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diff --git a/38184-h/38184-h.htm b/38184-h/38184-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8632198 --- /dev/null +++ b/38184-h/38184-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5459 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of New Method of Horsemanship, by F. Baucher. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + font-family: serif; + font-size: 12pt; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; + font-size: 10pt; + } + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of New Method of Horsemanship, by F. Baucher + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: New Method of Horsemanship + Including the Breaking and Training of Horses, with + Instructions for Obtaining a Good Seat. + +Author: F. Baucher + +Release Date: December 1, 2011 [EBook #38184] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEW METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Eric Skeet and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p>Transcriber's notes :<br /> +(1) Typos, spelling mistakes and punctuation errors have been corrected.<br /> +(2) Footnotes are marked as [A], [B], etc. and are placed after the Index.<br /> +(3) The original book has no Table of Contents. The chapter titles are -</p> + +<table style="margin-left: 5%; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 10pt;" summary="Chapter Titles"> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#preface"><b>TRANSLATER'S PREFACE.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">3</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap1"><b>CHAPTER I. NEW MEANS OF OBTAINING A GOOD SEAT</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">17</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap2"><b>CHAPTER II. OF THE FORCES OF THE HORSE.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">25</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap3"><b>CHAPTER III. THE SUPPLINGS.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">32</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap4"><b>CHAPTER IV. CONTINUATION OF SUPPLINGS.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">58</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap5"><b>CHAPTER V. OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE FORCES OF<br /> + THE HORSE BY THE RIDER.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">69</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap6"><b>CHAPTER VI. OF THE CONCENTRATION OF THE FORCES OF<br /> + THE HORSE BY THE RIDER .</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">78</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap7"><b>CHAPTER VII. OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE FORCES OF<br /> + THE HORSE BY THE RIDER.(continuation)</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">91</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap8"><b>CHAPTER VIII. DIVISION OF THE WORK.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">100</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap9"><b>CHAPTER IX. APPLICATION OF THE PRECEDING PRINCIPLES<br /> + TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE HORSES, PARTISAN,<br /> + CAPITAINE, NEPTUNE, AND BURIDAN.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">104</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#chap10"><b>CHAPTER X. SUCCINCT EXPOSITION OF THE METHOD<br /> + BY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">113</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#conclusion"><b>CONCLUSION.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">124</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#index"><b>INDEX.</b></a></td> +<td style="padding-left: 20pt; text-align: right;">131</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page1" id="page1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt="Front cover" title=" " /></p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page2" id="page2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<h3>NEW METHOD</h3> + +<h6>OF</h6> + +<h1>HORSEMANSHIP</h1> + +<h6>INCLUDING THE</h6> + +<h3>BREAKING AND TRAINING OF HORSES,</h3> + +<h6>WITH</h6> + +<h5>INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING A GOOD SEAT.<br /></h5> + +<h5>ILLUSTRATED.</h5> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By</span> F. BAUCHER.</h3> + +<p class="text-align: center"><i>Translated from the Ninth Paris Edition.</i></p> + +<h5>NEW YORK:<br /> +ALBERT COGSWELL, PUBLISHER,<br /> +<span class="smcap">No. 139 Eighth Street</span>.</h5> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt="Illustration : Mr. BAUCHER" title=" " /></p> + +<p class="caption"><b>Mr. BAUCHER<br />upon Partisan.</b></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page3" id="page3">[3]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="preface" id="preface"></a>TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.