I 
 

 A 
 NEW AND COMPX-ETi: GUIDE 
 
 TZIE '^HOIiE SirSTEAX 
 
 HORSEMANSHIP 
 
 To Mount the Horse with ease ; 
 
 To sit gi-acefully in the Seat ; 
 
 To Manage tlie Bridle ; Hkid the Wliip ; 
 
 The Spur and Service of the Leg, &c. &c. 
 
 By CHARLES STEWARD, Junior, 
 
 RXDXNG MASTER 
 
 OF THE 
 
 jl^ogal ©lojftev d^mnt^ $c ilribdts^catrfmj?, 
 
 PLACKFRIARS ROAD, SURREY. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED AND SOLD BY A. REDFORD AND W. ROBINS, (SURREY PRINTING- 
 OFFICE) 36, LONDON ROAD, SOUTHWARK. 
 
 SOLD ALSO BY THE AUTHOR : BY SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, STATIONERS 
 COURT, LUDOATE HILL; AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS, 
 
 1821 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 IT having heen suggested to me, 
 that a small explanatory luork, as a Guide 
 to the Modern System of Horsemanship, 
 ivould he very acceptahle to the Learner, I 
 dedicated my leisure hours in produci^ig the 
 folloiving sheets, as a Complete Instructor 
 in the Nohle Art; and though its he gin- 
 ning, as well as that of other arts, was 
 imperfect, yet its use, and the recreation it 
 affords, has been known and reaped in all 
 ages, and distinguished by the notice of the 
 Great, ivho have at all tiines deigned to 
 profess and practice it. 
 
 The Riding (^or what is called ridingj 
 the Great Horse, is an Art taught by 
 Professed Masters only; but is only tiseful 
 to Military Men, or Persons of Rank, who 
 value themselves in appearing on Horseback 
 ivith Grace, Ease, and Dignity, 
 
IV. 
 
 Blanaged Horses that are taught their 
 motions only for Parade, are not fit for the 
 Road, or Hunting; and therefore this part 
 of Horsemanship is not of general utility . 
 I shall, consequently, say no more on this 
 part of the Art, hut confine myself to such 
 rules as concern the general use and prac- 
 tice. 
 
 The object of this work is to point out the 
 method to guide your Horse and reduce him 
 to due obedience, so as to make him eaecute 
 readily luhat is required of him, and to 
 remedy any defect of the Horse or Rider; 
 nor have I spared pains or expence to ren- 
 der this ivork as perfect as possible; but I 
 am not so vain as to flatter myself that 
 there may not be room found for censure, 
 notivithstanding my anxiety to obtain the 
 approbation of the Reader. 
 
IIVIPROVED SYSTEM 
 
 ART OF RIDING 
 
 Of the Horse, 
 
 JI.HE Horse is a geuerous and noble animal — 
 active, docile, sensible, and full of spirits ; ca- 
 pable of being taught exercises t\\^.% are of the 
 greatest utility. Though Nature has furnished 
 the Horse with these good qualities, yet, it jg 
 l^y Art he is instructed to exert them to the 
 satisfaction of the skilful manager. 
 
 The actions of a well -managed Horse will 
 discover the difference between a good and an 
 ignorant rider. Such a Horse appears to all the 
 beauty that an animal of his order is capable of, 
 and shews himself, as well as the expert rider, 
 ^Ai\\ a noble ^raee and dignity, and ravishes the 
 
judicious spectator with delight and wonder; 
 all which perfections are obtained by good 
 discipline and discreet management, allowing 
 time, with moderation and temperance, which 
 many have little regard to, who are quite care- 
 less whether their Horse is in or out of order, 
 and ride him to such extremity of whip and 
 spur, that if he does not drop down, is at least 
 rendered incapable of performing any other 
 service for a length of time after, if not become 
 entirely useless. And, if the Horse had not §l 
 good share of reason, memory, and understand- 
 ing, he could never be taught to practice so 
 many different lessons, and perform such a 
 variety of motions foreign to his nature, with 
 such exactness. 
 
 Now, if the human mind receives its ideas 
 from the objects it converses with, why may we 
 not suppose that the understanding which a 
 Horse discovers, to be the result of conception^ 
 derived from his senses, and the objects with 
 which he is continually conversant. The ca- 
 pacity of the Horse is made adequate to the 
 station he is appointed to act in; his concep- 
 tions extend no further than the objects brpugl^t 
 
to him by his senses — his imaginatien never 
 soars beyond what he sees, hears, and feels, and 
 by a combination of the images he receives 
 from these, he imbibes the lessons given by his 
 teacher, and his natural vivacity and strength 
 enable him to carry them into action and 
 execution. 
 
 Of the Hider, 
 
 The young Rider should not begin any lessons 
 bi|t by the direction of a master, and if he 
 would attain to a perfect knowledge in the art, 
 he should study and endeavour to know the 
 reason of every practice; and if he does not 
 readily comprehend, let him apply to the riding- 
 inaster, who will doubtlessly give him every 
 elucidation in his power. 
 
 The proper method of mounting is the first 
 thing to be learnt; many neglect this as trivial, 
 especially those who, by a bad habit, have ren- 
 dered another way familiar, but practice will 
 make the true method easy. There is no neces- 
 sity for a person to hold your horse, for if yotr 
 
8 
 
 have the least activity, the unsteadiness of the 
 horse cannot prevent your mounting. 
 
 But before you mount, especial care should 
 be taken to observe whether the saddle is rightly 
 placed ; and whatever is the disposition of your 
 horse, approach him in good humour, for they 
 know by your actions whether you are angry or 
 pleased — bold or timid, handy or awkward, in 
 this you will find it difficult to deceive them ; 
 well-broke horses take no advantage of it — 
 young ones frequently do. A soothing tone of 
 voice and caresses are pleasing, and help to 
 dispel their fears and pacify them. Ypu;ig 
 horses should be gently treated, and encouraged. 
 When you would help your horse with your 
 voice, let it be in a mild and cheerful tone, and 
 in such words as these; " so ho then— well 
 done — good lad," &c.; at the same time in- 
 cHning your body to him — but use no harsh 
 words, which will frighten and confuse him. 
 He who has judgment to correct and cherish a 
 horse properly, is a complete master in this art, 
 which is not easily attained or performed, but 
 may be reduced to the three following heads, 
 viz. — the voice, the hand, and the leg. 
 
