As for the Manages, somewhat have bin spoken of them, there being but two (among many) useful call’d Terra a Terra & Incavalere before treated of; & for the Carreere, only take this: Let it not extend in length above six-score yards, give your Horse warning before you start him by the Bridle hand, and running full speed, stop him suddenly, firme and close on his Buttock.
For the Horse of Pleasure, these following Lessons are to be learnt. As first to Bound aloft, to do which: Trot him some sixteen yards, then stop, and make him twice advance; then straighten your Bridle-hand; then clap briskly both your Spurs even together to him, and he will rise, though it may at first amaze him; if he does it, cherish him, and repeat it often every day, till perfect.
Next to Corvet and Capriole are Motions of the same nature, and in short are thus taught. Hollow the ground between two joyning Walls a Horses Length, by the side of which put a strong smooth Post of the same length from the Wall, and fasten at the Wall an Iron Ring over against the Post: Thus done, ride into the hollow place, and fasten one of the Cavezan-Reins to the Post, and the other to the Ring; then cherish him, and by the help of the Calves of your Legs, make him advance two or three times; then pause, and Cherish him; make him advance again a dozen times more, and then rest; double your Advancings, and repeat them till it becomes habitual to him, to keep his Ground certain, advance of an equall height before and behind, and observe a due Time with the motions of your Leggs. The Inequality of his advancing his hinder Legs, is helpt by a Jerk on the Fillets by some body behind him with a Rod.
The laborious Motion of going sideways, being fitter for the War-Horse, than the Horse for Pleasure, usefull for the avoiding a Blow may come from an Enemy, I omit here, refering you to that.
Thus much for those material Lessons which the Rider ought to teach his Horse for War or Pleasure, and therefore I shall conclude this Head, with this Caveat, That in whatever Lesson your Horse is most imperfect, begin and end with; and remember, that Exercise makes things as it were natural; when Desuetude is the forerunner of Forgetfulness, and Ignorance the Consequent of Both.
OF
I shall not enlarge on the praises of this Recreation, its Nobleness, Delight, and Simplicity, devoyd of Cheat or Deceit, but what is most material to our purpose succinctly declare. And herein let us first observe the Choice of a Cock of the Game, directed by these four Characters following: That he be
1. Of a strong Shape, proud and upright, and for this the Middle-sized, neither too small or too large, is best, because most matchable, strong and nimble. His Head small like a Spar-Hawks; his Eye large and quick; Back strong, crook’t at the setting on, and coloured as the Plume of his Feathers; The Beam of his Leg very strong, and colour’d as his Plume; Spurs long, rough, and sharp, hooking inward.
2. Of a good Colour, and herein the Gray, Yellow, or Red Pyle, with a black Breast, are to be preferred; the Pyde rarely good, and the White and Dun never. A Scarlet Head is a demonstration of Courage, but a Pale and wan of Faintness.