xt7f1v5bct19 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7f1v5bct19/data/mets.xml Astley, Philip, 1742-1814. 1801 books b98-51-42632153 English T. Burton, : London : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Horsemanship. Horses. Astley's system of equestrian education, exhibiting the beauties and defects of the horse : with serious and important observations on his general excellence, preserving him in health, grooming, &c. text Astley's system of equestrian education, exhibiting the beauties and defects of the horse : with serious and important observations on his general excellence, preserving him in health, grooming, &c. 1801 2002 true xt7f1v5bct19 section xt7f1v5bct19

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-PHILJP AS TLJEY.

Bomn Jan2' 8y1742

fTwax Aere the -PaizkrzJ Task to taa'
But temarre JemlZiwze of hi,- Fare,
7zeLPortmaft of whwoe AfadLmnre bue
lo.')/ ov Wr pcext h, ilit

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ASTLEY's

SYSTEM OF

V D1TBESTRIAN ED'UCATIDNI,

EX1IJ31T]N3 THE BEAUTIES AND DEFECTS
OF THE

HO R S E;

WITH SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT

OBSERVATIONS

ON H115 GENERAL EXCELLENCE,

FRESERVING HIM IN

HEALTH, GROOMING, &c.

NW I T H1 PLATES.

bce fourth eEition.

" 'I ppevnts Jccident 'S Jbetter thIui lo COre."

,hr.ed by T. BURTON, Litte Fiddeen-freet, Lilncoiln's-nn FelJ.
5OLD BY S. CREED, AGENT AND PUBLISHER, NO. 2, NFAn THE AMPgr.
TIIf,,TIR! OF ARTS, VrSTNI-INSTi.l-BlRIDGE-ROAD, LAMBET11, AND THE
PlIINClIIAL '39OKSLLLiRS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GIREAT Bi11TAi1
A.,JJ IhLLNAD.

Price lO,. td.
[E tcrud 71 Sta/latiC' RIal 3

This page in the original text is blank.

DFADEDICATION.

TO
THEIR ROYAL HIGTINESSES
GEORGE PRINCE OF WALES,
&C. &C. &C.
AND
FIELD MARSHAL
FREDERICK DUKE OF YORK,
&C. &C. &C.

IN prefulning to dedicate thlil
work to your ROYAL HIGHNESSES,
the Author has the honour to
acknowledge that he is prompted
to it by a TWO-FOLD AMOTIVE---
firfi, a thorough conviiion that

the,

A 2

DEDICATION.

the elevated rank, you hold
in thne army (by which rou are
lb defervedly belo-v-ed, for the
fedulous care youl take of its
deareft interefts) pr-emcminently
points you out as thpe NATURAL
Patrons of a publication, which
has for its avowed object the
lE ASE and SAFETY of His Miajefty's
Subjects, whofe LIVES are but
too freque-ntly endanglered by
the wanltt of experience in Horfe-
maninip; an experience which
can only be ATTAINED by an
acquaintance with EQUESTRIAN
EDUCATION, founded on SCIENTI-
Fic principles---hanpy is he to
learn, that it is the -wife inten-
tion

DEDICATION.

tion of Government immediately
to eftablifh national MILITARY
SEMTINARIES for this falutary
J)urp-fe !

The Author's feconci induce-
ment, in laying this humble
tri'bute of his relpect at the feet
of your ROYAL HIGHNESSES, pro-
ceCids from a high fenfe of fa-
vours munificently conferred on
his eftabliflhiment near JfVeftimin-
fier-Bridoge. Under the Zlufpices
of your ROYAL HIGHNESSES, it
has thriven, and is thriving, and
fuch benefits, he conceives, call
alou(l for public acknowledge-
ment ! Witih thefe fentiments,

the

A 3)

DEDICATION-.

the Author has the honour to
fubfcribe himfelf, with profound

Refpect and Gratitude,

Your ROYAL HIGHNESSES'

Moft dutiful and

Devoted humble Servant,

Philip A/ley.