-^i 
 
9 
 
 The hand is of the greatest utility in the 
 management of a horse ; by gently patting, clap- 
 ping, or stroking him on the neck or shoulders, 
 he is cherished; also the stroke Jirk or sound of 
 the whip is very useful^ and often helps, by 
 practising mildly and gently with it, but by 
 striking too hard, he is corrected to his dis- 
 pleasure; and by slacking the bridle in your 
 hand, the horse is eased and cherished, but by 
 drawing it hard, he is oppressed and corrected. 
 The hand guides and governs the horse as the 
 rudder does a sltip. 
 
 On Alounfing. 
 
 When you wish to Mount your horse, present 
 yourself rather before his near (or left) shoulder, 
 ^vith your whip in your left hand, because the 
 right is full of action, and has to remove from 
 place to place, and your whip thus agitated, 
 might disturb the horse. Bridles most in use 
 have two reins, but it is best for learners to 
 practice first with one, as awkwardness in a 
 ioertain degree will be otlierwise unavoidjible. 
 
le^ 
 
 Tlie rein should be a bridoon, lest the hand 
 at first should be too harsh for the curb : take 
 hold of the bridoon rehi with the right hand 
 gently and 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 
 saddle, letting the rein slip lightly and smooth- 
 ly through your fingers, you will find the middle 
 of the rein. 
 
 If you intend to Mount with this rein only^ 
 put the little finger, but if 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 you intend to take liold 
 of; let the superfluous rein hang oyer your 
 i&re finger. 
 
 If the middle finger is between this rein, and 
 you wish to Mount with both reins, in like 
 manner take hold of the curb rein, and put the 
 little finger between, and if flat through the 
 liand, on the bridoon rein, both hanging over 
 the fare finger ; the ei}d of the thumb will be 
 
u 
 
 sufficient, without grasping the hand^ to keep 
 the reins in this situation while you^ with the 
 right hand, separate a lock of the mane, then 
 apply the left hand, with the fingers open, down 
 flat to the horse's neck, and with the right hand 
 twist the lock of the mane over the fore finger 
 of the left ; by so doing, you will find, when you 
 grasp the mane with the left hand, that you 
 have a very firm hold close to the horse's scrag. 
 Hold the whip, the reins, and mane with the 
 left hand, and should the reins be so slack as not 
 to have the desired effect upon your horse, you 
 can still tighten them, and if so tight as to 
 occasion the horse to rein back, relax them by 
 letting them slip ; 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 your left foot and 
 place it in the stirrup; if your horse is high, 
 and you are low in stature, you will be obliged 
 to support yourself 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 
 
12 
 
 over, at the same time removing your right 
 hand from the cantle to the pommel^ to steady 
 yourself while you are seated, then place your 
 right foot in the stirrup, and let go the mane 
 out of the left hand, but be particularly careful 
 not to let go a rein ; exchange your whip from 
 the left to the right hand. Accustom yourself 
 to keep your horse steqidy till you request him 
 to move. 
 
 Of the Scat 
 
 Ah the keeping a graceful Seat on horseback 
 is greatly supported by the right disposition of 
 ihe legs and thighs, it seems necessary to de- 
 scribe their use somewhat distinctly: to sit on 
 that part of the horse w^hich, as he springs, is 
 the centre of motion, is to have a good Seat ; 
 and from which, it naturally follows, a weight 
 \roukl not be easily shaken. The true Seat is 
 certainly in that part of the saddle into which 
 the body naturally falls in case you have no 
 stirrups, and this you can no otherwise preserve 
 than by a just poize of the body. — The greatest 
 lua-tj indeed, of the riders arc of opinion it may 
 
13 
 
 be done by a grasp of the thighs and knees, but 
 in this they are mistaken. 
 
 Iii order to succeed in an art where the me- 
 chanism of the body is absolutely necessary, 
 and vv'hcre each part of the body has its proper 
 functions;, which are peculiar to it, it is most 
 certain that all and every part of the body 
 should be in a natural posture ; were they in an 
 imperfect situation, they would want that ease 
 and freedom wliich is inseparable from grace; 
 and, as every motion which is constrained, 
 being false in itself, is incapable of justness, it 
 is clear that the part so constrained and forced, 
 w^ould throw the whole into disorder; because 
 each part belonging to and depending upon the 
 whole body, partaking of the constraint of its 
 parts, can never feel that fixed point, that just 
 counterpoise and equilibrium, in which alone a 
 fine and just execution consists. 
 
 Of the Riders Body. 
 
 The Body of a man is divided into thre^ 
 parts—two of whicli are moveable, the other 
 
14 
 
 immoveable. The first of the two moveable 
 parts is the trunks or body, down to the waist; 
 the second is from the knees to the feet; so 
 that the remaining immoveable part is that 
 between the waist and the knees. 
 
 Tlie parts wiiich onght to be without motion 
 are — the fork of the horseman and his thighs. 
 Now, that these parts may be kept without 
 motion they ought to have a certain hold and 
 centre (if I may be allowed the expression) to 
 rest on, which no motion that the horse can 
 make, can disturb or loosen: this point, or 
 centre, is the basis of the hold which the horse- 
 man has upon his horse, and is what is called 
 his seat. Now, if the seat is nothing else but 
 this point, or centre, it must follow, that not 
 only the grace, but the symmetry and true 
 proportion of the whole attitude depend upon 
 those parts of the Body that are immoveable. 
 Let the horseman place himself at once upon 
 his fork, sitting exactly in the middle of the 
 saddle — let him support this posture, in which 
 the fork alone seems to sustain the weight of 
 the whole body, by moderately leaning upon 
 the buttocks ; let the thighs be turned inward. 
 
15 
 
 and rest flat upon the sides of tlie saddle; ixnd 
 in order to this, let the turn of the thighs pro- 
 ceed directly from the hips, and let him employ 
 no force or strength to keep himself in the 
 saddle, but trust to the weight of his Body and 
 Ins thighs— this is the exact poise; in this con- 
 sists the firmness of the whole building— a firm- 
 ness which learners are never sensible of at 
 first, but which is to be acquired by exercise 
 and practice. 
 
 Of the Thighs. 
 
 There should be but a moderate stress upon 
 the buttocks, because a man who sits full npoa 
 them, can never turn his Thighs flat upon the 
 saddle. The Thighs should always lay flat, 
 because the fleshy part of the Thigh being in. 
 sensible, the horseman would not otherwise b^ 
 able to feel the motion of his horse. 
 
