
 running hands, being the hands of dispatch 
 and business, I compare to the hunting, tra- 
 velling, and racing seats. 
 
 Now 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXIX 
 
 Now every one knows, that the text and 
 round hands are the least used, though at 
 school they were most practised, to extend 
 and give liberty to the fingers, and study to 
 execute a true formation of each letter, that, 
 whenever after you require dispatch, you 
 may have a freedom of hand, and preserve 
 correctness, as far as the circumstances of 
 haste will allow. The manege riding is the 
 basis and truth of riding; and the deviations 
 are only admissible, for the sake of ease 
 and dispatch. 
 
 Having explained the nature and excel- 
 lence of the manege riding, and admitted 
 the propriety of other systems, for our dif- 
 ferent pursuits of business or pleasure, yet 
 the many ridiculous habits of some people 
 imbibe or adopt, I can, by no means, con- 
 cur with : some I do allow, ride in the hunt- 
 ing and road seat admirably well, who never 
 had any instructions ; but many more affect 
 to ride as well, who adopt the greatest ab- 
 surdities. 
 
 This 
 
XXX INTRODUCTIOX- 
 
 This must be from mistaken ideas, or 
 copying bad originals ; and to point out 
 some of these improprieties, may in some 
 measure, perhaps, prevent the practice of 
 them. 
 
 The first of tliese I shall mention, I think 
 the most excusable, because the\^ affect no- 
 thing ; and their awkwardness proceeds from 
 a careless sluggishness, or relaxation, which 
 causes their legs to dangle as though they 
 had not a muscle in them, — their thighs 
 flabby and loose — their shoulders and arms 
 shake as though they were hung on wires 
 — I think such riders cannot be comfort- 
 able, and are properly punished for their 
 laziness. 
 
 The others I shall notice, affect to ride 
 well, and some really would, if they were 
 to divest themselves of trifling absurdities : 
 — one sticks his legs as far from the horse 
 as possible, by which he considers he rides 
 without fear or cringing — another, when he 
 rises in the trot, raises his shoulders and 
 
 arms 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXXI 
 
 arms as though they were wings to assist 
 him — another thrusts his foot home in the 
 stirrup, pointing his toe to the ground, by 
 which he galls his instep with the stirrup- 
 iron, chafes his leg with the leather, or en- 
 dangers the foot to be entangled in the 
 stirrup, by a wad to protect the instep — 
 another affects to ride like a sportsman, 
 stands in his stirrups, and stoops forward 
 without preserving a position capable to sup- 
 port and manage his horse; — some ride as 
 thouoch thev were tumblino- forward — others 
 with their toe forward and body backward, 
 and — some with their backs as round as a 
 pig's ! — Many of these will arrogate to them- 
 selves the merit of being good horsemen ;— 
 I hope not to offend, if I say, they are not 
 elegant riders. 
 
 We find many, who have a good seat in 
 the hunting and road system of riding, have, 
 nevertheless, very defective hands : I call 
 those defective hands, who pull a heavy, in- 
 sensible weight on a horse's mouth, in paces 
 
 where 
 
XXXll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 where the hghtest touches of the hand are 
 all the support that is necessary. 
 
 The cause of bad hands, and bad mouths, 
 are, in a great measure, reciprocal ; for if 
 a person commences riding upon a horse 
 whose mouth has been previously spoiled by 
 a former hand, the horse will bear upon the 
 hand, and invite the hand to pull at the 
 mouth: — This, if not too heavy, is generally 
 very agreeable to beginners, because they 
 can thereby hold and keep themselves the 
 steadier in the saddle. 
 
 This habit, confirmed, is difficult to aban- 
 don ; for when you afterwards ride a horse 
 that has a pleasant mouth, and take only a 
 proper support from the hand, you miss the 
 support you received from the bridle, and 
 are not comfortable till you can bring the 
 horse to support you as before ; thus, as 
 your hand was formed from a bad mouth, 
 you are now making a bad mouth by your 
 hand. 
 
 To 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXXm 
 
 To this you will say— If I ride more to 
 my satisfaction, from the alteration I have 
 made in the mouth, surely, to me, at least, 
 it must be an improvement. In answer to 
 which, I shall say — It would be an improve- 
 ment to you, if there were not consequences 
 attending it, of which you are not aware. 
 In the first place, the support you take from 
 the bridle necessitates the horse to carry 
 himself in such a manner as subjects him 
 to trip, particularly in his slov/ paces.— 
 The continued dead weight in your hand, 
 and the position of the horse's head, to 
 sustain the same, incapacitates you from 
 assisting him on these occasions. For, if 
 you increase your pull in the same di- 
 rection in which you take your support, 
 you certainly will contribute the more to 
 the throwing the horse down.— Next the 
 position the horse carries his head, to ac- 
 commodate a heavy hand, with the numb- 
 ness occasioned by a continued dead pull, 
 which renders the mouth callous and un- 
 governable, so that with difficulty he can 
 be stopped in the ordinary paces ; but, 
 
 c when 
 
XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 when galloping with other horses, the ri- 
 der is totally incapacitated to stop him : 
 — This is attributed to the hardness of 
 the mouth ; and hence the invention of 
 tormenting and excruciating bits, gags, 
 martingales, and the like ; all of which 
 originated from bad hands. 
 
 The quality of the hand denotes the 
 horseman more than the seat; and this 
 the horse seems to be sensible of; — for 
 you seldom see horses of vicious and res- 
 tive dispositions, excepting at their first 
 backing, make violent attempts to throw 
 the rider. Colts give it up after a few 
 trials without effect ; but restive horses take 
 the advantage of defective hands, and re- 
 fuse obedience. If you correct them with 
 whip, or spurs, instead of obe3dng they 
 run backwards, sidle to walls, rails, or car- 
 riages, to frighten and deter you from con- 
 tending with them : but make no efforts 
 likely to unhorse you. 
 
 If 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXXV 
 
 If you have not hands to foil their endea- 
 vours, and frustrate their intention, the 
 horse will beat you, and be encouraged to 
 do so when he pleases. Therefore, you see, 
 your seat alone can protect you in many si- 
 tuations on horseback; but with the assis- 
 tance of your hands you may protect your- 
 self^ if you know how properly to use them. 
 
 Most persons are desirous to ride well, 
 though not in the manege style. — To ride 
 well, you must be perfectly at your ease, in 
 a position that does not expose you to dan- 
 ger in the common instances ; with a hand 
 capable of managing your horse with ease to 
 yourself and pleasantness to him : — these ac- 
 quirements will be sooner attained by a few 
 proper lessons, with study and application, 
 than by years' riding without them. 
 
 This is demonstrable by the horsemen of 
 the day, who, imbibing improper methods 
 at first, confirm them by practice; and from 
 the difiieulty they would find in altering 
 
 c 2 their 
 
XXXVl IXTRODUCTION-. 
 
 their system, are led to believe their*s as 
 good, if not the best. 
 
 Now, those who wish to ride with pro- 
 priety and ease, without becoming adepts in 
 the science, have only to study and practise 
 those passages calculated for that purpose. — 
 Hence the seat and the hand are to be your 
 particular study; and the lessons to acquire 
 them your principal practice. — And till such 
 time as you have established yourself to a 
 certain degree, it is not advisable to ride in- 
 attentively. The difference in riding for 
 improvement, and riding for pleasure, is ex- 
 plained in the first lesson. 
 
 The fundamental seat, as laid down, may 
 be thought too formal for those who do not 
 intend to become manege riders ; but be not 
 discouraged at practising that at first ; for all 
 the systems of good riding are derived from 
 it, and are only relinquishments of the ex- 
 tremes, when unnecessary with appropriate 
 positions for certain purposes. 
 
 \ 
 
CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 
 
 / 
 
 Page 
 ON Mounting ----------o--- i 
 
 On the Seat 9 
 
 On the Hand and Its Accompaniments ------ 25 
 
 On Aids, Corrections, Animations, &c. - ~ - - - " 65 
 
 On Natural Paces. The Walk 74 
 
 On the Trot ... 77 
 
 On the Gallop SO 
 
 On the Stop -- 84 
 
 On Changes, Volts, &c. 91 
 
 Lessons for forming the Hand, and confirming the Balance 94 
 Lessons for the Practice of the Aids - - - - - - -111 
 
 Lessons in the Gallop ------.----.117 
 
 On Changes In the Gallop --------.-] 28 
 
 The Shoulder Within 133 
 
 Head and Croup to the Wall ------r--l45 
 
 A Reprize for Practice and Improvement - - - - - 1 62 
 
 The Terre a Terre ------------ 172 
 
 On Military Riding .,-.-174, 
 
 Observations, &c. on teaching Soldiers to ride - - -188 
 
TREATISE, 
 
 4'C. ^c. 
 
 ON MOUNTING. 
 
 i HE first thing to be learned in horseman- 
 ship is the method of Mounting. Many are 
 apt to neglect this as trivial, especially such 
 as are accustomed to Mount by a different 
 method, which habit may have rendered fa- 
 miliar; but habit will also make the right 
 method equally familiar and easy. And it 
 will have these advantages ; — you are under 
 no necessity of having a person to hold your 
 horse, perfectly safe from receiving any in- 
 jury, and, if you have the least activity, the 
 unsteadiness of the horse cannot prevent 
 your Mounting. \ 
 
 VOL. I. B Before 
 
2 ON MOUNTING. 
 
 Before Mounting, as your safety is con- 
 cerned, it is proper to obser e whether the 
 saddle be rightly placed, the girths secure, 
 not too tight (for many horses are apt to 
 plunge when they are), the bridle fitly on, 
 and the curb smoothly placed. 
 
 Instructions in these particulars will be 
 found in detail hereafter. Whatever the 
 disposition of your horse may be, approach 
 him apparently in good temper. Horses 
 are sensible animals, and know by your ac- 
 tions and appearance the disposition or hu- 
 mour you are in; i. e. whether you are 
 angry or pleased, bold or timid, handy or 
 awkward. In these you will find it difficult 
 to deceive them, but steady, well-broke 
 horses take no advantage of it ; young ones 
 frequently do. A soothing tone of voice 
 and caresses are pleasing; and to such as 
 are unsteady, fearful, or have a dislike to be 
 Mounted, it helps to dispel their fears, and 
 pacify them. Young horses should there- 
 fore be gently treated, and much encou- 
 
 raged. 
 
 It 
 
ON MOUNTING. 3 
 
 It is customary to Mount a horse on the 
 near, or left side. Present yourself rather 
 before his shoulder, with your whip or 
 switch in your left hand. This must be at- 
 tended to, because the right hand is full of 
 action, has to remove from place to place, 
 and the whip thus moved or agitated might 
 disturb the horse. 
 
 The bridles most in use, have two reins ; 
 it is advisable for learners to practise with 
 one first, and then both; as awkwardness, 
 in a certain degree, will otherwise be una- 
 voidable in beginners. 
 
 The rein originally practised with, should 
 be the bridoon, lest the hand at first be too 
 harsh for the curb. Proceed then as fol- 
 lows : Take hold of the bridoon rein with 
 the right hand gently, and so near to the 
 bit, that you are sure it is not atwist; then, 
 by extending, your right hand over the 
 horse's neck toward the centre of the sad- 
 dle, letting the rein slip lightly and smooth- 
 
 b2 ly 
 
4 OiN MOUNTING. 
 
 ly through your fingers, you will find the 
 middle of the rein. 
 
 Now, if you intend to Mount with this 
 rein onlj^, put the httle finger; but, if with 
 both, put the middle finger of the left hand 
 downward between the reins, the back of 
 the hand being towards the horse's head; 
 draw the rein with your right hand, and 
 slip your left where it will rest on that part 
 of the mane voii intend to take hold of: let 
 the superfluous rein hang over your fore- 
 finger. 
 
 If it is the middle finger between this 
 rein, and j^ou intend to Mount with both 
 reins, in like manner take hold of the curb 
 rein, and put the little finger between, and 
 lay it smooth and flat through the hand on 
 the bridoon rein, both hanging over the fore- 
 finger. The end of the thumb will be suffi- 
 cient, without grasping the hand to keep 
 the reins in this situation, while you with 
 the right hand separate a lock of the 
 mane. 
 
 This 
 
ON MOUNTING. 5 
 
 This done, apply the left hand, with the 
 fingers open, down flat to the horse's neck, 
 and, with the right hand, twist the lock of 
 mane over the fore-finger of the left ; by 
 so doing, you will find, when yon grasp 
 the mane with the left hand, that you 
 have a very firm hold close to the horse's 
 scrag. 
 
 Be sure you have hold of the whip, the 
 reins, and the mane, with the left hand; 
 and, should the reins be so slack as not to 
 have the desired effect upon the horse, you 
 can still tighten them ; and if so tight as to 
 occasion the horse to rein back, relax them, 
 by letting them slip. 
 
 This attended to, stand with your left 
 breast towards the horse's shoulder, and take 
 hold of the stirrup-leather with your right 
 hand to steady it, while you raise the left 
 foot, and place it in the stirrup. 
 
 If you are low in stature, and the horse 
 high, you will be obliged to support your- 
 
 . B 3 self 
 
6 ON MOUNTING. 
 
 self on the ball of the right foot, and by a 
 sudden spring, at the same time, the right 
 hand must quit the stirrup, and catch hold 
 of the hind part or cantle of the saddle, 
 and thereby raise yourself in the stirrup. 
 
 Here pause, that you may deliberately 
 lift your right leg over; at the same time 
 removing your right hand from the cantle 
 to the pommel, to steady yourself while you 
 are seated. 
 
 Next, place your right foot in the stirrup, 
 then let go the mane out of the left hand ; 
 but be careful not to let a rein go, because 
 you have them in hand in the manner you 
 are to ride, adjust your cloaths, and ex- 
 change the whip from the left hand to the 
 right: accustom your horse to stand, till you 
 request him to move. 
 
 Dismounting is to disengage yourself from 
 
 the horse in like manner. First, return the 
 
 whip into your left hand, shift the handle 
 
 of your whip a hand's breadth above the 
 
 5 thumb ; 
 
ON MOUNTING. 7 
 
 thumb; then place the right hand above 
 the left, and turn both hands so that the 
 thumbs may be downwards, and the little 
 fingers upwards. By these means the han- 
 dle of the whip will be turned into your 
 left hand, and the lash will be upright. 
 Quit the whip with your right hand. Let 
 the hands resume their proper position, and 
 you will find the whip in your left hand, 
 with the lash downward, on the near side of 
 the horse, as when you mounted. Put a 
 lock of the mane with your right hand into 
 the left ; place your right hand on the pom- 
 mel, to steady yourself, while you raise 
 your right leg over the horse, and, lay- 
 ing hold of the cantle, let yourself gently 
 down. 
 
 I have observed it is customary to mount 
 a horse on the near side ; but I am of the 
 same opinion with Lord Pembroke, that it 
 is good to be expert at mounting on either 
 side, and therefore recommend it to be prac- 
 tised : the same instructions given for the 
 one, will answer for the other, only taking 
 
 B 4 the 
 
8 ON MOUNTING. 
 
 the right hand for the left, and the left for 
 the right, and when mounted, shifting the 
 bridle instead of the whip. 
 
■Scwporiuj pinj:^ 
 
 ayi 
 
 yJ^S^reat^. 
 
 D 
 
 ^^bi.ZepJJBas, ^!a.mejCiutirrMbi^ni.Xrip^, Lankan. 
 
9 
 
 ON THE SEAT. 
 
 The Seat is the conformation of the se- 
 veral parts of the horseman's body, agree- 
 able to the position or manner the horse 
 works in. 
 
 For instance, if a person was placed in 
 what I shall call the fundamental Seat or 
 medium position (which will be first de- 
 scribed), and the horse was to work in a 
 bent position, or on a circle, the balance 
 would be disturbed. 
 
 Likewise, if the horse passages, or works 
 sidewaj^s, the balance would be endangered, 
 or lost. 
 
 When a horse also plunges or kicks, if 
 you have not a strong muscular hold with 
 your legs and thighs, assisted by a con'e- 
 sponding motion or exertion of the body, 
 you will be thrown from the saddle. 
 
 Thus 
 
10 ON THE SEAT. 
 
 Thus the balance is maintained by as 
 many different positions as the horse has ca- 
 pacity to work in ; and the violent exertions 
 of the horse are repelled or counteracted by 
 muscular strength and activity in the rider. 
 Hence, a person may be an excellent horse- 
 man, though, for want of muscular strength 
 and resolution, unfit to contend with obsti- 
 nate, resolute, and vicious horses; and a 
 person of firm nerves and resolution, in the 
 habits of riding, may contend with a vicious 
 horse, and, where resolution only is want- 
 ing, will succeed ; but where skill and ad- 
 dress are required, most likely he will fail ; 
 success, in these cases, inducing many to 
 imagine themselves very capital horsemen. 
 
 To say you cannot keep your balance in 
 any position but the right, would be an 
 evident falshood ; for we daily see persons 
 riding widely different from our rules with- 
 out falling, and much to their satisfac- 
 tion. 
 
 You will say. Why is not their method as 
 
 good 
 
ON THE SEAT. 11 
 
 good as mine ? Because, if they ride widely 
 different from rule, though they may not 
 fall, it is more owing to the steadiness of 
 the horse than good riding : many who ride 
 different from rule, not only keep their 
 balance, but are guarded against some 
 particular contingencies, while exposed to 
 others. 
 
 For instance : a person may sit prepared 
 for a horse's rearing ; yet, if the horse were 
 only to stumble on his knees, would tumble 
 over his head. 
 
 Others guarded against kicking and 
 stumbling, would be exposed to danger if 
 the horse reared. 
 
 But rules for riding, places every member 
 in a situation to act on every emergency, 
 and, as it were, instinctively ; every precept, 
 however trivial it may appear, I hope will 
 be attended to, lest an occurrence should 
 happen, in a manner for which you are not 
 provided. 
 
 The 
 
12 ON THE SEAT. 
 
 The fundamental Seat is that medium 
 position from which all others proceed, and 
 in which the rider sits Avhen the horse works 
 straight, i. e. not only going straight for- 
 ward, but without any bend in the position 
 of the horse. 
 
 In describing this, I shall divide the horse- 
 man into three parts, and explain their dif- 
 ferent functions. 
 
 The first are the thighs, from the fork to 
 the knees. 
 
 These, at all times, have hold of the sad- 
 dle, and, by their muscular exertions, contri- 
 bute also to keep the body equipoised. 
 
 The next are the legs, from the knee 
 downwards. These are auxiliaries, and, oc- 
 casionally, strengthen the hold of the thighs 
 by a grasp with the calves. They likewise 
 request, aid, support, and chastise the horse. 
 
 The last is the body, from the fork up- 
 wards. 
 
ON THE SEAT. 13 
 
 wards, which must always be in a situation 
 to preserve the balance, and take the cor- 
 responding motion. 
 
 The thighs, to have an effective hold of 
 the saddle, must be turned inward from the 
 hips, so that the hollow and muscular part 
 of the thighs may lay smooth and flat to 
 the saddle. The knees must be stretched 
 down and kept back, so as to place the 
 thighs about twenty-five or thirty degrees 
 short of a perpendicular. 
 
 This will occasion the rider to sit on his 
 fork or twist, which he should do, and not 
 on his breech — the knee is to be bent, so 
 that the toe hangs perpendicular to the 
 knee — the legs are to hang near the horse's 
 sides, but not to touch — the heel is to be 
 sunk as low as possible, and the toe raised. 
 This will give firmness and strength to the 
 muscles of the legs and thighs. 
 
 The body must be upright, and not have 
 the least propensity to drop forward, which, 
 
 from 
 
14 ON THE SEAT. 
 
 from the situation I have placed the thighs 
 in, it will do, if the loins are not well bent, 
 making the back very hollow, and the 
 shoulders well thrown back, and the chest 
 open : — the head must be upright and firm — 
 the arms, from the shoulders to the elbows, 
 should hang in a perpendicular situation — 
 the elbows bent, so that the left hand should 
 in general be situated about three inches 
 above the pommel of the saddle — the arm, 
 above the wrist, may lightly rest against 
 the body — and the wrist so bent, that the 
 thumb being upwards, resting on the first 
 joint of the fore-fmger, may point betwixt 
 the horse's ears; — the right hand, holding 
 the whip, is to be situated a little lower than 
 the left, not to obstruct the operation of the 
 bridle. — If you sit in the manner above de- 
 scribed, you will obseiTe the nose, the breast, 
 the knee, and toe, will form a perpendi- 
 cular line ;— the shoulders, elbow, and heel, 
 will likewise be in a perpendicular direction. 
 When the rider can see any part of his foot, 
 he may be assured he is not in the position 
 
 above 
 
ON THE SEAT. 15 
 
 above described : — the sight of the foot 
 should be obstructed by the knee. 
 
 The difficulty of acquiring this Seat, with 
 the stiffness and formality that appears in all 
 beginners, has disgusted many from attempt- 
 ing it, especially when they find they can 
 ride comfortably to themselves without 
 strictly adhering to the above precepts. In 
 opposition to this prejudice, I shall observe, 
 that perfection in an}^ science is not to be ac- 
 quired without difficulty. The stiffness and 
 formality here, is like that in dancing or 
 fencing. As you become a proficient in 
 either, stiffness falls into ease, and formality 
 into gracefulness. Besides, I am far from 
 insisting that it is necessary a person should 
 always ride strictly and precisely in the 
 above attitudes; but it is necessary that 
 every person, who is emulous of being a 
 good horseman, should endeavour to capa- 
 citate himself to ride in the above position ; 
 and when he has acquired it, his judgment 
 will direct him when and how to use the 
 
 power 
 
16 ON THE SEAT. 
 
 power and effect he will feel himself mas- 
 ter of. 
 
 I agree it would be a ludicrous sight for a 
 man to be riding in the position described, 
 with his muscles all stiffened, and the nerves 
 firmly strung, and he on a poor, sorry beast, 
 without life or animation. 
 
 No : it is ever to be understood, that the 
 man and the horse are to be of a piece; 
 i. e. when the horse is at liberty and disu- 
 nited, then the rider, in like manner, sits at 
 his ease, and may be said to be disunited ; 
 and as he begins to collect and unite, his 
 horse, so he collects and unites himself. 
 Thus, when the rider is pressing a horse to 
 the union, and drawing from him the most 
 elegant attitude and lofty action, the rider's 
 attitude must likewise be to the extreme of 
 elegance, and his exertions in the same pro- 
 portion to that of the horse. 
 
 Having described the position of the se- 
 veral 
 
ON THE SEAT. 17 
 
 ieral parts of the horseman, I shall endea- 
 vour to explain the necessity of each pre- 
 cept, and the manner of maintaining the 
 balance ; and when 1 have thrown all the 
 light I can on the subject, you must perse- 
 vere in the practice for a considerable time, 
 before you can expect to attain it. 
 
 The thighs, if not turned as described, 
 the fleshy part being in (contact with the 
 saddle, will not have the grasp, or hold, as 
 the muscles have. 
 
 If you let the knee get forward, or rise, 
 the muscles of the thigh lose their effect, 
 and the knee only pinches, which is not the 
 intention ; for the muscles of the thighs are 
 to act as springs, taking a moderate and 
 pleasant hold of the saddle ; — not so loose 
 that the action of the horse should remove 
 the thighs from the saddle, nor yet so tight 
 as unnecessarily to fatigue the muscles, or 
 prevent the motion, which the action of the 
 horse gives the body, from returning to its 
 situation. 
 
 VOL. I. c This 
 
18 ON THE SEAT. 
 
 ^ This duly observed, you will find the 
 muscles aet as springs to break the shock 
 or jolt, which the action of the horse gives 
 the body, from being received on the fork 
 or twist. 
 
 The muscles, likewise, by practice, act 
 involuntarily or instinctively in preserving 
 the balance, as thus : when the body is a 
 little thrown to the one side, the next mo- 
 tion the body receives, the strengthening the 
 muscles in the opposite thigh recovers the 
 balance again, and by this nice action of 
 the muscles the balance is continually pre- 
 served. 
 
 The bending of the knee, as described, 
 brings the calves of the legs near to the 
 horse's side, which are not to touch. If 
 they touch, j^ou take the functions from the 
 muscles of the thighs, which is never to be 
 done but on emergencies, when the Seat 
 cannot be maintained without ; as when a 
 horse plunges, kicks, leaps, &c, 
 
 5 Besides 
 
ON THE SEAT. 19 
 
 Besides, were the legs to continue on the 
 horse's sides, the efficacy of the aids would 
 thereby be destroyed. On the other hand, 
 if the knee is straight, the foot will be for- 
 ward, and the legs too distant from the 
 horse's sides, by which the rider would be 
 exposed to danger, if the horse was sudden- 
 ly and unexpectedly to turn short round, 
 fly out of the road from any object, plunge, 
 kick, &c. for I have observed they are auxi- 
 liaries ; and, on these occasions, are called 
 upon to strengthen the Seat ; and, if too dis- 
 tant from their proper situation, the Seat is 
 lost before 3^ou can call in their assistance ; 
 whereas, if they are in the situation directed, 
 you can instantaneously lay hold, and your 
 Seat is secure. 
 
 The supporting the toe, I have observed, 
 gives strength and firmness to the muscles 
 of the legs and thighs. 
 
 The body is always to be in a situation, 
 not only to preserve the balance, but main- 
 tain the Seat. The distinction between the 
 
 c 2 balance 
 
20 ON THE SEAT. 
 
 balance and the Seat may not be under- 
 stood by some, unless explained. The ba- 
 lance is, the preserving the body from in- 
 clining to the one side or the other ; which, 
 till acquired, the ordinary paces of the 
 horse in the trot or gallop will disturb. 
 The Seat is, the keeping firm in the saddle 
 at such times as the body is liable to be 
 thrown on the horse's neck, if nor over his 
 head, or tumbling backward over the horse'si 
 tail. 
 
 To preserve the balance, it is evident the 
 body must keep in the same direction as the 
 horse's legs ; i. e. if the horse v»^orks straight 
 and upright on his legs, the body must be 
 in the same upright direction; but when 
 the horse bends or leans, as he does whea 
 he works on a circle, or trots briskly round 
 a corner, then the body must lean in the 
 same direction and proportion, or the ba- 
 lance will be lost. The balance may be 
 preserved when the position of the body 
 does not otherwise correspond with the po- 
 sition 
 
ON THE SEAT. 21 
 
 sition I have directed, but then the Seat 
 will be exposed in one way or the other. 
 
 For instance ; suppose the rider to sit on 
 his breech (which is directed to be on his 
 fork), the consequence generally is, that the 
 knee rises, and the legs are too forward. In 
 this case, though he may preserve his ba- 
 lance, he is insecure, if the horse either rears 
 or kicks. 
 
 But admitting, with this Seat on the 
 breech, he keeps a hollow back, and firm 
 hold with the calves of the legs ; he is then 
 only secure against the horse's stumbling 
 and kicking : yet, if the horse was to rear, 
 he must inevitably fall backwards, or be in 
 danger of pulling the horse over on himself. 
 On the contrary, if the body inclines for- 
 ward, so as to have a propensity to fall for- 
 ward when the horse shortens his step, or 
 abates his action, the rider is in danger, if 
 the horse kicks or only stumbles, of falling 
 over his head. When the back is rounding 
 instead of hollow, the Seat is much expos- 
 
 c 3 ed. 
 
ON THE SEAT. 
 
 ed, because the body is not in a situation to 
 take the corresponding motion, should the 
 horse rear, kick, plunge, or even stumble. 
 
 What I have said, I hope, will evince 
 that the position I have directed, is the only 
 one that can secure the safety of the rider 
 on all emergencies : and experience proves 
 that the body, in this position, involuntarily 
 takes the corresponding motion, vrhether 
 the horse rears, springs forward, kicks, stum- 
 bles, &c. Respecting the arms, I have 
 placed them in that symmetrical situation 
 which is usual in common riding; but, as 
 the position of the body, arms, and every 
 member, varies in some measure, according 
 to the position or style you work the horse 
 in, I shall only observe here, that whatever 
 the situation may be, the muscles and nerves 
 of the arms, and, in short, every part, must 
 possess such firmness, as excludes every per- 
 ceptible shake or motion. 
 
 To acquire the true balance in the posi- 
 tion directed, I recommend the practice on 
 
 circles 
 
ON THE SEAT. 23 
 
 circles, or what is called the longe ; begin- 
 ning on large circles, and an easy, gentle 
 trot, by which the horse will be so little 
 bent, as scarcely to make a perceptible alte- 
 ration in the position I have laid down as 
 the fundamental one ; but as the circles are 
 contracted, and the pace extended, it will 
 be necessary not onl}^ for the body to lean 
 with the horse, but likewise to bend, or be 
 turned in the same direction as the horse's 
 head, which, of course, will be bent a little 
 within the circle : this mav be called the 
 first variation. Be mindful to work equally 
 to both hands, and not to have any stir- 
 rups till you have acquired a true balance 
 without them. 
 
 When the stirrups are first used, they will 
 be found an incumbrance rather than an}^ 
 assistance, and a new difficulty will occur, 
 namely; the keeping the foot in the stir- 
 rup. This must be surmounted by prac- 
 tice, observing to bear no more than the 
 weight of your foot in the stirrup, which 
 must be placed under the ball of the foot* 
 and the plying of the instep to the action 
 
 c 4 which 
 
24 ON THE SEAT. 
 
 which the body receives, will keep it there, 
 Till you have acquired this play of the in- 
 step, you will find, if your toe be too for- 
 ward, the stirrup will fall to the instep, and 
 if too back, you will lose the stirrup ; but 
 when the foot is in its proper situation, if 
 the toe be raised, the stirrup will not imme- 
 diately depart from it. 
 
 Crave no assistance from the reins to sup- 
 port the balance — let the hand be fixed, 
 and the reins of such a length as to feel and 
 support the horse, but never to hold on. A 
 peak saddle is proper to begin with, and 
 will be found the best in the commence- 
 ment of every new lesson. 
 
 Have patience and perseverance to ac- 
 quire the true balance, and if you enjoy firm 
 nerves, j^ou are sure of having a firm Seat. 
 More need not be said in this place ; the va- 
 riations will be pointed out in the lessons as 
 they occur; likewise the hunting-seat, and 
 every other style of riding, in its proper place. 
 
 ON 
 
25 
 ON THE HAND, 
 
 AND ITS ACCOMPANIMENTS, 
 
 The generality of persons are very de- 
 sirous of obtaining a strong and iirm seat. 
 It is the whole of their ambition, the ultima- 
 tum of all their wishes ; and it is certainly 
 a pleasing security, and exceedingly neces- 
 sary for those who ride rough horses : but 
 the Hand, take it in whatever point of view 
 you will, is the excellence of horsemanship. 
 In violent contentions with the horse, the 
 Hand deprives the horse of one half of his 
 exertions to throw the rider: otherwise it 
 would be impossible to keep on the back of 
 some horses. In vicious restiveness, the 
 Hand is your whole securit}^ ; it baffles every 
 intention of the horse to foil the rider, by 
 crushing him against carriages, rails, walls, 
 &c. By a judicious use of the powers of 
 the Hand, you out-manoeuvre every effort 
 of the horse, and subdue him. Thus far 
 your safety depends on your Hand. 
 
 In 
 
26 ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 In the next place, every excellence is de- 
 rived from the Hand — the Hand raises the 
 fore-hand, lightens the mouth, supports the 
 position, directs the time, action, air; in 
 short, every thing that is desirahle or bril- 
 liant must result principally from the Hand. 
 
 Before the operation and effects of the 
 Hand can be obtained, a knowledge and ex- 
 pertness at holding the reins should be ac- 
 quired. There are various methods of 
 holding the reins according to the stjde of 
 riding, the design or intention of the rider, 
 or the propensities, defences, or resistance of 
 the horse. 
 