CO-ND

CONTENTS.

CHAP. I,

THE Author's Syftem of reducing Horfes to
Obecdicncc

CHAP. II.
Dialogue on Equcftrian Education

CHAP. III.
Serious Advice to Ladies and Gentlemen

, - _ 27

- 77

CHAIP. IV.
XNeceffary Precautions in purchafing Horfes

CHAP. V.
Of the Bridle, Saddle, and Stirrup

CHAP. VI.
Training I-Iorfes to Leap - - -

CHAP. VII
Obfervations on the Walk, Trot, and Gallop

CHAP.

. . ft

. . 0

A 4

Ciii CONTENTS.

CHAP. VIII.
Draught-Horfes; and how to render them
quiet in Harnefs - - 103

CHAP. IX.
Feeding, Grooming, &c. - - - - - - 10o

CHAP. X.
Dialogue between the Author and a Travel-
ler, on the Health and Indifpafition of the
Horfe - - - - - - - - - - - 114

CHAP. XI.
Difeafes to which Horfes are liable, Cure,
&c. aifo a Dialogue between Sir Richard
Jebb and the Author-his Opinion,
&c. - - - - - - - - - - 120-160

CHAP. XII.
Difcourfe on the Manege d'Equitalioni, with
Plates, &c. -174

PRE-

..i.

PRE FACE.

IWERE men in general to confider how much a
little good management would add to the beauty and
perfcItion of the borfe, I flatter myf lf, no gen-
tleman would think his time fUl-fpent, in promoting
the due cultivation of fuch a noble, ufeful, and
fagacious animal. It is generally undeltood, that
horfes of a middlig, fIiz havt thr moilt fpirit and
agility. Indeed, I am extr-clmfly fond of this kind
of horfe, if good tempered, if the eyes be at once
bright, lively, refolute, and impudent: by the eye
may be discovered his inclination, paflion, inalice,
health, and indifpofition.

Althouh, for a feries of years, the management
of the horfe has been my chief, my peculiar ftudy,
it may be fLippofcd my fvfrcmn will experience
SOME oppofition. Many perfons, too wife to be
taught, will exclaim-what.unbounded ignorance
in

in the author! how ridiculous and abfurd, to teach
what every body knows !-But the many fatal ac-
cidents, which daily occur, fufficiently prove the
neceffity of acquiring SOME knowledge of eqluef-
trian elucationl, of which a pliability and command
of the body, on horfeback, certainly forms a moft
effential part.

It is a known fad that many gentlemen have
purchafed commiffions in the cavalry, merely be-
caufe they could ride a fox-chafe, or a horfe-race;
but a little adual DASHING SERVICE in the field
of honour foon convinced them of the neceflity of
being taught to ride on pure fcientific principles,
and under able profeffors. Certainly this precau-
nion is the more requifite in a country fo much ad-
mired by all Europe for its breed of excellent
horfes; but if we negle & to improve the affion of
this animal, its great qualifications become but a
piere fhadow.

I crave permifijon to remark, that this generoum
and ferviceable creature poffeffes the courage of
the lion, the fleetnefs of the deer, the firength of
the ox, with the. docility of the fpaniel: by his
aid,

PREFACE.

PREFACE. Xl
aid, men become more acquainted with each
other; he not only bears us through foreign climes,
but likewife labours in the culture of our foil;
draws our burdens and ourfelves; carries us for
our amufement and our exercife; and both in the
fports of the field and on the turf, exerts himfelf
with an emulation, that evinces how eagerly am-
bitious he is to pleafe and to gratify the defires of
his mailer.

lie is both our flave and our guardian; he gives
profit to the poor, and pleafure to the rich; in our
health he forwards our concerns, and in our fick-
ncfs lends his willing aflifiance for our recovery.