 The turn of the Thigh should be from the hip, 
 because this turn can never be natural but as it 
 proceeds from the hollow of the hip-bbne. Yoit 
 should never avail yourself of the strength ®f 
 
16 
 
 your Thighs ; as you would then be not only 
 less steady, but the closer you pressed them to 
 the saddle, the more you would be lifted above 
 it. 
 
 Of the Head. 
 
 The Head should be free, fn in, and easy, in 
 order to be ready for all the natural motions 
 you may make in turning it from one side to 
 the other: it should be firm, that is to say 
 straight, without leaning to the right or left, 
 neither advanced nor thrown back; it should 
 be easy, because if otherwise, it would occasion 
 a stiffness which would affect all the different 
 parts of the body, especially the back-bone — 
 they would be without ease, and constrained. 
 
 The shoulders alone influence, by their mo- 
 tion, the breast, the reins, and the waist. 
 
 Of the Shoulders, 
 The horseman should present or advance his 
 
17 
 
 breast; by this his whole fig-ure opens and dis- 
 plays itself; he should have a small hollow in 
 his loinSj and should push his waist forward 
 to the pommel of the saddle, because this posi- 
 tion corresponds and unites him to all the 
 motions of the horse. Now, only throwing 
 the Shoulders back produces all these effects, 
 and gives them exactly in the degree that is 
 requisite; whereas, if we were to look for the 
 particular position of each part separately, and 
 by itself, without examining the connection that 
 there is between the motions of one part with 
 those of another, there would be such a bending 
 in the loins, that the horseman would be hollow 
 back'd; and from that he would force his breast 
 forward and his waist towards the pommel of 
 the saddle; consequently, he would be flung 
 back, and must sit upon the rump of the horse. 
 
 Of the Arms. 
 
 The Arms should be bent at the elbows, and 
 
 the elbows should rest equally upon the hips. 
 
 If the Arms were straight, the consequence 
 
 would be, that the hands would be infinitely too 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 low J or at much too great a distance from the 
 body ; and if the elbows were not kept steady, 
 they would give an uncertainty and fickleness 
 to the hand, sufficient to ruin it for ever. 
 
 Of the Bridle Hand. 
 
 The Bridle Hand is that which absolutely 
 ought to be kept steady and immoveable ; and 
 one might conclude from hence, that the left 
 elbow only ought to rest upon the hip, but 
 grace consists in the exact proportion and sym- 
 metry of all parts of the body; and to have the 
 arm on one side raised and advanced, and that 
 of the other kept down and close to the body, 
 would present but an awkward and disagreeable 
 appearance. 
 
 Of the Whip Hand. 
 
 It is this which determines the situation of 
 the Hand which holds the Whip: the left hand 
 being of an equal height with the elbow, so that 
 
19 
 
 the knuckle of the little finger and the tip of 
 the elbow be both in line; this hand then 
 being rounded neither too much nor too little, 
 but just so that the wrist may direct all its 
 motions; place your right, or Whip Iland^ 
 lower and more forward than the bridle hand — 
 it must be lower than the left hand, because if 
 it was upon a level with it, it would restrain or 
 obstruct its motions ; and were it to be higher, 
 as it cannot take so great a compass as the 
 bridle hand, which must always be kept over 
 against the horseman's body, it is absolutely 
 necessary to keep the proportion of the elbows, 
 that it should be lower than the other. 
 
 Of the Legs and Feet. 
 
 The Legs and Feet make up the second 
 division of what I call the moveable parts of 
 body. The Legs serve for two purposes — they 
 may be used either to aid or correct the animal, 
 and should be kept near the sides of the horse, 
 in a line with the man's body; for being near 
 that part of the horse's body where his feeling 
 is most delicate, they are ready to do their 
 B 2 
 
20 
 
 office the instant they are wanted ; and as they 
 are an appendix of the thighs, if the thigh is 
 upon its flat in the saddle, they will, by a 
 necessary consequence, be turned just as they 
 ought, and will infallibly give the same turn to 
 the Feet, because the Feet depend upon them as 
 they depend upon the thighs. 
 
 Of the Foot. 
 
 The toe should be held a little higher than 
 the heel, for the lower the toe is, the nearer the 
 heel will be to the sides of the horse, and must 
 be in danger of touching his flank. Many 
 persons, notwithstanding, when they raise their 
 toe, bend and twist their ankle as if they were 
 lame in that part ; the reason of which is very 
 plain — it is because they make use of the 
 muscles of their legs and thighs, whereas they 
 should employ only the joint of the Foot for this 
 purpose — a joint given by Nature to facilitate 
 all the motions of the Foot, and to enable it to 
 turn to the right or to the left, upwards or 
 downwards. 
 
21 
 
 On Dismounting. 
 
 Diginounting is to dise«gag*e from the horse. 
 Return the whip into the left hand — shift the 
 handle of the whip a hand's breadth above the 
 thumb, then place the right hand above the 
 leftj and turn both hands so that the thumbs 
 may be downwards and the little fingers up- 
 wards ; by these means the handle of the whip 
 will be turned into the left hand, and the lash 
 will be upright — quit the whip with the right 
 hand — let the hands resume their proper po- 
 sition, and the whip will be found in the left 
 hand, with the lash downward, on the near (or 
 left) side of the horse. Put a lock of the mane 
 with your right hand into the left; place your 
 right hand on the pummel, to steady yourself, 
 while you raise your right leg over the horse, 
 and laying hold of the cantle, let yourself gently 
 down; but be careful not to bend the right 
 •knee for fear the spur should touch the horse. 
 
22 
 
 The Sensation of the Hand on the Horse's 
 Ifoutk 
 
 This depends chiefly upon the goodness and 
 quickness of feeling in the Hand — a delicacy 
 which nature alone can give — and which she 
 does not always bestow. The first Sensation 
 of the Hand consists in a greater or less degree 
 of fineness in the touch or feeling; we are all 
 equally furnished with nerves, from which we 
 have the sense of feeling, but as this sense is 
 much more subtle and quick in some persons 
 than in others, it is impossible to give a precise 
 definition of the exact degree of feeling of the 
 Hand, which ought to commimicate and answer 
 to the same degree of feeling in the Horse's 
 Mouth; because there is as much difference in 
 the degrees of feeling in men, as there is in the 
 Mouths of Horses, 
 
 Suppose then a man, who is not only capa- 
 ble to judge of the qualities of a Horse's Mouth 
 from a knowledge of the theory, but who has 
 likewise by nature that fineness of touch which 
 helps to form a good Hand; I will state what 
 the rules are, in order to make perfect, and by 
 which must be directed all its operations. 
 
