AMBLE, Ambling, in Horsemanship, a peculiar kind of Pace, wherein a Horse’s two Legs of the same Side, move at the same time. See PACE. The ambling Horse changes Sides at each remove; two Legs of a side being in the Air, and two, on the ground, at the same time: An Amble is usually the first natural Pace of young Colts; which, as soon as they have Strength enough to trot, they quit—There is no such thing as an Amble, in the Manage; the Riding-Masters allowing of no other Paces, beside Walk, Trot, and Gallop: Their Reason is, That a Horse may be put from a Trot to a Gallop, without stopping him; but not from an Amble to a Gallop, without such Stop; which loses time, and interrupts the Justness and Cadence of the Manage. See TROT, GALLOP, etc.
There are various Practices and Methods of Discipline, for bringing a young Horse to Amble: Some choose to toil him in his Foot-pace through new-ploughed Lands; which naturally inures him to the Stroke required in the Amble.Its Inconveniences are, the Weakness and Lameness that such disorderly Toil may bring on a young Horse. Others attempt it by sudden stopping, or checking him in the Cheeks, when in a Gallop; and thus putting him into an Amazedness, between Gallop and Trot; so that losing both, he necessarily stumbles on an Amble.—But this is apt to spoil a good Mouth and Rein; and exposes the Horse to the Danger of an Hoofreach, or Sinew-strain, by over-reaching, etc.
Others prefer ambling by Weights, as the best way; and to this end, some overload their Horse with excessively heavy Shoes; which is apt to make him interfere, or strike short with his hind Feet.——Others fold leaden Weights about the Fetlock Pasterns; which are not only liable to the Mischiefs of the former, but put the Horse in danger of incurable Strains, crushing of the Coronet, and breeding of Ring-bones, etc. Others load the Horse’s Back with Earth, Lead, or the like massy Substance; which may occasion a Swaying of the Back, overstraining of the Fillets, etc.
Some endeavour to make him Amble in hand, ere they mount his Back, by means of some Wall, smooth Pale or Rail, and by checking him in the Mouth with the Bridle-hand; and correcting him with a Rod on the hinder Hoofs, and under the Belly, when he treads false: But this is apt to drive a Horse to a desperate Frenzy, ere he can be made to understand what they would have of him; and to rear, sprawl out his Legs, and make other antic Postures, which are not easily quitted again.
Others think to effect it by a pair of hind Shoes with long Spurs or Plates before the Toes; and of such length, that if the Horse offers to trot, the hind-foot beats the forefoot.
But this occasions Wounds of the back Sinews, which often bring on an incurable Lameness. Some attempt to procure an Amble, by folding fine, soft Lists tight about his Gambrels, in the Place where he is pares for a Stifle Strain; and turn him thus to Grass for two or three Weeks, and afterwards take away the Lists. — This is a Spanish Method, but disapproved; for though a Horse cannot then trot but with Pain, yet the Members must be Sufferers; and though the Amble be gained, it must be slow and unsightly; because attended with a cringing in the hind parts. In effect, Ambling by the Tramel appears the nearest to Nature, the best and most assured way. See TRAMEL. There are divers Errors usually practised in this Method: as, ‘That the Tramel is oft made too long, and so gives no Stroke; but makes a Horse hackle and shuffle his Feet confusedly; or too short, which makes him vault and twitch up his hind Feet so suddenly, that by Custom it brings him to a String-halt; from which it will scarce ever be recovered. Sometimes the Tramel is misplaced, and to prevent falling put above the Knee, and the hind Hoof. In which Case, the Beast cannot give any true Stroke, nor can the fore-Leg compel the hind to follow it: or if, to evade this, the Tramel be made short and strait, it will press the main Sinew of the hind-Leg, and the fleshy part of the fore Thighs; so that the Horse cannot go without halting before, and cringing behind. As to the Form of the Tramel; some make it all of Leather, which is inconvenient; in that it will either stretch or break, and thus confound the Certainty of the Operation. In a true Tramel, the side-Ropes are to be so firm, as not to yield a Hair’s-breadth; the Hole soft, and to lie so close, as not to move from its first Place; and the Back-band flat, no matter how light, and to descend from the Fillers so as not to gall. When the Horse by being Trameled on one side, has attained to Amble perfectly in the Hand; it is to be changed to the other side, and that to be likewise brought to Rate, When, by this changing from one side to another, with a half Tramel, the Horse will run and amble in the Hand, readily and swiftly, without Snappering and Stumbling; which is ordinarily done by two or three Hours labour; the whole Tramel is to be put on, with the broad, flat, Back-band, and both sides tramelled alike.