This fine, this fpirited animal participates with
nan the toils of the campaign, and the glory of
conqueft; penetrating and undaunted as his maf-
ter, he views dangers, and braves them; accuf.
tomed to the din of arms, he loves it with cnthu-
fiafrn, feeks it with ardour, and feems to vie with
his mailer in his animated efforts to meet the foe
with intrepidity, and to conquer every thing that
oppofes itfelf to his matchlefs courage,

In tournaments and Equefirian Exercifes, his
fire and his courage arc irrefiftible. Amid his
boldeft exertions, he is equally collected and trac-
table; not obeying his own impetuofity, all his
efforts and his aalions are guided folely by his
rider. Indeed, fuch is the greatnefs of his obedi-
ence, that he appears to confult nothing but how
he fhall beft pleafe, and, if poflible, anticipate
what his maier wifhes and requires; every im-
preffion, he receives, produces refponfive and im-
plicit obedience; he darts forward, checks his
ardour, he flops at command; the pleasures, at-
tendant on his own exiflence, he renounces, or
rather centres them in the pleafure and fatisfac-
tion of man.

Nothing can be more wonderful than the preci-
fion with which he performs every thing that is
required of him; refigned without any referve to
our fervice, he refufes nothing, however dangerous
or difficult to execute.

He fenres with all his flrcngtb, and in his
flrenuous efforts to pleafe, oft-times out-does his
nature, and even dies in order the better to obey!
Iin

X11

PREFACE.

In a word, wife Nature has beffowed upon him
a difpofition both of love and fear for the human
race; fhe has endowed him alfo with that percep-
tion, which yields him the knowledge of every
fervice we can, and ought to render him. Such,
indeed, are the acute and generous feelings of this
aninal, that he is lefs affliEted with his own bond-
age, than with the want of our proteEtion ! Pleafed
in an unceafing round of labour for our health,
plcafure, profit, and protceaion, he feels no diffrefs
but what is caufed by our own CRUELTY, Ouf
INGRATITUDE ! All he demands firom us, there-
fore, for a life of uninterrupted fatigue, is f/ihp'pcrt,
and a reciprocity of good oices; his chief gratifi-
cation arifing from the fenfe of our bein- pleafcd
and fatisfied with his unwearied cladCuavours to
ferve us.

If fuch, therefore, be the qualities of this noble
creature, furely he, who has devoted his life to
the fiudy of his difpofitions, has SOME finall
claim to the protetiton of his country, and hus
opinion fhould have SOME weight in a Treatife
of this kind
It

). i

PREFACE.

It is by an unwearied application in obferving
the temper and EXTRAORDINARY SAGACITY of
this generous animal, that I have attained the
knowledge of rendering him more pleafing and ufe-
ful to his rider than he would otherwife prove; and
I flatter myfelf this work wvill be found to contain
fuch information and improvement, in the art of in-
flru-ting the horfe, as were never, till now, pre-
fented to the public. I truft, it is no prefumption
to fuppofe from my continual application to this
fcience, (which has been upwards of 40 years,)
that what is here offered, will contain fuch mate-
rial discoveries, relative to the difpofition and ma-
nagement of the horfe, as to render it a work of
the greateil public utility.

I beg leave to recommend particularly to the
atten.tion of the reader, that, from my having fo
long devoted my ltudy to the temper of the horfe,
1 have been able to improve the art of horfe-
I'l.,ip, thereby furnifling a greater variety
or ';BI C A.M U S.E M N T. of hig'her entertain-
menL and gratification to the public, together
-vith much more fecurity to the Equeftrian Per-
former

xiv

PREFACE. E

former in general. " Certaintly lie that pre-
vents accident, does more than he that cures ;"
and I cannot but think, from the great encou-
ragement I have received while exhibiting EQU ES-
TRIAN AMUSEMENTS in my native, and in fo-
reign countries, that PUBLIC DISCRIMINATION
has noticed the reafitude and JUST FOUNDA-
TION of my intentions ill this NECESSARY
POINT, as well as in the NUMBER of PUPILS
inftruEted by me in the art of EQu1ISTRIAN
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, and who have alfo,
in return, experienced the MOST LIBERAL
ENCOURAGEMENT il1 Cvcry country. I could
wifh this SPECIES OF ANMUSEMENT, if poll-
ble, to become a part of our EQUESTRIAN
EDUCATION :-Firfl, becaufe a greatcr command
and pliability of body is neceflary when the ftc-
are placed on the faddle, than w-henm wve arc
eated in it.-SecondlY, the pra'tice of fuch
exercifes not only informs the mind, but is
CONDUCIVE TO HEALTH, I conceive, more
than the pratice of the Manege fyftem, fo much
neglcaed in this country, but for what rea-
fon I know not, unlefs it be concluded, that
BOTH