23 
 
 A horse can move four different ways^ he can 
 advance — go back — turn to the right — and to 
 the left ; but he can never make these different 
 motions unless the hand of the rider permits 
 him^ by making- four other motions which an- 
 swer to them ; so that there are five different 
 positions of the Hand. 
 
 The Five Positions of the Hand. 
 
 The First is that general Position from which 
 proceed, and indeed ought to proceed, the other 
 four. Hold your Hand three fingers' breadth 
 from the body, as high as the elbow, in such a 
 manner that the joint of your little finger be 
 upon a right line with the tip of the elbow; let 
 your wrist be sufficiently rounded so that your 
 knuckles may be kept directly above the neck 
 of your horse; let your nails be exactly oppo- 
 site your body, the little finger nearer to it than 
 the others — your thumb quite flat upon the 
 reins, which you must separate by putting your 
 little finger between them, the right rein lying 
 iipon it. 
 
24 
 
 The Second. — If you would hnve your horse 
 to go forwardj yield to him your Hand, and for 
 that purpose turn your nails downwards, in 
 such a manner as to bring your thumb near 
 your body ; remove your little finger from it, 
 and bring it into the place where your knuckles 
 were in the First Position, keeping your nails 
 directly above your horse's neck. 
 
 The Third. — If you would make your horse 
 go backwards, quit tiie First Position, let your 
 wrist be quite round — your thumb be in the 
 place of the little finger in the Second Position, 
 
 and the little finger in that of the thumb— turn 
 your nails quite upwards, and towards your 
 face, and your knuckles will be towards your 
 horse's neck. 
 
 The Fourth. — If you would turn your horse 
 to the right, leave the First Position ; carry your 
 
 nails to the right, turning your Hand upside- 
 down, in such a manner that your thumb be 
 carried over to the left, and the little finger 
 brought in to the right. 
 
 The Fifth. — If you wish to turn you horse- 
 
25 
 
 to the left, quit again the First Position, carry 
 the back of your Hand a little to the left, so 
 tliat the knuckles come imder a little, but that 
 your thumb incline to the right, and the little 
 finger to the left. 
 
 These different Positions, however, alone are 
 not sufficient, we must be able to pass from one 
 to another with readiness and order. Three 
 qualities are especially necessary to the Hand. 
 It ought to be^rm, gentle^ and light; that is, a 
 firm or steady Hand, the feeling of which cor- 
 responds exactly with the feeling in the horse's 
 mouth, consisting in a- certain degree of steadi- 
 ness, which constitutes the just correspondence 
 between the Hand and the horse's mouth. An 
 easj/ and gentle Hand is that which by relaxing 
 a little of its strength and firmness, eases and 
 mitigates the degree of feeling between the Hand 
 and horse's mouth, which is already described. 
 
 A light Hand is that which lessens still more 
 the feeling between the rider's Hand and the 
 horse's mouth, whicli was before moderated by 
 she gentle H^nd. 
 
26 
 
 The Hand, therefore^ with respect to these 
 properties, must operate in part and within 
 certain degrees, and depends upon being more 
 or less felt or yielded to the horse, or withheld. 
 Were you at once to go from a firm Hand to a 
 slack one, you would then entirely abandon 
 your horse; you would surprise him, deprive 
 him of the support he trusted to, and precipitate 
 liim on his shoulders, supposing you do this at 
 an improper time ; on the contrary, were you 
 to pass from a slack to a tight rein all at once, 
 you must jerk your hand, and give a violent 
 shock to the horse's mouth, whiph rough and 
 irregular motion would be sufficient to falsify 
 the finest feeling, or apuy and ruin a good 
 mouth. 
 
 It is indispensably necessary that all its ope- 
 rations should be gentle and light, and in order 
 to do this, it is proper that the wrist alone 
 should direct and govern all its motions, by 
 turning and steering it (if I may so express 
 myself) through every motion that it is to 
 make. 
 
27 
 
 Of Descents of the Hand. 
 
 Tiie motions which are called Descents of the 
 Hand are to be made three ways; either by- 
 dropping the knuckles directly, and at once 
 upon the horse's neck, or by taking the reins 
 in the right Hand, about four fingers' breadth 
 above the left, and letting them slide through 
 the left, dropping your right Hand at the same 
 time upon the horse's neck ; or else by putting 
 the horse under the button, that is, by taking 
 the end of the reins in your right Hand, quitting 
 them entirely with your left, and letting the 
 end of them fall upon your horse's neck. These 
 motions, which give a superior grace to the 
 horseman, should never be made but with great 
 caution, and exactly in the time when the horse 
 is quite together , and in the Hand; and you 
 must take care to counterbalance, by throwing 
 back your body, the weight of the horse upon 
 his haunches. 
 
 The heavy Hand would heat the mouth — dull 
 the sense of feeling— deaden the horse's bars — 
 and render them insensible and callous; this 
 shews the necessity of continually yielding and 
 
2S 
 
 drawing back the Hand, to keep the horse's 
 mouth fresh and awake. Having thus ex- 
 plained the different positions and motions of 
 the Hand, it will be better to shew the effect! 
 which they produce. 
 
 The horseman's Hand directs the reins ; the 
 reins operate upon the branches of the bit ; the 
 branches upon the moutii-piece and the curb ; 
 the moiitii-picce operates upon the bars, and th^ 
 curb upon the beard of the horse^ 
 
 The right rein guides the horse to the left; 
 the left rein to the right. If you go to the right 
 you pass to the fourth position of the Hand, 
 that is, you carry and turn your nails to the 
 right; now in carrying your nails to the right, 
 and reversiug your Hand, that your thumb 
 points to the left, and your little finger, being 
 raised, turns to the right— thus you shorten 
 your left rein ; it is the left that turns and guides 
 the horse to the right. If jo\). w^ould go to the 
 left, pass to the fifth position-— you will carry 
 tlie back of the Hand to the left, so that the 
 iKiils will be turned down a little — your thumb 
 will bo to the right, and the little finger to the. 
 
29. 
 
 kft; this will sboften the right rein, and tlie 
 right rein cleterniines your horse to the left. 
 