 And first, of bridles that have but one 
 rein, such as snaffles, whether they are com- 
 mon or with running reins. Bits that have 
 not bridoons or snaffles attached to them, 
 have but one rein, and are placed in the 
 left hand, thus : the left rein passing under 
 the little fmger and the third fmger (if I 
 reckon only four fingers), both reins laying 
 smooth through the hand, and the superflu- 
 ous 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 27 
 
 ous quantity of the rein hanging over the 
 first joint of the fore-fmger, and the thumb 
 placed on them. 
 
 The next method I shall observe, is the 
 practice of the army, who always ride with 
 bits and bridoons. The reins of the bit 
 (which is commonly called the curb-rein) is 
 to be placed within the bridoon or snaffle 
 rein, and passes through the hand exactly in 
 the same manner as before described ; the 
 httle fmger separating the left rein from the 
 right, &c. The left rein of the bridoon 
 passes through the hand, lajdng smooth on 
 the left rein of the bit or curb, Avith the 
 thumb, as before observed, placed on it, and 
 the right rein hanging loose. 
 
 This method of the army, to the gene- 
 rality of riders, may appear awkward and 
 inconsistent, therefore requires explanation. 
 It may not be improper here to observe, 
 that horsemen (by which I mean those v/ho 
 ride scientificall}^) always ride with the curb 
 rein. This and the following is a discrimi- 
 nation, 
 
28 ON THE HAND, &e. 
 
 nation, that, perhaps, some of my reader* 
 have noticed ; that, when an awkward horse- 
 man has hold of the curb-rein, and, by too 
 severe a Hand, prevents the horse from 
 standing quiet, or moving forward, the good- 
 natured spectators will desire the gentleman 
 to loose the curb, and take hold of the snaf- 
 fle. Now, this does not imply that the gen- 
 tleman was wrong, but that he cannot ride 
 sufficiently well to be safely entrusted with 
 the curb rein. 
 
 Soldiers belonging to cavalry must neces- 
 sarily be taught to ride with the curb ; and, 
 that the Hand may not be too much incum- 
 bered with reins, the bridoon-rein, which, in 
 military bridles, is always a light, short rein, 
 passes through the hand as before noticed, 
 where it may be readily seized by the right 
 hand, when occasion may require its assist- 
 ance, either to bend the horse, enliven the 
 mouth, or give more efficacy to the bridle 
 Hand, which are the principal uses of the 
 bridoon rein. 
 
 By 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 29 
 
 The next method of holding the reins, is 
 what I recommend for general use on the 
 road, or in the field. It differs only from 
 the last, as practised in the army, by taking 
 up the right rein of the bridoon or snaffle 
 with three fmgers, thereby having the curb 
 rein within the snaffle rein. The little fin- 
 ger only separates the left reins from the 
 right reins, and laying smooth through the 
 hand, of equal length, the superfluous reins 
 hang over the first joint of the fore-fmger. 
 
 A fourth method of holding the reins, is 
 that which I described in mounting, wherein 
 the little fmger separates the curb reins, and 
 the second fmger the bridoon reins. This 
 method is best calculated to ride the united 
 airs or manage lessons, because the bridoon 
 rein is easily detached from the left hand, 
 the reins of the bit shifted to the right hand, 
 and the bridoon to the left, for the purpose 
 of handily changing the air from right to 
 left. 
 
 Beside holding the reins, it is necessary 
 
 to 
 
30 ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 to be expert in shifting and adjusting the 
 reins. And, though these things may ap- 
 pear very trifling, it is astonishing the trou- 
 ble I have had with some pupils to make them 
 hold the reins right, or shift and adjust them 
 handily. It must be practised at every con- 
 venient opportunity, till you can do it ex- 
 pertly without stopping the horse, altering 
 his pace, or breaking the time; likewise, 
 without looking to the hands, that you may 
 be as able to do it in the dark as the light, 
 and find any of the reins without hesitation. 
 The method of shifting the reins from the 
 left hand into the right is as follows : — Turn 
 the thumb of the left hand towards the 
 right, put the fore-finger of the right hand 
 downwards between the reins in the place 
 of the little finger of the left hand, and lay 
 the reins smoothly through the right hand. 
 
 By this means the fore-finger separates 
 the left reins from the right, and the super- 
 fluous reins hang downward through the 
 hand ; the thumb presses the left reins be- 
 tween 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 31 
 
 tween the first and second joint of the fore- 
 
 finger. 
 
 Observe ; the whip, switch, or sword, 
 never departs from the right hand (except 
 while mounting or dismounting) ; the knuc- 
 kles are carried upwards, unless you carry 
 your sword or whip erect, for which purpose 
 the thumb will then be carried upwards. 
 If the reins are shortened by this method of 
 shifting, it is easy to let them slip to their- 
 proper length ; but, whenever the}^ are too 
 long, it requires the assistance of the other 
 hand to shorten them. 
 
 The shifting them again into the left 
 hand, is only putting the little finger of the 
 left hand downward between the left and 
 right reins, placing them smoothl}^ through 
 the hand, and letting the ends hang over 
 the fore-finger, as at first. 
 
 When the reins are held in the fourth 
 method I described for manege riding, you 
 ghift them into the right hand (after turning 
 
 the 
 
32 ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 the left thumb towards the right), by putting 
 the fcre-finger of the right hand into the 
 place of the little finger of the left, the se- 
 cond finger of the right into the place of the 
 third finger of the left, and the third finger 
 of the right into the place of the second 
 fms^er of the left. Place the reins smooth 
 through the right hand, with the ends hang- 
 ing down, and you have every rein separate 
 in the right hand as v/ell as the left. When 
 you shift them again to the left, be sure to 
 put the fingers of the left hand into the 
 places you took them from ; and, when you 
 are handy and expert at this, your rein& 
 will never be in disorder. 
 
 The shifting of the reins is principally in- 
 tended to relieve the left hand when cramp- 
 ed or tired, or when you have occasion to 
 use it, or when you mean to work or attack 
 your horse on the left side. 
 
 Separating the reins, on several occasions, 
 
 is very necessary. Two hands can execute 
 
 more than one ; consequently, when a horse 
 
 1 refuses 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. SS 
 
 refuses obedience to one hand, you take 
 two : hence all young, raw horses are rode 
 with two hands. Lessons for the instruction 
 or improvement of horses, manege airs, or 
 whenever you want to perform to the ut- 
 most of your own or horse's ability, you use 
 both hands. You seldom have occasion to 
 take more than one rein in the right hand, 
 which, if a single-reined bridle, you cannot 
 mistake ; but when it is a double-reined br:-* 
 die, remember you take the right rein only 
 of the bridoon or snaffle in the right hand. 
 
 Thus, turn the back of j^our right hand 
 upwards ; put the three first fingers over the 
 bridoon rein, by which you receive the rein 
 between your little and third fmger, letting 
 the superfluous end hang over the fore-fm- 
 ger with the thumb placed on it ; carry the 
 thumb upwards as you do the bridle hand. 
 
 Changing the hands, when working with 
 a double-reined bridle, will be found, at 
 times, very necessary ; and when changing 
 the airs in the manege from left to right, and 
 
 VOL. I. D right 
 
34 ON THE HAND, Scc. 
 
 right to left, great expertness will be want- 
 ing, that the time may not thereby be inter- 
 ruj3ted. 
 
 For this purpose, when you are working 
 to the right, you have the reins of the bit 
 only in the left hand, the bridoon rein being 
 entirely detached from it, and the right 
 hand only holds the right rein of the bri- 
 doon. Now, w^hen you change to the left, 
 first throw all the supei-fluous rein of the bri- 
 doon over to the right, so that the rein is 
 straio'ht from the horse's mouth to the neck 
 on his left side, and quit it with the right 
 hand. Then change the reins of the bit 
 into the right hand, with the fore-finger 
 downward between them, as other reins 
 have been directed to be shifted ; the left 
 hand, being disengaged, lays hold of the 
 bridoon rein, which, by the superfluous rein 
 being over on the right, you can take as 
 short as you please, and let it slip to the 
 length vou require. In changing again to 
 the right, be sure first to throw^ all the super- 
 fluous bridoon rein to the left, and then you 
 
 will 
 
OiS' THE HAND, &:c. 35 
 
 will not be embaiTassed when you come to 
 take it up with the right. 
 
 Adjusting the reins is altering of them by 
 shortening or lengthening in whole, or in 
 part, as occasion may require : this will be 
 as often as you change fi-om one place to 
 another. Besides, the reins, being held pliant 
 and easy as circumstances will admit, imper- 
 ceptibly slip, particularly with young begin- 
 ners: therefore will frequentl}' want adjust- 
 ing. 
 
 To become expert at adjusting the reins, 
 take the superfluous reins that hang over the 
 fore-fmger of the left hand into the right 
 hand altoo-ether. Do not remove the left 
 hand, but only open the fingers so that 30a 
 can slip the hand up and down the reins 
 smoothl}^ and freely, wliile the right hand 
 supports the horse, and feels every cadence 
 or step the horse takes. 
 
 By this method you will become handy in 
 altering the reins altogether. 
 
 d2 . Woul/l 
 
36 ON THE HAND, Scc. 
 
 Would you shorten the curb rein and 
 lengthen the bridoon, apply the right hand 
 to the end of the curb rein, that hangs over 
 the fore-finger. First slip the whole of the 
 reins too long, then slip the left hand down 
 the reins, keeping the centre of the curb 
 rein fast in your right hand, and feeling with 
 your fingers whether both the curb reins 
 are of equal length or operation before you 
 grasp with the left hand or quit the right. 
 In like manner you shorten the bridoon or 
 snaffle, and lengthen the curb, first slipping 
 the whole too long, and then applying the 
 right hand to the rein you mean to shorten. 
 
 When any single rein wants shortening, 
 apply the right hand to that part which 
 hang's o^er the fore-finger, and draw it 
 tighter. A little observation and practice 
 will soon make you so perfectly acquainted 
 witli their situation, that you will find them 
 as readily in the dark as the light. A¥heq 
 the reins are separate, i. e. both hands occu- 
 pied by reins, and they want adjusting, you 
 bring the hands together to assist each other ; 
 1 remem- 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 57 
 
 remembering, the hand that supports the at- 
 titude or position the horse works in, which 
 is always what is termed the inner hand, is 
 not to depart fi'om its situation so as to occa- 
 sion any disorder, but rather bring the out- 
 ward hand to the imier, for the purpose of 
 adjusting them. 
 
 I now come to the operation of the Hand ; 
 perfection in which is the greatest attain- 
 ment in horsemanship, and the most diffi- 
 cult to describe. 
 
 And first, the Hand being connected to 
 the reins, the reins to the bit or bridoon, the 
 bit operating on the bars in the horse's mouth, 
 the bridoon or snaffle operating on the lip; 
 you cannot move the Hand, nor scarce a 
 finger, but the moutli is more or less affect- 
 ed thereby, according to circumstances, as 
 will appear hereafter : this is called the cor- 
 respondence. 
 
 There are many properties requisite tQ 
 constitute a good and masterly Hand. I 
 
 D 3 call 
 
38 ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 call that a masterlj^ Hand, which, being not 
 only well formed in itself by tuition, and rid- 
 ing well-dressed or manege horses, will make 
 the rude, untutored mouth partake of the 
 sensibility of the Hand, which, in other 
 terms, is dressing the horse : for, since the 
 best dressed horses, when rode by heavy, 
 insensible, or uninformed Hands, of neces- 
 sity^, depart from their excellence, and be- 
 come as heavy and stupid as the Hand that 
 rides them : so may the tutored Hand (not 
 of necessity) depart fi'om its properties, and 
 conform itself to the heaviness and stupidity 
 of the horse's mouth. Hence it frequently 
 happens that horses, which please their 
 owners very much at first, so alter in pro- 
 cess of time, from the bad riding of them- 
 selves, grooms, or stable-boj^s, that they are 
 under the necessity of parting with them ; 
 wiiile horses that are properly rode, improve 
 and please better. 
 
 Now, to conve}^ to mj readers, an idea 
 in what manner the Hand operates or cor- 
 responds to proper effect on the horse's 
 2 mouth. 
 
ON TOE HAWD, &C. 30 
 
 mouth, the pupil should be placed on a 
 horse, whose mouth is perfectly obedient 
 (but not too delicate), with a true and just 
 appiii; the reins being held in any of the 
 methods I have described ; the Hand plac- 
 ed, so that the end of the fingers are oppo- 
 site to the centre of the body, and about 
 the height of the elbow ; the reins collect- 
 ed to that determined length, that, bracing 
 the muscles of the Hand, would rein the 
 horse back, and the easing of them permit 
 the horse to advance freely. 
 
 If the Hand is held steady, as the horse 
 a,dvances in the trot, the fingers will feel, by 
 the contraction and dilatation of the reins, a 
 small sensation or tug, occasioned by the 
 measure or cadence of every step. This 
 sensation or tug, which is reciprocally felt in 
 the horse's mouth, by means of the corre- 
 spondence, is called the appui ; and while 
 this appui is preserved between the Hand 
 and mouth, the horse is in perfect obedience 
 to the rider, the Hand directing him with 
 the greatest ease^ so that the horse seems to 
 
 D 4 work 
 
40 0N THE HAND, &C. 
 
 work by the will of the rider, rather than 
 the compulsion of the Hand. 
 
 The Hand, for preserving a medium ef- 
 fect on the mouth, is to be only half shut ; 
 the knuckles next the wrist are to be nearly 
 open. By this means the Hand, without 
 moving, can give liberty or restriction, by 
 bracing the muscles, or opening and closing 
 the fingers. This is demonstrable by only . 
 placing a rein, piece of tape, or string in 
 your left hand, as directed. Rest the hand 
 on a table, and, with the other hand, stretch 
 the rein on the table as far as the liberty of 
 the left hand will admit; then place the 
 thumb of the right hand on the rein, and, 
 by closing the left hand, you will be able to 
 draw three inches of the rein from under the 
 right thumb. 
 
 This shews the Hand possesses a consi^ 
 derable power, independant of other aids or 
 assistances, more than sufficient to controul 
 or direct a horse that is termed broke or 
 obedient. 
 
 Now 
 
 
ON THE HAND, ScC. 41 
 
 Now the correspondence, as we term it, 
 when we speak of the effective communica- 
 tion between the Hand and mouth; the 
 appuiy when Ave speak of the quaUty or 
 strength of the operation in the mouth; the 
 support, when we speak of the effect the 
 Hand produces in the position or action, 
 are ahvays to be maintained in the manege, 
 or military riding, and all united paces; and 
 without w^hich a horse is under no immedi- 
 ate controul, as we find in the extended gal- 
 lop or full speed, where it may require a 
 hundred yards to pull your horse, together 
 before you can stop him. 
 
 The correspondence being comprehended, 
 the power and effect of the Hand, by prac- 
 tice, will soon be felt and discovered. For 
 instance; the H^and collectin"- the reins 
 supports the horse ; the legs press the action ; 
 the action, by a proper correspondence, y^^^- 
 AwQe^ \he appid ; the appid will be strong 
 or light, according to the action or position 
 the horse works in. If it is heavy, fi'om 
 the head being carried too low, and the 
 
 horse 
 
42^ ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 horse not sufficiently united, raise the Hand, 
 and let the fingers, by moving, rather in- 
 vite than compel the head to rise ; the legs, 
 at the same time, pressing the haunches 
 under; by this means the horse will become 
 more united, and the oppui will be light- 
 ened. Should the hand be too straight, or 
 confining to the horse, which it may be, 
 though it does not pull half an ounce, as 
 thus, 3^our collecting the reins to unite the 
 horse, and the horse freely uniting himself^ 
 becomes so balanced on his haunches, that 
 he cannot, while your hand supports him 
 thus, though you do not pull in the least at 
 him, disunite himself nor advance one step; 
 and, should you press him without yielding 
 or dropping your Hand, you would compel 
 him to rear. 
 
 By these two extremes I have pointed 
 out, first, where the horse is disunited ; and 
 last, where he is too much united. The 
 intermediate consequence and effect of the 
 Hand and heel must be acquired by prac- 
 tice. 
 
 Observe 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 43. 
 
 Observe the strength or degree of appui 
 (allowing for the different qualities of horses' 
 mouths : some being more lively and sus- 
 ceptible than others), depends on the rela- 
 tive situation of the hand, and position of 
 the horse; for the raising of your hand in*' 
 creases your power; and this, raising the 
 horse's head, diminishes his power. I can- ^ 
 not convey a more clear idea of this, than 
 presenting you with the following simile. 
 
 If a garter was placed across your fore* 
 head, and a person behind you had hold of 
 the two ends, held in a horizontal direction, 
 if you stood quite upright, you could not 
 pull at his hand, nor endure his hand to pull 
 at you, without running or falling back'^ 
 wards : this is the situation of a horse when 
 united. 
 
 Again, when you felt the hand severe, or 
 expected it to pull, you would guard against 
 the consequences by bending the body, pro- 
 jecting the head, and planting one foot be- 
 hind. This is the situation of the horse 
 
 when 
 
44 ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 when disunited, or defending himself against 
 the heaviness of the Hand. 
 
 Hence it appears, that a heavy insensible 
 Hand cannot unite a horse, because the 
 horse cannot bear its severity when united. 
 
 Thus heavy hands make hard-mouthed 
 horses. 
 
 As the situation of the Hand, in point of 
 elevation, so powerfully operates on the 
 mouth, that every quarter of an inch has a 
 perceptible effect ; so has the situation of 
 the Hand if carried to right or left. But, 
 to avoid moving the arm or hand as much 
 as possible, the motion of the wrist will 
 produce such positions of the Hand, as, 
 being accompanied by the corresponding 
 aids of the hodj, &c. will effect whatever 
 you require from a proper dressed horse. 
 
 Aids are certain positions of the Hand, 
 body, legs, and sometimes the switch or 
 whip which direct the horse agreeable to 
 your will ; the Hand being the principal : 
 
 the 
 
ON THE HAND, &Co 45 
 
 the othei's are called accompaniments, which 
 give greater power and efficacy to the Hand; 
 therefare, as I describe the position of the 
 Hand, I shall also describe the accom- 
 panying or coiTesponding aids of the body, 
 legs,.&c. 
 
 The first position of the Hand has been 
 sufficiently described already; it is the 
 thumb upwards, the little finger downwards, 
 so that you can just see the ends of the fin- 
 gers. The aids applied to this position of 
 the Hand, are such as effect the action and 
 position of the horse, as raising the head, 
 working the croup in, &c. which will be treat- 
 ed on in the lessons of Head and Croup to 
 the Wall. 
 
 The second position of the Hand directs 
 the horse to the right, for which purpose, 
 turn the little finger to the right, the 
 thumb to the left ; the nails upwards. 
 This position of the Hand will carry the 
 operation of the reins nearly three inches 
 more to the Tight, by which the left reins 
 
 will 
 
45 ON TIlE HAND, Sec* 
 
 will press the neck, and the right reins will 
 be slack. Horses properly broke obey this 
 pressure, and the pressure of the left rein 
 turns the horse to the right, and the right 
 rein directs him to the left. To give greater 
 efiicacy to this position of the Hand, the 
 body aids by turning to the right; and, if 
 necessary, likewise inclines. The right leg 
 aids the croup, by bending the knee and 
 pressing with the calf of the leg* 
 
 The third position of the Hand is the re- 
 verse of the second, consequently directs 
 the horse to the left; turn the little finger to 
 the left, the thumb to the right, the back of 
 the hand will be upwards. This will carr}^ the 
 operation of the reins to the left, the right 
 reins will press the neck, and the left reins will 
 be slack. The corresponding aid is turning 
 the body to the left and closing the left 
 
 Those aids, which I have so briefly de- 
 Scribed, and nearly to their full power and 
 effect, are only to be proportionately appli- 
 ed, according to the effect you mesm to pro- 
 duce. 
 
ON THE HAND, kc, 47 
 
 duce. The greatest exactness, uniformit}^, 
 and delicacy is required in the execution. 
 
 To give an idea of this, conceive a circle 
 (we will say) of thirty yards diameter, and 
 the number of circles that can be described 
 within so large a circumference, so many de- 
 grees of operation these aids have to per- 
 form; even in the centre, these aids, judici- 
 ously managed, can turn the horse on three 
 distinct and seipoxaie pivots : first, on his 
 center, by which I mean that point directly 
 under the seat of the horseman, in which 
 the fore-feet take place of the hind, and the 
 hind of the fore. Secondly; on the fore- 
 feet, in which the fore-feet keep their ground, 
 and the hind feet move round them. Last- 
 ly, on the hind feet, which keep the centre, 
 while the fore-feet describe the circle. 
 
 In working a horse upon a circle of thirty 
 yards diameter, the delicacy of these aids 
 are not perceivable ; and yet, if there were 
 none, the horse would certainly work on a 
 straight line. This shews how susceptible 
 
 and 
 
48 ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 and obedient a horse's mouth is, to be direct* 
 ed by the most imperceptible touch; for 
 while a proper correspondence is maintain- 
 ed, and the appui delicate and true, a hair's 
 breadth alteration of your position, compa- 
 ratively speaking, will affect the horse's 
 mouth. 
 
 Since the delicacy of the aids are such 
 that the eye cannot perceive, it must be ex- 
 ceeding difficult to describe ; but, by an at- 
 tentive observation, I fmd the proportionate 
 degree of aids proceeds from, and is direct- 
 ed by, the eye ; as thus : the eye traverses 
 about three or four yards before the horse on 
 the ground you intend to go over ; the body 
 presents itself to the direction of the eye, 
 and the Hand, in its proper situation, being 
 a part of the body, moves with it: the 
 Hand being moved off the line, though but 
 half an inch, directs the horse off the line in 
 that proportionate degree. The more the 
 circles are contracted, the eye, of course, in 
 traversing the ground, will be the more di- 
 rected to the Hand you are working to, and, 
 
 conse- 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 49 
 
 consequently, the body and Hand, present- 
 ing themsehes to that direction, is the pro- 
 portionate degree of aid required ; the Hand, 
 being ever attentive to the obedience of the 
 horse, takes the proportionate degree of po- 
 sition, and strength of appui ; as does hke- 
 wise the leg to effect its object. Thus the 
 harmony of the aids are such, that, what- 
 ever the mind determines, the eye is direct- 
 ed to ; and the whole, like a piece of ma- 
 chinery, are moved at the same instant to 
 that object. 
 
 The proportionate degree of aids, with 
 their harmony for circling to right and left, 
 I think, may be clearly comprehended, and 
 practice will certainty give them efficacy. 
 I now come to the wheeling or turning of 
 your horse on his own ground, on the three 
 pivots : the two first are in continual use in 
 the army : the first, by the centi-e man of 
 three ; and the second, by the standing flank 
 man in all wheels ; the third is rarely want- 
 ed, but should be practised, to give you a 
 
 VOL. I. E thorough 
 
50 ON THE HAND, &C, 
 
 thorough knowledge of the power and effi- 
 cacy of your Hand and heel. 
 
 It is to be particularly observed, that the 
 aids of the Hand direct all before the horse- 
 man, and the aids of the heel all behind 
 him : hence, in wheeling on the centres, the 
 Hand and heel operate together — the Hand, 
 by the position already described, leading 
 the shoulders round — the leg at the same 
 time directing the croup, which represents, 
 the two ends of a laver moving on its centre. 
 Hence, in going about, the fore-feet describe 
 half a circle, and the hind feet another half 
 circle ; by which means the fore and hind 
 feet change situations. 
 
 The great attention of the Hand is to 
 support that degree of appid that will carry 
 its aids into effect, and not suifer the horse 
 tq move off his ground : for if the appui is 
 too weak, the horse will advance over his 
 ground, and, if too strong, he will retire from 
 his ground. 
 
 Whether 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 51 
 
 Whether j^ou wheel to the right or left, 
 let the aids of the Hand, body, and leg, ex- 
 actly correspond, and practise as much to 
 the one hand as the other. I advise to prac- 
 tise slowly at first: a proper restriction in 
 the fingers, and less aid will be required; but 
 when you turn quick, the aids must be pro- 
 portionably stronger. 
 
 JRemember, as the horse arrives at the 
 situation you intend him to halt, whether it 
 is a wheel, which is a quarter circle ; about, 
 which is half a circle ; or about and about, 
 which is a whole circle; the Hand, body, 
 and leg, must resume its proper straight po- 
 sition; the Hand dropped, and the finger^ 
 eased, that the horse may stand quiet. 
 
 In wheeling the horse on his fore-feet, the 
 Hand has to support and confine the fore- 
 part, while the heel directs the croup round. 
 The aiding with the leg will induce the 
 horse to advance, if a proper restriction be 
 not put in the fingers ; and the moving one 
 
 E 2 end 
 
52 ON THE HAND, Scc, 
 
 end of the laver will shift the other, if not 
 properly confined. 
 
 Thus, then, the Hand, not meaning the 
 shoulders to move, keeps its proper centrical 
 situation, putting so much restriction in the 
 fingers as is necessar}' to prevent the horse 
 from advancing, Avhile the leg, by a propor- 
 tionate strength of aid or pressure, directs 
 the croup round. The further attention of 
 the Hand is to correct any propensity of the 
 shoulders to move, and that in the most de- 
 licate manner, lest you create a greater dis- 
 order than you meant to prevent. 
 
 The wheeling a horse on his hind feet, is 
 bv far more difficult than the preceding; 
 because, as I have obsened, the moving 
 one end of the laver is likelv to shift the 
 other. 
 
 Now, the Hand possessing a greater power 
 than the heel, if it acts too precipitate or 
 confining, it will force the croup off its 
 ground ; therefore the Hand must act with 
 
 the 
 
ox THE HAXD, icc. 55 
 
 the 21^'eatest caution and delicacv, allowing 
 sufficient scope for the shoulders, not to force 
 the croup to shift. Both lesrs are to be at- 
 tenti^e to the croup : the inner leg-, which 
 is that to which hand vou are tuminsr the 
 horse, is to be placed back, but not to touch, 
 lest you should throw the croup out; and 
 the outer leg must be ready to stay the 
 croup, if it has sTich a propensity. 
 
 The passive obedience and submission of 
 the horse to these nice restrictions of the 
 Hand and heel, is not to be expected from 
 those who have not been properly broke ; 
 and these, if not sometimes practised to 
 them, will shew a reluctance to obey; in 
 which case (as I have obsened, two hands 
 can do more than one), you take the assist- 
 ance of the other hand ; for, though the de- 
 licacy of the performance is interrupted, the 
 obedience must be compelled. The hand 
 to which vou would turn is the hand vou 
 must take the bridoon in, and you take as 
 much assistance from that hand as you tind 
 necessary. Should resistance require a 
 
 E 3 poweiliil 
 
54 ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 powerful operation from this Hand, ol)serve, 
 your power to compel the horse to turn in- 
 creases in proportion as the Hand is detach- 
 ed from the body ; so that, when you pull in 
 the direction from the horse's mouth to the, 
 horse's croup, your power is immensely 
 greater than when you pull in a line to the 
 centre of your body. The assistance of the 
 right heel with the right hand, and the left 
 heel with the left hand, must proportionably 
 be given. Thus, being possessed of power, 
 your discretion must direct you to the use 
 'of it. 
 
 The fourth aid, or operation of the Hand, 
 requires the horse to rein back. Little or no 
 alteration from the first position is necessary 
 to effect this : the reins being properly ad- 
 justed, the stiffening of the muscles and 
 pressure of the fmgers are generally suffici- 
 ent for proper dressed horses. To give 
 greater efiicac}^, turn the knuckles a little 
 down, and draw in the belly: the body 
 should, if any, rather incline forward, which 
 gives the Hand a greater effect, without pro- 
 voking 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 55 
 
 vokinsr the horse to rear; a circumstance 
 that miffht occur with horses who do not 
 readily obey the Hand, particularly if you 
 leaned back to give power to the Hand; 
 and then you might be in some danger, be- 
 cause the body is not in a situation to act as 
 the circumstance requires. 
 
 This must be particularly attended to, 
 because, if you attempt to compel the 
 horse back by the power or weight of the 
 body, and he should rear, which is to be 
 more expected than not, the body cannot 
 be brought forward, and you hang on by 
 the bridle ; and, should you happen to have 
 the preponder-ance, you pull the horse back- 
 w ards on yourself 
 
 The operation of the Hand in reining 
 back, is a kind of invitation. Should the 
 horse not readily obey, play with the mouth 
 by moving the lingers ; this will induce the 
 horse to raise his head; gentl}^ close your 
 legs, to make him unite, and then the pressure 
 of the fingers will constrain him backward. 
 
 E 4 The 
 
56 'on the hand, &c. 
 
 The instant the horse is constrained to back, 
 the body, if in a proper position, will incline 
 forward, and the fingers must be eased. A 
 horse that is properly broke, obej^s the light- 
 est pressure of the fingers, and backs without 
 throwing himself off his balance ; but the 
 horse that is constrained to back, is over- 
 balanced; and, if the body did not come 
 forv/ard, or the Hand relin(|uish its severity, 
 he must back till he fell : therefore, the in- 
 stant the horse jdelds to the Hand, the body 
 and Hand yield to the horse, that he may 
 recover his balance and the little alarm oc- 
 casioned thereby ; and then gently invite or 
 press him to back again. I am now speak- 
 ing of horses that reluctantly back : those 
 that obstinately defend themselves against 
 the Hand, cannot be said to be broke ; and 
 the method of compelling or teaching them 
 to back will be noticed in its proper place. 
 
 In reining back, the Hand must preserve 
 its centrical situation, so that it may not 
 compel the croup to traverse off the line. 
 For instance, if the Hand is from the centre 
 
 to 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 57 
 
 to the left, the croup will traverse to the 
 right ; and if to the right, the croup will 
 traverse to the left; but, with the greatest 
 exactness of the Hand, some horses' croups 
 will traverse, and require the particular at- 
 tention of the heel to support and direct 
 them on the line. The Hand and heel are 
 always to support and assist each other — as 
 thus : should the croup traverse (we will sup- 
 pose) to the right, you must, of course, lay 
 the right leg on ; then to give assistance or 
 co-operation with the heel, carry the Hand 
 a little to the right ; but this must be done 
 with the greatest delicacy, lest you should 
 throw the croup too much to the left, and 
 reverse the disorder instead of correcting it. 
 
 It is to be observed, in reining back, the 
 Hand and the heel change their functions ; 
 that is, the Hand compelling the action, 
 and the heel directing it. 
 
 Practising yourself to rein back is very 
 necessary; but then it must be done with 
 
 mildness 
 
58 ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 mildness and temper, and not continued too 
 long to fatigue or tire the horse's patience : 
 and, since the heel directs the croup, ^^ hat- 
 ever the mind determines on, whether a 
 line or a curve, or to any particular situa- 
 tion, that 3^ou must aim to execute, or prac- 
 tise, till you can. 
 
 Having gone through the different posi- 
 tions to oive efficacy when wanted, without 
 moving the arm, there are still remaining 
 many properties and excellencies, several 
 of which must be obtained b}^ observation 
 and practice, words not being capable of 
 conveying an adequate idea of them. 
 
 The first I shall observe is, the Hand 
 must have a determined]^firmness; by which 
 I mean, it is not to yield to the solicitation 
 or craving of the horse to get the ascendency 
 of the Hand. I call that the ascendency 
 of the Hand, when the horse abandons that 
 delicate correspondence which produces the 
 appui, and keeps him under the strictest obe- 
 dience. 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 59 
 
 dience, to loll a dull or insensible pull on the 
 Hand. And horses, though they have been 
 ever so well broke, after being rode a few 
 times by an untutored Hand, will fall into 
 this stupidity, if permitted. 
 
