William Cavendish
William Cavendish
greater hand holding instead rein
I would have you fasten instead of holding it, the rein that comes back to your hand to the pommel of the saddle, because it has the greater force.
call except generality gentle light time
But what for the generality I call a light or gentle hand, is at the same time as light as a feather, and yet firm, except in extraordinary cases.
chief dressed easy gentle horse light secret therefore
No horse therefore is well dressed that is not light in hand; so that an easy and gentle bridle, but firm, is the chief secret to make a horse light.
entirely legs observe work
You may observe in all my lessons, that I tell you how the legs go, and those who are unacquainted with that, are entirely ignorant and work in the dark.
rightly
Now being upon the haunches (as he necessarily must be in this case) is it impossible but he must be light in hand, because no horse can be rightly upon his haunches without being so.
curb equally except whose
And he that said that a horse was not dressed, whose curb was not loose, said right; and it is equally true that the curb can never play, when in its right place, except the horse be upon his haunches.
man
Without knowing this, no man can dress a horse perfectly.
till
But there is nothing to be done till a horse's head is settled.
bear finds heavy himself main rider secret throws
The main secret for a horse that is heavy upon the hand, is for the rider to have a very light one; for when he finds nothing to bear upon with his mouth, he infallibly throws himself upon the haunches for his own security.
besides pull
You should pull him back besides in all the lines before the quarter, just as you make the others advance.
according consider form natural ought shape work
But we ought to consider the natural form and shape of a horse, that we may work him according to nature.
against airs art follow nature
You must in all Airs follow the strength, spirit, and disposition of the horse, and do nothing against nature; for art is but to set nature in order, and nothing else.
dress easy horses sorts utmost
By this way you may dress all sorts of horses in the utmost perfection, if you know how to practice it; a thing that is very easy in the hands of a master.
besides effectual gives goes method throws
But my method of the pillar, as it throws the horse yet more upon the haunches, is still more effectual to this purpose, and besides always gives him the ply to the side he goes of.