 There are particular cases where the reins are 
 separated, and one held in each Hand; it is 
 usual to separate theui when you trot a youn^ 
 horse, or when you are to work one that is dis- 
 obedient and resists his rider ; upon these oc- 
 casions keep both your Hands upon a level — lov/ 
 and near your body. To turn to the right, use 
 your right rein, to turn to the left use your left 
 rein; but in order to make them have their 
 effect, move your arms gently, turning them a 
 little from your body, keeping your Hands 
 always low and near your boots. 
 
 Such are the principles upon which the per- 
 fection and justness of the aids of the Hand 
 depend, all others are false, and not to be re- 
 garded; experience has so much the more 
 evinced the truth of this, as the new discoveries 
 which many persons conceive they have lately 
 made, have produced nothing but Hands, cold 
 and inactive, without firmness, whose irregular 
 and capricious motions serve only to render a 
 horse's mouth uncertain and fickle, and by their 
 
30 
 
 manner of holding them high, have absohitdy 
 ruined the hocks of all the horses they have 
 worked according to these absurd notions. 
 
 Of the Spurs. 
 
 Many persons are of opinion that they have 
 no command of a horse but by the bridle, and 
 that the only use of the Spur is to oblige him 
 to go forward, but a little experience will con- 
 Adnce that a further use is to be made of these 
 implements to good advantage. 
 
 If the horse is touched with your left Spur, 
 and at the same time not permitted to move 
 forward, the horse will then take it as a com- 
 mand to move sideways to the right; your 
 right Spur applied in the same manner will 
 produce the like effect on the left. After this 
 your horse will obey a touch of the leg, without 
 using the Spur, which he will retain a remem- 
 brance of. 
 
 Thus, when a horse stands in a stall, if you 
 Strike him with your hand, he moves his croup 
 
31 
 
 to tlie other sicle^ and you will find by a con- 
 tinued practice, that thehorse*s croup is as much 
 guided by the leg as his head is with the bridle; 
 and he will never disobey the leg unless he is 
 in a restive humour. 
 
 Thus you will acquire an easy command 
 over him ; by a touch of your leg he will move 
 sideways, and if both legs are clapt to him, he 
 will proceed straight forwards. 
 
 The horse, when he stands still, if he per- 
 ceives your legs near him, he will be on the 
 watch, and a slight motion of lifting the liand 
 will raise the horse's head. 
 
 It is on the proper use of the rider's legs, and 
 the guidance of the croup, that all the airs in 
 the manage are taught. It is by these that the 
 hussar is instructed to make the passage, or 
 side motion — to close or open files, and to prac- 
 tice all his military evolutions. 
 
 Though this discipline may seem peculiarly 
 adapted to the convenience of the military rider, 
 yet it is of essential service to common riders. 
 
32 
 
 when a horse is given to start or stumble. If 
 the horse feels your legs pressing on his flanks, 
 and his head raised by the bridle, he will go 
 light on his fore legs, by which he will be aided 
 and supported, which will prevent his stumbling ; 
 and if he should stumble, it will help him to 
 regain his footing, if he is not precipitated be- 
 yond a possibility of recovery. In every action 
 required of a horse, he is supported by the hands 
 and legs of the rider. 
 
 When your horse starts, the like treatment 
 must be applied ; when you perceive his sudden 
 motion on one side, clap your leg close on the 
 same side, and his spring is instantly stopped ; 
 and if you press the horse with both legs, he 
 keeps straight on, without minding what he 
 started at, following the direction you give him, 
 and will not fly back from any object he sees. 
 
 By the same means in going down a hill, you 
 will keep his haunches under him — relieve his 
 uneasiness on the side of a bank — direct him in 
 avoiding the wheel of a cart or carriage — and 
 to approach gracefully to the door of a coach— 
 or go by the side of a horseman. 
 
33 
 
 Of a Pampered Horse. 
 This is a horse that plays his tricks, curvets 
 irregularly, writhes his body into all postures, 
 and tosses about his head from right to left, or 
 alternately. Press your leg to the opposite side, 
 but not to let him go out of his track, by which 
 means he will be prevented from springing on 
 his hind legs on one side ; nor will he on the 
 other, because the head is turned that way, and 
 it is certain that a horse never starts or springs 
 to that side on which his eyes are fixed. 
 
 It is very improper to shake your legs against 
 the sides of a horse, a custom which many 
 persons use themselves to. If a horse has been 
 taught, they are perpetually urging him on to 
 violent action; and if he has not been taught, 
 they render it impossible for him to learn any 
 lessons of this kind. 
 
 If your horse is of a hot nature, the constant 
 rubbing of your legs against him, will make 
 him fret excessively, which fretting can be no 
 otherwise quitted than by keeping your seat, 
 and your hands and legs perfectly motionless. 
 
34 
 
 Aids. 
 
 An Aid is whatever assists, directs, and 
 enables the horse to execute whatever he is 
 put to do. 
 
 The Aids are various, and to be given in 
 different methods and upon different occasions : 
 they are only meant to accompany the ease 
 and smoothness of the horse in his air, and to 
 form and maintain the justness of it; for this 
 reason, they ought to be delicate, fine, and steady, 
 and proportioned to the sensibility or feeling 
 of the horse; for if they are harsh and rude, 
 very far from aiding, they would throw the 
 horse into disorder — ^liis time consequently bro- 
 ken, constrained, and disagreeable. 
 
 Corrections. 
 Corrections are methods used to awe and 
 punish the horse, whenever he disobeys, or for 
 any fault he may commit. 
 
 You may punish your horse with the spurs, 
 or whip, but endeavour rather to work upon 
 
35 
 
 the understanding^ of the creature, than upon 
 the different parts of his body. 
 
 Work upon the horse's three faculties — his 
 imagination, memory, and judgment ; and you 
 will most likely succeed. 
 
 Indeed, the Corrections which reduce ahorse 
 to the greatest obedience, and which dishearten 
 him the least, are such as are not severe, but 
 which consist in opposing his will and humour, 
 by restraining him and putting him to do di- 
 rectly the contrary. 
 
 If your horse should not advance, or go off 
 readily, or if he is sluggishly inclined, make 
 him go sideways, sometimes to one hand, some- 
 times to the other, and drive him forward ; and 
 so alternately. 
 
 If he goes forward too fast, being extremely 
 quick of feeling, moderate your Aids, and make 
 him go backward some steps; if he presses 
 forward with hurry and violence, make him go 
 backward a great deal. 
 
36 
 
 If he is turbulent and disorderly, walk him 
 straight forward, with his head in and croup 
 out: these Corrections have great influence upon 
 most horses. 
 