BOTH exercifes form too laborious a talk for our
purfuit.

How amufmg is it to the pure and perfeEt
lorfeman, to fee in Hyde Park, for infiance, fo
many untutored Equeftrrans, evho, not kDowing
how to adapt tiernfelves to the maotions of the
horfe, experience fhocks in the faddle, which
excite laughter in the bye-flarader ;-and yet they
miflake their 'lrained and diftorted attitudes for
grace and for elegance! The lnfi.6 Jd-(-hafe air
on Eafier Monday is flill vifibie; they are ftal'N.-
ing caricatures, fit objefs for the wit and inge-
nuity of MLIr. Bunbury!

ASTLE Y's

xvi

PREFACE.

ASTLEY's

IERITESTRIAN EDUCAT[ON.

CHAP. 14

M14r. ASTLEY 'sSyeRem of BACICING andBREAKING
COLTS, 'or ungovernable Horfes; teachLing them
to bear the glittering of Small Arms, tofjand the
Explohfon qf Ordnance, the Sound of Trumpets,
Drums, Wavinga of Flags, Mlotions of Soldiers,
and Objects of every Kind, that may alarm their
Sight or Ilearing.

JUDGEMENT, TEMPERANCE, and PERSEVE-
RANCE, are indifpenfably neceffary to bring the
brute creation to a proper fenfe of duty. Many
gentlemen too fatally experience the bad effet of
Horfes being intrufled to ignorant perfons, whofe
B knowledge

2 ASTLEY S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.
knowledge of feeding, riding, training, breaking,
and exercfing, may have been obtained from prac-
titioners of mnuch lefs fagacity than the very bealls
configned to their care and direffion.

No man can render tthe horfe obedient, unlefs
he has hacl fuch exnerience in the art and execu-
tion, as to have acquired a thorough knowledge of
what the creature is capable of performing, with
the moff ready, perfeq, and eafy fubmiflion; and
it i roo nifite to have much penetration to know
every jurZ.cuJar, in point of execution; as alfo
the tern-er of the horfe you are defirous of train-
ing and irnftrudting for fervice, amufement, &c.
Without fuch great depth of difcernment y ou may
conlirm, inftlead of correfi-ng, a bad DISPOSITION,
or change the moA GENEROUS to the molt on-
STINATE and REFRACTORY. NO mall, therefore,
I repeat, fliould attempt to reduce the horfe ta
obedilence, without being perfea mafter of the
praftical part of Equeitrian Elducation.

In Germanv, France, &-c. &c. many of the
nobility and gentry obtain the moft fage and
experienced maflers that can be procured, and
thefe are required conflantly to attend their riding-
houfes, to preferve their horfes in health, difcipiine,
and exercife.

This

1 1.3

ASTLEY'S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.

This country (inferior to none in Europe for the
Deauty of form, excellence of quality, and perfec-
tion of lbredo, in every fpecies of the horfe, whe-
tHlr for batt'le, the mzanlege, for drawing, or the
road1, &c.) has too much and too long negkcacd
th1is nml(r effential point. Thc utility of being- iore
(ircuinfi)ect in the choice of al)l-, informed, and
cxpcricnccd pcrfons, is appare'it-, from the grcat
numiber of horfes that are fpoiled by the indifcre-
tion of their owners, and the inability of their
trainers and keepers.