 Now, to frustrate the little efforts of the 
 horse to obtain his purpose, keep the Hand 
 firm, and the fingers braced, by w hich the 
 operation of the Hand becomes severe, and 
 is a proper rebuke. Should the horse disre- 
 gard this, and plant his head low, to endure 
 the severity of the Hand, the Hand mis': 
 act by moving the fingers, shaking the reins, 
 playing with the bridoon rein. Sec. to raise 
 the head, and divert him from his purpose; 
 and lastly, the correction of the Hand, which 
 must be given severe, if necessary, to deter 
 him from further attempts. The correction 
 of the Hand is thus given : first, yield the 
 Hand, that the reins become slack; then 
 give them a smart or violent snatch in an 
 upward direction, which will make the horse 
 raise his head ; and the apprehension of your 
 
 repeating 
 
60 ON THE Hand, &c. 
 
 repeating it will deter him from putting it 
 down again. 
 
 Though the Hand is to be firm and deter- 
 mined, to enforce a due submission and obe- 
 dience, yet it must be soft, pliant, gentle, and 
 accommodating' to the horse while he is unit- 
 ed and chearfuilv obedient thereto. Hence 
 the Hand must be sensible and discriminat- 
 ing whether the horse wishes to disengage 
 himself from the restrictions of the Hand, 
 or whether he wants a momentary liberty 
 for his accommodation and ease. For in- 
 stance, he will remove your Hand if he 
 w^ants to cough ; he will move his head if 
 crampt by too long confinement, or to dis- 
 lodge a fly, and the like. Now, the rider 
 discovering the cause of such removal, will 
 not correct (unless the horse, presuming on 
 vour compliance, takes too much liberty) 
 but rather allow a reasonable accommoda- 
 tion, and be light and pleasant while the 
 horse is united and obedient. 
 
 Besides 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 61 
 
 Besides the properties alread}^ meiitioned, 
 there is an animating, enhvening quahty in 
 the Hand, which communicates itself to the 
 horse, and equally animates and enlivens 
 him. This is by a delicate collecting of the 
 reins to unite the horse, an enlivening sen- 
 sation in the muscles of the hand, and whole 
 body, and a trembling sensation of the fin- 
 gers, which rouses the horse, and seems 
 to put him in a state of suspence or expec- 
 tation. 
 
 Another excellence of the Hand is, a de- 
 licate susceptible feeling; for some horses' 
 mouths, when united to the extreme, as in 
 piaffs and pesades, are so exquisitely light 
 and delicate, that the appui would not break 
 the finest hair; the Hand, consequently, 
 must possess the same exquisite degree of 
 sensibility and delicacy. 
 
 There is also a refreshing quality in the 
 fingers, which will ease the mouth (without 
 abandoning the support), when, by a too 
 long continuance of one degree of action, 
 
 the 
 
62 ON THE HAND, 8cC. 
 
 the mouth or bars, becomes numbed or in- 
 sensible. This is by playing, as it were, 
 with the mouth, opening and shutting the 
 fingers wholly or in part; for, as I have ob- 
 served, you cannot move a finger but you 
 affect the mouth. Thus, if you open the 
 little finger, you will relax the left rein ; that 
 will refresh and cool the left bar in the 
 horse's mouth. Again, shut the little fin- 
 ger, and open the fingers above, and you 
 will relax the right rein, and refresh the 
 right bar. Play with the fingers together, 
 and you will quicken and rouse the feeling 
 of both bars; and by thus feeling and play- 
 ing with the mouth, you prevent it from 
 becoming dull, or abandoning itself on the 
 Hand. 
 
 Now, having given as clear a description 
 of the Hand (as my contracted abilities as 
 a writer will admit), I have only to fear, 
 that many will disregard the greatest part as 
 useless, particularly those who have habitu- 
 ated themselves to a different mode; not 
 that I insist upon the delicacies of the Hand, 
 
 being 
 
ON THE HAND, &C. 63 
 
 being strictly observed in common riding. 
 Business and pleasure are different descrip- 
 tions of riding from study and improve- 
 ment, either of yourself or horse ; but I do 
 not account him a good horseman, though 
 he sit ever so firm on his horse, who has not, 
 at least, a partial knowledge of the power 
 and effects of the Hand. For no person 
 can alter or improve his horse's mouth be- 
 yond the capacity of his own Hand. Hence, 
 if your Hand is bad, you can never make 
 your horse's mouth good ; and if your horse's 
 mouth is good, you will soon reduce it to a 
 level with your Hand. 
 
 So that horses' mouths, like musical in- 
 struments, when roughly handled, are soon 
 put out of tune, and require the masterly 
 touches of a professor to put them to rights. 
 
 Hence, ladies' horses, whose mouths are 
 made light and obedient, if they have not 
 sufficient skill to keep them so, and wish to 
 ride safely and pleasantly, should have them 
 occasionally rode by a master, and not to 
 
 suppose 
 
64 ON THE HAND, &C. 
 
 suppose their grooms equal to that busi- 
 ness. 
 
 Not that I would depreciate the abihties 
 of some of them : there is no doubt, many 
 ride very well ; but I must be satisfied of 
 his abilities as a rider, as well as a groom, be- 
 fore I can recommend him to such a task. 
 
 ON 
 
65 
 
 ON 
 
 AIDS, CORRECTIONS, ANIMATIONS, 
 
 Being necessitated to give a description 
 of the Aids as they accompany the hand, I 
 have but httle to add in this place. Aids 
 are the indication of the horseman's will to 
 the horse, and are so called, because they 
 not only require but assist the horse to exe- 
 cute, at the same time they check or ol> 
 struct him from acting contrary. Now, the 
 positions of the body and legs, when thejT 
 deviate from the fundamental seat, as laid, 
 down, for the purpose of giving effect and 
 assistance to the hands, are Aids ; but when, 
 for the purpose of preserving the balance, or 
 maintaining the seat, they are necessary va- 
 riations of the seat, and will be found as 
 many as the positions the horse can work in : 
 in most instances they contribute to assist 
 both hand and seat. 
 
 VOL. I. F The 
 
66 ON AIDS, &C. 
 
 The Aids of the legs have their progres- 
 sive strength and effect, and are thus given: 
 the leg being brought nearer the side, is the 
 first degree, or lightest Aid ; placing the leg 
 further back, with the toe turned out, is the 
 next; the lightest possible touch with the 
 calf of the leg, is the third ; and so on, in- 
 creasing the degree of pressure, according 
 to the strength of Aid required, with the 
 toe kept up firm, that the muscles of the leg 
 may be hard and operative. The strongest 
 Aid is the scratch, which is thus given ; — 
 when the leg is laid on hard without effect, 
 drop the toe ; and if the spur is placed in a 
 horseman-like manner on the heel, the rowel 
 of the spur will thereby pinch or scratch the 
 horse's side. To this succeeds a correction, 
 by giving the spur sharply. 
 
 Aids with the whip are sometimes used to 
 give greater effect to the heel. These are 
 gentle taps with the whip on the hind quar- 
 ters, and sometimes on the shoulders : when 
 given on the near side, the hand is applied 
 behind the back, with the whip held by the 
 
 fingers 
 
ON AIDS, &C. 67 
 
 fingers as you would a pen, with the lash 
 downwards ; or crossing the bridle-hand be- 
 fore, the whip held with the lash upwards. 
 When the Aids are properly displayed, 
 they discover the taste and judgment of 
 the horseman, ^nd have a pleasing appear- 
 ance. 
 
 Corrections are given by the hand, as has 
 been observed when treating on that subject ; 
 they are likewise given by the whip and 
 spurs. The use we make of the whip and 
 spurs, in common, to quicken and animate a 
 horse, we do not call Corrections, though 
 sometimes given with a degree of severity ; 
 but when Correction is given, it should be 
 for vice or obstinate disobedience, and at 
 such time, and in such manner, that the 
 horse may be sensible for what ; and with 
 the intent to deter him from the like a- 
 gain. 
 
 For instance, should your horse kick at 
 the application of the whip to his flank or 
 quarter, you must, at the instant, apply the 
 
 F 2 Correction 
 
68 ON AIDS, &c. 
 
 Correction as smart and determined as pos* 
 ^ble; and repeat it sharper, if possible, 
 should he kick at that. By this the horse 
 is made sensible of his fault, and is punish- 
 ed for it ; and without such punishment the 
 lorse might be ignorant of doing amiss. 
 
 For if we wish to draw a croupade or bo- 
 latade from a horse, we use a similar method 
 of Aiding on the croup to provoke and irri- 
 tate him to raise it; for which we caress 
 him, to let him know it was what we de- 
 sired. 
 
 Horses that have been properly broke, 
 seldom want Correction; and, indeed, the 
 less Correction in breaking, the better ; for 
 many horses have been spoiled and drove to 
 resistance by an ignorant, injudicious, and 
 brutal application of the whip and spurs. 
 Nevertheless, there are certain occasions for 
 Correction, and Avhich, properly applied, 
 has the desired effect. 
 
 It 
 
 2 
 
ON AIDS, &C. 69 
 
 It would be foreign to my intention, in 
 this place, to point out when to Correct. I 
 shall, on certain occasions hereafter, men- 
 tion where I think it necessary ; but, in ge- 
 neral, the judgment and discretion of the 
 rider must determine on that. This, I can 
 say, is my practice ; that when I apply the 
 whip or spurs, twice or three times sharply 
 to restive horses, without effect, I desist, 
 and try other methods ; for, if whipping or 
 spurring would subdue a horse, they need 
 not be brought to me, 
 
 There are brutes who would whip a horse 
 to death, if that would avail ; but horses, 
 when determined not to yield to the whip 
 or spur, will die rather than submit. 
 
 The method of applying the spurs for 
 Correction, is to drop the toe a little, that 
 the spur, when you apply the legs, may be 
 given full. And that they may be given 
 in the most determined manner, take the 
 legs from the sides, that the force may be 
 the greater, making the calves of the legs 
 
 f3 to 
 
70 ON AIDS, &C. 
 
 to clap with as much noise as you can 
 against the horse's sides. This frequently 
 alarms, and effects more than the smart of 
 the spurs. 
 
 In like manner, when you Con-ect with 
 the whip, give it with determined strength ; 
 for which purpose, let the lash be upwards, 
 lift the arm high, and apply it behind the 
 girths, round the belly. Be mindful, if 
 you have a long whip, you do not cut your 
 own thigh on the near side. Sometimes 
 Correction is given forward, over the should 
 ders, between the fore-legs. 
 
 It is strange, yet nevertheless true, that 
 some horses will disregard the whip, but 
 will fly at the spurs; others disregard the 
 spurs, and are terrified at the whip : you 
 consequently will apply that which is most 
 likely to produce the desired effect. 
 
 Animations are requisitions of more exer- 
 tion, life, and spirit, and proceed from the 
 hand, the legs, the whip, and the tongue. 
 
 The 
 
ON AIDS, &C. 71 
 
 The first I described as one of the properties 
 of the hand. Animations of the legs are, 
 an apphcation of them to the horse's sides, 
 to produce more action — Animations of the 
 whip are, mild taps, to quicken the horse ; 
 or, if the lash is upwards, switching it in 
 the air. It has a pleasing appearance, as 
 well as effect, if not too often repeated, or 
 continued too long. — The Animation of the 
 legs and whip, are menaces which indicate 
 a punishment, if not attended to. 
 
 The Animations of the tongue operate by 
 surprise ; it is a sound which all the letters 
 in the English alphabet cannot express, and 
 is produced by placing the tongue against 
 the roof of the mouth, and drawing the air 
 between it. 
 
 This noise is better known to the genera- 
 lity of people than I can describe ; it is the 
 most animating sound to the horse the tongue 
 can express ; and, when judiciously applied, 
 has its proper effect ; but if too much con- 
 tinued, or too frequent, its design is done 
 
 F 4 away, 
 
72 ON AIDS, &c. 
 
 away, for it no longer alarms or surprises. 
 Hence, you may alternately use your Ani- 
 mations to keep up an effect ; and, with slug- 
 gish horses, you may be necessitated to use 
 the whip and spurs. 
 
 Soothing are the reverse of Animations, 
 and are used to pacify horses that are alarm- 
 ed, frightened, or have too much fire or 
 animation in their constitutions. Of all the 
 means we use in dressing of horses, Sooth- 
 ings and caresses are the most salutary, and 
 from which no harm can accrue. These 
 dispel their fears and apprehensions ; recon- 
 cile them to new operations ; give them con- 
 fidence in their master ; open their under- 
 standing to comprehend his lessons; and 
 make them delight in instruction. The 
 voice Sooths by the mildest and softest ex- 
 pressions, such as — So, so, so, so! — poor 
 fellow ! — and the like. The hand, by gen- 
 tle patting, stroaking, &c. The body and 
 legs, b}^ a stillness, and relmquishment of all 
 unnecessary firmness ; sitting easy, and not 
 moving a muscle ; by which it vv ill appear, 
 
 that 
 
ON AIDS, &C. 73 
 
 that a horseman (at least those who under- 
 take the dressing or breaking of horses) 
 should have a perfect command of temper, 
 that the heat or disposition of the horse may 
 not irritate and provoke them to anger ; of 
 invincible patience and perseverance, to 
 make the horse comprehend and perform ; 
 for, being deficient of speech, you have 
 some difficulty to make him understand 
 you ; and if you desire what he is not ac- 
 customed to, you cannot be surprised at his 
 expressing a reluctance to perform. Mild- 
 ness and perseverance will overcome all dif- 
 ficulties : demand but a little the first time, 
 and you will be more readily obeyed the 
 next; and increase your demands as the 
 horse becomes accustomed, and has temper 
 to submit to it. 
 
 ON 
 
74 
 
 ON NATURAL PA CES. 
 
 THE WALK. 
 
 The Natural Paces of a horse are the 
 Walk, the Trot, and the Gallop, which are 
 so well known to the generality of people, 
 that many may think they require no expla- 
 nation ; but perfection, or imperfection, is at- 
 tached to every performance, in men as well 
 as horses. Observe the gait of some men ; 
 how awkward and unseemly they walk ! 
 See the improvement of the recruit, who 
 has come from the plough-tail, after a few 
 months tuition from the drill-serjeant ! And 
 this shews that the very actions we perform, 
 both by nature and habit, may be greatly im- 
 proved by our attention and practice. Not 
 that all can arrive at the same degree of ex- 
 cellence. Providence, for wise purposes, no 
 doubt, has ordered it otherwise. Hence we 
 fmd. Nature has been liberal in one gift; 
 
 sparing 
 
ON THE WALK, 75 
 
 Sparing in another. Some possess a medio- 
 crity in most things ; but perfection we can 
 never find in one, 
 
 I am now to point out what we desire 
 and wish to attain in the above Paces : and, 
 firstf of the Walk, which is the most lan- 
 guid, and performed with less exertion than 
 the other Paces. The Paces and airs of 
 the horse are all distinguished by the action 
 of the legs ; the beats of the feet, which 
 mark a sharp, flat, slow, quick, or rapid 
 time. The action of the Walk is the alter- 
 nate motion of the legs, marking four dis- 
 tinct beats, as, each foot in rotation com- 
 ing to the ground in the following or- 
 der. 
 
 Viz. the off fore-foot, leading first, marks 
 one ; the near hind-foot, two ; the near fore- 
 foot, three; and the off hind-foot, four. 
 Though the feet follow each other quick, 
 yet the languor of the action makes the beats 
 flat ; this being the action and time of the 
 Walk. The excellence consists in that de- 
 
 gree 
 
76 ON THE WALK. 
 
 gree of union which supports the horse*s 
 head, and raises his foot without shortening 
 or retarding the step; and that degree of 
 animation, also, which quicken the step, 
 and sharpens the beats, without falsifying 
 the time, or altering the action. Therefore, 
 the perfection of the Walk is, an animated, 
 quick step; putting the foot flat to the 
 ground, measuring exact distances^ and 
 marking a regular and tx^ue time. 
 
 No horse can perform well without the 
 permission or assistance of the rider. In 
 this case, for instance, if the head is not 
 supported, the horse not only carries him- 
 self slovenly, but does not raise the foot 
 sufficiently to put it out flat; therefore shor- 
 tens his step, and is liable to touch with his 
 toe. On the other hand, if the head is sup- 
 ported too high, the horse cannot put his 
 foot out, and the step will be shortened and 
 retarded. Should you animate the horse 
 to quicken his step, or put out his foot in 
 this situation, he would break time, and go 
 into the trot. So that whatever qualities or 
 
 perfections 
 
ON THE TROT. 77 
 
 perfections a horse may have, he cannot 
 display them to advantage, without (at 
 least) the permission of his rider. 
 
 ON THE TROT. 
 
 The Trot is a more animated pace, pro- 
 ceeding from the walk ; for when you ani- 
 mate the horse too nmch, or urge him to 
 walk faster than he can progressively move 
 one leg after the other, you oblige him to 
 lake up two at a time. 
 
 Viz. the off fore-foot, and the near hind- 
 foot, which mark one beat ; and the near 
 fore-foot, and the off hind-foot, which mark 
 another beat ; so that the action of the Trot 
 is two legs crosswise off the ground, and 
 two legs on ; which, in their alternate change 
 of situation, mark the time of one, two : — 
 and as the action is animated, the beats are 
 sharp, and quick, in proportion to the de- 
 gree of animation and extension. 
 
 This 
 
7S ON THE TROT. 
 
 This pace is the foundation of excellence 
 in all others; by its alternate action you 
 supple and work every joint in the whole 
 structure, — the shoulders, the elbow, the 
 knee, the loins, the haunches, the houghs. 
 You raise the head, the foot, and make the 
 mouth ; without which advantages the horse's 
 faculties are confined, and all his actions 
 awkward, stiff, and uneven. 
 
 The perfection of the Trot consists, first, 
 in its suppleness, which gives the horse a 
 free use and extension of his limbs, either 
 on straight lines or circles; next in the 
 union, by which the labour is more equally 
 distributed; for a little observation points 
 out, that the horse's fore-legs have a greater 
 portion to sustain than the hind, especially 
 when the horse is disunited, or, what is term- 
 ed, on the shoulders. Hence the fore-legs 
 give out before the hind ; next the action, 
 which should be true and equal (by which I 
 mean, that the liberty of the fore-quarters 
 are not to exceed the hind, nor the hind the 
 fore, which occasions the one to distress the 
 
 other) ; 
 
ON THE TROT. 79 
 
 other); the knee up, the haunches bent, 
 springy and pUant, the step measuring exact 
 and true distances, marking a regular time 
 of one, two ; atid, as I observed above, the 
 measure of the time depends on the anima- 
 tion, restriction, or rapidity of the action. 
 By the quahties here described, the horse is 
 capacitated to work freely to right or left, on 
 circles, without falsifying his step, or break- 
 ing his time. 
 
 In the Trot, the horse leads with a foot, 
 either right or left, the same as in the gal- 
 lop, by which the leading side is a little 
 more advanced than the other. This nice 
 discrimination is only known or observed by 
 those much acquainted with horses : the sup- 
 pling to both hands, capacitates him to work 
 to the one hand as well as the other ; and 
 horses that have not been so suppled, if 
 chance or fatigue make them change their 
 leg to that they are not accustomed to, their 
 action is irregular, stiff, confined, and un- 
 pleasant ; which, I dare say, many of my 
 readers have observed. 
 
 5 ON 
 
80 ON THE GALLOP, 
 
 ON THE GALLOP. 
 
 The Gallop is a pace of still higher atni- 
 mation, and more exertion than the trot, 
 and, in like manner, proceeds from the trot, 
 as the trot does from the walk; for when 
 you press your horse in the trot beyond his 
 capacitv, or animate him with the legs while 
 you retain him with the hand, you compel 
 him to raise his two fore-legs after each 
 other, which commences the action of the 
 Gallop. 
 
 The action of the Gallop is in the follow- 
 ing order : when leading with the right leg — 
 The near fore-foot is first raised from the 
 ground, then the off fore-foot. These com- 
 ing to the ground in the same order, the 
 near fore-foot marks one beat, or time ; the 
 off fore-foot, passing the other, while both 
 are in the air, come to the ground more for- 
 ward, and is the leading foot, which marks 
 the second beat ; the hind teet follow in like 
 manner, the near hind-foot marking a third 
 
 beat ; 
 
ON THE GALLOP. 81 
 
 beat ; and the off hind-foot, passing, comes 
 to the ground more forward, and marks a 
 fourth beat ; so that the action of the Gal- 
 lop is the two fore-legs leading close after 
 each other, and the hind-legs immediately 
 following in like order; which, when united 
 and true, mark a regular, sharp, and quick 
 time, of one, two, three, four. 
 
 The perfection of the Gallop consists in 
 the suppleness of she limbs, the union of 
 the horse, the justness of the action, and 
 the regularity of the time. 
 
 The Gallop is not true when the horse's 
 legs do not follow or accompany each other 
 in the order described : that is, when he leads 
 with the right foot before, and the left foot 
 behind ; or, with the left foot before, and the 
 right foot behind. Likewise, a horse is said 
 to be false, if, in Galloping to the left, he 
 leads with the right foot; also, if Galloping 
 to the right, he leads with the left foot. For 
 though his feet follow in exact order, and 
 the Gallop would be just, if on a straight 
 
 VOL, L G hne. 
 
 
82 ON THE GALLOP. 
 
 line, yet, on circles, or round, sharp turn- 
 ings, the leading foot must be that to which 
 he is going. For the horse is not secure 
 on his legs in these situations, unless the 
 haunches are united, and the croup in : 
 that is, the hind feet describe a circle, some- 
 thing less than the fore-feet, which secures 
 his balance while he bends on the circle, 
 and prevents his bending so much as he 
 otherwise would be necessitated to do, and 
 which endangers his feet slipping from under 
 him. 
 
 This shews the necessity of a horse's being 
 suppled, and accustomed to change and Gal- 
 lop with either leg ; for then, if the rider is 
 inattentive, when the horse finds himself in- 
 secure, he can readily change, and will, of 
 his own accord ; but horses that have not 
 been suppled and united, cannot change 
 without a great risque of falling. 
 
 The Gallop, when disunited as also when 
 extended to speed, though the horse is sup- 
 ple and just on his legs, loses its harmony 
 
 and 
 
ON THE GALLOP. 83 
 
 and regularity of time. For, in these cases, 
 the fore-legs measure less space from each 
 other; as also the hind-legs, which make 
 the beats quicker in each, and leave a space 
 between the beats of the fore-legs, and the 
 beats of the hind. In these Gallops it would 
 be highly imprudent to circle, or turn, but 
 on a very large scale. 
 
 g2 on 
 
 / 
 
84 
 
 ON THE STOP. 
 
 To Stop, according to the literal meaning 
 of the word, which every one understands, 
 is to halt, to proceed no farther. This, the 
 generality of horses and horsemen are not 
 equal to perform at the word, and are there- 
 fore content by a gradual cessation of ani- 
 mation and action to effect their purpose in 
 an uncertain distance ; depending on the de- 
 gree of animation and speed, disunion of 
 the horse, or inefficacy of the rider's hand, 
 which may take the space of from one to 
 one hundred yards. 
 
 The utility of the Stop is incalculable : 
 in the army, particularly, their discipline 
 and strength depends on the horses and men 
 being well trained to the Stop. In the ma- 
 nege it is beautiful in effect ; shews the great 
 superiority of the rider's hand over the horse ; 
 thereby gives him confidence, confirms the 
 horse in obedience, unites him, supples the 
 
 haunches. 
 
ON THE STOP. 85 
 
 haunches, and bends the houghs; yet, 
 though its effects are beautiful and salutary, 
 mischief may occur from a too frequent or 
 injudicious practice of it. For, should you 
 act too powerfully on a horse weak behind, 
 or in his loins ; you may spring his sinews, 
 or sprain his back, or hurt his kidneys. 
 Hence, discretion is necessary ; and I hope 
 this caution will be attended to. 
 
 The Stop, in horsemanship, is an instan- 
 taneous prevention of action at the height 
 of animation, without the least previous no- 
 tice or indication given, whereby the horse 
 may be aware of your intent ; otherwise the 
 effect and intention would be lost. The per- 
 fection of the Stop consists in the action 
 ceasing at the finish of a cadence, without 
 breaking the previous time ; the horse being 
 so balanced on his haunches, and the ani- 
 mation still alive, that, with liberty given, 
 the horse can advance with the same rapi- 
 dity as before. If this is not the case, the 
 rider suffers the horse to disunite himself 
 
 G 3 without 
 
86 ON THE STOP. 
 
 without moving ofF his ground, and the ani- 
 mation subsides. 
 
 The Stop is performed by the rider put- 
 ting a proportionate strength in the muscles 
 of the hand, bracing his arms to his body, 
 closing the calves of his legs, and throwing 
 the body back. But all this must be done 
 at one and the same instant, making but 
 one motion ; and the time must be seized 
 when the first part of the cadence is coming 
 to the ground ; so that the finish of that ca- 
 dence completes the Stop. If this time is 
 not seized by the horseman, the cadence 
 will be broken, and the Stop irregular. 
 Likewise, if the rider omits to close his 
 legs, the horse may not bring his haunches 
 under, consequently the Stop will be on the 
 shoulders, and spoil the effect. 
 
 The first cadence in the trot is the two 
 feet that lead, and mark the time, one ;' and 
 the feet that mark the time, two, finish the 
 cadence, and complete the Stop. In the 
 gallop, you seize the time when the horse's 
 
 fore- 
 
ON THE STOP. 87 
 
 fore-feet are coming to the ground, which is 
 the beginning of the cadence ; and the hind 
 feet coming up to their exact distance finish 
 the cadence, complete the Stop, and the 
 horse is so balanced, that he can readily 
 set off again with the same rapidity as be- 
 fore. 
 
 The skill of the rider and obedience of 
 the horse, are happily displayed in the Stop. 
 For, besides seizing the exact time, as be- 
 fore observed, a due proportion of eifect 
 must be attended to, agreeable to the readi- 
 ness, obedience, union, or rapidity of the 
 action. Should your operation be too fee- 
 ble, the Stop would not be effected, at least 
 in a proper manner; if too powerful, you 
 over-balance the horse on his haunches, and 
 compel him to move his feet after the ca- 
 dence is finished, to recover his balance : be- 
 sides, in these over-violent operations of the 
 body and hand, you risque the extension of 
 the sinews behind, or hurting the back and 
 loins; for which reason, till horses are readv 
 and obedient to the Stop, it should not be 
 
 G 4 attempted 
 
88 ON THE STOP. 
 
 attempted in too violent and rapid gallops t 
 nor even then, if the horse is weak, or the 
 rider heavy ; in which case, the double ar- 
 ret is used, as being less liable to injure thft 
 horse, or shake the rider. 
 
 The double arret is, the Stop completed 
 in two cadences in the gallop, which, in 
 violent action, is by far less distressing, both 
 to man and horse. The horse, till practised 
 ^nd made obedient to the Stop, will not be 
 handy at the double arret; for, in the first 
 instance, he Stops by compulsion; but, 
 when practice has brought him to obedience, 
 he readily Stops at the easy throwing back 
 of the body. Now, in rapid action, the 
 body being gently thrown back, will not 
 make the action instantaneously cease ; but 
 the obedience of the horse makes the effort, 
 which checks half his career in the first ca- 
 dence, and the body still being kept back, 
 he completes it in the second. 
 
 The half Stop, is a pause in the gallop, 
 or the action suspended for a half second, 
 
 and 
 
ON THE STOP, 89 
 
 and then resumed again. The cadence of 
 the StojD, half Stop, and double arret, are 
 quicker than the gallop ; because, when the 
 aids are thrown in to effect the Stop, the 
 hands check the fore-legs, while the rider's 
 legs drive in the haunches : this occasions 
 the feet to come to the ground quicker and 
 nearer together. Now, the cadence of the 
 Stop should be no shorter than the readi- 
 ness and obedience of the horse will admit ; 
 the half Stop not quite so short, and the 
 two arrets still more moderate ; by which 
 the horse stops with more ease to himself in 
 two cadences. 
 
 Now, the difference in performing the 
 half Stop, is throwing the aid of the body 
 back, not so determinate, for fear you should 
 thereby over-balance the horse that he can- 
 not so readily s.et off again, without mov- 
 ing his legs after the finish of the cadence : 
 for the cadence is no sooner finished, than 
 the body is to come forward, to permit the 
 action to go on ; so that the half Stop, as 
 
 I have 
 
90 
 
 ON THE STOt*. 
 
 I have observed, is only a pause in the gal- 
 lop, and is mostly used to effect a change ; 
 that is, changing from the right leg to the 
 left, &c. 
 
 I 
 
 ON 
 
Ft(/.l. 
 
 FlaCe. 1. 
 
 -Ft(/. Z. 
 
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 1 'lU 
 
 
 
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 yv«i>></«u.'/^<"N 
 
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91 
 
 ON CHANGES, VOLTS, S<c. 
 
 Before I proceed to lessons, it may not 
 be improper to define what is termed a 
 Change, or Changes ; and the execution of" 
 them must be deferred till they occur in the 
 lessons, where I shall introduce them. 
 
 A Change is no more than the altering 
 she hand to which you were going, or the 
 foot with which you were leading. But 
 this being done by different tracks or modes, 
 and in several actions and airs, gives conso- 
 nant names to them, and displays a taste in 
 diversifying and execution. 
 
 The long Change is crossing the riding- 
 house in a diagonal line, the whole length of 
 the house ; which, when you are working 
 to the right, you quit the wall at the figure 
 1, and cross to the figure 3 ; or quit the wall 
 at the figure 3, and cross to the figure 1 ; 
 by which you Change the hand to which' 
 
 2 vou 
 
ON CHANGES, &C. 
 
 you were going. (See Plate 1, Figure 1.) 
 In like manner, when working to the left, 
 and you would Change to the right, you 
 depart from the wall. at the figure 2, and 
 cross over to the figure 4 : or at figure 4, 
 and cross over to figure 2 : which effects the 
 Change. 
 
 When working on circles of a large dia- 
 meter, and you would effect a Change, you 
 form another circle of the same dimensions, 
 making a figure of 8 ; in the intersection of 
 which circles, you Change 3 our own and 
 horse's position, by which you work to the 
 contrary hand. These are called Changes 
 large ; consequently, when your circles are 
 so circumscribed that the two do not exceed 
 the width of the riding-house, they are nar- 
 row Changes. Observe the figure (Plate 1, 
 Figure 2), the intersection at A, where the 
 Change is effected. 
 
 An air performed on a circle is called a 
 Volt ; consequently the half circle is a Demi- 
 Volt ; the Change by the Demi-Volt is ef- 
 fected 
 
mate 2. 
 
 
 '/ // 
 
 n 
 
 I A lait 
 
 \ 
 
 
 // 
 
 
 i^y;^:^^^^^;! 
 
 \\^\,^ BauyVoU J/ Ij 
 
 // // 
 
 'f^. 
 
 N.\ 
 
 .\ 
 
 II /f 
 
 lit ^ 
 
 \\ \ 
 
 \5s 
 
 WSZl^^Z i1 liD 
 
 Xi^.g'^ iwatttfjttmtit ^•^,ijUkttmf^t/>j:ndn. 
 
ON CHANGES, &C. 93 
 
 fected when working to the right, as from 
 A to B. At B you quit the hne, and work 
 on a Demi- Volt, which brings you to the 
 point C, at which place you Change and 
 work to the left. In changing again fi'om 
 the left to the right, you quit the line at the 
 point D, work on a Demi-Volt to the point 
 E, Change, and work to the right. The 
 Changes on the Volt are confined to parti- 
 cular airs, as the passage, terre d terre Sf me- 
 zair. When the Volt is complete, make a 
 half stop. Change the leg, and work the 
 Volt round to the contrary hand, on the 
 same ground as before. 
 
 The Change reverse is worked on traverS' 
 ing lines, and confined to the same airs as 
 the Volt ; it is reversing your hands, posi- 
 tion, &c. ; consequently the horse's position 
 and foot at every angle. (See the Figure.) 
 