 There are, indeed, some of so bad and re 
 bellious a disposition, that require very sharp 
 Correction, and upon such, gentle punishment 
 would have no effect; but in using severity to 
 such horses, great prudence and management 
 are necessary; and the horseman ought to work 
 with design, and execute with method and 
 order, and should have great forbearance and 
 experience. 
 
 ^ids of the JBody. 
 
 The perfection of all the Aids consists in 
 their mutual harmony and correspondence, for 
 without this they must be always ineffectual; 
 because the horse can never work with exact- 
 ness and delicacy, and keep the proportion 
 and measure which is inseparable to all airs 
 when justly and beautifully executed. 
 
37 
 
 Tiie Aids of the Body contribute, and even 
 are capable of themselves, from the principles 
 of geometry, to make us acquire the union of 
 the Aids of the hand and leg-; and if so, we shall 
 be obliged to own the conclusion — that they 
 are to be preferred to all the rest. 
 
 Until the horseman is completely able to 
 sit doM^i close and firm in his saddle, so as to 
 be immoveable in it, it would be vain to expect 
 he should be able to manage a horse ; because, 
 besides his incapability of feeling his motions, 
 he would not be possessed of that equilibrium 
 and firmness of seat, which is the characteristic 
 of a horseman. 
 
 The equilibrium is when the horseman sits 
 upon his twist, directly close and down upon 
 the saddle, and so firm that nothing can loosen 
 or disturb his seat ; and by firmness is meant 
 that grasp or hold w^ith which the horseman 
 keeps himself on the horse without employing 
 any strength, trusting entirely to his balance 
 to humour and accompany all the motions 
 .of the. horse. 
 
38 
 
 Nothing but exercise and practice can give 
 this equilibrium, and, consequently, this hold 
 upon the horse. In the beginning, the fear 
 which almost every scholar feels, and the con- 
 straint which all his limbs are under, make him 
 apt to press the saddle close with his thighs and 
 knees, by which he imagines he shall obtain a 
 firm seat; but the very effort he makes to 
 resist the motions of the horse, stiffens his body 
 and lifts him out of the saddle, so that any rude 
 motion, or unexpected shock, would be likely to 
 unhorse him ; for the moment that he ceases to 
 sit down quite close in the saddle, every sudden 
 jerk and motion of the horse, attacking him 
 under his twist, must shift him out of the 
 saddle. 
 
 Suppose then, a person, the position of whose 
 body is just and regular, and who, by being 
 able to sit down perpendicular and full in his 
 saddle, can feel and unite himself to his horse 
 so as to accompany all his motions ; we shall 
 then see how this person, from the motions of 
 his own body, will be able to accord and unite 
 the Aids, or times, of the hands and legs, 
 
39 
 
 The ivord Manage. 
 
 The word " Manage" is compounded of the 
 two Latin words — manus, the hand; and ago, 
 to do or act. The hand^ which in this art is 
 the principal instrument of acting, doth guide 
 and govern the horse in every action, and may 
 properly be said to manus agere, or as the 
 Italians call it, managiere, which is skilfully to 
 handle; and therefore, when a rider exercises 
 his horse skilfully and gracefully in his paces, 
 trot, stop, advance, double or single turn, 
 gallop, leap, capriole, corvet, assault, or what- 
 ever the hand, which is the principal actor or 
 first mover, puts him to, may be truly and 
 justly called Manage, 
 
 To make your Horse take or go into a 
 Corner. 
 
 To open a Corner, is to turn the shoulder 
 before you come to it, in order to make it cover 
 the ground ; and the croup, which is turned in^ 
 will next follow the line of the shoulders, till 
 they are turned and brought upon a strait line 
 m order to come out of the corner. To turn 
 
40 
 
 the shoulder to open a corner, you must carry 
 your hand to the right or left, according to that 
 which you are to go ; and to throw in the croup 
 you must support it with the leg on that side 
 to which you carry your hand. To make the 
 shoulders turn and come out of a corner, you 
 must carry your hand on the side opposite 
 that to which you turned it in order to go into 
 the Corner ; and ttiat the croup may pass over 
 the same ground as the shoulders, you must 
 support with the leg on the contrary side to 
 that which you aided, in order to bring in the 
 haunches.— The Horse never can perform any 
 of these actions without an entire agreement of 
 all the aids, and one single motion of the body 
 will be sufficient to unite them all with the 
 utmost exactness. 
 
 Instead of carrying your hand out, and 
 seconding that aid with the leg, turn your body 
 (but imperceptibly) towards the Corner, just as 
 if you intended to go into it yourself; your 
 body then turning to the right or left, your 
 hand, which is one of its appurtenances, must 
 necessarily turn likewise, and the leg of the 
 gide en which you turn will inf^ibly pr^ss 
 
41 
 
 against the sides of the Horse, and aid him. 
 If you come out of the Corner, turn your body 
 again, your hand will follow it, and your other 
 leg approaching the Horse, will put his croup 
 into the Corner in such a manner, that it will 
 follow the shoulders and be upon the same line. 
 It is by these means that you will be enabled 
 to time the aids of the hands and legs, with 
 greater exactness than you could do, were you 
 not to use your body ; for, however dexterous 
 and ready you may be, yet, when yoa only use 
 your hands and legs, without letting their aids 
 proceed from and be guided by your body, they 
 can never operate so effectually; and their action 
 is infinitely less smooth, and not so measured 
 and proportioned as when it proceeds only from 
 the motion of the body. 
 
 The same motion of the body is likewise 
 necessary in turning to the right or left, or to 
 mak« your horse go sideways on one line, or in 
 tnaking the changes. 
 