If the natural motion, attitude, and demeanour,
of the humnan fpecies be improvable by the art
of dancing, and by military tuition, furely the
natural motions of the horfe may be fo improved,
as to render his pace in pure cadence ;t eafy to
himfelf

Alan,e. Place where faddle horfes are exercifed, and
where they are drefled in the various airs; alfo every thing ap-
pertaining to the horfe ii' the art of war. In a figurative fenfe-
Certain fine manners, with grace, addrefs, and clegance, joined
to a perfea knowledge of the tife, perfeftions, and imperfections,
(difcipline and combats) of the horfe, and the purity of its aCtion,
&c. and it would be of fome benefit to the iifing generation, if
alfo were added-a knowlIedge of equeflirian exercife, fo far as
appertains to pL!blic amafement of its utility the Author is moil
Iefioufly convinced.

1' Cadence means the agreeable equnaily of the walk, the trof,
Ie ,illop ; as alf1 thc various artificial paces of the horfe. I
D 2 conceilve

M
a

4 ASTLEY'S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.

himfelf and pleafant to his rider, uniting grace
and elegance. Thus improved, we receive ex-
quifite pleafure in beholding utility and beauty
combined; and it certainly becomes an objecl,
which yields the highefi fatisfaaion to an obferver,
endowed with tafte and discernment.

conceive the rider may be faid to be in cadence, when his feat
on horfeback is firic1ly agreeable to the eye: every correfpond-
in, aclion of the riders body, as well as the horfe, may, if re-
gular and conformable to the pure art d'equifa/ion, be called in
cadence, iimilar to fuch meafure regulated in dancing, &-c. Au-
fical exprefflon, or found, certainly belongs to the tuition of the
horfe, wlaich I confider as an index to dire6l his moft willing
obedience; more particularly where the animal is tutored to
take up your hat, whip, or handkerchief, and the like. Hence
it becomes neceffary, in fome degree, that the profeflor or rider
have a quick eye, as weji as a good mnfical ear, in order to his
acquiring fome idea of what is underflood to be neceffary on the
firfl point, with regard to regulating his aation; and, on the lafi,
to his attaining an idea of foothing and careffing immediately on
the leafi compliance on the part of the horfe to the will of his
Ticer. Cadence alfo, in my firm opinion, is the very effence of
regulating not only the horfe's natural paces, but alfo his artificial
airs: in fhort, every thing in which perfe6lion and u1ill are ne-
cefthry. But from the word cadence being fo fuperficially men-
tioned in literary works, as well as in the riding-fchool, one
would think that the practical part of the art of cadence, to far as
it relates to equeRrian education, was a mere Ihadow. ' But
I am firicdly and firmly of opinion, having derived the greaten
benefit from it in the courfe of my praffice, that it ought to
be confidered as the ne plus ultra of equefirian execution, and
generally accepted as fuch by all profeffors of the equefirian
art.'

ASTLEY'S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.

It is well known that recruits, taken from the
plouglh, are, under experienced difciplinarians,
rendered the beft of foldiers; but fhould you have
to improve or perfdct a recruit, who has been be-
fore undcr bad tuition (fuch I have found by cx-
perience, when in the l5th Light D)ragoons), you
will find it fcarce poffible to corre6l the bad habits
be contradled, or to remove the prejudices he im-
bibed, in favour of thofe erroncjus principles.

Thus it is with a horfe that has been under the
tuition of an expericnced maftcr: it becomes in
the extreme difficult to correEt his falfe habits.-
Nothing in faa but the moff inceffant application
and confummate knowledge will prove capable of
effeffing his amendment; the perfeverance, how-
e-ver, of an able horfeman will no doubt corred,
in time, his faults, fo as to render him as fervice-
able and accompliflhed, as his nature is capable of
being made.

The prefent mode of training and breaking
horfes is highly reprehenfible, anad injurious to
the charadter of a country fo diflinguifhed, as this
is, for the breed of horfes. There is not a fcientific
riding-fchool in this kingdom, nor any regular
profeffor of Equejirian Education : neither are
there any authors who have written on the fubjeMt,
nor that have, as yet, recommended in any of their
X 3 publi-

8 ASTLEY 'S EQUESTRIAN- EDUCATION.

publications an effeEtual method of teaching horfes
to ftand fire ! So that one of the moll ufeful and
neceffary points, which has reference to the art of
war, is at once fhlamefully and unaccountably ne-
gleEled, and that too in a land where military vir-
tue is the natural produce of the foil!