</h3> + + +<p>The author's introduction to his "Method of Horsemanship" +is omitted in this edition, because containing +much that would be uninteresting to the American +reader. It mentions the great difficulties he had in +attracting the attention of the public to his system, and +the complete success with which it was crowned when +once this attention was attracted. One paragraph from +it, which contains the principle upon which his whole +method is founded, is here given:</p> + +<p>"However favored by nature the horse may be, he +requires a preparatory exercise to enable his forces to +afford each other mutual assistance; without this everything +becomes mechanical and hazardous, as well on his +part as on that of the rider.</p> + +<p>"What musician could draw melodious sounds from +an instrument without having exercised his fingers in +handling it? He would certainly, if he attempted such +a thing, produce only false discordant sounds; and the +same thing occurs in horsemanship when we undertake +to make a horse execute movements for which he has +not been prepared."</p> + +<p>M. Baucher presents the official documents upon the +subject of the introduction of his method into the French +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page4" id="page4">[4]</a></span> +army with the following introductory remarks:</p> + +<p>"Since the first publication of my method, indisputable +facts have attested the truth of the principles therein +contained. Field-Marshal the Minister of War has appointed +a commission, presided over by Lieutenant-General +the Marquis Oudinot, to examine into its advantages.<a href="#footA">[A]</a><a name="footnoteA"></a></p> + +<p>"Fifty horses, some from the troop, and others belonging +to officers, which had not yet commenced their +education, or which were considered difficult to manage, +or vicious, were subjected to the experiment, which commenced +on the 21st March, 1842. The demands of the +service of the garrison of Paris permitting only a small +number of cuirassiers, municipal guards, and first-class +lancers to be put at the disposition of the commission, +nearly all the horses were intrusted to riders who were +by no means intelligent, or else whose education was not +very much advanced. The riders themselves exercised +their horses. On the 9th of April—that is to say, after +fifteen lessons—Field-Marshal the Minister of War wished +to witness the results of the system he had ordered to be +tried. His Excellency was accompanied by the members +of the committee of cavalry, and many other general +officers. The men being completely armed and equipped, +and the horses caparisoned, they executed, individually +and in troop, at all the paces, movements that, up to this +time, had only been required of horses that had been +exercised for five or six months under experienced riders. +The Minister of War followed all the trials with the +greatest interest, and before retiring expressed his complete +satisfaction, and announced his intention of having +a general application of it made in the army."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page5" id="page5">[5]</a></span></p> + +<p>Among the official documents in favor of Baucher's +method is a letter from M. Champmontant, Lieutenant-Colonel +of the Staff, Secretary of the Committee of +Cavalry, in which he requests M. Baucher to fix a convenient +time to appear before the committee and explain +his system more completely, that they may consider its +adoption in the army; another from Lieutenant-General +Marquis Oudinot to M. Baucher. In this letter the +General informs M. Baucher that the Minister of War +has decided that a series of experiments shall be made +upon his method of breaking new horses and such as +were considered difficult to manage.</p> + +<p>Then follows the report upon the trials of Baucher's +method, and a recapitulation of the daily operations by +the <i>Chef d'Escadrons</i> de Novital, commanding the +Royal School at Saumur. The complete success of the +trial is mentioned above, and an extract only from the +report will be here given:</p> + +<p>"But, it may be objected, will not this species of captivity +to which the new method will subject the horse, +prevent his lasting? Will it not be the source of his +premature decay? To this it is easy to answer by a +comparison, which to us appears conclusive. When all +the wheel work of a machine fits well together, so that +each part furnishes its share of action, there is harmony, +and consequently need of a less force; so when, in an +organized body, we are enabled to obtain suppleness +and pliability in all the parts, the equilibrium becomes +easy, there is suppleness and lightness, and in consequence, +a diminution of fatigue.</p> + +<p>"Far from injuring the horse, the new method has the +advantage of being a great auxiliary in developing the +muscles, particularly in a young subject."</p> + +<p>Extract from the report to Lieutenant-General Oudinot, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page6" id="page6">[6]</a></span> +by M. Carrelet, Colonel of the Municipal Guard of +Paris:</p> + +<p>"To shorten this narration, I would say that the officers +of the Municipal Guard are unanimous in their +approval of M. Baucher's proceedings, applied to the +breaking of young horses.</p> + +<p>"We have assisted at the education of forty troop +horses, all more or less difficult to manage; and we are +convinced that, by Baucher's system, they have been +more advanced in fifteen days than they would have been +in six months, by the proceedings we have been accustomed +to follow.</p> + +<p>"I am so convinced of the efficiency of the means practised +by M. Baucher, that I am going to subject to them +all the horses of my five squadrons."