18 Quotes by William Cavendish

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.

But there is nothing to be done till a horse's head is settled.

Without knowing this, no man can dress a horse perfectly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.