We have a Vete-iru.r- College eIabtiifhment,
which I conceive to be cf the utmoft importance
to this country; one would fiuppore an Equeftrian
inflitution would prove of equal benefit. But to
return to the fraults and errors of horfes, which I
apprehend monft frequently occur in the firfi ifage
of training them; for horfes poffefs fuch an ex-
traordinary degree of remembrTnce, as always to
retain a flrong fenfe of cruel or of tender ufage;
and from this firong faculty of discrimination they
frequently become docile or ungovernable.

Thus it is neceffary that their tutor or infltrufor
Thould poffefs found judgement; becaufe thofe who
treat them with feverity, they obey with the
greateft reluatance; while, on the contrary, all
who treat them with tendernefs, will affuredly be
repaid with the utmoft gratitude and mouf implicit
obedience,

It has been known that cruel inflruEtors have
abfolutely been feized, in the height of their
vengeancc,

ASTLEY 'S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.

vengeance, and killed ! This furely is fufficient
to dcmonfirate the neceflity of ufing them with
JUDGEMENT, JUSTICE, and MERCY.

But the grand error, and of which I bave had
occular proof in the courfe of my praaice in
teaching Horfes, is, the defiring and eagerly ex.
pedling too much from them at one time ; be it
well underftood, that they fhould be completely
perfeEted in one leffon, before you attempt ano-
ther; this point, l am convinced, is the foundation
of the whole art; becauCc, if yotu are over anxious
in teaching them too mnuch on one and the fame
dav, you fatigue their attention, you damp their
fpiit ; thus are they rendered fo dull, as to be in-
capable of perceiving what you are defirous they
fhould learn ; and this ftupidity being miflaken for
obftinacy and perverfenefs, the infiruEtor has re-
courfe to untimely chaflifement, which alienates
the affections of the creature, and renders him fo
indifferent in obeying whatever you defire, that he
executes it with vifiblc rclulancc: but by teaching
him one and the fame ledibn at fliort intervals, and
rewarding his obedience, givring him time to im-
bibe what your intentions are, before you burthen
his faculties with another leifon, he will learn with
cafe to himfelf, and, I Pni- confident, with the
higheft fatisfaffion to you. For it is the fame with
a horfe as with Ii human 'pupil, never opprefs his
talents with more than they are calculated to bear.
B 4, Su1cl

8 ASTLEY S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.

Such precautions, I have found, have very much
ailifted me, during the tuition of my pupils, whom
I have inftruaed to perform VARIOUS NEW
EQUESTRIAN PUBLIC AMVSEMENTS; fuch I may,
without vanity, fay, as have given the highell fatif-
faaion, not only in Great Britain, but alfo in
France, Germany, and on the continent of America.
All of which have immediately fprung from the
adherence to MY SYSTEM.

Having given thefe general hints, I proceed now
to the particular inftruaions, neceffary to complete
the fubjeEt of this chapter.

The horfe intended to be broken, or, in other
words, brought to his duty, Ihould be carefully led

That equefirian exercifes have been long ftudied, and even,
in fome degree, carried into execution, though loft again for Co
long a period as to the year 1765, when I firfl exhibited in public,
the following beautiful lines from Homer, will illufirate more than
a volume written upon the fubjeai. See the Iliad, by Mr. Pope,
vol. iv. book xv. page 182.

