Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • The parents of Elliot and Harvey, age 9 and 11,

  • would like your permission to teach them the general principals of horsemanship.

  • They are both great admirers of your work.

  • Good day your grace

  • Good day, please sit

  • So you want to be grooms?

  • Yes please

  • I am in need of an apprentice or two. So I shall impart some of my wisdom.

  • Is it true you're a Duke?

  • My full title is William Cavendish, the first Duke of Newcastle Upon-Tyne.

  • Why do you like horses so much?

  • The horse is the most trusted of all our friends, we use him in all parts of our daily life.

  • I am practising the art of manège, that is using complex patterns to train our horses to be subtle and fit and make them fly should we need too.

  • How do you care for the horses?

  • We must first brush them, making sure that we brush along the hairline not against the hair.

  • This brings out the sweat we have caused through riding.

  • We must then place the saddle upon his back and tighten his girth.

  • And then place his bridle with a bit in his mouth and make sure he is dressed and prepared for his riding that day.

  • What is a switch and what is it used for?

  • A switch is a wand, a long piece of wood, and we use this to communicate with the horse

  • never to punish

  • to touch him in various places to ask him to perform a movement.

  • How do you train a horse?

  • You must use the strength, spirit and disposition of the horse and nothing against its known nature.

  • You must teach a horse to be balanced, so that he carries not only himself, but also his rider.

  • And shift the weight on to his hind legs to make him nimble.

  • What is your greatest achievement?

  • I am most proud and pleased to have served King Charles as general of the north during the Civil War.

  • And though we were defeated in battle, my loyalty has brought me much reward.

  • Well, I must bid you farewell,

  • I have important work to do in the stables.

  • Thank you for teaching us about your life.

  • It was my pleasure.

The parents of Elliot and Harvey, age 9 and 11,

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it