 LESSONS 
 
94 
 
 LESSONS 
 
 FOR 
 
 FORMING THE HAND, AND CONFIRMING THE 
 
 BALANCE. 
 
 The preceding chapters being compre- 
 hended, and the theory of the hand and 
 aids, therein stated and explained, having 
 been studied, and clearly understood, the 
 following Lessons are recommended for 
 practice, to form the hand, confirm the ba- 
 lance, and unite (if the expression may be 
 allowed) the rider and his horse. 
 
 The pupil, we may now presume, has 
 had sufficient practice to establish his ba- 
 lance in the method I recommended for 
 that acquirement, so that he sits easy and 
 comfortable to himself, without having his 
 seat disturbed by every little irregularity, or 
 broken time of the horse ; and without be- 
 ing fatigued, or the thighs aching, ^vith 
 
 twenty 
 
LESSONS. 95 
 
 twenty minutes, or half an hour's riding, 
 which is common to persons at their first 
 practice. Though the misfortune is, when 
 they amve at this period to ride safe and 
 pleasant, they often proceed no further, if 
 they can, by any awkward means, guide 
 the horse out of the way of a carriage, and 
 think that practice, without any more in- 
 struction, will make them horsemen :— prac- 
 tice will make them comfortable and secure 
 in their seat, in the straight forward paces 
 used on the road, as the generality of un- 
 taught horsemen find — but these effective 
 operations, and admirable qualities of the 
 hand, are not to be obtained by the ordinary 
 modes of riding, though practised a person's 
 whole life-time. 
 
 Riding for business or recreation, and rid- 
 ing for improvement, are distinct things, 
 yet both are very necessary, and equally 
 profitable for horse and man. When a 
 horse has been properly broke, and taught 
 every thing necessary for the purpose to 
 which he is designed, when he comes from 
 
 the 
 
9(3 LESSONS. 
 
 the master's hands, I compare him to a 
 youth just come from the academy, ^v'hen 
 first introduced into business : his education 
 quahfies him for the undertaking, and, with-' 
 out which, he would be totally unfit ; but 
 the freedom, ease, readiness, and dispatch, 
 which is necessary and desirable, can be ob- 
 tained only by time and real practice. 
 
 1 
 
 In like manner the gentleman who learns 
 to ride, is taught the position or seat, agree- 
 able to the attitude or action the horse may 
 work or defend himself in — the power, ef- j 
 feet, and use of his hands, &c. 
 
 The want of this knowledge has cost' 
 many a man his life. Hundreds are daily 
 exposed to the most imminent danger by 
 their temerity and want of knowledge, who 
 would be perfectly safe, were a little science 
 to accompany their courage — yet, such is 
 the vanity and self-sufficiency of man, that 
 we exult at hair-breadth escapes; and, 
 when an accident happens, will not allow 
 any want of abilities in ourselves. And 
 
 such 
 
LESSONS. 97 
 
 such as neither know nor conceive there are 
 either art or abihties more than they possess, 
 are nevertheless excusable, since it is a gene- 
 rally received opinion, that he who has the? 
 most temerity, is the best horseman; and 
 these riders frequently irritate and provoke 
 horses by such intemperate and unskilful 
 treatment, as indicate more boldness than 
 science. 
 
 The Lessons in riding are to give the 
 rider firmness and security in his seat, on 
 all emergencies ; knowledge of the opera- 
 tion, effect and power of the hand, by 
 which he may be able to protect and de- 
 fend himself from injury in all situations 
 and contests with obstinate horses, till, by 
 foiling them, his endeavours compel them 
 to obedience. 
 
 Now, this cannot be done by any person, 
 though he were told what to do, till his seat 
 is secure in whatever position the horse may 
 twist or writhe himself; and his hands are at 
 
 VOL. T. H liberty 
 
98 LESSONS. 
 
 liberty to act with power and effect, as they 
 may be wanted ; till possessed of such ad- 
 vantages, the rider dare not twist or bend 
 his horse, for fear of losing his seat; nor 
 use his hands for any other purpose than 
 holding on. 
 
 These considerations, I hope, will in- 
 duce gentlemen to persevere in acquiring a 
 science, on which, while in pursuit of their 
 pleasure, their safety depends ; nor conceive 
 that, by riding the manege Lessons, they 
 would be incapacitated to follow, in a sty- 
 lish manner, the fleetest pack of hounds in 
 the kingdom. Though the acquisition of 
 science does not imply that you are always 
 to be employing it, yet, surely, it is con- 
 venient and comfortable to have it when 
 you want it. 
 
 Since riding for the acquirement of know- 
 ledge, or the improvement of the horse, 
 and riding for our business and sports, are 
 distinct things, I shall point out how the 
 first is to be obtained ; and the other, being 
 
 the 
 
LESSONS. 99 
 
 the easiest, will be soon acquired, or, in some 
 degree, follow of course. 
 
 When riding for improvement, your 
 whole mind and attention must be occu- 
 pied by what you are about. You are al- 
 ways to have some design to aim at, inten- 
 tion to perform, or some object in view — 
 remembering not to attempt things prema- 
 turely — or till you have arrived at such for- 
 wardness or dexterity, as warrants the at- 
 tempt. When your prowess is systematic 
 and regular, you have every chance to ac- 
 complish it with ease ; at least, you must 
 patiently persevere till you can. 
 
 Beginning then with mounting, accord- 
 ing to the rules laid down (which I would 
 recommend never to be departed from, till 
 extreme age or infirmities prevent you) — 
 suffer not the horse to move, if you can 
 help it, till your cloaths are adjusted, and 
 your whip shifted — then collecting your 
 reins — take a rein in the right hand — close 
 
 H 2 your 
 
100 LESSONS. 
 
 your legs to request the horse to move for- 
 ward in the walk. Till you make this re- 
 quest, the horse should not be permitted to 
 move. — The etiquette of the riding-house is 
 always to work to the right hand first ; and 
 those acquainted with it generally do so. — 
 While you walk the horse, your chief care 
 and attention is to make him carry himself 
 well, and walk with spirit and animation : 
 for you are always to aim at improving or 
 keeping the horse up to the best of his per- 
 formance ; by which you improve both your- 
 self and horse. For this pui-pose, you are 
 to support your horse to such a degree, as 
 will not prevent his . stepping out animated 
 and freely in the walk. — If you do not sup- 
 port him sufficienth^, his head will be low, 
 and his walk slovenly. If you sup])ort him 
 too much, you will shorten his step, that he 
 cannot walk freely — if you do not animate 
 him, he will not exert himself— if you ani- 
 mate him too much, he will trot. 
 
 Thus, having a design in view, in perse- 
 vering, you are to correct your own errors, 
 
 and 
 
 i 
 
LESSONS. 101 
 
 and check the horse's, till vou obtain the ob- 
 ject 3^011 aimed at. 
 
 Remember, it should be an invariable 
 rule never to relinquish your design from the 
 little difficulties that may occur; for in- 
 stance, if the horse trots when you design 
 him to walk, check him immediately, and 
 examine the cause, and you will find your 
 animation somewhere above the walk ; for 
 though you neither animate with whip, legs, 
 nor tongue, j^et j^our hand, or even your 
 body, may be too animating, when added 
 to the natural spirits and vivacity of the 
 horse ; — the hand, if too high or confining, 
 is too animating for the walk, — the body (by 
 which I mean the whole system), if braced 
 too firm, or as might be necessary in the 
 trot, would be too animating and unneces- 
 sary in the walk; for as the horse is, so 
 must be the rider. 
 
 Having practised the walk to both hands, 
 by crossing over in the long change, I need 
 not say till you are perfect in it, because the 
 
 H 3 pace 
 
l02 
 
 LESSONS. 
 
 pace is languid, and tedious to continue for 
 anj^ length of time, and by pupils in general, 
 not thought sufficiently interesting; there- 
 fore, the commencement of every lesson 
 is usually begun with the walk, and after 
 walking once or twice round the riding- 
 house to either hand, proceed to the trot. 
 
 Begin each pace, if only for the etiquette, 
 by going first to the right ; therefore, cross- 
 ing over from the left by the long change, 
 put your horse to the trot, by collecting 
 5^our reins, and animating with the legs. If 
 this is done with judgment, the horse will 
 smoothly and evenly advance in the trot. 
 
 I do not know that I can convey to the 
 understanding a clearer idea of the right, 
 in this case, than by pointing out what is 
 wrong. 
 
 For instance, were you to aid sharply 
 with your legs, without sufficiently collect- 
 the reins, the horse would spring forward, 
 the hands would not be ready to receive the 
 
 action. 
 
LESSONS. 103 
 
 action, the body would sAvay back, — and 
 this disorder must continue till the reins are 
 sufficiently collected and adjusted. 
 
 On the other hand, if you collect your 
 reins too short, and the hand is too confining, 
 you may request with the legs, but prevent 
 with the hands ; and thus you would baffle 
 and confuse the horse. 
 
 Thus, it is allowed, more judgment is dis- 
 played in the setting off, and finishing well, 
 than in the support and regulation of the 
 action. 
 
 Having your reins sufficiently collected, 
 throw in your animations, and let your hands 
 be pliant and easy, to receive the action. — 
 The instant the action commences, the hand 
 receives and regulates it. — If too rapid, it 
 checks, by strengthening the hand. — If too 
 slow, by easing the fingers, and more ani- 
 mation. — If not sufficiently united, by col- 
 lecting the reins, and raising the head. 
 
 H 4 These 
 
104 LESSONS. 
 
 These things being attended to, begin mo- 
 derately, — sit close to the saddle, by which 
 I mean, you are not to rise or stand in the 
 stirrups ; — keep the hands up in their proper 
 situation, steady and pliant, preserving a 
 due correspondence, and just appui. 
 
 This must be your first and principal 
 care, that your hand never abandons the 
 horse, nor compels or suffers the horse to 
 abandon himself, as we so term it, w^hen 
 the horse pulls a heavy insensible weight on 
 the hand. The fingers feeling those lively 
 animating tugs produced by a just appui, at 
 every step the horse makes, will soon disco- 
 ver their effect and power. 
 
 This once attained, you may proceed as 
 rapid as the firmness of your seat and ba- 
 lance will admit, — being mindful — not to 
 exceed that, lest your seat should be thrown 
 into disorder, and you contract a habit of 
 applying the calves, before you attain the 
 complete balance with the thighs. 
 
 ' Remember, 
 
LESSONS. 105 
 
 Remember, you are always to have a 
 somethino- in view; therefore, as your seat 
 gets strength, and your hand confirmed, ride 
 with more animation, apply 'the legs, the 
 switch, or the tongue. 
 
 You will feel the effect in the hands,-^ 
 make the long change frequently, and ride 
 as much to the left as right. 
 
 As you improve, encourage your horse to 
 put his foot out freely, supporting his fore- 
 hand up, and his haunches under ; — for 
 which purpose you must keep up a suffici- 
 ent degree of animation ; and the instant 
 you perceive a languor, which may be felt 
 before any visible abatement in the action 
 takes place, — throw in your animation in 
 time — a touch of the fmger, the animation 
 of the tongue, the switch of the whip, or 
 the application of the legs, which ever 
 comes the most ready, so that it is not too 
 frequently used, to lose its effect; for the 
 animation of the horse is always to be above 
 (that is, craving of) the hand, by which the 
 
 hand 
 
106 LESSONS. 
 
 hand has the hberty to give as well as with- 
 hold : and thus you learn and feel its power 
 and effects. 
 
 To give variety and information in the 
 Lesson, occasionally alter the cadence or 
 measure of the action, by strengthening 
 the hand: and keeping up a sufficient de- 
 gree of animation, to prevent the horse from 
 stopping, — you will feel the effect. Then 
 again, give him liberty, and proceed with 
 the same spirit as before : — now make a 
 stop, — rein him back two or three steps, 
 keeping the horse so united and animated, 
 that, the instant your hand may give him 
 liberty, he advances as rapidly again. 
 
 By thus exerting yourself, and progres- 
 sively aiming from one degree of excellence 
 to another, till you can ride a spirited horse 
 to the height of his animation, you will 
 strengthen your seat, get the true balance of 
 body, and learn the operation, effect, and 
 power of the hand. 
 
 It 
 
LESSONS. 107 
 
 It is necessary for me to observe, that 
 when you ride with the animation and 
 spirit that I have set forth, which cannot be 
 expected of you for some time, and without 
 exertion you never will, — that your lessons 
 must be proportionably short. Were I to 
 ride a horse to the height of his animation, 
 though he were in regular exercise and best 
 condition, he would be so heated and blown 
 in ten minutes, that humanity would say- — 
 * Stop ; let the horse take breath, and re- 
 cover himself" 
 
 This, in horsemanship, is called a reprize ; 
 and two such breathings is sufficient for any 
 horse to do in one day; for the moderate 
 riding of a horse tAventy miles on the road, 
 would not be more distressing, nor reduce 
 his condition so much, as riding two such 
 reprizes. 
 
 Of compassion towards your horse it was 
 needful to remind you, as you may stand in 
 need of it when j^ou begin to ride with the 
 spirit and animation required ; because you 
 
 will 
 
lOB LESSONS. 
 
 will then feel less fatigue yourself, and be- 
 come so fond of riding, that, till the horse 
 shews himself distressed, you will not think 
 of leaving off. 
 
 In the course of my practice, I have had 
 the opportunity of observing the impedi- 
 ments to many gentlemen's riding. — Many 
 of these are natural, such as an awkward 
 make, relaxed habits, nervous debilit}^, and 
 the like ; — but some are nothing more than 
 mere indolence. Persons of this neutral or 
 inactive cast, of an unaspiring temper and 
 sluggish habits, are content to be carried 
 round the riding-house as though they were 
 asleep ; neither the admonition of the mas- 
 ter, nor the example of others will rouse 
 them : consequently if they aim at nothing, 
 they acquire nothing. Others have a great 
 desire to learn, but discourage themselves, 
 by apprehending greater difficulties than 
 exist. These, when desired to attempt any 
 thing, begin, but feeling more action, are 
 alarmed lest they should lose their balance ; 
 therefore stop, and declare they should be 
 
 off 
 
LESSOJ^S.. 109 
 
 off if they were to proceed ; nor will in- 
 treaty or persuasion get the better of these 
 forebodings. — Yet I have seen, and that fre- 
 quently, resolute and rough treatment, tem- 
 pered with praise and encouragement, make 
 such persons ride well.— But this is the last 
 resource of the master, — and his suc<:ess de- 
 pends on the temper and good sense of the 
 pupil ; the person from whom it comes, and 
 the manner it is given. The principal 
 should be the performer in this business, be- 
 cause it will be always better received from 
 him. He points out the absurdity of com- 
 ing to learn, and not submitting to direc- 
 tions,— that holding himself amenable for 
 your safety, his experience and judgment 
 would not suffer him to hazard a circum- 
 stance that might injure or discourage you ; 
 being convinced of no natural imbecility to 
 prevent your improvement, his reputation is 
 at stake, and he insists on your complying 
 with his rules. — Then, bj^ encouraging and 
 praising the attempt, the acrimony of his 
 preceding language is wiped away, — the 
 pupil feels a satisfaction at performing what 
 
 ^ he 
 
110 ^ LESSONS. 
 
 he would never otherwise have attempted, 
 and declares he could never have learned, 
 had he not been thus roused and prompted 
 to diligence and activity. 
 
 But this mode will not equally succeed 
 with all dispositions. Some require the 
 mildest, gentlest, and most explanatory 
 mode of instruction, and improve rapidly; 
 others are timid, and take a length of time, 
 by a slow progress, to get the better of their 
 fears. These obstruct their own designs; 
 if they animate with their legs, they cringe 
 with their hands. They would sooner give 
 the liberty of the fingers to suffer the horse 
 to go faster, than increase his animation. 
 The very thing required, they are afraid to 
 execute. 
 
 LESSONS 
 
"' 
 
 LESSONS 
 
 FOR 
 
 THE PRACTICE OF THE AIDS. 
 
 The operation and effect of the Hand be- 
 ing comprehended and acquired by the pre- 
 ceding lessons, it becomes necessary to try 
 the effects of the corresponding Aids of the 
 body, &c. as particularly described when 
 treating on the Hand, and its Accompani- 
 ments. 
 
 In the preceding lessons, you had the wall 
 to guide and direct your course ; but now you 
 are to begin to work and change on large 
 circles. Your attention will, of course, be 
 increased ; for, besides keeping up a proper 
 correspondence in the hand, supporting the 
 action, and regulating the time, your eye is 
 now to mark the ground your horse is to work 
 
 on: 
 
112 LESSONS ON THE AIDS. 
 
 on ; and your Aids, directed for that purpose, 
 are to be smooth and dehcate, that the action 
 or time may not be interrupted ; and your 
 ground worked exact and true. 
 
 To be certain that your hand and Aids are 
 correct and true, you should have some mark 
 to direct your eye, and which the horse would 
 not be directed by ; for if your circles were 
 trodden on a green sod, your horse would 
 partly of himself follow the beaten path, and 
 you would not be able to discover the certain 
 truth of your Aids; therefore, having ground 
 riot marked, if you place four or five marks on 
 each circle (even pieces of paper would do, if 
 you have nothing better,) endeavor to pass di- 
 rectly over each mark ; you will then disco- 
 ver how near and true you can work : and 
 be not discouraged, if you cannot imme- 
 diately accomplish your wish. It is no un- 
 common thing to see beginners make several 
 angles at their first trying to circle, or 
 making small circles when they meant to 
 make large, or large instead of small. The 
 marks you will fmd assist you in the know- 
 ledge 
 
Fit,. J. 
 
 Plate ,1 
 
 .^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ...ec 
 
 a 
 
 / 
 
 
 \ 
 
 )/ 
 
 ■/ 
 
 x" k 
 
 \\ 
 
 \ 
 
 -^ 
 
 u.. 
 
 / 
 
 \ / 
 
 \ I 
 
 \l 
 
 I 
 
 ■ It 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 (^ 
 
 ./ 
 
 .^ 
 
 z^;^ 2. 
 
 I // 
 
 A 
 
 Aj/4>iW##l>.'«iur^»a^f. Altu^/Vi 
 
LESSONS ON THE AIDS. 113 
 
 ledge of the ground, as well as discover the 
 defects of 3^our Aids* 
 
 I do not mean in this lesson to confine you 
 to work the whole time on two circles, be- 
 cause that would not only become very irk- 
 some to the rider, but the horse might take 
 to work it by rote, after some continuance 
 at it^-therefore, diversify your track, and 
 change your ground as often as you please, 
 that the horse may never be aware of 
 your intention, only by the correctness of 
 your Aids, 
 
 The plate (three, fig. 1,) will more clearly 
 describe the lines j^ou work on ; the intersec- 
 tion of the circles, and the termination of the 
 diagonal lines, are the points where you 
 change, and describe the track to shift your 
 ground from one circle to another. The let- 
 ters a are where you may drop your marks to 
 direct you to your ground, and discover the 
 correctness of your performance at the com- 
 mencement of these lessons. 
 
 VOL, L • I This 
 
114 LESSONS ON THE AIDS. 
 
 This lesson, after being practised with 
 both hands, must be accomplished with one 
 — the reins held of equal length — no bend is 
 required more than the horse would be ne- 
 cessitated to make without the rider's assist- 
 ance ; the horse obeying the pressure of the 
 right rein to direct him to the left, and the 
 pressure of the left to direct him to the right; 
 which, having been so fully explained when 
 treating on the Hand and its Accompani- 
 ments, a repetition here is needless. 
 
 What was there explained, is here recom- 
 mended to practice, till you can, with all 
 possible exactness, smoothness, and delicacy, 
 perform. — Begin, then, with a slow cadence, 
 and moderate animation, till you can keep 
 your ground true, and change smoothly 
 without breaking time or pace. Then at- 
 tempt a brisker action, and higher animation, 
 always attending to the truth of the perfor- 
 mance in every particular; nor be satisfied 
 with yourself till you arrive at excellence : 
 as you attain perfection in the large changes, 
 occasionally attempt the narrow, which still 
 
 makes 
 
LESSONS ON THE AIDS. 115 
 
 makes a greater diversity ; always aiming at 
 exactness in working your ground true, and 
 changing without breaking time. 
 
 These lessons, for the acquirement of the 
 Hand and the accompanying Aids, I recom- 
 mend to be practised for a continuance, so 
 that when you advance to other lessons, you 
 begin with this, and make a few changes ; 
 for it is a very instructive lesson both to 
 man and horse ; and then, the further you 
 advance, the greater variety your lesson ad- 
 mits of. 
 
 As this lesson is for the purpose of acquir- 
 ing the extent and power of your Hand and 
 Aids, finish this lesson by riding up the cen- 
 tre of the riding-house; stop in the middle, 
 or near the pillars, turn your horse to right 
 and left on his own ground, rein back, then 
 advance to your ground again, and dis- 
 mount. 
 
 You will find turning on his centre the 
 easiest to begin with, consequently that will 
 
 I 2 be 
 
116 LESSONS ON THE AIDS. 
 
 be your first practice ; and as you advance, 
 the others must be attempted. I have given 
 such clear directions of these in the treatise 
 on the Hand, and there is nothing more can 
 be said, than begin slow, and be very atten- 
 tive. If you do not succeed to your wish at 
 first, do not tease j^our horse too much, lest 
 his patience should be tired, as well as your 
 own, and then you might quarrel, which you 
 should ahvavs endeavor to avoid. 
 
 LESSONS 
 
117 
 
 LESSONS ON THE GALLOP. 
 
 I DO not recommend gentlemen to begin 
 the Gallop too soon, because the trot is the 
 foundation and ground work of good riding. 
 When once they commence in the Gallop, 
 the action, being animated and smooth, ren- 
 ders it pleasing, less difficult, and less fa- 
 tiguing ; and they naturally indulge them- 
 selves therewith, and neglect the more re- 
 quisite acquirement of a true and firm ba- 
 lance in the trot. 
 
 Those who wish to acquire excellence and 
 a thorough knowledge in this or any other 
 science, must not indulge themselves in one 
 part to the exclusion of another. Weak con- 
 stitutions, and nervous habits, that cannot 
 bear the roughness of the trot, must content 
 themselves with the knoy/ledge, without the 
 practice ; but robust habits must never flinch, 
 
 I 3 if 
 
118 LESSONS IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 if they wish to be good and practical horse- 
 men. A true balance and practical knowledge 
 of the hand being acquired in the trot, you 
 next proceed to Gallop. The first thing to 
 learn is, how, in a proper and horsemanlike 
 manner, to put your horse into a Gallop ; and 
 I have heard it observed, and I think the ob- 
 servation just, that to begin the Gallop well, 
 and to finish well, displays more the skill of 
 the horseman than any part of it. ij 
 
 When describing the Gallop, I observed 
 that the action is produced by the animation 
 exceeding the libertj^ of the hand, or the ca- 
 pacity of the horse to trot : the last I need 
 take no farther notice of, for there can be no 
 art in pressing the horse to go faster and 
 faster, till he is necessitated to Gallop. 
 
 The first, therefore, is the art to be ac- 
 quired, which is to put the horse immediate- 
 ly to the Gallop from the spot where you 
 may be standing, or from any pace you 
 may be riding. 
 
 To 
 
LESSONS IK THE GALLOP. 119 
 
 To accomplish this, the hands and heel 
 must collect and press the horse together ; 
 that is— press the horse with your legs, or, 
 animate with the tongue; at the same time 
 with a quickening sensation in the fingers, 
 and a little raising of the hand, invite the 
 fore-legs to raise in the action of a Gallop. 
 
 Remember, if the horse does not readily 
 obey this, you must increase your ani- 
 mation, and keep the hand more firm, to 
 prevent the horse trotting. By this you 
 will constrain him to raise his fore-legs toge- 
 ther, which commences the action; soften 
 the fmgers, if necessary, to let the horse 
 advance, but keep the hand up, and feel 
 every cadence of the fore-feet coming to the 
 ground. 
 
 Besides raising the action to the Gallop, 
 you are likewise to direct the horse which 
 foot he is to lead with : the foot the horse 
 leads with is the inner; and horses that have 
 been equally suppled to Gallop with either 
 
 I 4 /leg 
 
120 LESSONS IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 leg, readily take the foot, by putting the 
 croup in. This will be better understood 
 by what follows : 
 
 I have noticed, when treating on the Seat, 
 certain variations from the fundamental seat, 
 agreeable to the position the horse works in. 
 Now, in the Gallop the horse leads with one 
 side and that side is somewhat advanced 
 more forward than the other, which is in- 
 creased as a horse may Gallop more or less 
 with his croup in. This position of the 
 horse makes a similar or corresponding 
 position of the horseman necessary, whereby 
 the balance is kept more steady, and the 
 position of the horse better supported. 
 
 It may be taken as a general rule, that 
 which ever side the horse leads with, the 
 rider's thigh on that side must be rather 
 more turned in towards the saddle : this 
 brings the hip on that side more forward, and 
 consequently turns the other thigh a little 
 out, and the hip back. 
 
 This 
 
LESSONS IN THE GALLOP. 121 
 
 This turn of the hip eiTects a turn of the 
 body; and the hands being fixed, and con- 
 sidered a part of the body, are carried 
 with it. 
 
 The rider's head, by a hke general rule, 
 is always to be directed to the horse's nose, 
 and his eye is to glance on the ground the 
 horse's fore-feet go over: in the Gallop the 
 horse's nose is directed to the ground ; the 
 rider's face is the -same; and the shoulders 
 are always to accompany the face, as far as 
 the position of the body and the hips will ad- 
 mit of with pleasantness and ease. This po- 
 sition of the rider must be proportioned to the 
 position of the horse ; that is, as the horse 
 Gallops more or less with his croup in. 
 
 These particulars comprehended, make 
 the trial, b}^ attempting to put your horse 
 to the Gallop: — we will say to the right ; 
 that is, leading v/ith the right foot foremost. 
 At the instant jou make the disposition with 
 your hands and animations to raise the ac- 
 tion to the Gallop, take the corresponding 
 
 position 
 
122 LESSONS IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 position, by turning the right thigh, and ad- 
 vancing the right hip, &c. and the effect will 
 be this : the hands will be carried more to 
 the left, which will determine the shoulders 
 out, and support the horse's head in a pro- 
 per position; the left thigh, which is the 
 outer thigh, being turned a little out, will 
 ,bring the left leg farther back, and nearer 
 to the horse's side, and that will support the 
 croup to the right, that is, in. 
 
 In this position, the animation and union 
 raising the action to the Gallop, the horse 
 cannot but choose to take the right leg; un- 
 less he has never been suppled, or accus- 
 tomed to gallop with other than the left. 
 In that case the horse will refuse, and 
 naturally contend for his favorite leg. But 
 lessons should be taken on suitable horses ; 
 for it is rather too much for a person learning 
 to ride to break his horse at the same time. 
 
 In Galloping to the left, the position is 
 consequently reversed, which, I think, needs 
 no farther explanation. 
 
 2 It 
 
LESSONS IN THE GALLOP. 123 
 
 It is a natural, and therefore common, opi- 
 nion with beginners, to suppose the faster 
 they ride, the better they ride ; but, how- 
 ever gratifying the riding fast may be, there 
 is more skill and science displayed in keep- 
 ing up an animated action in the Gallop, at 
 the rate even of but three miles an hour, 
 than in twelve or fifteen miles an hour. 
 Therefore the attention of the pupil in this 
 lesson must be, to keep up the animation 
 and action of the Gallop, without going fast. 
 If the animation fails, or the action is not 
 supported by the hand, the horse will break 
 into the trot, particularly as you try to 
 shorten or unite the Gallop. 
 
 Begin, therefore, these Lessons in the 
 medium way, as being the easiest; by which 
 I mean, not too rapidly, nor too slow. Be 
 sure to keep the hands up, rather above than 
 below the elbow, and quite steady, that you 
 may feel the cadence of every step, and the 
 support your hand gives. If you feel the 
 action declining, correct it instantly, before 
 
 worse 
 
124 
 
 LESSONS IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 worse disorder takes place, by an animating 
 touch of the fingers, the leg, or the tongue. 
 The hand first discovers any disorder or re- 
 linquishment going to take place, and con- 
 sequently is the first to correct it. 
 
 Horses, when broke, are great tell-tales ; 
 and, in many instances, discover the ineffi- 
 cacy of the rider's hand, particularly in the 
 Gallop round the riding-house. If the hand 
 is not attentive, the horse will break his 
 ground at the ends ; that is, he will not only 
 evade filling the corners, but will circle 
 without going to the extent of the house. 
 The reason of this is, where the pupil has 
 not a proper command and confidence in his 
 hand, he is mindful to turn his horse in time. 
 The instant the horse begins to circle, the 
 rider's body bends or inclines with him, 
 to support his balance — the hands coming 
 with the bod}^ assists the horse's natural pro-, 
 pensity to shorten the ground. 
 
 To prevent this, keep the horse sufficiently 
 united, and properly supported by the hand, 
 
 3 Do 
 
LESSONS IN THE GALLOP. 125 
 
 Do not attempt, nor suffer the horse, to de- 
 part from the side vv^all, till his nose arrives 
 within five yards of the end wall. If you 
 are a beginner, as you become a proficient, 
 you may ride him up to a yard. Then gra- 
 dualty turn or incline your body, to let the 
 horse circle, but keep the hands sufficiently 
 operating outward, to keep the horse's fore 
 legs on the outer extent of the ground, and 
 close the outer leg, to support the croup in, 
 and haunches under, by which the horse 
 will be properly balanced, and in no danger 
 of slipping. 
 
 When you have sufficiently practised to 
 the right, and find you can support the ac- 
 tion in a united Gallop, by which I mean, 
 the horse never breaks the time, or falls 
 into the trot, which shews a defect iii the ri- 
 der, stop, and practise the Gallop to the left. 
 
 Beginners cannot be expected at first to 
 know when the horse takes the proper leg, 
 but practice alone must give them that 
 knowledge. If the rider, however, takes the 
 
 proper 
 
126 LESSONS IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 proper position, as I have directed ; that is, to 
 advance the hip on that side he means the 
 horse to lead with, and support the croup in, 
 if the horse goes off smoothly, and continues 
 the croup in, you may reasonably suppose 
 him right; but on the contrary, if the horse 
 appears to resist these aids, and you find the 
 croup out and the shoulders in, he will, most 
 likely, be false. The generahty of horses 
 Gallop more supple and better to the right, 
 because they are more practised to it. This, 
 added to the consequent awkwardness of a 
 pupil's first attempt, may make it appear 
 somewhat uneven and irregular at first ; but 
 a little practice will supple both rider and 
 horse in the action to the left as well as right. 
 When Galloping to the left, in the riding- 
 house, with a double-reined bridle, and 
 the bridoon rein in the inner hand, change 
 your reins as directed in page 33. 
 
 As excellence is to be the continual aim of 
 the rider, when he finds he can put his horse 
 off to either hand with the proper leg, and 
 support the action, he must particularly at- 
 tend 
 
 I 
 
LESSONS IN THE GALLOP. 127 
 
 tend to the truth and union of the action, 
 and try to raise it to the highest anima- 
 tion, riding sometimes rapid, sometimes 
 slow, yet always united. Practise the stop 
 frequently, alwaj^s changing the place where 
 you stop, lest the horse should prepare him- 
 self to halt when he comes to the place at 
 which you have accustomed him to stop. Oc- 
 casionally circle at each end and middle of 
 the riding-house ; do this by the turn or in- 
 clination of the body alone. If your hand is 
 good and the horse obedient, the conducting 
 your eye to the ground, your body and horse 
 will immediately work to it. The higher 
 animation you work your horse to, the firm- 
 er and stronger you hold your muscles and 
 nerves, stretching down your heel as low as 
 you can, and raising and presenting your 
 chest, as the extreme exertions of the horse 
 must be called forth by the like exertions of 
 the rider. 
 