So when a horfeman from the wat'ry mead,
(Skill'd in the manage of the bounding fleed)
Drives four fair courfers praais'd to obey,
To fome great city through the public way;
Safe in his art, as fide by fide they run,
He lhifts his feat, and vaults from one to one;
" And now to this, and now to that he flies,
Admiring numbers follow with their eyes!
to

ASTLEY'S EQUE6TRIAN EDTCATIO.N.

to the place of excrcife, which i f.ppofed to be a
circle of from eight to ten yards diameter; care is
to be taken at the fame time, that his ftomach be
rnot too much loadcd with food or water,

Your chief endeavours mutt be direcled, with
eafy and deliberate approaches, to convince hilmn,
that neither you, nor your afliflant is his enemy;
to do tlis effcElually, you are to encourage him by
kind words, fuch as, Jb, Jb ! fo, Jb ! fo, ho ! en-
dcavouring always to imitate the fame TONE OF
VOICE, which he will verv foon comprehend in a
MOST EXTRAORDINARY MANNER; more particu-
larly if you do not CHANGE THE SOUND; alfo
rubbing him, and wip)ing his cyes and nolirils with
your handkerchief, giving him to eat a fmall piece
of carrot, or a flice of a good fwvect apple, and
o]ther fimilar inducements, by WAY PF REWARD.
I-Icre I have only to hint, that i11 point of fmelling,
tafting, fecing, and hearing, I conceive the horfe
to have the fuperiority over, and, in point of faga-
city, n1o inferiority to any of the brute creation ;
that is to faV if fuch fagacity be directed by ul)erP
j udgcmcnt.

But in all thefe endeavours, vou mnuft be careful
at firft (until your quick cyc (hall have difcovered
h s real difpofition,) not to be too familiar with
him before you have got fome dominion ovcr hinm,
left he filould firike you with his fect ; hjhich,
conceive,

10 ASTLEY 'S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION-.
conceive, the above rewvards will, in feoin meafure,
prevent ;-but more of this hereafter.

The apparatus neceffary Ior this bulInefs, con-
fills, fir.f, of a mouthling bridle or fnaffle; fecond,
a leather firong pad furcingle with three flrong,
buckles on each fide; twvo of which four inches
apart, nearly in a line with the horfe's withers,
the other four, at the fame difLance on each fide
below; alfo betwveen the two firfl, and exaetly in
a line with the horfe's withers, a firong buckle
and billet, for the purpofe of recciving the fnaffle
rein; to this furcingle a large ring nvilt be placed,
to receive a ftrong crupper, with a large dock;
third, a cavet/bn; fourth, two firong cavqgb/z/ firaps,
buckle and billet at one end, at the other, holes;
fifth, two ditto finaffle or bridle firaps, with buckle
and billets at one end, and holes at the other;
fixth, one hand or cavejjbn line of fix or feven
yards long ; with a firong buckle and billet at one
end; the rope about three quarters of an inch
diameter, and three rings faftened to it, but fo as.
to play. Firft ring-, three fcet from the buckle
and billet; fecond, five feet; thi.rd, feven feet;
alfo a fmall bridle or fnaffle line, with a fmall
buckle and billet at the end ; this hiu e runs througl

'.lef fadl!er- .rc qualified 'o comp!etc this bufuiAefs, but
Ihoudl they not horoughly compreherd the defcription, the ell
gravir.g, a, the e!.d of the book, wi!l more particularly explain it.
tbz

ASTLEY 'S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.,

the rings of the caveq//bn cord, and buckles to the
fnaffle, or mouthing bit; lafTlv, a chambriere, (or
whip,) and a fpur-flick of about two yards long,
the rowel bilunt.

Suppofe You put on the caz,9 bn, as above de-
fcribed, alfo the furcingle, with or without the
crupper, as your judghment ILhil direEt you; like-
wife caug7bn and bridle ftraps, furthermore the
c1tn'et/bj and bridle line.