 If, when you make a change, you perceive the 
 croup to be too much in, by turning your body in 
 jon will tnrn it out, and the hand following 
 
42 
 
 tlie bodj^ determines the shoulder by means of 
 the outward rein^ which is shortened. If the 
 croup is not too much eut, turn your body out, 
 and this posture carrying- the hand out^ shortens 
 the inner rein and confines the croup, acting in 
 concert with the outward leg, which works and 
 approaches the sides of the horse. — This aid is 
 by much the best, because, if executed with 
 delicacy, it is imperceptible, and never alarms 
 the horse — I say, if executed as it ought to be, 
 for I am not speaking here of turning the 
 shoulder, and so falsifying the posture. In 
 order to make the hand and leg work together, 
 it is necessary that the motion should proceed 
 from the horseman, which, in turning, carries 
 with it the rest of the body insensibly; without 
 this, very far from being assisted by the balance 
 of the body in the saddle, you would lose it 
 entirely, and v/ith it the gracefulness of your 
 seat \, and the balance being gone, you would 
 find no justness in the motions of your Horse, 
 as all the justness and beauty of the Hprse'^ 
 motions must depend upon your o^yny 
 
43 
 
 The Secret Aids of the Body. 
 The Secret Aids of the Body are such as serve 
 to prevent and accompany all the motions of the 
 horse. If you would make him go backward, 
 throw back your own body^ your hand will go 
 with it, and you will make the horse obey by a 
 single turn of the waist. Should you wish him 
 to go forward, put your body back, but in a 
 less degree; do not press the horse's fore parts 
 with your weight, because, by leaning a little 
 Iback you will be able to approach your legs to 
 his sides with greater ease. If your horse rises 
 up, bend your body forward ; if he gallops when 
 he should nt)tj oppose all his motions; and for 
 this purpose push your waist forward towards 
 the pommel of the saddle, making a bend or 
 hollow at the same time in your loins. In short, 
 work your horse upon great circles, with the 
 hand in and croup out; let your body then be a 
 part of the circle, because this posture bringing 
 your hand in, you bring in the horse's outward 
 shoulder, over which the inner shoulder crosses 
 "Circularly, and your inner leg being likewise by 
 this method near your horse's side, you leave 
 his croup at liberty. It is becoming a part of 
 |the circle yourself, when you incline a little the 
 
44 
 
 balance of your body towards the centre; and 
 tliis balance proceeds entirely from tlie outward 
 Mp^ and turning it in. 
 
 The Aids of the Body are those which con- 
 duce to make the horse work with greater 
 pleasure^ and perform his business with more 
 grace. If then they are capable of constituting 
 the justness of the airs; if they unite and make 
 the hand and legs work in concert ; if they are 
 so fine and subtle as to be imperceptiblcj and 
 occasion no visible motion in the rider, but the 
 horse seems to work of himself; if they com- 
 prise the most established and certain prin- 
 ciples of the art ; if the body of the hor§emaii 
 who is capable of employing them, is firm with- 
 out constraint or stiffness, and supple without 
 being weak or loose; — if these are the fruits 
 which we derive from them, we must candidly 
 own that this is tiie most certain and plainest 
 Hiethod that can be followed, in order to form 
 a 2'ood liorseuian, 
 
 The Trot ami Gallop. 
 ■Xl.ie proof of the Trot being tlie foundation 
 
X)f the Gallop, is very clear aiul natural. Tho 
 action of the Trot is crossways, that of the 
 Gallop is from an equal motion of the fore and 
 hind legs. If you trot out your horse briskly, 
 and beyond his pitch, he will be compelled, 
 when his fore feet are off the ground, to put his 
 hinder foot down so quick, that it will follow 
 the fore foot of the same side, and it is this 
 M'hich forms the true Gallop. As the perfection 
 of the Trot consists in the suppleness of the 
 joints and limbs, that of the Gallop depends 
 upon the lightness and activity of the shoulders; 
 a good apuv; and the vigour and resolution of 
 the career, must depend upon tlie natural spirit 
 and courage of the horse. It should be a rule 
 never to make a horse gallop till he presents 
 and offers to do it of himself. Trotting him 
 out boldly and freely, and keeping him in the 
 hand, so as to raise and support his fore parts, 
 will assist him greatly; for when his limbs have 
 become supple and ready, and he is so far ad- 
 vanced as to be able to unite and put himself 
 )gether without difficulty, he will then go off 
 readily in his Gallop; if, on the contrary, he 
 should pull, or be heavy, the Gallop would only 
 make him abandon himself upon the hand, and 
 fling him entirely upon his shuiders. 
 
46 
 
 Two things are requisite to form the Gallop ; 
 viz. — it ought to be just, and even or equal. That 
 Gallop is just in which the horse leads with the 
 right leg before ; for instance — a horse gallops, 
 and supports himself in his Gallop, upon the 
 outward fore foot, the right fore foot clears the 
 way, with which the horse consequently gallops, 
 and the Gallop then is just. This motion of 
 the horse is indispensably necessary, for if he 
 were to put his left fore foot first, his Gallop 
 would he false; — to be understood, that wiien- 
 ever you put a horse to the Gallop, he should 
 always go off with his right fore foot, and keep 
 it foremost, or he can never be said to gallop 
 just and true. 
 
 If a horse in full Gallop changes his legs from 
 one side to the other alternately, this action of 
 the amble in the midst of his course is so 
 different from the action of the Gallop, that it 
 occasions the horse to go from the Trot to the 
 amble, and from the amble to the Trot. 
 
 Tliere are some horses who retain themselves 
 and do not put out their strength sufficiently; 
 these should be galloped briskly, and then 
 
47 
 
 slowly again, remembei-ing to gallop tlseiu 
 sometimes fast and tlien slow, as you jiiflgs 
 necessary. Let them go a little way at fall 
 speed — make a half stop, by putting back your 
 body, and bring them again to a slow Gall-op; 
 by these means they will be compelled to obey 
 both the hand and the heel. 
 
 . In the slow Gallop, as well as in the Trot, it 
 is necessary sometimes to close your heels to 
 the horse's sides — this is called pinching; but 
 you must pinch him in such a manner as not 
 to make him abandon himself to the hand ; and 
 take care that he be upon his haunches, and not 
 upon his shoulders; and therefore, whenever 
 you pinch him, keep him tight in the hand. 
 
 Be careful when your horse is in his Gallop, 
 not to mark each motion of the animal by moving 
 your body and head ; they ought, without stiff- 
 ness or constraint, to consent and yield to all 
 his motions, yet with a smoothness and pliancy 
 «a^as not to be perceived, for all great or rude 
 motions will disturb the horse. To do this, 
 you must advance or present your breast, and 
 stretch yourself firm in your stirrups; this is 
 
48 
 
 the only way to fix and unite yourself entirely 
 to the animal that carries you. Remember 
 that a violent and precipitate Gallop would 
 hurt an impatient and hot horse, as much as it 
 would be proper and useful to one that retains 
 himself, and is jadish and lazy. 
 
 The Leap. 
 