 When capacitated to ride the Gallop in 
 high animation, lofty action, united and true 
 to both hands, proceed to make the changes. 
 
 ' ' ON 
 
12 
 
 ON CHANGES IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 The Changes in the Gallop will be easier 
 and readier performed by the horse, if the 
 rider is particularly careful to bring him pro- 
 perly to his ground where he is to Change, 
 ia such position, that, when the legs are 
 changed, he will be as truly on the lines, 
 he is to proceed on, as he was on those be- 
 fore he changed. 
 
 For example, if you makQ the long 
 Change, you cross the riding-house from 
 A to B (Plate 3. Fig. 2); at Byou are to 
 Change and Gallop Avith the left leg to- 
 wards C or D. Now, if 3^ou bring the 
 horse properly across the house, the croup 
 not being too much in, when you arrive at 
 B the central line of your horse will be in 
 the same direction on the new lines B, C ; 
 when the horse has changed his legs, as 
 they were on the former lines A, B, as the 
 Plate will clearly shew, the horse-shoes on 
 
 the 
 
ON CHANGES IN THE Gx\LLOP. 129 
 
 the lines A, B, shew the position of the 
 horse's feet when Galloping from A to B, 
 leading with the right leg : the horse-shoes 
 at B shew the position of the horse's feet 
 when changed to Gallop with the left leg. 
 
 Again, were you to Gallop across the rid- 
 ing-house with the croup so far in, as is de- 
 scribed by the foot-marks on the lines E, F, 
 and continued the position till you changed 
 at F, your horse, when changed, would be 
 in a position to Gallop to G ; consequently, 
 if you designed to Gallop to H, you would 
 be necessitated to alter the position of your 
 horse as you arrived at F, before you 
 changed, that the horse might, \\ hen chang- 
 ed, be capacitated to work on the lines 
 F, H. 
 
 These observations being considered, and 
 duly attended to, the pupil will find but 
 little difficulty in changing in the Gallop. 
 For trial, — begin with the long Change, 
 and bring your horse properly to his ground, 
 as has been explained. When you arrive 
 
 VOL. I. K at 
 
130 ON CHAKGES IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 at the place, seize the time the horse's fore- 
 feet are coming to the ground, and lean the 
 body a httle back, not so determined as 
 when you intend to make the stop or half 
 stop; as the cadence finishes, bring your 
 body upright, and Change your position, 
 and the horse will begin the next cadence 
 with the othei: leg. 
 
 It is best to begin a new lesson with a 
 single-reined bridle ; I mean a snaffle, with 
 the usual reins, or running reins, — taking 
 one in each hand. The inner hand always 
 supports the position the horse works > in, 
 and must be fixt to the body; — the outer 
 hand must be accommodating to the inner, 
 - — by which I mean — it may be detached 
 from the body, placed forward to admit the 
 little turn of the horse's nose to the lines he 
 is to work on, carried higher than the inner, 
 to raise the action and animation without 
 moving the hand that supports the position ; 
 and if the outer elboAV is raised, the hand, 
 elbow, and shoulder, must be of a parallel 
 height^ and form a graceful arch. When 
 
 you 
 
On changes in the gallop. 131 
 
 you Change, the whole must be performed 
 Smoothly and evenly at one and the same 
 instant ; so that, at the finish of the cadence, 
 your body, hands, thighs, and legs, are re- 
 Tersed, for the horse to commence his next 
 cadence with the contrary leg. 
 
 When you ride the Changes with a bit 
 and bridoon bridle, you will fmd it i^Rore 
 difficult, by shifting the reins ; the bridoon 
 is alwaj^s to be in the inner hand ; and the 
 outer hand, having the bit, is placed above 
 the inner hand, more forward, and some- 
 what detached, but not so much, nor yet so 
 high, nor forward, as when 3^ou ride with a 
 snaffle. When you Change, be collected, 
 and at the finishing cadence throw your bri- 
 doon rein over, as has been directed, and 
 change j^our position ; your hand, with the 
 bit being brought down to your bod3^, and 
 carried outward with it, will Change your 
 horse ; and then you may smoothly shift 
 your rein, and support as elegant an atti^ 
 tude with your inner hand as before. 
 
 k2 The 
 
13:2 ON CHANGES IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 The other Changes in the Gallop are 
 done on a similaf principle, — a due regard 
 to the position of the horse heiore j^ou 
 Change; that, when changed, he may be 
 capacitated to proceed on the intended 
 lines. 
 
 THE 
 
133 
 
 THE SHOULDER WITHIN. 
 
 This lesson, though placed here hecause 
 those who have not an intention of becom- 
 ing professed horsemen have an aversion to 
 any but straight forward lessons, I recom- 
 mend to be much attended to, by all who 
 wish to become good horsemen. For till a 
 proficiency in this lesson, and the lessons of 
 head and croup to the wall are acquired, 
 which are called the keys of the manege, I 
 think a person but indifferently qualified to 
 ride the gallop with the changes. 
 
 The intention of this lesson is to bend, 
 supple, and retain the horse's shoulders ; — 
 and as the position of the rider varies ac- 
 cording to the position the horse works in, 
 this lesson is appropriate, and indispensable, 
 for the suppleing the rider, retaining the 
 hips and shoulders, giving liberty in the sad- 
 dle, freedom and ease in the seat, and a ba- 
 lance in side actions. 
 
 K 3 Since 
 
134 THE SHOULDER WITHIN. 
 
 Since the utility of this lesson is explain- 
 ed, the position of the horse is next to be 
 described, which is nearly opposite to the 
 gallop ; the gallop having the croup in, this 
 lesson having the Shoulders Within. This 
 lesson is worked in the time and action of 
 the trot (though it may be worked in the 
 time and action of the passage). — The po- 
 sition of the horse is a concave working to 
 the convex, 
 
 As this lesson is taught both horse and 
 man first on circles, it is more easilj^ explain- 
 ed on such direction. The horse being bent 
 with his head more or less towards the cen- 
 tre, agreeable to the suppleness he has been 
 taught or acquired, retains the inner Shoul- 
 der, and advances the outer, which, if you 
 recollect, is the reverse of the gallop, where 
 the inner Shoulder is the advanced, or leads. 
 The croup, by this, is thrown out ; that is, 
 the hind legs descTibe a circle without, or 
 larger than the fore-legs. 
 
 By 
 
THE SHOULDER WITHIN. 135 
 
 By the same rule, if you work the horse 
 along the wall, though the horse bends his 
 neck within the house, if the hind-feet do 
 not describe lines without the fore-feet, the 
 horse does not work the lesson true. Hence 
 you may observe, that not only the neck, 
 but Shoulders, loins, and haunches, become 
 suppled ; and, being worked equally to both 
 hands, give a surprising capacity or ability 
 to the horse, 
 
 To make my readers comprehend the in- 
 tention of this lesson, perhaps the following 
 description, with the annexed Plate, may 
 •make it more clear, 
 
 The dotted lines represent the outlines of 
 a horse's body, without having regard to the 
 head or neck, supposing you take your view 
 from an eminence directly over the horse, 
 v/here his body entirely obstructs the sight 
 of his legs. (See Plate 4, Fig. 1.) 
 
 Now, we will suppose, when a horse 
 works straight, if lines were drawn from 
 
 K 4 each 
 
136 THE SHOULDER WITHIN. 
 
 each quarter to each Shoulder, it would form 
 a trapezium, — as represented in Fig. 1 . But 
 the intent of this lesson is to retain the inner 
 Shoulder, and advance the outer; therefore, 
 by working the horse in a curve position, — 
 as Fig. 2, if lines were drawn from the 
 points, as before, it forms an oblique trape- 
 zium, and shews the inner Shoulder is re- 
 tained considerably behind the outer. And 
 this position of the horse's body affecting 
 the feet, if we draw lines through the 
 angles, shews the thread the horse's fee^ 
 work on, as may be tliree or four, according 
 as the Shoulder is worked more or less 
 Within ;— as may be seen by the Fig. 3, 4. 
 5, 6, Avhich represent the horse on straight 
 lines and circles, in difterent degrees of sup- 
 pleness. 
 
 The position of the hoi-se thus considered, 
 and the purposes intended or aimed at, both 
 for the benefit of horse and man, the cor- 
 responding position of the rider to support 
 the position and action of the horse, and 
 
 maintain 
 
THE SHOULDER WITHIN. 137 
 
 maintain an undisturbed balance is next to 
 be considered. 
 
 As I recommend commencing new les- 
 sons with single-reined bridles, and working 
 first to the right, I shall pursue the plan in 
 this, likewise, first on a circle. 
 
 Collect and separate your reins, i. e. lake 
 one in each hand. In doing this, be sure 
 to take them short enough, because, if too 
 short, you can with ease, and without in- 
 convenience, let them slip to a proper length; 
 but if too long, you cannot shorten one hand 
 without the assistance of the other. Bring 
 your inner hand down, letting the wrist rest 
 on, or just above, the hip. By this, if j^our 
 rein is a proper length, you will draw the 
 horse's nose within the circle. — And as this 
 is your aim, you must be mindful not to 
 prevent your own intentions by pulling any 
 with the outer baud. For which purpose, 
 as you draw the inner hand towards you, 
 advance the outer, to admit the horse freely 
 bending, presenting your own body (as the 
 
 horse 
 
138 THE SHOULDER WITHIN.' 
 
 horse bends himself) towards the horse's 
 nose. Now, whether the horse is bent 
 much or httle, your body having the hke 
 degree of bent or inchnation, you wili find 
 it to be the exact corresponding position, by 
 which 3^ou will support the attitude the 
 horse is to work in, and maintain your ba- 
 lance undisturbed. 
 
 To make this more plain, — advance the 
 outer hip, and retain your inner hip. This 
 will turn the inner thigh a little out, and the 
 outer thigh more in. The inner leg, by this 
 means, will be brought nearer the horse, to 
 aid and drive the croup out; and the outer 
 thigh will be in a position to support the 
 balance. For the horse being bent, and 
 working to the convex, the rider's bodj^ is 
 thereby impelled inward, till such time as 
 he acquires the method of supporting his 
 balance by the muscles in the outer thigh. 
 
 This position of the hips likewise presents 
 
 the bod}^, as above directed, to the horse's 
 
 nose ; and the inner hand placed, as direct- 
 
 3 ed, 
 
THE SHOULDER WITHIN. 139 
 
 eel, to the hip, will operate in a hne from 
 the horse's mouth to the centre of the rider's 
 body, and will support the position. 
 
 Thus much for the position: the excel- 
 lence in execution is the next consideration^ 
 and studying of the lesson before-hand will 
 be found of infinite advantage ; because, 
 while on horseback, and the horse in mo- 
 tion, the attention is taken from the horse 
 to attend to the master, and by endeavour- 
 ing to divide your attention, you can at- 
 tend to neither. This, daily practice de- 
 monstrates. 
 
 However, support the position as has been 
 described, and by the usual means of aids 
 call forth the action. The inner hand and 
 the inner heel are the principal operators in 
 this lesson. Therefore, keep the inner hand 
 fixed, with the reins of that determined 
 length which supports the position of the 
 horse. Let it likewise support, by the 
 liieans and properties already explained in 
 
 tiie 
 
140 THE SHOULDER WITHIN. 
 
 the hand, a due proportion of union, and 
 regular action. 
 
 The ground you intend to work on must 
 also be attended to, which the aids of the 
 body and leg, if properly applied, will re- 
 gulate, without moving the inner hand, or 
 interference of the outer. Not that I would 
 infer, that the outer hand is not to be used : 
 the one hand is alwaj^s to be assisting to the 
 other; but that the inner hand and heel, 
 as I before observed, constitute the princi- 
 pal support of the position, action, time, 
 &c. as well as direct the ground the horse 
 is to work on. 
 
 For instance, working on a circle, should 
 the horse traverse within the intended lines 
 you meant to work on. — Examine the cause; 
 it may be from your inner hip and Shoulder 
 being turned or retained bej^ond a due pro- 
 portion, or the body too much bent, or in- 
 clined inwards. Correct your own error, 
 and as you assume a more straight or up- 
 right 
 
THE SHOULDER WITHIN, Ul 
 
 right position of the body, which will carry 
 the Shoulders out, you must proportionately 
 apply the inner leg to keep the croup out ; 
 by which you will support the position as be- 
 fore, and only enlarge your ground. On 
 the other hand, should the horse break his 
 ground, by enlarging the circle, let the body 
 be more turned or inclined inward, which 
 will bring the Shoulders to work on a less 
 circle ; And should an unwilling obedience 
 of the horse occasion the croup to be too 
 far out, keep off your inner leg, and it will 
 come to its proper situation. 
 
 When this lesson has been sufficiently 
 practised on a circle to both hands, so that 
 5^ou can ride the ground true, in a good at- 
 titude, united action, and a regular time, — 
 practise it along the walls of the riding-house. 
 The difference of the rider's position is only 
 a less inclination of the body ; for when a 
 horse works on a circle, he bends or inclines 
 his body to that circle ; and the rider's body, 
 I have before observed, partakes of that 
 same inclination to support his balance. — 
 
 4 But 
 
142 THE SHOULDER WITHIN. 
 
 But Avheii you ride this lesson along th^* 
 wall, or on a straight line, the body will be 
 more upright; and your eye glancing on 
 the ground your horse is to work on, the 
 aids of the body and hand will naturally 
 operate to that direction. 
 
 The outer hand having but httle to do, I 
 have as yet forbore to say much about 
 it, —because pupils are apt to destroy the ef- 
 fect of the inner, by an improper operation 
 with the outer — a circumstance to be care- 
 fully avoided. Nevertheless, the outer hand 
 has a situation which, beside its conveni- 
 ence, displays much freedom, ease, and ele- 
 gance in the horseman. 
 
 I have observed, it is to- be placed forv/ardy 
 to admit the horse bending himself to the 
 inner hand. It is likewise to be placed high, 
 so that the Shoulder, elbow, and the wrist, 
 are in a horizontal situation ; — the arm form- 
 ing a graceful arch ; — the fingers being soft 
 ond pliant, that the operations may be the 
 piore dehcate ;~the iiiDcr band being fixed 
 
 and 
 
THE SHOULDER WITHIN, 143 
 
 and determinate, no operation of the outer 
 hand must be so strong as to destroy the ef- 
 fect of the inner. In this situation its ope- 
 ration uiRy assist the inner, by occasional 
 touches inward or outward, as the circum- 
 stances may require. Likewise, the ani- 
 mating touches of the fingers, in an upward 
 direction, will rouse the apathy, raise the 
 action, and unite the horse. These things 
 being duly considered, your practice is to 
 aim at excellence, b}^ working the horse to 
 the extreme suppleness, union, action, and 
 regular time. 
 
 It is necessary to observe,— that this les- 
 son, and all constrained lessons, are parti- 
 cularly distressing to the horse, and render- 
 ed more so, frequentlj^, by the awkwardness 
 of beginners ; and should not be continued 
 too long at a time, and in that short time 
 should be frequently changed. The work- 
 ing twice round the riding-house to one 
 hand is sufficient; then change, and work 
 the contrary hand. The usual changes in 
 this lesson are, by the long change and 
 
 demi- 
 
144 THE SHOULDER WITHIN. 
 
 demi-volt; which, taking place in the same 
 manner as descrihed, after having worked 
 this lesson on circles and on lines, you can 
 have no diiliculty to execute. The turning 
 and inclination of the bodv will brini^: vour 
 horse off on the volt ; and when you arrive 
 at the wall to change, — change yonr position 
 as smoothl}^ as possible, that the horse may 
 change in like manner, without breaking 
 the time, or other disorder. 
 
 As a trial of your proficiency, occasionally 
 work from the Avail towards the middle of 
 the riding-house, as though you were going 
 to make the long change ; but when arrived 
 at the middle of the house, work back to 
 the other end of the Avail from Avhich you 
 came. This is no change, but only tries 
 the obedience of A^our horse, and the pro- 
 ticiencv of vour hand and aids. 
 
 THE 
 
r 
 
U5 
 
 THE LESSONS 
 
 ilEJD AND CROUP TO THE IVALL 
 
 x 
 
 i 
 
 This lesson takes its name from the prac- 
 tice of teaching both horses and men to work 
 sideways; hrst, by the assistance of the WalL 
 It is Hkewise called passaging, because when 
 this lesson is masterly executed, ijt is worked 
 in the position, action, and time of the air 
 called the passage, which is a degree of 
 union higher than the trot, and less than 
 the piaffe. But as masterly execution can- 
 not be expected from everj^ person who be- 
 comes a soldier, and the discipline of the 
 army requires that every man must be able 
 to move his horse by a side step to either 
 hand, brilliancy and elegance may be dis-^ 
 pensed with there, and the most easy or 
 compulsive method substituted in its stead. 
 Therefore, leaving out elegance of attitude, 
 brilliancy of action, and regularity of time, 
 
 VOL. I, L the 
 
 X 
 
146 HEAD AKD CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 the horse may be moved sideways by the 
 following methods, which, should you wish 
 to aim at excellence herealter, it will not be 
 improper to commence with these first. 
 
 It will be best to begin this lesson with a 
 snaffle bridle : turn the horse's head to the 
 Wall : separate and collect j^our reins ; hold 
 them of equal length, j^our elbows to your 
 body, your hands up. Ifyourreinsare of a 
 proper length, so as to feel and govern the 
 mouth, the raising the hands, and closing 
 the outward leg, will put the horse in action. 
 Be perfectl}^ collected, and attempt no more 
 than to make the horse Avalk sideways; 
 therefore your operations of hand and heel 
 m.ust be mild and gentle. Supposing you 
 are going to the right, lead the shoulders off 
 lirst, not by any movement of the hands, 
 but by a turn of the body to the right. 
 
 The shoulders are to be about 16 or 18 
 inches more forward on their lines than the 
 Croup; and in this situation you are to en- 
 deavour to preserve them, by aiding the 
 
 Croup 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 147 
 
 Croup on with the left leg, at the same rate 
 that the hand leads, or permits the shoulders 
 to advance. 
 
 Your attention is now to observe — that the 
 horse does not ad^^ance over his lines, so that 
 his nose touches the wall ; that he does not 
 retreat from his lines, by backing from the 
 Wall; that the shoulders work no faster 
 than the Croup, by which the horse would 
 become straight on his lines ; that the Croup 
 does not work faster than the shoulders, by 
 which the horse would not be able to ad- 
 vance ; and that you preserve your balance 
 without leaning the body outward. 
 
 This last I am particular in, because it is 
 an error which the side action of the horse 
 caused many to imbibe, and should be care- 
 fully avoided ; for your horse will never be 
 balanced in your hands, nor you on your 
 horse, if this error gets confirmed by long 
 practice. 
 
 L 2 Now, 
 
148 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 Now, to correct any of the above occur- 
 rences, should they take place : — first, if 
 the horse advances over his line (if the reins 
 are of a proper length) the operation of the 
 hand is not sufficiently strong; — therefore 
 brace the tendons of the fingers, which 
 will cause the sensation or appui to be 
 stronger. 
 
 On the other hand, should the horse re- 
 treat from the Wall, the hand may be too 
 strong: — ease the fingers, and close both 
 legs, to bring him to his ground. Should 
 5'OU perceive the shoulders gain on the 
 Croup, you need not move your hands, if 
 they are properly placed ; but, keeping them 
 perfectly stead}^, turn your body a little out- 
 ward, which is the contrary way to which 
 the horse is working. This will stay the 
 shoulders while the Croup comes up. 
 
 Observe, when your body and hands aiie 
 placed straight with your horse, an imper- 
 ceptible turn of the body will remove your 
 'hands an inch, which is about a fifth part 
 
 of 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 149 
 
 of the power the aid of the body possesses, 
 independent of any removal of the hand. 
 
 Tlie leg, always remember, is to assist 
 the hands, by putting the Croup forward, 
 while you stay the shoulders; and when 
 both are right, let them proceed together. 
 Should the Croup advance too forward, as 
 mostly happens from a defective balance, 
 the body leaning to the outward stops the 
 shoulders; if so, correct your seat; otherwise 
 aid less with your leg, or turn the body a 
 Jittle more inward. Both, or either, will 
 correct the error. 
 
 And should you fmd your balance dis- 
 turbed, stretch down j^our inward leg, brace 
 the muscles strong, and press the inner part 
 close to the saddle. The horse's head being 
 straight, and moving only in the action of 
 the walk, you will not be so liable to lose 
 your balance, as in the action of the trot oj* 
 passage.- 
 
 L 3 ^ Th^se 
 
150 MEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 These observations duly attended to, with 
 a httle practice you will be able to walk the 
 horse sideways, by the help of the Wall; — 
 and I would recommend to persevere in this 
 to both hands, till you can work the length 
 of the riding-house, at one regular pace, 
 without suffering errors to take place. For 
 the staying the shoulders to let the Croup 
 come up, and then the Croup while you 
 lead the shoulders on, is like shoving first 
 one end and then the other, and discovers 
 great defect either in man or horse : both 
 ends should work evenly and truly toge- 
 ther. 
 
 Should the horse be awkward or reluctant 
 to work sideways, the more determinate 
 operations of the hand may be used to en- 
 force it ; and that is, by bending the horse's 
 Head a little to the contrary hand, to which, 
 you are working, by which, at the time 
 you lead the shoulders forward, you keep 
 the Croup on their lines, and prcA^ent the 
 horse from becoming straight. But though 
 I mention this as admissible, under the cir- 
 cumstances 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 151 
 
 cumstances of an awkward or reluctant 
 working horse, it is by no means to be the 
 continual practice, because it is departing 
 farther from the truth of this lesson, in 
 which the horse should work to the concave 
 side of him; but when you bend the horse 
 the contrary way to which he works, he 
 works to the convex, which is the lesson of 
 the shoulder within inverted. 
 
 Being perfect in the walk, attempt a little 
 more union and animation, which will pro- 
 duce an action between the trot and passage ; 
 be mindful, in this, to keep the hands firm 
 and steady; for some horses will take the 
 advantage of a defective hand, and run 
 away with it the whole length of the riding- 
 house. The more you unite your horse, the 
 more secure he should be poised in your 
 hand. But when you give the animation 
 without the union, you permit the hox'se to 
 run awav with the hand. 
 
 After practice has confirmed 3'our hands 
 to the working Head to the Vv all, attempt 
 
 L 4 in 
 
 yt 
 
152 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 in like manner, to work the Croup to the 
 Walk The only difference is, that the 
 horse bein^ more inclined to advance over 
 the line than retreat from it, there is no 
 Wall to prevent him ; therefore, this more 
 confirms the hand. 
 
 When you can work the Head and Croup 
 by the assistance of the Wall, try the same 
 down the middle of the riding-house. Here, 
 having no Wall to direct j^ou, your eye 
 must attentively traverse the ground^ and 
 vour hands and heel work to it, 
 
 From perfecting yourself in this lesson 
 with both hands, proceed to work it with 
 one hand, and likewise with a bit and bri- 
 doon bridle. The reins properly adjusted, 
 and the hand in its usual situation, the same 
 aids of the body and hands will produce the 
 same effects ; so that nothing more need to 
 be said upon it. 
 
 Thus much of this lesson is indispensibly 
 necessary for every gentleman who becomes 
 
 a soldier 
 
BEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 1^3 
 
 a soldier. And yet, necessary as it is, and 
 trifling to learn, many I perceive very awk- 
 ward in the practice of it. And this I judge 
 to proceed from aiming to perform what 
 they see others do with so much ease, with- 
 out coolly digesting the principle and the- 
 ory of it. If they do not succeed, the tem- 
 per gets disturbed, a quarrel takes place, in 
 which the poor horse is sure to suffer, and 
 l)ear all the blame. 
 
 I now come to tlie masterly execution of 
 this lesson, which I call the test of horse- 
 manship, — because such performance can- 
 not take place without a correct uniformity 
 in the position of the rider and horse ;— a 
 steady and firm balance, which the side ac- 
 tion of the horse never disturbs^ and without 
 which the hands nor aids could not be cor- 
 rect. Tlie horse being completely balanced 
 in the rider's hands, and the rider on the 
 horse, while this harmony subsists, the horse 
 will work to the same degfree of figure and 
 animation as the rider shall display in his 
 
 awn 
 
154 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. • 
 
 own person ; the one being the result of the 
 other. 
 
 . The working a horse sideways, from right 
 to left, and left to right, I have observed, is 
 cSiWed passaging — and as the horse cannot 
 do this in an elegant, animated style, with- 
 out uniting himself more than in the trot, — 
 whereby the action is raised before, and 
 lowered behind, the time slower, and the 
 beats not so sharp, — this position, action, and 
 time, in which the horse works, is called the 
 passage, whether it is worked sideways or 
 straight forward. 
 
 The true position of the horse in the pas- 
 sage is nearly the same as in the united gal- 
 lop, the action and time excepted. 
 
 Viz. — The fore-hand raised — the shoul- 
 ders out — the Croup in — the neck partaking 
 of a twofold bend : — that is, the neck bends 
 a little inward, and the nose a little turned 
 from the perpendicular, — so that the neck 
 
 partakes 
 
HEAD AND CnOUP TO THE WALL. 15^ 
 
 partakes of a small bend and turn, which 
 puts the fore-hand into a most elegant form. 
 The inner side of the horse, which is that 
 to which he is working, is advanced or leads, 
 the same as in the gallop ; but the feet are 
 lifted as in the trot, only raised higher before 
 and less behind, the consequence of a closer 
 union. The fore-feet being raised higher 
 and retained in hand, make a shorter step 
 and slower time, and the action not being 
 so rapid as the trot, the beats are not so 
 sharp. 
 
 Working a horse straight forward in the 
 passage air is far more difficult than working 
 sideways ; for the attitude of the horse is 
 properly adapted to his working sidewa}^ 
 which he readily will do, when he finds the 
 detention of the fingers prevents his advanc- 
 ing forward. 
 
 Of the two evils he will choose the least; 
 for he finds less constraint in moving from 
 his ground in any direction than supporting 
 the action on the same spot, or advancing 
 
 very 
 
 
156 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 very slow. This shews the propriety of first 
 learning the passage b}^ working Head and 
 Croup to the Wall. Some mistake the pas- 
 sage air, when not working sideways, for 
 the piaffcy there being a similitude ; but 
 a reference to the piaffe will shew the dif- 
 fei'ence. 
 
 I nowt^ome to describe the position of the 
 horseman, which cannot be ver}^ different 
 from the position already described in the 
 gallop, since the position of the horse is 
 nearly the same, therefore the operation of 
 the hands to support, retain, and permit the 
 action of the passage, without raising it to 
 the animation of the gallop, is the principal 
 acquirement to study, 
 
 Begin this, as other lessons, first to the 
 right, with a snaffle bridle ; collect and se- 
 parate the reins, turn the horse's Head to 
 the Wall, bring your right hand down to 
 your body, letting your wrist steadily rest 
 against it, the little fmger being of a paral- 
 lel height with the elbow. This hand sup- 
 ports 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 157 
 
 ports the position or attitude of the horse, 
 and is never to mo^^e but with the body, 
 while vou work the horse to the risrht 
 The left hand having the rein of equal 
 length will be somewhat advanced, to ad- 
 mit the small bend of the neck and turn of 
 the nose, as described. — The right hand 
 being fixed to the body to support the posi- 
 tion, the left may be detached,— the hand 
 and elbow raised to a parallel with the should 
 der, the elbow so bent as to form a grace- 
 ful arch. In this situation it operates in the 
 same direction from the horse's mouth as 
 the right, only higher, for tlie purpose of 
 raising the fore-hand, and by those delicate 
 sensations of the fmgers, inseparable to a 
 good hand, enlivens the mouth, lightens 
 the appiii, animates the horse, and raises 
 the action. 
 
 The corresponding position of the body, 
 as has been described in the gallop, with 
 croup in, is the right hip advanced and the 
 thigh turned inward, &c. But as the side 
 action of the horse is more liable to disturb 
 J the 
 
1.58 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 the balance than the gallop, — be sure to 
 keep the body upright — or if any thing — 
 leaning to the right, — stretching the right 
 leg clown, and bracing the muscles firm — • 
 your eye always traversing the ground the 
 horse is to work on. 
 
 The instant 3^our body and hands take 
 this position, tlie reins being properly col- 
 lected, with the necessary animations, the 
 horse should be united, supported, and com- 
 pletely balanced in your hands, and you 
 work him along the Wall, letting the shoul- 
 ders lead a little, as directed in the former 
 part of this lesson. The difference is, the 
 horse is supported in a different and more 
 graceful attitude, the small but elegant bend 
 is to the hand he works, so that he works 
 to the concave side of him, which is more 
 brilliant in appearance, as well as more 
 difficult to execute; the action grand, and 
 the time as regular as the beats of a clock. 
 
 I shall now remark the errors and obsta- 
 cles which retard some and prevent others 
 
 from 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 159 
 
 from acquiring a masterly execution of this 
 admirable lesson. 
 
 First, not perfecting themselves in the pre- 
 ceding lessons, to establish their seat and in- 
 form their hand. 
 
 Next, not studying the lesson, to compre- 
 hend what they are going about, before they 
 begin. 
 
 Want of discernment or emulation; for 
 he that admires not the beauties, and de- 
 sires not excellence, will trouble himself but 
 little in tlie pursuit of them. 
 
 These are grand obstacles. The little er- 
 rors which beginners are liable to commit, 
 with attention are soon corrected — such as 
 — bending the horse too much, by which 
 they throw the Croup off their lines, and 
 the horse becomes straight, — sometimes the 
 diffidence of the hands, at the commence- 
 ment of a new lesson, does not operate suf 
 iicjently to collect and unite the horse — 
 
 4 at 
 
160 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL- 
 
 at other times the hands are too strait antl 
 confining. Therefore guard against these 
 errors. 
 
 Begin cautionslY, and gently press and 
 collect your horse into your hands, till you 
 feel that you have him completel}^ united 
 and balanced there. — Let your arms be firm 
 and steady, joui fingers soft and pliant, — as 
 the obedience and working of the horse will 
 admit — supporting the ajjpui as light and 
 delicate as possible, — lead the shoulders off 
 first, and let the Croup accompany them. 
 
 The same aids of the body, legs, and 
 Lands, will correct the disorders that may 
 occur, as in the former part of this lesson. 
 But the right hip being much advanced, to 
 preserve the balance and support the posi- 
 tion, — to prevent any unseemly distortion 
 which the body would have by thus turning 
 beyond a certain medium, the shoulders 
 may be stayed by carrying the left hand a 
 little outward, — or letting the hand operate 
 outward by the turn or motion of the wrist. 
 
 In 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 1^1 
 
 In like manner, the outward hand being 
 brought in, will permit or lead the shoulders 
 on. But you must not be satisfied with 
 yourself while you suffer these disorders to 
 take place ; for it is generally more the de- 
 fect of the rider than the horse. 
 
 When you have worked the length of the 
 riding-house to the right, work back again; 
 for this purpose reverse your position, i. e. 
 bring your left hand down to your body, to 
 support the position to the left, advance 
 and raise your right hand to support the 
 action, advance your left hip to maintain 
 the balance, direct your face to your horse's 
 nose, and your eye along the line his fore- 
 feet are to work on ; and in this manner 
 you work to the left. 
 
 I recommend practising by the help of 
 the Wall, till j^ou feel you have your horse 
 completely balanced in your hands, support- 
 ing an elegant position, close union, and 
 high animation, which is drawn from the 
 horse by the exact correspondence of the 
 
 VOL. I, M rider: 
 
162 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 rider: the rider's position determining that 
 of the horse. The firmness of the nerves 
 presses or unites him together, and the hve- 
 ly sensations or animations of the hands in 
 particular, and body altogether, command 
 the most brilliant action. When these cease 
 with the rider, they cease with the horse, 
 which is demonstrated when you desist from 
 working. You relinquish your animations, 
 sit easy, and drop the hands. 
 