Bear up his head a little with the bridle or
mouthing bit rein, to the bucklec and billet of the
furcingle; the rein of the bridle fhould have a
buckle, in order to fihorten it at pleafuire ; the
'whole of the bridle and care/bn firaps muft, at the
fame time, be fomewhat tightened; that is to fay,
three holes fhorter to the hand you intend to work
him to; and as he foreflhortens, and raifes his
head at the time of aftion, your judgement mudt
direct you; namely, how much his head ought to
be raifed in point of elegance, as well-as his neck
bent, fo as not to impede his aCtion; the greateit
precaution is neceffary to be taken, that neither the
one nor the other give him the leaft uneafinefs, the
firil or fecond day. Caufe him to be led by your
aflifant round the circle; fay, in order to your
Laving greater dominion over him, to the left; con-

Sce the end of the book.
tinue

1 1

12 ASTLEY'S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.
tinue the aation of a good bold walk for three or
four minutes, if he pleafes you in the walk, put
him in the aEfion of the trot, continuing it five or
fix minutes. Your affillant having a drum near
you, flrike it, as a fignal for him to halt from his
SUPPOSED LABOUR; if he difobey it from fright,
or not underfianding the intention of the fignal,
caufe him to trQt round the tircle again, in the
fame manner as before, for a few minutes; and
thus repeat the fignal, BUT NOT SO LOUD, and
exercife him until he learns to halt in obedience to
it; yourfelf aflifting him in this bufinefs, with all
your judgement. Should he cxprefs much fear at
the found, endeavour all you can, by your careffes
and encouragement, to convince him that it is not
meant to hurt or to terrify him, but as a kind of
language by which he is to LTNDERST.ND YOUR
DESIRES.

In order to imprefs him the deeper and fooner
with the meaning of this language, let it always
be ufed as a fignal for the END OF HIS LABOUR
OR EXERCISE.

The grand fecret is, invariably to ufe a foothing
tone of voice, as before direaed, and the reward
of an APPLE or CARROT, when he fhcws obe-
dience.

The

ASTLEY S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.

The found, or mufical expreflion, the horfe mofl
readily becomes acquainted with, and the correc-
tion being in a much fronger and different tone of
voice, fuch. as A! HA! HA! WONDERFUL TO
SAY, the horfe readily obeys the one through a
HOPE OF REWARD, and the other THROUGH A
SENSE OF FEAR. Somewhat iil like manner, we
find the cart and waggon horfe obey the found.
The London carmen and the provincial waggoners
direEt their horfes to move riight and left, &c.
with tile DIFFERENCE OF SOUNDS MERELY;
now let the Londoner take the countryman's
horfes, and the countryman the Londoner's; or
an Englifhman the horfe of a Frenchman, or vice
verJa, this point will clearly elucidate my argu-
ment.

Hence arifes the great neceflity of every horfe-
man being thoroughly acquainted with the difpofi-
tion of his horfe, more particularly when he is
YOUNG or REFRACTORY. Moreover, I have
contidered fignals of this kind, as the very founda-
tion or ground-work of infirliaing horfes to PAW
WITH THEIR FEET THE EXACT HOUR AND
MINUTE OF THE WATCH; nod as an AFFIRMA-
TIVE, and fliake the head as a NEGATIVE, to
any QUESTION PROPOSED.

Furthermore, it is the very effence of educating
them, to take up from the ground a handkerchief,
hat,

1 3

14 ASTLEY'S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION.
hat, whip, fpur, fword, piftol, or any thing within
the compafs of their abilities, which the fancv of
the inlirudor may conceive eithcr for utility, or thle
amufement of fpectators.

Havin,, taught him, by repeated trials, the full
extent of this leffon, which I call, from its being the
firft, letter A. We proceed to teach him the next,
which may be called, by way of illuftration of the
argument, letter B. That is, to exercife him to
the right, precifeliv in the fame way and manner as
you did to the left; ufing the fame fignal, reward,
and gentle punilfnment. Care muft be taken to
make his neck bend agreeablv ;-likewife, that
his head be neither fixed too high nor too low; if
the former, place the firaps to the lower buckles;
if the latter, place them to the upper buckles of
the furcingle; but in all this EXPERIENCE and
JUDGEMENT mull be your guides; for if he carry
his head too low, and you do not, on the firel day,
correak this capital fault, it will give you the
GREATEST TROUBLE toraife it hereaft