 The horseman, in the Leap, should never 
 lose the equilibrium, either in raising-, support- 
 ing, holding in or driving forward his horse; 
 his head should be not only firm and steady, 
 but it is indispensably necessary that his seat 
 should be exactly straight and just, for as the 
 arm is an appendant of the body, it is certain 
 that if the motions of the horse shake or dis- 
 order the rider, the bridle hand must inevitably 
 be shook, and, consequently, the true apuy lost. 
 In this attitude then approach the calves of 
 your legs, support and hold your horse up with 
 your hand, and when the fore part is at its (^ne 
 height, aid with your hand whip upon the 
 croup. 
 
' 
 
 i 
 
 •^'^- 
 
49 
 
 If your horse rises before, keep your body 
 straight and firm; if he lifts or tosses up his 
 croup, fling- your shoulders back without 
 turning your head to one side or the other, 
 continuing the action of the hand that holds 
 the whip. 
 
 When the horse makes his Leap too long 
 and extended, you should fehen aid with your 
 hand whip, and for this reason, because the 
 whip will make him raise his croup witliout 
 advancing; whereas the effect of the spurs will 
 be to raise the croup and push the horse forward 
 at the same time. — It should be used to such 
 horses as retain themselves, and are not quick 
 and lofty in the Leap. 
 
 On a Journey, 
 
 When you are on a Journey, you are not to 
 regard the fine carriage of your horse so much 
 as the encouragement you ought to give him, 
 and to employ all your thoughts to keep him 
 in a good humour. That both you and your 
 horse may proceed with the greatest ease and 
 
50 
 
 pleasure, keep his head raised • but if you find 
 he flags, you may suffer him to bear a httle 
 more on the bit than you would do in an 
 airing. 
 
 If your horse falls lame, is tender-footed, or 
 tired, you will soon be sensible of it by his 
 hanging on the bridle, which is the natural 
 consequence of his ailment. \ 
 
 Your chief reliance, therefore, for the per- 
 formance of his Journey with speed and alacrity, 
 will depend on his mouth, which you will find 
 in good order as long as bis strength lasts ; and 
 likewise on the goodness of his feet, which, 
 that they may be always in good order, be very 
 careful that the farrier does not spoil them. 
 
 On Shoeing your Horse. 
 
 When the farrier Shoes your Horse, let him 
 not hollow his feet, but pare them quite flat, 
 and chiefly at the toe. The farrier, to make 
 his work look round and neat, gives the finish- 
 ing stroke at the end of the horn of the hoof. 
 
5J 
 
 Jibovc tliG toe. Now, as this is tlie most useful* 
 part of the hoof, nothing can be taken from it 
 without weakening it in the most essential 
 paTt. 
 
 buffer him not to pare the heel or frog, except 
 it be to take off what is ragged or broken, which 
 you had better do yourself with a knife, at your 
 leisure, than trust to an ignorant farrier to 
 pare it. 
 
 As pressure is undoubtedly the cause of corns. 
 Horses would be less liable to them if the above 
 method was practised, since the hoof, in that 
 ca^e, would escape the pressure it is liable to 
 in the usual way of Shoeing. 
 
 This is likewise a defence against pointed 
 nails, which can never pierce the flesh of the 
 foot, unless the frog loses its natural state by 
 being pared away. 
 
 This method is also useful in another respect^ 
 it keeps open the two divisions of the heel, and 
 preserves them in their natural position— broad 
 r^nd asunder. 
 
52 
 
 The common practice of farriers is directly the 
 contrary: they pare the frog extremely thin, in 
 order (as they term it) to open the heel ; but, 
 by this means, they defeat the very thing- they 
 aim at. 
 
 But this is not the only mistake they make 
 1-n Shoeing a Horse ; for they generally drive 
 the nails backward on the heel, which is the 
 softest and most sensible part of the hoof, and 
 not at the toe, where the hard and stiff sub- 
 stance is best qualified to bear them. 
 
 There are not many horses, except the stoned, 
 that have high heels. Whenever this happens, 
 it is necessary to pare tlie whole hoof fiat, but 
 not to meddle Vv^itli the frog. 
 
 When a horse has so low a heel, that the 
 fleshy part of it comes too near the ground, it 
 should be pared only at the toe. 
 
 If a horse's pasterns are short, his shoes 
 should be so to; because, in such case, a long 
 shoe would throw his heels further back, so as 
 to obstruct the pliableness of his pasterns, and 
 
53 
 
 thereby put him in pain, which, for many 
 reasons, should be carefully avoided, 
 
 A short shoe may indeed sometimes occasion 
 a little accidental lameness ; biit when the shoe 
 is long, and the nails are driven far back on 
 the heels, the consequence will be fatal — the 
 heels ruined, and the horse spoiled. 
 
 Experience makes it evident, that low-heeled 
 horses go best after they have been long shod; 
 that is, when the foot is grown longer, and the 
 shoe necessarily fits shorter on the foot in 
 proportion as it is brought nearer the toe. 
 
 While a horse finds himself uneasy in his 
 feet, he will never perform his duty with that 
 cheerfulness and alacrity he would do, if he 
 was not sensible of such an inconvenience. 
 
 FINIS 
 
T H S INDEX, 
 
 Page. 
 
 Of the Hone •*"> 
 
 Of the Rider 7 
 
 On JMountins. 
 
 9 
 
 Of the Seat 12 
 
 Of the Riders Bodij 13 
 
 Of the Thighs 15 
 
 Of the Head ^ G 
 
 Of the Shoulders «*- 
 
 Of the Arms • 17 
 
 Of the Bridle Hand J S 
 
 Of the JVhip Hand «^- 
 
 Of the Legs and Feet 19 
 
 Of the Foot 2<> 
 
 On Dismounting 21 
 
 The Sensation of the Hand on the Horsts Mouth. .. 22 
 
 The Five Positions of the Hand 23 
 
 Of the Descents of the Hand. 27 
 
 Of the Spurs SO 
 
 Of a Pampered Ho)se 33 
 
 Aids 34 
 
 Corrections, • • • ^"• 
 
 Aids of the Body 36 
 
 The JVord Manage 39 
 
 To make your Horse tahe or go into u Corner iL 
 
 The Secret Aids of the Body 4.1 
 
 The Trot and Gallop 
 
 44 
 
 The Leap -^*^ 
 
 On a Journey 
 
 On Shoeing your Horse. 
 
 'B 
 
 [entered at stationers' hall.] 
 
 A. Redford and W. Robins, riintcrs, 36, London Road, Borough. 
 
Wi^^'