 A Reprize for Tractice and Imiwovement in 
 
 this Lesson. 
 
 You now proceed to work this lesson not 
 only with elegance, but with all the variety 
 and taste your imagination can invent. By 
 frequent changes you confirm your hand, 
 and the obedience of the horse, and prevent 
 him from contracting the habit of working 
 by rote, which some horses, by a too long 
 continuance to the same hand and direction, 
 are apt to imbibe. Thus the rider is deceiv- 
 ed, thinking he works the horse, when the 
 horse works of himself 
 
 Besides, 
 
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HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 163 
 
 Besides, this lesson, when worked high, is 
 exceedingly distressing to the horse ; there- 
 fore, the frequent changing affords the op- 
 portunity of displaying a greater variety be- 
 fore the horse is over-heated, or his strength 
 exhausted. 
 
 I do not mean to confine gentlemen to 
 work a Reprize directly after the form I am 
 going to describe, but only to convey to 
 them an idea of the thing, and let their 
 own judgment and taste direct them after- 
 wards to vary it as they please. 
 
 Begin, therefore, to work your horse's 
 Head to the Wall to the right. When you 
 arrive at the corner, (suppose for example at 
 A, plate 5, fig. 1,) observe the turning of 
 the corner. If you lead, or suffer, the shoul- 
 ders to go round too soon, the corner would 
 not be filled, and discovers that the hand 
 permits the horse to break ground, which 
 all horses will do with inattentive hands. 
 
 M 2 On 
 
164 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 On the other hand, if you work too close, 
 the shoulders would not have room to turn, 
 and you would be (what we term) locked 
 up. Attending to these particulars, stop 
 the haunches in time, that the shoulders 
 may have just room to turn. 
 
 If you have your horse properly united, 
 and, as it were, balanced in your hands, the 
 gradual turn of your bod}^, desisting at the 
 same time from aiding with the leg, will 
 lead the shoulders round. And, as the 
 shoulders advance to their proper situation 
 on the new lines, the body and leg resume 
 their former position, and work both shoul- 
 ders and Croup together. 
 
 Remember, the beauties of this lesson 
 consist in w^orking the ground true ; support- 
 ing the proper position, elegant action, high 
 animation, and regular time. 
 
 When arrived at the corner B, in like 
 manner, lead the shoulders round till they 
 
 2 are 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 165 
 
 are properly situated to work on the diago- 
 nal lines which cross the house, and work to 
 the corner D : if you bring the horse proper- 
 ly to this corner, the horse will be situated, 
 by only the change of your position, to 
 work on the described lines to the left ; care- 
 fully observing to turn and fill the corner C, 
 work to the point E. 
 
 Here stay the Croup while you lead the 
 shoulders round to station them on the in- 
 tended demi-volt ; then, forming with your 
 eye as true a half circle as you can, correct- 
 ly work thereon; keeping the Croup all the 
 way towards the centre, as the situation of 
 the marks on the lines more clearly express. 
 Here you will display 3^our proficiency, lead- 
 ing the shoulders from the Wall, working 
 the volt correct, keeping the horse in a true 
 position and situation in every part of the 
 volt, turning the Croup at the finish, for the 
 purpose of changing and working to the 
 right, in high animation, close union, and 
 without breaking time. All this discovers 
 the masterly execution of the rider, which 
 
 M 3 na 
 
166 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 no horse will work without the support and 
 direction of the horseman. 
 
 And, if the horseman is not truly correct, 
 the horse cannot perform his part correctly. 
 
 Having arrived at the point F, turn the 
 Croup sufficiently in, and work to the right, 
 round by the Wall, observing properly to 
 fill your corners till you arrive at G. 
 
 Here, in like manner, work on a demi* 
 volt, to the point H, where you change and 
 work to the left, filling your corners. Work 
 to the corner C, then cross the house in a di« 
 agonal line to the corner A, fig. 2, where, 
 instead of changing, turn the Croup round, 
 and work Croup to the Wall, to the cor- 
 ner B. 
 
 Here you change and work to the right 
 hand across the house to the corner D, 
 where you must stay the shoulders while 
 you turn the Croup, till your horse is pro- 
 perly stationed to work Croup to the Wall, 
 5 to 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 167 
 
 to the comer C, and then turning the Croup, 
 continue to work to the point E ; here stay 
 the shoulders, turn the Croup in, make the 
 change, and work the demi-^^olt, which 
 brings you to the point F, carefully turn- 
 ing the horse's Croup to the Wall, work to 
 the corner C, and from thence to D, ob- 
 serving to turn the Croup round at each 
 corner, and continue working to the point G. 
 
 Here make the change, and turn the 
 Croup round, so that the horse may be pro- 
 perly stationed to work on the demi-volt, to 
 the point H ; then turning the Croup to 
 th6 Wall, work to the corner D, and from 
 thence to C, where you change and work 
 across the house to the corner A, fig. 3; 
 turn the Croup round in the corner, and 
 work to the corner B. 
 
 Here change and work the traversing 
 lines up the riding-house, reversing your 
 hand at every angle, which is called the 
 Change Re^'erse, till you arrive at the point 
 
 M 4 E, where 
 
168 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 E, where you halt for a moment, and work 
 upon the voh to either or both hands, termi- 
 nating at E, where the volt began; then 
 rein the horse back to the point F, and work 
 the horse forward to the point E, in a straight 
 position, lofty action, slow time, and as much 
 united as possible; by which time I think 
 your horse will be sufficiently exhausted. 
 
 The intention of these Reprizes must be 
 obvious to my readers. — Excellence is not 
 to be attained without practice; and by 
 working the horse after the manner I have 
 laid down, or some such like one, in which 
 I have been only mindful to bring in the 
 usual changes wrought in the lesson of 
 Head and Croup to the Wall, — the pupil, 
 when able to work this correct and true, 
 will confirm the efficacy of his own hand, 
 and the horse's obedience ; and will be ca- 
 pacitated to vary the lesson, and work on 
 such lines or figure as his taste or imagina- 
 tion shall dictate. 
 
 Observe, 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 169 
 
 Observe, when working the Croup to the 
 Wall round the riding-house to the right, 
 you are working to your left hand, and 
 when working round the riding-house to the 
 left, you are working to your right hand; 
 likewise the changes in the Croup to the 
 Wall are made both previous to crossing the 
 riding-house, and at the commencement of 
 the demi-volt, contrary to the Head to the 
 Wall, where the changes are made at the 
 termination of each. — If this is not attend- 
 ed to, you may confuse and bewilder your- 
 self. 
 
 I have made but little observation respect- 
 ing the conducting the horse on the volt; 
 and but little is necessary ;— for it should not 
 be attempted till such time as the pupil is 
 completely united with his horse, and can 
 work him correctly and truly, from side to 
 side, end to end, and to cross corners ; hav- 
 ing no assistance of the Wall. 
 
 Here the eye determines the lines ; and 
 the hand and heel, as it were, instinctively 
 
 work 
 
170 HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 
 
 work to it. When this proficiency is ac- 
 quired, the working on the volt will soon be 
 accomplished. The principal object is,, to 
 station the horse properly at the commence- 
 ment. — By which, I mean, turning the 
 Croup toward the centre, in the exact po- 
 sition on the lines as the horse is to preserve 
 throughout the volt: — and the volt being 
 determined by the eye, the hand and heel 
 must aim to work to it ; observing that the 
 shoulders here, as well as in straight lines, 
 rather take the lead : and the more con- 
 tracted or narrow the volts are, the body 
 must have a proportionate turn, and like- 
 wise a backward inclination to assist and fa- 
 cilitate the shoulders, which have a larger 
 circle or space to work over than the haunch- 
 es. Care must be taken that this incli- 
 nation of the body does not affect or cause 
 the horse to retire from his ground. The 
 hand, therefore, must preserv'e its exact situ- 
 ation and operation ; letting the body, as it 
 inclines, depart from the hand; that, while 
 you are assisting the one part, you may not 
 disorder the whole. 
 
 At 
 
HEAD AND CROUP TO THE WALL. 171 
 
 At the finish of the demi-volt, you have 
 carefully to turn the Croup on the lines you 
 intend to proceed on, when working Croup 
 to the Wall ; and the shoulders on their re- 
 spective lines, when working Head to the 
 Wall, before you make the change. In 
 Croup to the Wall, the change was made 
 at the commencement of the volt. 
 
 This lesson I call the test of horseman- 
 ship ; because it discovers the exact abilities 
 of the horseman ; whether in point of the 
 correctness, of the position, fineness of the 
 hands, delicacy of the aids, correctness of 
 execution, together with the degree of spirit 
 and animation he is equal to work to. For 
 this lesson may be well executed or rode, 
 yet many degrees short of perfection: I 
 therefore recommend it for continual prac- 
 tice; aiming to improve and support the 
 most elegant attitude, lofty action, correct 
 time, and height of animation, which no 
 horse will perform without the concordance 
 of the rider. 
 
 THE 
 
172 
 
 THE TERRE A TERRE. 
 
 Galloping a Terre cl Terre, is the gal- 
 loping sideways, with the head to the wall, 
 or otherwise. The position of the horse in 
 galloping a Terre ci Terre, is exactly the 
 same as working the last lesson of head to 
 the wall ; or the only difference, however, is, 
 the legs are lifted in the action of the gal- 
 lop, and mark four beats, rather quicker 
 than the gallop ; because the feet measure 
 less space, and the hind legs are necessitated 
 to follow the fore more rapidly. Thus the 
 action and beats of the feet distinguish the 
 air so correctly, that I have known a gentle- 
 man, totally dark, attend with rapture to the 
 harmony of the feet, and could name what- 
 ever air the horse was performing. 
 
 After having explained the last lesson in 
 the fullest and clearest manner, which is the 
 clew, the key, or foundation, of manege-rid- 
 ing, nothing more need be said on this, since 
 
 V the 
 
THE TERRE A TERRE. 173 
 
 the position of the horse is supported by the 
 hke position of the rider, and the hands and 
 legs are to support the union and maintain 
 the action of the gallop. 
 
 The like changes and airs, which are 
 wrought in the last lesson, may be perform- 
 ed in this : namely ; the long-change, demi- 
 volts, change-reversed, volts, &c. 
 
 This finishes what I call the useful part of 
 the manege, or scientific riding ; and before 
 I enter on the amusing or ornamental airs,^ 
 I believe it will be more acceptable to my 
 readers to treat on such deviations from the 
 manege system as are admissible for the pur- 
 port, intent, or design we have to execute. 
 
 ON 
 
174 
 
 ON MILITARY RIDING. 
 
 The army is obliged to adopt as much of 
 the scientific system of riding as will enable 
 them to perform their movements and evolu- 
 tions with readiness and precision. 
 
 The hand must be taught the correspon- 
 dence, effect, and operation ; but the delica- 
 cies may be dispensed with. — The horse is 
 not to be distressed by working to his ex- 
 treme union and height of animation in the 
 most elegant attitude that can be drawh 
 from him ; therefore, the rider is not neces- 
 sitated to sit in the extreme position, which 
 only looks elegant when the attitude and 
 action of the horse exactly correspond : con- 
 sequently, military riding differs from the 
 manege, only, by laying aside all extremes. 
 
 Let us now compare and point out the 
 difference. 
 
 First, 
 
^'Ti 
 
 S^ Jar cerium ^mjr^ 
 
 Mi^M.-tr 
 
 G /'icloa/^- a^4^tr) 
 
 :BiiS*p.XrffCS, S^ TarmeCioufMfMb'^^rep-JlC'uia^ . 
 
ON MILITARY RIDING. 175 
 
 First, the seat is not so long ; by which we 
 lose a proportionate part of that nice equili- 
 brium, which is independently maintained 
 by the muscles of the thighs> and is indis- 
 pensable in working the horse high in the 
 manege with elegance and taste. — This, not 
 being wanted in the army (only by the rid- 
 ing-master and his assistants) can well be ex- 
 cused, for the greater ease of the rider, 
 strength of seat, liberty in the saddle, by 
 means of the stirrups, which, if too long, 
 would be useless for the purposes they are 
 most materially wanted. 
 
 This shortening the stirrup, occasions the 
 seat to be less on the fork ; but is not to be 
 thrown wholly on the breech ; the rump and 
 buttocks are to be thrust out behind, and the 
 back bent, so that the body may preserve its 
 upright position :— the joints below the hip 
 are all a little more bent — the instep is bent, 
 to sink the heel — the knee is bent, to keep 
 the leg near the side, and the toe perpendi- 
 cular to the knee — and the joint ^bove the 
 
 knee 
 
176 ON MILITARY RIDING. 
 
 knee is more bent, from the like cause ; viz. 
 the stirrup being shortened. 
 
 As I have hitherto scarcely mentioned 
 the stirrups, on account of their httle utility 
 in manege-riding, they nov\^ become very 
 useful, though the}^ add nothing to the secu- 
 rity of the seat in any system of riding what- 
 soever, but are frequently the occasion of the 
 rider being thrown : nevertheless, they can- 
 not be dispensed with ; for it would be dif- 
 ficult to mount or dismount without them. 
 They are a great easement to the rider, by 
 supporting the toe, and prevent the dangling 
 of the legs. They are an assistance, be- 
 cause the rider can preserve his balance 
 with less attention, and take much greater 
 liberties with them than without them. — 
 They are a great easement to the rider, in 
 extended paces, by rising in the trot, or 
 raising himself in the stirrups, as in the hunt- 
 ing seat. And, lastly, the positions best cal- 
 culated to assault 5^our enemy, and protect 
 yourself cannot be readily nor precisely per- 
 formed 
 
ON MILITARY RIDING. 177 
 
 formed without the stirnip. Yet, whenever 
 the rider is in danger of lostng his seat, by 
 any sudden spring, leap, &c. he must drop 
 close down to the saddle, and apply his legs, 
 without laying any stress in the stirrups, or 
 paying any regard to them. But more of 
 this in its proper place. 
 
 I now come to consider the determined 
 length the stirrups should be for military 
 riding; and when we weigh the advantages 
 with the disadvantages, we are led to fix on 
 the medium between the hunting and ma- 
 nege. The manege length v/ould do away 
 the advantages we derive in the stirrup, and 
 the length of the hunting stirrup will be 
 found too short. 
 
 You may ask. Why there should be a 
 distinction between the military and hunting 
 length? I shall answer. That were you to 
 ride a hunting the length which I shall 
 adopt for military riding, you might ride the 
 first burst tolerably comfortable: but hard 
 exercise makes the strongest bodies yield a 
 
 VOL. I, N , little; 
 
178 ON MILITARY RIDING- 
 
 little; and you will find by this yielding of 
 the body, the rump thrfist out farther behind, 
 and the bottom will come in contact with 
 the saddle; so that for ease you are necessi- 
 tated to ride shorter. 
 
 Then why not appropriate the short stirrup 
 for the soldier ? Because the soldier has but 
 little occasion to ride in his stirrups: and 
 when he does, it is for no long continuance. 
 Next, he is necessitated to ride his horse 
 more united, for which the long stirrup 
 is more appropriate. Lastly, the soldier is 
 obliged to take suitable positions to attack 
 his enemy, and protect himself; in several 
 of which he is upright in his stirrups, with a 
 straight knee. Now, if the shortness of the 
 stirmp raise him so high that the muscles 
 above the knee cannot come in contact with 
 the saddle, he will t'^tter; that is, not be firm; 
 and incapable of effectually acting .on the 
 offensive or defensive. 
 
 To ascertain the precise length a person 
 should ride for his ease and advantage, de- 
 pends. 
 
ON MILITARY RIDING. 179 
 
 pends, in some measure, on the horse you 
 ride, and hkewise the action of the horse ; 
 for, I find, when my saddle is shifted front 
 a narrow horse to a wide one, the stirrups 
 Avant shortening : — by the legs being expan- 
 ded, the seat is shortened. Likewise, if the 
 action of the horse is rough, it will be found 
 more pleasant to have the stirrup one holq 
 shorter than when the action is smooth and 
 easy. 
 
 The criterion I shall fix upon for a soldier's 
 riding, is, when the stirrup is placed under 
 the ball of the foot, and the person stands 
 upright with a straight knee, and, bringing 
 his waist forward, fmds his fork clear the 
 pummel of the saddle, without raising his 
 heel, in general will be found the best adap* 
 ted for the Military seat. 
 
 The only advantages a soldier would have 
 by a shorter stirrup, would be the greater 
 ease of raising his leg over his cloak-bag and 
 necessaries that are placed behind him; but 
 ^mall inconveniencies must give place to 
 
 N 2 greater 
 
180 ON MILITARY RIDING. 
 
 greater advantages. A shorter stirrup would 
 render him unsteady in the several positions 
 he is obliged to take in his exercise ; and a 
 longer one would incapacitate him from tak- 
 ing those positions. 
 
 The science of the hand and aids cannot 
 be too much inculcated in the army : the 
 precision and correctness of their moviements 
 are effected by it; and the strength and firm- 
 ness of a squadron in a charge depend intire- 
 ly on the superiority of the rider's hand over 
 the horse. 
 
 I shall take the liberty, here, of making 
 my remarks on the charge; which, if they 
 are found to be just and reasonable, the 
 hints may be serviceable to the Commanders 
 of Volunteer Corps. 
 
 The strength and firmness of the charge 
 must depend on the steadiness of the line, 
 the compactness of the bodj^, and the rapi- 
 dity and force of the rencounter. Now, to 
 give this force and rapidity, it frequently 
 
 happens. 
 
ON MILITARY RIDING. 181 
 
 happens, the charge is led on at too great 
 a speed, whereby the greatest part of the 
 men are necessitated to give the command or 
 ascendency of the hand to assist the horse's 
 speed, to keep up in the hne. The conse- 
 quence must be, whether the halt or the ren- 
 counter take place, the line must be broken, 
 and thrown into confusion, by the ungovern- 
 ableness of the horses; and this, where the 
 charge is so unskilfully conducted, is too fre- 
 quently seen. 
 
 The charge, therefore, should be led at 
 no greater speed than the slowest horse in 
 the squadron is able to maintain, under the 
 strictest influence of the rider's hand ; and 
 to give that strength and effect, in the ren- 
 counter, which is most likely to insure the 
 success, as the lines approach, the anima- 
 tion of the horses should be raised to the 
 highest pitch, which will have all the effect 
 of speed, without the disastrous consequences. 
 For the horse thus mettled, would stop at 
 nothing but the compulsion of the rider's 
 hand. He would run against a wall, plunge 
 
 N 3 into 
 
ISS X^'N MILITARY RIDING. 
 
 int6 a river, or rush on the point of a bay- 
 onet ; and thus the charge is as determined 
 ^nd resolute as the speed can make it, and 
 much less liable to a repulse. 
 
 I now come to describe the different posi- 
 tions necessary to be taken when performing 
 the sword exercise on horseback. 
 
 The first position which occurs, is, when 
 you come to guard ; previous to which, it 
 will be necessary to shorten your reins. 
 
 It is not my intention, though I teach the 
 gword exercise, to treat of it here; only, 
 how the horseman maintains himself firmly 
 and advantageously in the saddle in the exe^ 
 cution of it. 
 
 When you come to guard, you raise your- 
 self in your stirrups, and bring your body 
 forw'^ard, which position somewhat resembles 
 the hunting seat. The body thus brought 
 forward, the centre of gravity must be pre- 
 served, by the ruQfip being proportionably 
 
 thrust 
 
ON MILITARY RIDING. 183 
 
 thrust behind. Thus you keep your equili. 
 brium, and can give your horse the same 
 support with the bridle-hand as when you 
 were sitting upright on the saddle. The 
 thighs are always to embrace the saddle^ and 
 the stirrup hanging perpendicular, is placed 
 under the ball of the foot. In this position 
 the guard and assaults are executed : bring- 
 ing the right shoulder a little forward will 
 facilitate the motion of the wrist in the seve- 
 ral cuts, and give precision to the execution. 
 
 The next position which occurs, in going 
 through the divisions, is, that of protecting 
 to the left, in which vou are raised in the 
 stirrups, with the body upright, and turned 
 as far to the left as the situation of your ad- 
 versary, or the cut, point, or protect requires. 
 In this turn of the body you must be mind- 
 ful not to let the bridle-hand depart from its 
 centrical situation, unless you mean to turn 
 the horse to the left. 
 
 Therefore, as the body turns, the hand 
 seems to advance ; but, in reaUty, only keeps 
 
 ■ N 4 its 
 
184 ON MILITARY RIDING. 
 
 its situation. The extreme turn of the body 
 to receive the attack of your adversary in 
 the rear, is facilitated by the advancing the 
 right hip, turning the right thigh round to 
 the saddle, so that the right toe is turned in 
 and the heel out, the left thigh and toe of 
 course will be turned outward : — the shoul- 
 ders must be turned to the extreme. The 
 back very hollow, the left side bent, and 
 the eye directed to the real or imaginary ob- 
 ject. The balance is preserved in this ex- 
 treme by bending the right knee, and letting 
 the fleshy part of the left thigh, and the mus- 
 cular part of the right thigh, sustain the 
 principal weight and steadiment of the body. 
 
 As j^our adversary comes up abreast with 
 you, your position becomes more upright, 
 and your right knee becomes straight. In 
 which position, the cuts one and two, and 
 point to the left, are given; but in the cut 
 four, at infantry, you let the seat settle again 
 on the thighs, by a little bend of the right 
 knee. 
 
 The 
 
ON MILITARY RIDING. 185 
 
 The protects and cuts on the right side 
 are executed in a position nearly the reverse 
 of the left, but with more ease to the horse- 
 " man ; the advance of the left hip, and turn 
 of the thighs to admit the turn of the body- 
 to the right, is exactly the reverse of the 
 other; but the bridle-hand, by keeping its 
 situation, to support and direct the horse, 
 occasions as the body turns to the right, the 
 elbow of the left arm to point to the horse's 
 ears, and the wrist as much bent as possible. 
 In this position the cuts one, two, and point 
 to the right, are given : the cut three, at in- 
 fantry, requires the body to be turned a little 
 further, with a bend in the right side, and a 
 little inclination of the body ; by which you 
 will be able to make the cut somewhat from 
 you, and not endanger the horse's head. 
 
 The cut six, to the rear, from Saint 
 George, requires the right shoulder to be 
 raised with the arm, the right side straight, 
 and the left a little bent. The body is stea- 
 died in these positions by dropping the 
 
 thighs 
 
186 ON MILITARY HIDING. 
 
 thighs closer on the saddle when the turn is 
 to the extreme. 
 
 The sword-arm protect, requires the shoul- 
 ders to be raised with the arm, and the back 
 much bent; the head always turned to 
 view your adversary. In whatever direc- 
 tion you give point, the right shoulder is 
 drawn back in fixing the point, but advan- 
 ced with the thrust. And care must be taken 
 not to overreach or throw yourself out of ba- 
 lance. 
 
 To be expert and ready at the sword 
 exercise on horseback, you must first obtain 
 a good seat with ease and freedom in the 
 saddle. In your practice you are to aim at 
 shifting the position from right to left, and 
 left to right, as quick as possible, without 
 throwing yourself out of balance ; which, in 
 real action, would be attended with fatal 
 consequences; therefore, you must never 
 let your over-eagerness risk such a circum- 
 stance. 
 
 3 The 
 
 •^^**- 
 
ON MILITARY RIDING. 187 
 
 The shifting your position from right to 
 left, when your antagonist is going round 
 your rear, frequently occasions, with begin- 
 ners, a little perturbation, or disorder, from 
 the necessity of your eye quitting your ad- 
 versarv. In these situations coolness and 
 collection prevent the confusion and disorder 
 which over-eagerness might cause. And you 
 are to recollect that your hand does not move 
 from off your guard while the head is turned 
 to view your antagonist on the left, which 
 is instantaneous; and the shifting the position 
 of the thighs may be done with more deli- 
 beration than the head and shoulders, rather 
 than risque tlie disorder which haste and 
 confusion too frequently occasion. 
 
 OBSER. 
 
188 
 
 OBSERVATIONS AND REMARKS 
 
 ON" 
 
 TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 
 
 Teaching to ride is a separate and distinct 
 art from riding. — We fmd many persons, 
 by practice and aptitude, become tolerable 
 riders, though totally incapable of commu- 
 nicating the art they have acquired to 
 others. This is particularly observable in 
 the arm3^ There such men are selected for 
 rough riders, to break the horses, and teach 
 the recruits to ride ; these men have been 
 taught to mount and dismount agree- 
 able to rule, and the number of motions 
 practised in the regiment. They are pla- 
 ced in a position, (I admit a correct one) 
 and rode in file and circle vs^ithout stirrups, 
 to give them a seat. This method, which is 
 certainly the best that can be adapted for 
 
 2 general 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 189 
 
 general practice, has made many of apt 
 abilities decent or passable riders, particular- 
 ly where a scrutinizing examination does 
 not take place; for I defy any man in the 
 kingdom to judge of a man's proficiency in 
 riding by only seeing him ride and pass by 
 in file. A recruit, who has not been three 
 times on horseback, may preserve a correct 
 position in a slow pace, and pass the inspect- 
 ing officer. A man may acquire a correct 
 and firm seat, yet be defective in the more 
 essential requisites of the hand and aids. 
 And though these qualities are attempted to 
 be taught in the army, I believe the little 
 that is acquired is attained more by the 
 trial and practice with the readiness of the 
 horses, than by clear scientific instruction. 
 
 Hence we find members in every regi- 
 ment continued in the riding-house upwards 
 of twelve months, and make little or no pro- 
 gress, till they are deemed to have a natu- 
 ral awkwardness, and never can be made 
 to ride better. — To assist those who have 
 the teaching of such awkward men, is the 
 
 subject 
 
190 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 subject of this chapter; and I trust it will he 
 found serviceable to many. 
 
 It is requisite that every teacher should 
 know theoretically, as well as practically^ 
 the art he teaches ; otherwise he will never 
 be able to point out the mmutia, nor dis- 
 criminate inaccuracies which have not an ob- 
 vious disgusting appearance to the eye, 
 though their consequence shall be inimical 
 to some requisite property or other, which I 
 need not explain in this place, as it W' ill ap- 
 pear in the remarks I shall hereafter make. 
 
 The first attainment in riding is to acquire 
 a firm, correct, and independant seat : and, 
 therefore, when a person is mounted, every 
 part of him is adjusted and placed in the 
 manner he should ride. This position 
 should be preserved when the horse is in 
 motion, by the exertion and action of the 
 muscles ; but the muscles, not before accus- 
 tomed to act in this capacity, cannot readilj' 
 perform their office; therefore practice must 
 bring him into it. 
 
 The 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 191 
 
 The best mode of practice, as it has been 
 observed, is riding in circle. The numbers 
 and expedition required in the army pre- 
 clude separately Ion geing each man; there- 
 fore, snaffle-bridles and the reins separated, 
 will be most convenient for beginners ta 
 guide their horses with. The men thus 
 mounted, in squad of about twenty-four, 
 correctly placed and put in motion, begin- 
 ning slow, and encreasing the action as the 
 men acquire firnmess; much disorder will 
 now take place, and each mind so occu- 
 pied by its situation, that little comprehen- 
 sion or attention can be paid to the repeated 
 admonitions given. Therefore frequent halt- 
 ing is advisable; and then replace the men, 
 and admonish them of the errors the}^ are 
 prone to. Some will get their legs forward 
 and hang on by tlie bridle ; others will cling 
 with their legs, and the body tumbling for- 
 ward ; some will be so loose, that shoulders, 
 arms, and legs will shake and dangle, as 
 though they had not a muscle to hold them 
 firm. Now the replacing and admonishing 
 them of their errors I do not hold altogether 
 
 a suffi- 
 
192 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 a sufficiently clear explanation of the neces- 
 sity and the means that should take place. 
 Th6 necessity I have obviously shewn, the 
 means I propose are as follow : when men 
 have been placed a few times, make them 
 place themselves by command, thus — stretch 
 down your thighs and turn them well in 
 to the saddle, thrust the rump out behind, 
 now raise your chest as high as possible, 
 open the breast and let the shoulders fall 
 back, stretch down the heel and turn it out, 
 then raise the toe — if any man can see his 
 toe it is too forward, let the arm a little 
 above the wTist gently rest against the body, 
 and on no account to move from vour situa- 
 tion. In this manner you call the muscles 
 into action to place every part, and it is 
 proper to explain to them, that the muscles 
 thus employed, must be exerted and kept 
 firm when the action of the horse tends to 
 loosen or remove any part. 
 
 To make this more clear to persons of 
 dull comprehension, give a gentle pull on 
 the rein, and if the hand is loose, hold it 
 
 firm 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. igfI3 
 
 firm with one hand, while you m?lke forci- 
 ble tugs with the other, to' shew that no 
 attempt of the horse to force the hand, much 
 less the gentle play of the reins by the ca- 
 dence of the action, is ever to remove 
 or loosen it. In like manner attempt to re 
 move the foot; if you find no resistance, de- 
 sire them to make resistance to oppose its 
 moving. By these means you explain and 
 call upon the action of the muscles, which 
 necessarily first takes place when the hor- 
 ses are halted. Afterwards require occasion- 
 ally the raising of the chest and the stretch- 
 ing down of the thighs and heel, &c. when 
 in slow action. 
 
 Thus apt and intelligent men, by prac- 
 tice, soon acquire a firmness, and, if the 
 teacher is a discriminating person, a correct 
 seat. Nevertheless there are in every regi- 
 ment some that require other expedients to 
 be used, to make every part firm and cor- 
 rect ; for explanations and admonitions, 
 hundreds of times repeated, may be ineffec- 
 tual. There are indolent relaxed habits 
 
 VOL. L o that 
 
1Q4 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 that \\i\\ not let the muscles perform their 
 functions, but suffer every part to shake as 
 if they were suspended by wires. Now if 
 you can employ one part of the muscular 
 system to give it a degree of firmness, it 
 will communicate a partial degree of firm- 
 ness to the whole. For which purpose, 
 provide pieces of sticks of six inches 
 long and place them between the arm a 
 little above the wrist, and the body re^ 
 quiring the gentle pressure of the arm against 
 the body to sustain it there, pieces of twine 
 about fifteen inches long should be fastened 
 to them and looped to a finger, that if let 
 go they may be replaced ; one only to the 
 bridle-arm is generally sufficient, but if neces- 
 sary,, two may be applied. I have placed them 
 close under the arm-pit, to keep the elbow 
 dowii, but I have found the lower part of 
 the arm and hand to continue unsteady; 
 the place, therefore, before-mentioned, will 
 be found best. 
 
 The next propensity I shall notice which 
 some men find very difficult to overcome, 
 
 IS. 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 195 
 
 is that of cringing with their legs, and fall- 
 ing forward on every short or irregular 
 step of the horse. This generally proceeds 
 from an unfavourable make for riding, such 
 as forward shoulders and round back. To 
 remedy this, the practice in the army of 
 using the dumb bells to open the chest and 
 throw the shoulders back, will be of some 
 assistance ; but men find it more difficult 
 to divest themselves of their native awk- 
 wardness on horseback than on foot ; and 
 after you have got them tolerably upright, 
 they will, occasionally, let the shoulders 
 come forward, particularly at the halt. I 
 am persuaded if a leather brace was made 
 similar to those our young ladies wear to 
 keep their shoulders back, it would assist 
 them to overcome this defect. The usual 
 method is to remonstrate continually to make 
 them keep their bod\^ back. 
 
