There are several cases in his book "Gli Ordini di Cavalcare," or "The Rules of Horsemanship", first published in 1550, where he applies severe practices. He used harsh methods to subdue the horse, using severe spurring and harsh bits (of some of which he was the inventor). Other examples of his cruel methods include placing live hedgehogs under the animal's tail, punishing a horse by placing a cat strapped to a pole under its belly, and forcing the horse's head under water to the point of near-drowning if it showed any fear of crossing water.