 These methods and expedients being 
 adopted, to occasion a degree of firmness, 
 and the proper action of the muscles being 
 explained, you proceed to work them in cir- 
 
 o 2 cle 
 
196' 
 
 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 cle and round the riding-house, changing of- 
 ten and increasing the action as the seat 
 becomes firm and preserves correctness. But 
 the eye of the teacher must be very attentive 
 and discriminating, that a firmness in the 
 saddle is not acquired at the expence of the 
 hand, a circumstance which usually takes 
 place with four out of five, and is fi-equently 
 encouraged and promoted by the miscon- 
 ception of the teachers ; who, to get the. 
 men firm in the saddle, and prevent their 
 occasionally dropping forward, are continu- 
 ally telling them to keep the body back, 
 which they suffer to the opposite extreme, 
 and the men acquire a firmness by holding 
 on by the bridle. The instruction should 
 be to keep the body upright, the chest open, 
 and the back hollow, which will prevent the 
 body dropping forward. The body should 
 never be more back, in the ordinary action 
 of the horse, than it can comfortably sustain 
 itself without the rider having any hold of 
 the bridle. 
 
 Attending 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 197 
 
 Atifinding to the situation, steadiness, and 
 correspoi^dence of the hand, in these early- 
 lessons, wiL inevitably contribute to the 
 correctness ot the seat. The one has such 
 dependance on ^he other, that the hand 
 cannot be good if ti^ seat is incorrect; and 
 if the hand is good, t.g seat cannot be far 
 from correct. Yet a mb^ (which we con- 
 tinually see) may have a^^ness in the 
 saddle with ineffective, unopt-ative hands. 
 For these reasons, in these first lessons to 
 acquire a seat, suffer not the hands to act 
 upon false principles and the practice, will 
 surely give a correct seat. Therefore as, the 
 men work, not only their position is to be 
 attended to, but the operation of the hand, 
 which will be discovered, in many instances, 
 more by the effect and carriage of the 
 horse, than by any apparent incorrectness 
 in the horseman. 
 
 For instance, the men being halted in 
 file, they are stationed at equal distances, 
 whether it be a horse's length or half a 
 horse's length; this distance when put in 
 
 o 3 march 
 
198 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 march they are informed and requin-^d to 
 preserve and keep, in whatever action they 
 may be commanded to or led by. Now 
 the eye of the teacher, if h^ be master of 
 his profession, can discov^^ any incorrect- 
 ness in the position, hk-wise if the reins are 
 adjusted to a proper ]^«gth, the hand steady, 
 and whether the ^P^^y is preserved by the 
 contracting and -dilating of the reins at every 
 cadence or st^p of ^^^ horse, which should 
 be particubrly attended to. But the cor- 
 rectness of the operation can only be ascer- 
 tained by the effects, for the 63^0 cannot 
 discover the exact degree of tension put in 
 the muscles, but the effect discovers whatr 
 ever the fault may be. If the tension or 
 apuy be too weak the horse will gain upon 
 his leader and croud upon his heels; if too 
 strong-, he will increase his distance and throw 
 every file out of place in the rear of him. 
 If, the horse carry himself slovenl}^, or his 
 head out of place, the operation of the hand 
 or aids is thereby discovered to be defec- 
 tive ; when slovenl}^ the horse wants union, 
 spirit, and animation, and the rider both. 
 
 When 
 
TEACHI-XG SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 199 
 
 When the head be too low the hand is 
 heavy and inanimate ; when too high (i. e. 
 the nose carried too high) the operation is 
 abrupt and harsh. 
 
 Thus the teacher that can discover the 
 real defect, may be able to explain and in- 
 struct his pupil, who otherwise must, by 
 time and tedious practice, find tbem out 
 himself) which some have not the aptitude 
 ever to do. 
 
 I take the liberty of remarking here, a 
 practice in the regimental riding-houses of 
 the master, or principal rough rider, hav- 
 ing the long or losgeing whip in his 
 hand ; ^ custom I by no means admire ; 
 because in no one instance can it be used 
 with propriety; but whenever apphed is cer- 
 tain to occasion more disorder than it was in- 
 tended to correct. For instance, if a man 
 keep not up in file, but retain his horse and 
 and make a long interval, the whip is im- 
 mediately applied tcrdrive the horse to liis 
 leader. But this does not teach the man to 
 
 o 4 manage 
 
200 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 manage his horse nor explain the cause of 
 his lagging behind. The horse is punished 
 and flurried for the ignorance or awkward- 
 ness of the rider, and this flurry of the horse 
 increases the cause that oscasioned the dis- 
 order ; for the man's hand which, was before 
 too strong or heavy on the horse's mouth, js 
 now rendered more so by the horse endea- 
 vouring to rush away from the whip. It 
 likewise flurries and unsettles the other hor- 
 ses, making them attempt or strive for the 
 ascendency of the hand, which you may 
 judge is not diflicult to wrest from young un- 
 experienced horsemen. I think it would be 
 best to confine the long whip solely to the 
 longe, and even there it should be used with 
 discretion. 
 
 When men retain their horses, and do 
 not keep up in file, the cause should be ex- 
 plained, which is owing to the strong insen- 
 sibility of the hand ; this deadness of the 
 hand is mostly owing to their want of seat, 
 and therefore they hold on by the bridle. 
 If after repeated explanation and admoni- 
 tion, 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 201 
 
 tion, men cannot divest themselves of this 
 insufferable error, they must be separately 
 longed on a steady horse, the reins should 
 be adjusted and buckled to the saddle, and 
 the man ride without stirrups with his hands 
 beliind him, or else where they are usually 
 carried with the stick placed as before- 
 mentioned to keep them steady ; but no 
 reins till he has acquired a good balance and 
 correct position without them. The longe- 
 ing a man in this manner will certainly give 
 him an independant, good balance in time ; 
 but, to facilitate your work, the teacher 
 should assist him with en-ery information of 
 the minutia, such as to direct his eye on the 
 circle he is working on, present his body to 
 the horse's nose, be it much or little within 
 the circle, and have his thighs turned and 
 body inclined with the horse, as has been 
 sufficiently described in the former part of 
 this work. 
 
 The teacher in this instance must be very 
 mild and patient, keeping the horse in a 
 slow, steady, even pace, till the muscles 
 
 have 
 
202 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 have acquired their action or operation to 
 preserve a balance : when that is so lost as 
 to endanger the man's falling, immediately 
 halt, that the man may recover himself; 
 and by no means let him fall, under the 
 idea that it will make him more careful. 
 Fear will prevent any man from riding, 
 and falls or rough treatment will not give 
 courage ; if they are inattentive, extra drills 
 ing on horseback will be found the most sa- 
 lutary punishment. 
 
 Beginning in this manner with every re- 
 cruit would be best if the numbers and dis- 
 patch required would permit of it, but such 
 who imbibe habits they cannot readily aban- 
 don, must be thus treated. When the ba- 
 lance is thus established the man may ride in 
 squad again. The squad proceeding as be- 
 fore directed, when the men keep their seat 
 — the hands steady — the correspondence 
 preserved to a due effect, which will be de- 
 monstrated by the carriage of the horses 
 —the due space or interval being preserved 
 — the readily going into the pace command' 
 5 ed. 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 203 
 
 ed, whether fast or slow, trot or walk, for 
 the gallop should not yet be attempted ; the 
 men should, previous to the following les- 
 sons, have explained to them the nature 
 and effect of the aids, both of body, hand, 
 and legs. I am aware that many an adju- 
 tant or drill officer, will sa}^, you may as 
 well talk to the wind as to a set of raw igr- 
 norant boys of recruits, who will not com- 
 prehend or retain a word you say. I do 
 admit much truth in the remark, but I like- 
 wise know that much depends on the deli- 
 very of the instructions. Some men have 
 the gift of riveting the attention, and use 
 such words and metaphors as awaken the 
 dullest capacity; while others in a set form 
 of words chaunt out the same instructions, 
 day after doj, which from the first were ne- 
 ver uttered so as to pierce the ear, much less 
 to make any lasting impression on the memo- 
 ry. 
 
 But nothing will teach the men sooner, 
 and give them a more suitable idea of the 
 aids, than scrupulously dressing them, and 
 
 ' making 
 
204 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 making them form well in line. It takes 
 up much time with young recruits to attend 
 to them one by one, and make them place 
 their horses square, at exact distance, and 
 in line. But this time is not to be con- 
 sidered thrown away, if the whole time 
 allowed for the squad to ride was so taken 
 up, as here you have the opportunity of ex- 
 plaining the most salutary instructions in 
 regimental riding, and the very essence 
 of horsemanship. Beginning, therefore, 
 with the right file, place or make him place 
 himself square, the line having to form upon 
 him, see that the next man forms truly on 
 him at the ordered distance, whether close, 
 loose, or open files ; and so on, one by one, 
 all down the line. Thus, attending to the 
 men, one by one, you will perceive their 
 error, and the remarks you make thereon 
 will be demonstrative as well as instructive. 
 Being scrupulously exact will teach the men 
 those grand requisites in a horseman, mild- 
 ness and patience. For when men are 
 vexed at their own awkwardness and the 
 officer's eye is not over them, they will be 
 
 sure 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 205 
 
 sure to vent their anger on the horse. Thus 
 you will perceive that to remove the croup 
 six inches, they will apply the leg so strong 
 as to remove it sixteen, then the other spur 
 to drive it back again, over-doing it every 
 time; thus they pull, haul, and spur the 
 horse till by mere accident they get right, 
 and frequently so unsettle the horse's tem- 
 per that he will not stand steady when he 
 is right. The ignorance of the men is such 
 that they take great merit to themselves, in 
 thus teazing and flurrying a horse, and 
 would attribute their own errors to the horse, 
 while they assume courage, skill, and per- 
 severance to themselves. An unskilful horse- 
 man is certain to mistake courage for skill, 
 and therefore is fond of mettling his horse, 
 and thereby making him unsteady to dis- 
 play his own imaginary abilities. Every 
 propensity of this kind should be severely 
 rebuked in the army, and every thing that 
 has a tendency thereto : for this reason the 
 men should be informed, when aiding with 
 the leg, to be mindful never to touch with 
 the spur but on absolute occasions. 
 
 2 In 
 
206 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 In dressing the squad of awkward recruits, 
 the teacher's patience will be as much tried 
 as that of the recruits or horses. For 
 scarcely a man with the clearest direction 
 and explanation that can be given, but, at 
 first, in correcting small defects, will occa- 
 sion large ones ; and this, if the teacher 
 has temper and mildness, will afford him 
 an opportunity of convincing them of the 
 extreme delicacy and gentleness required in 
 horsemanship, which is so contrary to their 
 own ideas and opinions, that without such 
 demonstration they would never have 
 thought it. When we are convinced of our 
 errors we the more readily abandon them. 
 Reminding them of the distance they have 
 to correct, and cautioning them not to ex- 
 ceed it, may induce them to apply the aids 
 deliberately and with judgment. But tell- 
 ing them which leg to appl}^ without conve}^- 
 ing an idea of the degree of application, is 
 not sufficient instruction for certifying the 
 application of the leg. 
 
 Manv 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 207 
 
 Many I have observed to distort the an- 
 cle by putting the toe down and turning it in. 
 when aiding, if the horses are not so close as 
 to prevent it, the toe should be rather turn- 
 ed out and held up firm to stiffen the calf and 
 prevent the spur touching. To remove the 
 hind or fore quarters of the horse an inch or 
 two, requires the greatest delicacy and cau- 
 tion not to exceed it; and though I would 
 not quarrel with a restless impatient horse 
 for an inch, I would, under my own eye 
 and direction, make every recruit aim at 
 dressing his horse to a quarter of an inch, 
 because it will teach him the pro|jerties 
 and effect of his hands and heels, and will 
 give lightness and delicacy to their opera- 
 tion. 
 
 The bridle-hand of a soldier, from the 
 word attention till he sits at ease, is to have 
 no other motion than what proceeds from 
 the wrist; therefore, in dressing, where the 
 -shoulders are to be moved, dont suffer the 
 hand or hands to move. The wrist propor- 
 tionablv turned to convey the little fin 2: er to 
 
 the 
 
908 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 the hand you \Aish to move, (as directed in 
 the position of the hand) with the aid or 
 turn of the body will move the shoulders; if 
 it does not, the horse is not in hand ; i. e. 
 the head is too low, defending itself against 
 the deadness of the hand; or, otherwise, 
 the reins are not properly adjusted, being 
 too long. In the first instance the moving 
 of the fingers will raise the head, and bring 
 the horse in hand ; in the other, the right 
 hand must be applied to shorten the reins. 
 The instant the horse obeys, the body and 
 hand become straight to stop the shoulders 
 and the hand drops, (from the wrist only) to 
 let the horse stand quiet; for while the hand 
 is raised, the horse is all attention to obey 
 its dictates, and till it is dropped he will not 
 stand easy. 
 
 Hence, if the shoulders are to move an 
 inconsiderable distance, as only an inch or 
 two, raising the hand and guarding against 
 his moving the contrary way, may shift the 
 shoulders exactly as you would have them. 
 At any rate, much delicacy is required to 
 
 make 
 
TEACHING SOLt)IERS TO RIDE. 209 
 
 make small alteration; thus individually 
 dressing the squad, is giving each man a 
 lesson, or lecture on the hand and heel, in 
 the most instructive manner it can be con- 
 veyed. And you will find recruits, taught 
 in this manner, will, in a very short time, 
 dress, and keep their horses more steady in 
 rank, than the oldest troopers in the regi- 
 ment. 
 
 The squad thus in rank must necessarily 
 file from right or left ; and here, when the 
 caution is given from the right, before the 
 word march, see that every horse is turned to 
 the right as far as the distance of the files 
 will admit, which when loose will be each 
 horse's head to the boot-top of his leading 
 file. The horses should be turned on their 
 center, so that every man's body fills the 
 exact situation as before; and if the men 
 were formed dow n the middle of the riding- 
 house, the ridge of the roof is a mark to cor- 
 rect by, and the rank should be as straight 
 as when standing square. 
 
 VOL. I. p The 
 
210 ' ■ OBSERVATIONS ON--^'^'-^^' 
 
 The exactness required here is to be con- 
 sidered a lesson in riding, more to confirm 
 the men's hands in the operative and effec- 
 tive part, than as a military evolution; and, 
 therefore, more time and attention may be 
 paid here than could be allovi^ed in squadron; 
 therefore command them as they were, and 
 then to the left, &c. before they are marched 
 in file. After a few days particular atten- 
 tion to the dressing, if mildness be used by 
 the officers and gentleness enforced upon the 
 men, you'll find them dress their horses 
 with the greatest ease and readiness, and 
 tiot perceive a hand to stir or a horse rest- 
 less or unsteady. The riding will then go 
 on without any further tedious interruption ; 
 not that the dressing to the greatest nicety 
 is ever to be omitted, but the men will be 
 handy from being taught the true principle. 
 Unsteadiness in ranks is mostly occasioned 
 by violence, and the unskilfldness of the 
 men in dressing. 
 
 The next lesson the men should be put to 
 is to bend their horses, by working the shoul- 
 ders 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 21 i 
 
 ders within. This lesson is admirable for sup- 
 pling the men as well as the horses; , it will 
 confirm their balance and give freedom and 
 liberty in the saddle. An explanation of the 
 lesson should be previously given; and if a 
 lecture is well delivered, and the variation of 
 the seat and position of the horse clearly des- 
 cribed, some of the men, at least, will pro- 
 fit much by it. Others will better catch the 
 idea by example. The rough-rider, there- 
 fore, that leads the squad, (one of whom 
 should be always mounted for that purpose) 
 should ride the lesson before them, while the 
 riding-master is explaining: when the lesson 
 is well comprehended the performance wilt 
 soon be acquired. 
 
 . J ; mid 
 Begin this lesson in circle and but little 
 
 bent ; the inner hand fixed to the body, and 
 
 the body so turned or presented to the 
 
 horse's nose, that the inner rein operates in 
 
 a direct line from the horse's mouth to the 
 
 centre of the rider's body. The eiTors to 
 
 be guarded against are, that the men do not 
 
 hold on by the bridle, for the bent position 
 
212 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 of the horse will at first disturb their balance, 
 and incline them to do so; some of the 
 horses therefore will bear on the bit to ac- 
 commodate the rider: where this is not the 
 case, the hand, seeking for support from 
 the bridle, will overbend the horse. Ob- 
 serve, therefore, the bod}^ and hand being 
 in its proper position^ the rein of that exact 
 length that bends the horse to the degree 
 intended; if the horse yields his head for a 
 step or two, that the inner hand does not 
 feel the cadence, the hand is not to move: 
 the horse will never do this more than three 
 steps, nor can he do that if the outer hand 
 is not inattentive, for when he bends be- 
 yond the compulsion of the inner hand, the 
 outer hand receives and reproves hifti ; thus 
 the inner hand being fixed, the fmgers pre- 
 serve a soft or mild operation, feeling the 
 cadence or appui at every step, but at the 
 same time that firmness which is never to 
 yield to the solicitation of the horse to un- 
 bend himself If the hand be hard, the 
 horse will fight against the hand to express 
 his dishke; if the horse be stiff he will bear 
 i on 
 
 V! 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 213 
 
 on the hand and not play on the appui, and 
 he will bear on the hard hand that will not 
 relax its severity at his solicitations. When 
 the hand is hard, the muscles of the fingers 
 are braced too strong, which causes a harsh 
 operation in the mouth; when the muscles 
 are pliant the operation is soft and pleasant : 
 no severity is felt unless the horse attempts 
 to gain on the hand, on which the mus- 
 cles stiffen and rebuke him. When the 
 horse bears on the hand, the shaking the 
 rein by opening and shutting the fingers 
 will move the bit and make him support 
 himself. 
 
 The judgment of the teachers must be 
 very discriminating, or these errors will es- 
 cape notice and correction. Bent and con- 
 strained lessons must be often changed, and 
 by no means continued long. Hence I do 
 not mean when men are advanced so far 
 as to work the shoulder within, they are to 
 ride the whole time in that lesson ; no, after 
 working five or six minutes to each hand, 
 work straight, to relieve the horses, for the 
 
 P 3 awk- 
 
214 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 awkwardness of learners frets and teazes them 
 very much. 
 
 As the men advance in this lesson thev 
 ma}^ work the horses more bent, but ob- 
 serve that the shoulders are worked in 
 and the croup out; for some horses, 
 with unskilful riders, will only bend the 
 neck and not work the croup out. The 
 inner leg, or spur, if necessary, must be ap- 
 plied to aid the croup; the position for this 
 lesson has the leg near the side for that pur- 
 pose. 
 
 Every riding-drill should admit of as much 
 variety as the progress of the men and time 
 will allow : therefore sometimes change by 
 the long change, at another time by the 
 large circle, sometimes from the halt, let 
 every man turn on his own ground, and the 
 reverse file lead ; at other times by the coun- 
 termarch, and likewise by the demi-volt. 
 The working the ground true is always to be 
 attended to ; for nothing discovers the profi- 
 ciency of the men's hands so much as ex- 
 actly 
 
/ * 
 
 TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 215 
 
 actly covering their ground. The men 
 should be explicitly informed of it, that if one 
 file opens a corner or crosses in hne from 
 circle to circle, his covering file may not fol- 
 low in the same error. 
 
 In changing by the demi-volt, after the 
 caution is given, at the word change, every 
 man quits tlie wall, forms a half circle 
 of such dimensions as will bring him into 
 that situation which the man in his rear 
 quitted, where he changes and goes the re- 
 verse way; but if attention is not paid when 
 the quarter circle is made, the men will be 
 covered: and, instead of returning to the 
 wall, will follow each other. This is not to 
 be permitted; every man must return to the 
 line he quitted before he follows his preced- 
 mg file. This change should be much prac- 
 tised, and executed without altering pace or 
 breaking time ; the men must be exceeding- 
 ly attentive to move off together and work 
 the ground true, otherwise disorder will take 
 place, and one be in the other's way. But 
 Avhen they comprehend the change and exe- 
 
 P 4 cute 
 
216 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 Gute it well, it demonstrates they are so far 
 what is terraed in possession or master of 
 their horse. 
 
 The next lesson the men should be put to 
 is to work lhe croup in. This lesson is pre- 
 parative to the gallop, and the working of 
 the lessons of head and croup to the wall ; 
 the rough-rider riding the croup in before 
 them will not convey much insight of the 
 performance. 
 
 This must be explained: — first, that the 
 horse's outer hind foot is to work at least 
 as far distant, or more from the wall, than 
 the horse's inner fore foot is; i. e. the croup is 
 more in the riding-house than the shoulders. 
 Now as the hand is never to move, the posi- 
 tion of the rider is to effect this position of 
 the horse, which, to avoid unnecessary repeti- 
 tions, I must refer you to pages 120, and 121 
 where it is fully and clearly explained. 
 The union and animation to raise the action 
 to the gallop is not to be attempted till here^ 
 after directed, 
 
 Tq 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 217 
 
 To make the men comprehend and rea- 
 dily take these positions or aids of the bod}^, 
 (for some men are uncommonly dull and 
 inanimate in the saddle) practise them, 
 when halted in line, to turn their bodies to 
 right and left, as far to each hand as they 
 can, by the advancing the one hip and re- 
 taining the other alternately ; the reins un^ 
 collected not to disturb the horse. This will 
 give them liberty and activity in the saddle, 
 so necessary for a soldier when he acts upon 
 the assault or defence. Clear explanation 
 and instruction make the practice easy and 
 soon acquired, without which the most apt 
 do not readily, and the dull never attain it. 
 
 When the men can work the croup in, 
 to both hands equally well, the horse well 
 collected and animated, can change smooth- 
 ly, without flurry or breaking time. They 
 may be put to pass their horse's head and 
 croup to the wall, and likewise to the gallop. 
 The difficulty of performing these lessons 
 '^vhen prematurely attempted, will be done 
 
 away 
 
!2I8 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 away by the regular progressive manner I 
 have directed ; for working head to the wall is 
 w^orking the croup so far in, that the horse 
 passes sideways; consequently the position or 
 aids of the bodj^, retention of the hand, and 
 aids of the leg are proportionably encreased to 
 compel the horse to pass sideways, all of 
 which having been so clearly explained in its 
 proper place, I only mean to infer here, that 
 men are to have every minutia explained to 
 them, and as awkwardness will appear at 
 the first attempt of the best of men, and 
 stupidity will occasion others to commit 
 gross errors, the teacher must be mild and 
 patient. Practice, with proper instruction, 
 soon corrects the first; with the latter, 
 though very provoking, you must be most 
 mild: if you are in a passion you spend your 
 breath in vain, you have to work on their 
 understanding, and nothing darkens it so 
 much as irritability; they are generally 
 vexed at their own awkwardness, and if you 
 increase it by harshness and rough words, 
 you completely shut out all instruction for 
 
 that 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO WDE. 219 
 
 that time, and probably after, for men will 
 come to ride with dread and apprehension, 
 which will greatly deter their progress. 
 
 To teach the men to pass their horses, 
 let them be formed in line at one side of the 
 riding-house, and one at a time try to pass 
 along the opposite wall: thus, each man 
 being singly attended, make him work slow 
 and explain his errors ; the men looking on, 
 if they are attentive, will greatly edify by it. 
 But the passing eighteen or twenty men to- 
 gether, causes one jostling against the other, 
 some committing one error, some an oppo- 
 site one, you cannot speak to three or four 
 at a time, nor do the men know whom 
 you are addressing ; thus they fumble their 
 way in the dark, some finding it out much 
 better than others. 
 
 As men advance in working head to the 
 wall, they next, in like manner, work the 
 croup to the wall : after, without the assist- 
 ance of the wall, they must pass from side to 
 side, or end to end, singly, for you cannot 
 
 ascer- 
 
2iO OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 ascertain whether a man works correct when 
 in rank ; for horses will close to each other, 
 and one will jostle another on. But to as- 
 certain if the man be correct and imited to 
 his horse and the horse to the rider, place as 
 many in file as the length of the riding- 
 house will admit, and pass them backward 
 and forward, ordering them to cover the 
 leading file. In drilling of squadrons in 
 field, the word dress immediately follows 
 the word halt. But in riding drills, I would 
 recommend, that no dressing should take 
 place till the errors have been properly no- 
 ticed, and the men cautioned against them ; 
 this will make them more attentive, for all 
 dressing is a correction of error, and when 
 great faults are committed we cannot avoid 
 shame. 
 
 Thus, in passing as above, till the men 
 are completely in possession of their horse, 
 they will not cover, but remark the distance 
 they are out, and the consequence of throw- 
 ing others out of their situation and they 
 will take great pains to correct it. Nothing 
 
 can 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 22 1 
 
 can be more demonstrative of the cor- 
 rectness of riding and the obedience of 
 horses, than passing them thus from right 
 to left, and left to right; giving the word 
 change, at uncertain and unexpected pla- 
 ces : at the instant the word is given 
 every man and horse changes, with that de- 
 licacy, that the horse appears to obey the 
 word rather than the rider's hand, which has 
 no apparent motion or alteration ; the aids 
 of the body, smoothly executed, escape 
 the notice of an uninformed spectator, who 
 admires the tractability of the horse more 
 than the skill of the rider. Thus passing in 
 file, each man and horse has not only his 
 exact ground to keep, but the measure and 
 cadence of the step, which the leading file 
 directs either slow or quick as the officers 
 shall command. 
 
 At the word, halt ; every horse should be 
 steady^ and every man covered ; any dress- 
 ing to, effect this shews inattention on the 
 part of that man. 
 
 ■ Ji\ I do 
 
222 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 I do not expect men are to be perfect in 
 this lesson before they are to be put to the 
 gallop, and several other lessons at which 
 soldiers should be continuall}^ practised and 
 made as perfect as possible. Hence, as 
 soon as men get a degree of steadiness in 
 the seat, and information of the hand, in 
 some part of their ride one or more of 
 the following lessons should be practised, 
 which come in when the horses begin to be 
 heated with their trotting, &c. — such as 
 reining back — turning on their centre — and 
 turning on their fore feet ; these are lessons 
 previous and on which threes right, left, and 
 about depend. Forming must necessarily 
 be practised Avhen in file, and to prepare 
 them for squadron every mode of formation 
 from file should in turn take place, there- 
 fore, sometimes form to the right, to the 
 left, to the front, on your right to the rear, 
 on your left to your rear, &c. and these 
 from either flank in front. To explain the 
 nature of these formations would be depart- 
 ing from my subject of riding, and is quite 
 unnecessary, because it rarely happens that 
 2 a man 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 223 
 
 a man should be promoted to be a rough 
 rider, who has not been drilled both on foot 
 and on horseback sufficiently to be thorough- 
 ly acquainted with them : nevertheless it re- 
 quires the best of them to be collected and 
 give their commands a thought before they 
 utter them, otherwise they may give them 
 when the men are in such a situation that 
 they cannot execute them, thereby throw- 
 ing them all out of place and into confu- 
 sion. Such circumstances have occurred in 
 field as well as riding-houses. 
 
 The mode of practice for reining back, 
 turnings, &c. for regimental riding I shall 
 recommend as follows : tell the files of rigrht 
 and left, and let the left files back out, and 
 the right stand fast; when half a horse's length 
 in the rear of the right files, let them halt 
 and dress, but not to cover. The right files 
 then rein back through the left, and halt at 
 like distance, and so on alternately. By 
 this mode the horses being disengaged, have 
 room to traverse, and shews a correctness 
 in the rider's hands and aids to prevent 
 
 them : 
 
2^4 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 them : besides the intervals to pass through 
 calls the attention of the legs to keep the 
 croup straight as of the hands to request 
 the action ; the reining back must be 
 done slow and as much together as pos- 
 sible, by the gentle pressure of the fin- 
 gers, for the minutia of which, I refer you 
 to pages 55 and following. When this 
 has been practised let the whole rank rein 
 back together, and dress as commanded by 
 the right, centre, or left. As a further prac- 
 tice in reining back, let the left files rein 
 backwards round the croup of the right 
 hand files, and place themselves, in the in- 
 tervals, on the right of their right hand files 
 with their horse's head to their croups. 
 The right hand files then reining back round 
 tlie heads of their left hand files, into the 
 intervals, will place their heads all one way, 
 but the files reversed. The continuation of 
 the files backing round each other, will put 
 them in their proper places on their former 
 ground. The practice of backing round a 
 point into an interval, and the care required 
 not to jostle the standing horses off their, 
 
 ground. 
 
TEACHING SOLDIEES TO RIDE. 225 
 
 ground, will be instructive lessons for the 
 aids of the legs ; coolness and deliberation 
 must be enjoined to the men, particularly to 
 those of impetuous tempers, and such are 
 ever to be found among numbers who are 
 irritated at their own awkwardness, and 
 would, if not prevented, vent their spleen on 
 the abused horse. 
 
 Turning on your centre and likewise on 
 the fore feet, should be practised in the rid- 
 ing-house, till each man can perform it with 
 such precision that the horses shall not be an 
 inch out of place (without after dressing.) 
 Nothing will contribute more to the steadi- 
 ness of the ranks than perfecting the naen to 
 the greatest exactness in these apparent little 
 things; but they are of such momentous 
 concern that a regiment thereby moves like 
 clockwork. That each man may act alone, 
 independant, and uninterrupted by the file 
 on either hand of him, let the ranks be 
 dressed, the files opened to that distance 
 that each man shall have space to turn as 
 directed. The ranks told off right and left, 
 
 VOL. I. Q let 
 
226 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 let the right files, to the right, on their cen- 
 tre turn, while the left stand fast, no dress- 
 ing to take place till commanded, the stand- 
 ing files will shew the accuracy of each 
 man's performance, and those that are wide- 
 ly off their ground cannot but be sensible of 
 it. Shame, on these occasions where the 
 fault is so conspicuous, will induce them to 
 -take pains. The men's bodies should now 
 be as straight in line as when dressed square 
 to the front, let them turn again to the 
 right, and after that, about, which will 
 bring the whole square to the front. 
 
 After this let the right files stand fast, 
 while the left in like manner turn, and prac- 
 tice to left as well as right. The greatest ex- 
 actness and steadiness is to be required in this 
 and the following lessons, nor must the daily 
 practice of them be ever omitted till the 
 whole begin, finish, and move steadily to- 
 gether. It may be a matter of small ac- 
 count to persons not acting with others, the 
 manner they turn their horses about : but a 
 soldier when turning ranks by threes, if he 
 
 cannot 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 227 
 
 cannot steadily turn his horse on his own 
 proper ground, he must jostle the files next 
 to him, and thereby shake and make un- 
 steady the whole rank. The men, when 
 turning in ranks, do not perceive their own 
 awkwardness, they go about, and hustle and 
 jostle each other into their places, no one 
 will take blame to himselfj nor can the offi- 
 cers (at times excepted) discriminate from 
 whom the shake or disorder originated. 
 Therefore I recommend this practice in 
 teaching, that every man may be sensible 
 of his own errors and strive to correct them, 
 and men will be convinced that it can only 
 be executed with certainty and truth, by 
 the mild and gentle application of the aids, 
 as directed in page i55, &c. But the rough 
 and heedless manner that is adopted by 
 some men, I compare to your turning the 
 ends of any thing not fixed on a pivot ; we 
 will say a stick on the ground; you may 
 kick first one end, then the other, moving 
 it off its centre and kicking it back again 
 till you get it to its place. In these lessons 
 of turning the horse, I must again caution 
 
 a 2 the 
 
228 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 the hand not to move from the hody, nor 
 have any motion but the turn of the wrist, 
 to effect the horse's turning. I mention it, 
 because it is so common and predominant 
 with persons to do it, that thousands, I dare 
 sa}^, would contend it was impossible to be 
 done without, and I will contend it will never 
 be done well if the hand move. 
 
 I have heard regimental riding-masters 
 say, that it is a thing impossible to make 
 soldiers ride with this correctness, but that 
 I did not chuse to affront or depreciate a 
 man's professional abilities to his face, or 
 I should have said, he that cannot make a 
 soldier ride will scarcely ever succeed with 
 gentlemen of independance. You can com- 
 mand the soldier to attend, enforce his ob- 
 servance, make him comply with any means 
 you think expedient to adopt, put him to 
 those lessons you know to be most salu- 
 tary. In short, there is no impediment to 
 a soldier's riding, but such as would render 
 him unfit for the service, viz. natural de- 
 formity and ideotism. 
 
 A gentleman 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 229 
 
 A gentleman you have to please more 
 than teach, he will attend but when he 
 pleases, feels hurt at being told repeatedly 
 of the same fault, does not like to be put 
 to any lessons that are not agreeable to his 
 ideas of riding ; he wants to ride straight 
 forward as fast as he can, and when he has 
 no apprehension of falling, he considers him- 
 self a complete horseman : he will attend 
 no longer, nor regard further instructions. 
 It is therefore only gentlemen of particular 
 dispositions that will be instructed. 
 
 If a regiment does not ride well, I will 
 be bold to say, it is the officer's fault. If 
 the commandant leaves the riding to the 
 riding-master, without interfering in the rid- 
 ing-house, the fault must rest with the rid- 
 ing-master, who must either neglect his 
 Huty, or not have the capacity to teach ; for 
 teaching is an art separate from riding, and 
 requires more than ordinary abilities. But 
 commandants of regiments do not seem to 
 consider this ; the men who ride well by 
 nature, are thought capable of making 
 
 Q 3 others 
 
230 01BSERVATI0NS ON 
 
 others ride. Where the pay is given for 
 riding the regiment to any* one person, 
 which is not always the case in every regi- 
 ment, this person is not always selected for 
 his peculiar talent in riding, but by favor 
 or interest, or for his assiduity and attention 
 to regimental discipline; he is expected oc- 
 casionally to attend and see the rough riders 
 do not neglect to ride and take pains with 
 the men, and consequently, as an officer^ 
 must assume a knowledge if he has none.— 
 But to return — 
 
 The turning on the fore feet must, in like 
 manner, be practised that each man's er- 
 rors may be obvious to himself, therefore 
 the files opened to a sufficient space, when 
 the right files turn about, the left stand still 
 to correct them, and here you are to note, 
 when about, that the fore feet of the whole 
 rank are on the same line as truly as the 
 men*s bodies were in a line before the right 
 files went about, going about again, places 
 both men and horses in rank as at first. 
 Do not omit to practise to both hands, and 
 
 be 
 
r 
 
."^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ;t 
 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 231 
 
 be scrupulously exact with the men, it may 
 vex them a little at first, but it will teach 
 them patience and convince them that gen- 
 tle means will effect their purpose sooner 
 than haste and violence. 
 
 Another excellent lesson for the improve- 
 ment of the hand, and confirming the horse 
 in obedience is, when the men are formed 
 at open files, to let each man in his turn ride 
 through between each file, after the man- 
 ner described in plate C. Here the alter- 
 nate changing from right to left, working 
 the ground true without breaking time, are 
 confirmations of the proficiency of the hand 
 and obedience of the horse. For the 
 changes will be very narrow, and require 
 attention and dehcacy to execute. This 
 lesson is appropriate to give the horses 
 breath and let them cool when they begin 
 to warm. 
 
 Three men working the change on two 
 gmall circles is very instructive. They hay 
 as in a country dance, and must work their 
 
 Q 4 ground 
 
232 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 ground in equal time, or they will interfere 
 at the change. Where men are to work on 
 two circles, without particular attention they 
 will cross over in a right line. This by no 
 means must be permitted; whatever is the 
 intention of the lesson, it must be executed 
 with the greatest exactness; for only by that 
 can you determine on the proficiency and 
 command of the rider s hand and aids. 
 
 These lessons are demonstrative; every 
 man when he obtains a seat and can guide 
 his horse in the usual manner, is inclined to 
 think himself a complete horseman, and 
 might be rode in file round the riding-house 
 without an inspecting officer being able to 
 ascertain to the contrary — but, put them to 
 the lessons I have directed, and his deficien- 
 cy is obvious to himself and every spec- 
 tator. 
 
 From the practice of the foregoing les- 
 sons, the performance of every movement 
 wdll be executed with all imaginable steadi- 
 ness and precision. The practising as many 
 
 as 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 233 
 
 as can be executed by the smallness of num- 
 ber and space of the riding-house will be 
 advisable, particularly threes right, left 
 and about, as constituting a part of so many 
 movements. The greatest exactness must 
 be observed in this, otherwise the men will 
 wheel on their right or left files, instead of 
 their centre, as being the less difficult, and 
 by which error, in forming threes right, and 
 again wheeling up, they would shift their 
 ground three files more to the right and the 
 same distance, or a horse's length fonvarder. 
 Care must be taken that the centre man of 
 threes never shifts his ground. In going to 
 the right, the right file reins back as the cen- 
 tre man turns, aiding the croup with his right 
 leg, to keep his horse square with his centre 
 man. The left file moves forward to keep 
 square with his centre file. The breadth of 
 three files is equal to the length of one horse; 
 therefore, when men are formed threes 
 right, left, or about, the body of the centre 
 man occupies the same situation as when 
 formed to the front. When about, the rank 
 occupies the exact ground as before, the 
 
 riffht 
 
234 * OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 right and left files changing their ground 
 while faced to the rear. Practising to the 
 left as much as the right must not be omitted 
 in the riding-house : and, particularly as the 
 horses and men are less practised to that 
 hand in their evolutions, in squadron; for 
 threes about and front are alwaj^s to the 
 right hand, unless otherwise commanded. 
 
 From these observations it becomes ne- 
 cessary that, the rank being properly dressed, 
 the ground the flanks occupy must be parti- 
 cularly noted by the officer, that no exten- 
 sion of the line or shifting forward or back- 
 ward may escape notice. Next, that the 
 threes wheel together steadily ; if they are 
 snatched about quick, more time will be 
 taken to jostle into place, dress and settle 
 the horses, than twice the time of doing it 
 deliberate and steady. The quickness re- 
 quired in the forming and moving of light 
 troops must be attained by first practising 
 slow and correct, and as you after quicken 
 your motions, there will such steadiness ac- 
 company your operations that will preserve 
 
 regu- 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 235, 
 
 regularity and order. The smallest faults 
 should never escape notice and reprehen- 
 sion, for men by degrees will take less and 
 less pains, if the most exact performance is 
 not required. Hence, when the ranks are 
 about, if a man has to dress forward or 
 backward, it discovers a degree of inatten* 
 tion, for I have observed all dressing is a 
 correction of error. If the flanks keep their 
 ground, you must still observe that the files 
 are equally distant, not one part of the rank 
 crowded and the other loose, &c» 
 
 When the squad are first put to the gal- 
 lop, (which should never be till they are 
 steady in the saddle, at a full trot, and the 
 hand preserves a proper correspondence 
 with the mouth, and manages the horse 
 completely by the aids), a hurry and flur- 
 ry must be expected ; for I have observed 
 that to put the horse into the gallop proper- 
 ly, and stop him judiciously, is the most 
 skilful part. Therefore, a clear explana- 
 tion of the position of the rider, opera- 
 tion of the hand, aids, and animations, as 
 5 will 
 
T3d OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 will be found in 120 and following pages, 
 must be given ; and till such time as they 
 are comprehended and practised, unsteadi- 
 ness at setting off will take place. A mo- 
 derate pace in the gallop is the easiest, and 
 consequently should be first attempted; and 
 the first thing attended to, is to see that 
 each man puts his horse immediately into 
 the gallop, at the word, with the proper foot 
 foremost. 
 
 If the men have been properly united 
 with their horse in the preceding lessons, a 
 readiness will soon take place in this, and 
 every man will, the instant the word is 
 given, put his horse in the gallop from the 
 trot, the walk, or even the halt. And it is 
 ever to be remembered that, whatever the 
 ordered pace is that the whole observe it. It 
 not only has an unseemly appearance to see 
 some horses in a trot and others in a gallop, 
 but discovers a great deficiency in the rider. 
 Nevertheless it sometimes happens to be the 
 horse's fault in part, i. e. there are exceeding 
 rough trotting horses, whose unpleasantness 
 
 has 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 237 
 
 has induced those who had the breaking 
 them, to spare themselves the fatigue of ex- 
 tending them in the trot. These horses, 
 from custom, readily gallop, and the rider, 
 for his ease, as readily permits it, laying the 
 blame upon the horse that wont trot. This 
 excuse may pass, and a man may have such 
 a horse. To remedy these occurrences it 
 will be best to make the man whom this 
 horse is appointed to, have the breaking 
 and extending him in the trot, by which he 
 will be accustomed to the horse's pace, and 
 will have no excuse or blame to shift fi'om 
 himself This cannot be altogether so well 
 done in squad, without considerably im- 
 peding the riding of the others; therefore 
 such men must be ordered to attend and 
 give their horse a lesson, under the imme- 
 diate inspection of a proper officer. For it 
 is a tedious and difficult thing to settle and 
 extend such horses to the trot that were 
 spoiled by original bad riding. 
 
 The next thing to attend to, when the 
 ^^uad are put to the gallop, is, that each 
 
 man 
 
238 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 man sits upright and steady, without any 
 rock or motion of the body to accompany 
 the action of the horse, that the hand is mild 
 and pleasant to the horse, whereby he will 
 be patient under the restriction, and cheer- 
 fully obedient to its dictates. 
 
 I mention these things because they usu- 
 ally occur with some or other in a squad, 
 and if unnoticed by the teacher, many will 
 never correct themselves of the error. To 
 make the men upright and steady, com- 
 mand them to turn that thigh which ever 
 side the horse leads with most round to the 
 saddle, to stretch the heel down, and raise 
 the chest, giving the muscles, thus employ- 
 ed, a proper degree of firmness to keep 
 them steady. 
 
 When a horse seems impatient and floun- 
 ces about, it mostly proceeds from the 
 harshness of the hand. Were soldiers per- 
 mitted to dispute, much altercation would 
 take place on this subject; and some gentle- 
 men who read this, in like situations, may 
 
 be 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 239 
 
 be inclined to lay the blame to the horse. 
 I will admit, where horses have not been 
 suppled and united in the gallop, the rider 
 may not be in fault, but frequently it pro- 
 ceeds from injudiciously putting the horse in 
 the gallop, and harshness of the hands ; as 
 thus — when the horse is not sufficiently ga- 
 thered together or united, previous to your 
 requesting him to gallop, you are necessita- 
 ted to give the requests of the legs and hands, 
 strong and harsh, this makes the horse to 
 spring forward disunited. The hand is then 
 necessitated to put a certain restriction in the 
 fingers to prevent the horse from proceeding 
 too fast. This restriction is a countermand 
 of the haste and violence in which he was 
 set off in the gallop, which unsettles him, 
 and for a while he works impatient and un- 
 steady. 
 
 The horse that is unsettled has his head 
 out of place; for his nose will be carried too 
 high, or his head too low, in either of which 
 situations the operation of the bit is less se- 
 vere, though extremel}^ unpleasant. Now 
 
 any 
 
240 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 any abrupt touch or harsh operation of the 
 bridle occasions the horse to throw his head 
 out of place ; when such an occurrence as 
 this happens with a good horseman he wiil 
 settle the horse again in two or three ca- 
 dences of the gallop ; an indifferent horse- 
 man will suffer the horse to settle himself 
 in a turn or two round the riding-house; and 
 a bad horseman will prevent the horse from 
 settling: the method of settling the horse in 
 these situations is in every cadence of the 
 action to open the fingers and give the reins 
 such extension as will invite and permit the 
 horse to drop his head into place, and, when 
 the hand feels the cadence, put all the soft- 
 ness in the fingers as the support of the ac- 
 tion and command of the horse will admit. 
 On the contrary, the bad horseman finding 
 the horse scarcely governable by the hand 
 naturally clinches his hand fast, and stiffens 
 the muscles, this prevents the horse from 
 dropping his head into place, and should he 
 seize an opportunity to do it, the severity of 
 the hand's operation throws it out again. 
 
 A horse 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 241 
 
 A horse ma}' gallop impatient and un- 
 pleasant to himself and rider, though not 
 unsettled in the gallop. In this case the 
 horse carries himself properly, but rendered 
 uncomfortable by the unpleasantness of the 
 hand ; more mildness and softness must be 
 enjoined ; and it should be frequently re- 
 peated to the men, that those who ride with 
 the lightest hand, and can govern their hor- 
 ses by the slightest thread, will demonstrate 
 themselves to be the best horsemen. 
 
 I point out these natural occurrences 
 here, that the teachers may notice them 
 and discriminate the causes ; for the men 
 will not percei^^e their own awkwardness* 
 and if they should, it might be a long while 
 before they found the way to remedy them. 
 
 But to proceed ; the squad being put in 
 the gallop, though flurrj^ impatience, &c. 
 may mar their first attempt, yet by the 
 time they have galloped a turn or two round 
 the house they v/ill become somewhat set- 
 tled, at which time it will be proper to halt, 
 
 VOL. L R not 
 
!^42 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 not only to relieve the horses, who fre-" 
 quently heat themselves and distress their 
 wind by flurry and impatience under the 
 first attempts of the rider; but likewise to 
 give the men the opporttmity of practising 
 the most difficult parts of beginning and 
 finishing well in the gallop^ Soldiers must 
 stop their horses on the instant the word 
 halt is given, and this can only be done 
 well, when performed after the manner 
 laid down in page 84, &c. for the stop. The 
 theory there laid down, should be clear- 
 ly explained to them, and observation 
 must note that every man stops his horse 
 correctly thereafter; for it is not suffici^ 
 ent that the horses stop at the word halt t 
 this they will readily do, and many of them, 
 so sudden as to displace their riders^ par* 
 ticularly those who have not their chests- 
 open and backs hollow, v/hich aje those 
 description of men that I recommend braces 
 for ; but that every man stops his horse by 
 throwing the body back and closing the 
 legs. To ascertain this, occasional!}^ and 
 frequently halt them by signal ; as a can-* 
 
 tioa 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 243 
 
 tion say, look to mt\ and observing that 
 every man quickens, rather than abates, 
 the animation, give a signal with the vv^hip 
 to halt ; this the horses will not notice, and 
 you will perceive the errors of those who 
 do not perform correctly. 
 
 After practising thus to both hands for 
 the purpose of teaching the men to put 
 their horses smoothly and correctly into the 
 gallop, without unsettling them, and stop- 
 ping well on the haunches, you will next 
 alter the cadence of the gallop, making 
 them sometimes gallop fast and then slow, 
 but ahvays with animation. I have observed 
 that galloping slow displays more science 
 than galloping fast, therefore it must be 
 much practised and notice must be taken 
 that every horse is well united, his head up 
 and the hand light, which will require the 
 animation to be kept up, particularly with 
 dull and heavy horses ; the rider of such 
 horses should be all life and animation 
 himself; every muscle about him should 
 have a quickening quality ; and the spui's 
 
 R 2 should 
 
244 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 should be sparingly used even with a dull 
 horse, for you may spur a dull horse till 
 he stands still. Exact distances and inter- 
 vals must be particularly attended to; for if 
 a man comprehends the interval he is to 
 preserve, he must be inattentive or a bad 
 horseman not to preserve it. When the 
 men can gallop their horses slow with a 
 'light hand, feeling every cadence, you may 
 confirm them by every manner you can de- 
 vise. 
 
 I shall mention a few excellent lessons 
 which will be very instructive to them, and 
 convincing to you w^hether they are com- 
 pletely in possession of their horses: — The 
 first is in a slow gallop, and a right file 
 leads, command the left files to pass the 
 right ; every left file is then briskly to pass 
 his preceding right file, and go into the 
 place of the preceding left file; the right 
 files must be mindful that the animation of 
 the horses passing them does not quicken 
 their pace which should of the two be ra- 
 ther shortened ; this done, and every man 
 
 in 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS- TO RIDE. 245 
 
 his situation, command the right files to 
 pass the left, and so on alternately. 
 
 When this is practised in a gallop to the 
 left, 1 would further recommend the men to 
 practise with the switch they ride with the 
 attack and defence as they pass each other; 
 this will give them freedom and liberty in the 
 saddle, particularly if you attend to their 
 taking the proper position for each cut or 
 protect, and accustom them to divide their 
 attention so as to manage their horses while 
 attackinsf or defending: themselves. 
 
 It is to be noted that the |X)sitions the 
 body takes for these cuts and protects, are 
 not to affect the horse; therefore the hand 
 and body, on these occasions, act sej^arate- 
 1} , and only for this purpose is there ever a 
 necessity of their being jclivided. 
 
 The next method I shall propose is, to 
 increase the front to three, four, or even 
 six, if the riding-house is sufficiently wide, 
 and make them dress to the outside file; 
 
 R 3 this 
 
246 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 this is a difficult and instructive lesson, the 
 wheels at each end puts each horse to a dif- 
 ferent pace, and the instant the wheel is 
 complete, the inside horses must be ready 
 and gallop completely dressed to the out- 
 side ; the men should be shifted, that each 
 man in rotation should have the different 
 situations, 
 
 Wheeling on the centre should likewise 
 be much practised; twelve files are as many 
 as the generality of riding-houses will ad- 
 mit; let the half, go threes about, and 
 command them to wheel on the centre till 
 halted. Whenever disorder takes place, 
 you will immediately halt ihem, to dress 
 and correct the error; the outside file which 
 leads the wheel must gallop at a rapid pace, 
 and the opposite outside file will endeavour 
 to keep the exact pace, forming a line 
 through the centre. 
 
 Changing in the gallop, a soldier should 
 not only be expert at putting his horse to 
 the gallop with either leg, but also to change 
 
 when 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 247 
 
 when necessary; therefore, as soon as the 
 squad are steady in the gallop to right and 
 left, galloping short and light in hand, it 
 will be proper to practise the long change. 
 Little instructions will be wanted to in- 
 form men that have been so progressively 
 and correctly taught, but that little should 
 not be omitted, for some men are a long 
 while fniding out trifling things. Therefore 
 let the men be informed of the exact spot 
 they are to change their horses : when they 
 arrive at that spot, they must seize the time 
 the horse's fore feet are coming to the 
 ground to let the body fall back, not so full 
 and firm as to stop, but only to make a pause 
 in the cadence, for the body must instantly 
 come upright to permit the horse to pro- 
 ceed, and, as it comes upright you change 
 the position, i. e. if the horse was galloping 
 with his right leg foremost, the rider's right 
 hip should be most advanced, as has been ex- 
 plained ; therefore, reversing the position by 
 advancing the left hip will change the horse, 
 in this, the hand being fixed to the body 
 is to have no other motion than with the 
 
 R 4 body. 
 
248 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 body. Horses that have been accustomed 
 to it, know when they cross the riding-house 
 they are to change the leg; and, as the 
 attempt of an awkward rider sometimes pre- 
 vents, but generally fluiTies and unsettles 
 them, they will cbaiige as they cross the 
 house to avoid being thus unsettled. This 
 should not be permitted, I do not admire 
 horses working by rote, they should never 
 know the rider's will till he communicates 
 it, and men cannot improve themselves if 
 the horse works thus. Horses that have 
 acquired this habit should be worked on the 
 change reverse, to break them of it, and it 
 is the most instructive change for the men to 
 practise. 
 
 The only thing now that remains for a 
 soldier to acquire in the art of riding, is to 
 ride in his stirrups; I do not mean with his 
 stirrups, because I presume from the time 
 his balance was confirmed in the trot, he 
 has principally rode with them; but, rais- 
 ing the breach from the saddle, you sup- 
 port the centre of gravity by the stirrups 
 1 and 
 
ir 
 
 TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 249 
 
 and grasp of the thighs, as explained in 
 page 182. The hunting-seat and this 
 have such an affinity, they canscarcely be 
 called different, yet it is a more delicate 
 seat, preserving the centre of gravity entire- 
 ly independant of the reins, for the sol- 
 dier must ahvays ride his horse united and 
 light in hand, but the hunting horse is per- 
 mitted to take a support from the hand, 
 which affords a steadiness to the rider. 
 Therefore, the practice I recommend, is, 
 the hunting-seat in a short united gallop; 
 you must not expect the men can poize 
 themselves in the stirrups at first ; it would 
 be less difficult for them to gallop a disunited 
 horse and steady themselves by the bridle ; 
 but practice will bring them into it, and care 
 should be taken that they do not support 
 themselves by the bridle ; for horses are 
 very accommodating and will give them 
 that assistance, if permitted, were it not for 
 rendering the horse less governable it might 
 be suffered. When steadiness is acquired 
 jn this system, practising the six divisions of 
 
 th^ 
 
250 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 the broad sword will confirm their equili- 
 brium and give freedom. 
 
 Soldiers should be taught to sit leaps cor- 
 reeth^, both standing and flj^ing; but this is 
 attended with so much inconvenience in a 
 regiment, taking up a deal of time, besides 
 every horse is not suitable for a person to 
 practise on, and awkward horses and awk- 
 ward men are so liable to accidents, that 
 colonels, rather than ha^^e the horses lamed, 
 and men maimed, in a great measure dis- 
 pense with it. Nevertheless, when a regi- 
 ment is in winter quarters, having the con- 
 venience of a riding-house, and not overbur- 
 thened with recruits and J^oung horses, where 
 the commandant approves of it, jt may be 
 effected. 
 
 Jls I above hinted, leaping is liable to ac- 
 cidents ; it behoves those who have the con- 
 ducting of the riding, to take every precau- 
 tion to prevent them. For I ever held my- 
 self responsible for the safety of everv person 
 
 I had 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 251 
 
 I had to teach, and I can affirm I never had 
 a serious accident occur in my whole course 
 of jDractice. 
 
 To prevent accidents, in the first place, 
 no horse should be put to the bar with a man 
 on him that has not previously been practis- 
 ed and taught to leap; therefore, every 
 young horse, when breaking for the troop, 
 should be put over the bar at the conclusion 
 of his daily lesson, by vrhich practice every 
 horse in the regiment will leap after some 
 form or other. 
 
 Young men have temerity enough to leap 
 any horse, scorning the idea of danger, and 
 consider practising in this rash manner suffi- 
 cient, without other instruction ; and certain 
 it is, that some do fall into a right method, 
 while others never do. When accidents 
 occur in such practices, the horse bears all 
 the blame; though I will be bold to say, 
 nine times out of ten he is compelled to do 
 what he is accused of. See the Treatise on 
 Leaping. 
 
 4 I would 
 
252 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 I would recommend a day to be appro- 
 priated for the practice of leaping; once in a 
 week or fortnischt. On such days the horses 
 that leap safely, coolly, freely, and deliberate- 
 ly, should be selected for the purpose; and for 
 dispatch there might be six bai^ put up, one 
 at each end, and two at each side of the rid- 
 ing-house, which is the usual number of 
 rough-riders in a regiment, one of whom 
 must attend each bar. The more horses you 
 have appropriate for this business the better. 
 For I would not advise for one horse to 
 carry more than six men over the bar, from 
 four to six times each, fey this arrangement 
 thirty-six men may take their lessons in one 
 hour; and allowing six hours in the day, 
 216 men may be practised to leap, if there 
 is need of so manv, and I presume six horses 
 in each trooo mav b^ found suitable for the 
 purpose. A ride of eighteen men to be 
 ready every half hour, will conduct the busi- 
 ness methodically. 
 
 I believe there are many men that can sit 
 a leap admirably well that know no more of 
 
 the 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. '^55 
 
 the theory of leaping than if they had never 
 been across a horse; and, therefore, can 
 give no other instructions than merely 
 amounts to sit fast; and this is not to be 
 wondered at, in every science you fmd 
 some so adapted by nature as to appear pro- 
 digies to those who have been labouring and 
 studying for years, and cannot perform the 
 like. Yet those who acquire thus practical- 
 ly only, will ever be found the most unfit 
 teachers. I know experimentally that thir- 
 t\r years back I could ride as Vv-ell as now, 
 and much stronger in my seat for sitting 
 leaps and rough horses ; but I could not 
 teach, and I was many years in tlie practice 
 of teaching before I found out the minutia 
 and method to explain and convey my 
 ideas to another. 
 
 I mention this because colonels should 
 not conceive the men who appear to ride the 
 best are the most proper to select for rough- 
 riders, much less for masters — which I aj> 
 prebend is too much the case. 
 
 But 
 
254 OBSERVATIONS Ol^ 
 
 But to return ;— since leaping is much 
 dispensed with, the theory is but httle 
 known, and I do not know any author that 
 has treated on the subject. It certainly 
 will assist the practice, if the theory is clears 
 ly explained in the manner 1 have laid it 
 down. Before the man makes his first trial 
 to sit a leap, and when every part is placed 
 correct, let him lean the body back to the 
 distance of forty-five degrees from a perpen^ 
 dicular, and this will demonstrate the exact 
 situation of the leg, for if too backward he 
 will have a very weak hold, and if too for- 
 ward he will have no hold at all. It will 
 likewise shew the necessity of the hand 
 being placed low. 
 
 1 would also advise to practise first with 
 the snaffle-bridle, or the bridoon rein only, 
 and that held rather long, that the cringing, 
 natural on these occasions, should not baulk 
 or deter the horse. No stirrups on any ac- 
 count should be allowed, till a man has 
 confirmed his seat by practising without 
 them. In this situation, as the reins have 
 
 been 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO HIDE. 255 
 
 been directed to be placed long, it becomes 
 necessary that the teacher takes charge of 
 the horse, and after giving his final instruc- 
 tions to hold firm by the calves of the legs, 
 keep the hand down and back hollow, lead 
 the horse to and over the bar. It is incum- 
 bent on the teacher to lead the horse fair to 
 the middle of the bar, that the man may 
 have no apprehension for his legs being rub- 
 bed against the wall or post, that he attends 
 to the horse rising fair to clear the bar, or 
 prevent his leaping, wdth these precautions 
 an accident of any account can scarcely 
 happen* 
 
 By no means suffer a man to fall if it can 
 be prevented, either to excite mirth, which 
 such occurrences afford to some people, or 
 to make men careful; apprehension is a 
 certain attendant on care, and will defeat 
 your purpose. 
 
 The errors committed, if noticed bv the 
 teacher, and explained to the man, may 
 possibly be corrected at the next trial or two, 
 
 but 
 
^56 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 but if not, I would never exJceed six turns 
 over the bar, unless you have a profusion of 
 suitable horses for the number of men to in- 
 struct. The bar I would advise to be placed 
 low, for the men's first attempt, about twen- 
 ty-seven or eight inches is sufficient, and 
 raise it as you perceive the seat to be firm 
 and correct, but never to exceed forty-two 
 inches in common, for the best leapers 
 will shew a sluggish or an impatient re- 
 luctance to leap at the bar, and when it 
 is high a disaster may happen. Some 
 horses leap uncommonly smooth and easy ; 
 such are suitable for men of the weakest 
 seat, at their first attempts, and others are 
 so exceedingly rough, particularly at their 
 first learning to leap, (for they supple them- 
 selves much by practice) that they give you 
 a shock not unlike electricity, and such are 
 proper for the men to finish with. 
 
 The intention of soldiers leaping is to give 
 them a firm and strong seat, and those who 
 can sit a rough leaping horse standing, over 
 a bar three feet and a half high, Avill be able 
 
 to 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 257 
 
 to sit him a foot higher if it were prudeut 
 or necessary to try. There are horses that 
 would carry a man over that height, but no 
 horse should be put to do his utmost over the 
 bar with a man on him, nor would he be 
 able to repeat it, as you here require, half a 
 dozen times every hoar. 
 
 I have not seen Lord Pembroke's book 
 for the use of the arm}^ these twenty-five 
 years at least, but I think he hints that a 
 horse might be dressed to capriole in every 
 regiment, for the purpose of giving the men 
 a seat. 
 
 One horse would be insufficient for the 
 use of a regiment, and to dress a sufficient 
 number would be rendering so many horses 
 unfit for general use. 
 
 -A gentleman, for his amusement and 
 pleasure, dresses his horse to capriole, and is 
 very careful that no person handles him but 
 himself, or those whom he knows to be 
 competent to Y>'ork him agreeable to rhe 
 . VOL. I. 3 education 
 
258 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 education he has received: for a horse of 
 this description when awkwardly handled or 
 irritated, will immediately begin to kick, 
 and therefore few would ever after be fit to 
 put in the ranks. 
 
 Flying leaps may likewise be practised on 
 suitable horses; two bars, one on each side 
 the house will be sufficient, and those not 
 placed higher than thirty inches. Four men 
 at a time, at equal distances, riding three 
 times round the house will dispatch the bu- 
 siness, and six leaps for any man is sufficient 
 at one time. 
 
 The instructions I have given in the se- 
 cond volume are clear, and the practice so 
 easy, that no difficulty will be found after 
 the standing leap, nor need you fear any 
 disaster if you select proper horses. But 
 horses that can leap, yet will not willingly, 
 who defend themselves against the hand and 
 rush into the middle to avoid the bar, msLj 
 occasion mischief, and are unfit. The 
 rough riders should know the qualit}", pro- 
 
 4 perties. 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 259 
 
 perties, temper, and disposition of every 
 horse in the regiment, and it hes with 
 them to select suitable ones. To assist their 
 memories, if the}^ kept lists of the horses 
 suitable for these purposes, they would never 
 be at a loss what horses to appoint. 
 
 Vaulting into the saddle. — This is a sub- 
 ject that may suit a few of m}^ readers that 
 are young and delight in activity. When 
 Price and Samson first exliibited their 
 feats of activity on horseback it was novel, 
 and the j^oung men of that time, mj^self 
 being then one, would be practising some 
 of their feats of activity; this of jumping 
 into the saddle being one. I see no real 
 necessity for the practice of it, as an occa- 
 sion seldom happens for its use ; yet it may 
 happen that, a dragoon unhorsed, might be 
 fortunate to catch a loose horse, and if pur- 
 suing or retiring, this method of \^aulting into 
 the saddle would be serviceable. 
 
 As the occasion requires dispatch, no time 
 is to be lost in collecting and adjusting the 
 
 s 2 reins 
 
260 OBSERVATIONS ON 
 
 reins, 3^ou seize them as yovi can and adjust 
 them after ; the principal thing is to seize 
 hold of the mane with the left hand and 
 apply the right co the pommel of tiie saddle, 
 running a few steps with the horse. When 
 you intend to spring, let hoth j'our feet come 
 to the ground parallel to, and with the 
 horse's fore feet, and from thence you im- 
 mediately spring into the saddle. The ve- 
 locity of the horse considerabl}^ assists you, 
 and you may, if not mindful, spring over ; 
 you will be aware of this after a few trials. 
 The jump is the same as you Avould put 
 your hands on a gate to jump over, but as 
 the velocity of the horse assists you, you 
 will find 3^ou can spring much higher ; 5^ou 
 need not be afraid of springing too high, 
 but must be careful not to throw the body 
 too far over ; your body must come down ; 
 spring as high as you can, and your hold 
 will not let the horse get from you; you 
 have only, therefore, to guard against going 
 over ; the springing high enough to let the 
 right leg and knee clear the saddle may 
 get you into it, but not so well as though 
 
 you 
 
TEACHING SOLDIERS TO RIDE. 261 
 
 you sprang higher and dropped down cen- 
 trically into the saddle. 
 
 The best method of practice for acquiring 
 dexterity at this, is to have a longeing 
 rein to the horse, and let a person longe 
 the horse to the left, keeping him in a slow 
 gallop ; the practitioner has then nothing to 
 attend to but seizing the proper time to 
 spring with the horse. A person of mode- 
 rate activity will fmd no difficulty if the 
 horse keeps the pace I have directed; but 
 if the horse moves too slow, or stands still, 
 few have the strength or agility to accom- 
 plish it. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
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