</p> + +<p>Extract from the report of Lieutenant-General Marquis +Oudinot to his Excellency the Marshal the Minister +of War:</p> + +<p>"That the system of M. Baucher may produce in the +army all the advantages expected from it, it would be +necessary to have a certain number of instructors initiated +in it as completely as possible, that they may be +able to teach it afterwards.</p> + +<p>"In consequence of which, I have the honor to propose +to you to order:</p> + +<p>"1st. That upon the return to Saumur of the commanding +officer of the riding-school, the young horses be +broken after Baucher's method, and observations made +upon the advantages or disadvantages that it presents.</p> + +<p>"2d. That in the Fifth Cuirassiers and the Third Lancers, +the application of this method be continued.</p> + +<p>"3d. That the different bodies of cavalry within a +circle of twenty-five leagues around Paris detach, for +about two months, their captain-instructor and one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page7" id="page7">[7]</a></span> +officer, who should come to study the system of M. +Baucher."</p> + +<p>The Minister of War immediately issued these three +orders, and also three additional ones:</p> + +<p>"4th. M. Baucher, Jr., will repair to the camp at +Luneville and sojourn there during the months of June, +July and August. The captain-instructors and one +lieutenant from the troops of horse stationed in the +neighborhood of Paris will be ordered to Luneville during +those months to study the Baucher system.</p> + +<p>"5th. M. Baucher, Jr., will receive an indemnity of +five hundred francs a month.</p> + +<p>"6th. Each of the bodies of troops of horse and +establishments of unbroken horses will receive two +copies of the work entitled 'A New Method of Horsemanship, +by M. Baucher.'"</p> + +<p>Extract from the report of the Chef d'Escadrons +Grenier, appointed to the command of the officers +detached to Paris, by ministerial decision of the 20th of +May, 1842, to study the method of horsemanship of M. +Baucher:</p> + +<p>"The officers detached to Paris were of the number of +twenty-two, the captain-instructor and a lieutenant from +each regiment. * * * They exercised for thirty-nine +days. * * * These officers did not all arrive at Paris +with the belief that they could be taught anything. +One-half were captain-instructors, the rest, lieutenants, +intended to become the same. Thus, in the beginning, +there was very little confidence, on the part of the +officers, in their new professor, sometimes even opposition, +but always zeal and good will.</p> + +<p>"Little by little, confidence came, opposition disappeared; +but only at the end of the first month, after +about twenty-five lessons, did all the officers, without +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page8" id="page8">[8]</a></span> +exception, understand the method and recognize the superiority +of M. Baucher's principles over those previously +known.</p> + +<p>"Before leaving, they all approved of the new method, +and desired its application in their regiments.</p> + +<p>"The method of horsemanship of M. Baucher is positive +and rational; it is easy to understand, especially +when studied under the direction of some one who knows +it. It is attractive to the rider, gives him a taste for +horses and horsemanship, tends to develop the horse's +qualities, especially that of lightness, which is so +delightful to discover in a saddle-horse. * * Applied +to the breaking of young horses, it develops their instinct, +makes them find the domination of the rider easy and +pleasant; it preserves them from the premature ruin +that an improper breaking often brings with it; it may +shorten the time devoted to the education of the horse; +and it interests the riders employed in it."</p> + +<p>M. Desondes, Lieutenant of the Ninth Cuirassiers, +winds up a long and highly favorable report upon the +breaking of young horses for the army with the words, +"To Baucher the cavalry is grateful."</p> + +<p>Extracts from the sixth and last report upon the trials +of the new method of horsemanship of M. Baucher:</p> + +<p>"The first trials are concluded. The principal movements +of the platoon-drill on horseback, the running at the +head and charging, have completed the exercises. Thus, +thirty-five lessons have sufficed to perfect the instruction +of the tractable as well as the intractable horses confided +to me. The first rough work with the horse—that +is to say, the exercises with the snaffle prescribed by +the orders—used to take up as much time as this, and +then we scarcely dared to touch the curb-rein. In this +view, the new system is of great utility for cavalry. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page9" id="page9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But the promptness with which we can put new +horses in the ranks is not the only advantage the new +method presents; it guarantees, besides, the preservation +of the horse; it develops his faculties and his powers; +these increase by the harmony and proper application +of the forces among themselves and by their rational +and opportune use. It is not the immoderate employment +of force which conquers a rebellious horse, but +the well-combined use of an ordinary force. The +Baucher system ought to be considered eminently preservative, +since the breaking, being well graduated +and well combined, cannot have an injurious influence +upon the horse's <i>physique</i>; and his forces being +at the disposition of the rider, it is he, the absolute +dispenser of these forces, who is responsible for their +duration or premature destruction. * * * I repeat it, +that the new method would be a great benefit, an indisputable +improvement for cavalry. * * * I pray then +for its adoption, and ardently desire its prompt introduction +into the cavalry.</p> + +<p class="right" style="margin-left:50%">(Signed) <span class="smcap">De Novital</span>."</p> + +<p>Extract from the <i>Spectateur Militaire</i>:</p> + +<p>"Passionately fond of a science that, from his childhood, +has been the object of studies as productive as they +were persevering, M. Baucher, after having obtained +from the horse a submission almost magical, has not been +willing to be the only one to profit by his meditations; +he has put them cleverly together, and his written +method is now in the hands of all those who occupy themselves +with horsemanship. * * * The division of +dragoons, and the instructors of the different bodies +of troops of horse that composed a part of the camp of +Luneville, intended to execute, after the principles of the +new method, and in the presence of their royal highnesses, +the Dukes of Orleans and Nemours, equestrian +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page10" id="page10">[10]</a></span> +exercises that would have had thousands of spectators. +The mournful event that deprived France of the prince +royal did not allow of this performance having the <i>éclat</i> +that was intended. Nevertheless, M. the Duke de +Nemours, wishing to judge for himself of the results, has +had part of these exercises performed in his presence."</p> + +<p>The death of the Duke of Orleans, and the indifference +and afterwards opposition of the Duke de Nemours, +were the principal causes of the system of M. Baucher not +being adopted for the whole cavalry of the French army. +The former was an ardent admirer of the system, while +the latter was an equally ardent admirer of a rival professor +of horsemanship.</p> + +<p>Extract from a letter of M. de Gouy, Colonel of the +First Hussars, to M. Baucher:</p> + +<p>"So far from the muscular power being lessened by +the repetition of the flexions, is it not increased by having +all the advantage of exercise over repose, of work +over indolence? Does not the muscular system, in reason, +develop itself, physiologically speaking, in proportion +to these conditions? Will not address and vigor be +the result of these gymnastics? Has the habitual difference +between the forces of the right and left arm any +other cause than the difference in the daily use of the +one to the prejudice of the other?"</p> + +<p>Baucher says: "To prove the complete success of my +mission to Saumur, I will back, according to my custom, +my assertions by positive facts. The officers present at +my course of instruction were of the number of seventy-two; +of this number sixty-nine have sent in reports +favorable to my method. There were but <i>three dissenting +voices</i>."</p> + +<p>This statement is followed by letters from General Prévost, +De Novital, etc., all highly commending the system. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page11" id="page11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>Baucher's method has been reprinted in Belgium and +translated into Dutch and German. In the latter language, +several different translations have been written, +one by M. Ritgen, Lieutenant of the Fourth Regiment of +<i>Houlans</i> (Prussian), and the other by M. de Willisen, +Lieutenant-Colonel of the Seventh Cuirassiers (Prussian).</p> + +<p>The translator will give some extracts from the preface +to M. de Willisen's translation, as it shows that +some of the difficulties met with by the former were not +altogether escaped by his German <i>confrère</i>.</p> + +<p>"After the most positive results had proved to me +most convincingly that, of all existing methods, that of M. +Baucher was the best, I thought that it would be useful to +translate it. This translation seemed at first much easier +than it proved in the sequel; above all, it was actually +impossible for me to render in German, as I wished, such +technical French expressions as <i>attaques</i>, <i>acculement</i>, +<i>assouplissement</i>, <i>ramener</i>, <i>rassembler</i>, etc., retaining +their clearness and conciseness. In German I could +only find expressions that were incomplete. On this +account I have put all the words for which I could +not find a clear equivalent in German in the original +French.</p> + +<p>"Horses may be broken with much success upon other +principles—they have been broken before M. Baucher's +time—but no work has thrown so much light upon horse +education; no other method has taught such simple and +sure means, nor presented a like result with certainty. +He who would ride with safety and satisfaction, ought to +be completely master of an obedient and correct horse. +To obtain this result, M. Baucher gives the surest means +and points out the shortest road:</p> + +<p>"The exact knowledge of the obstacles that the horse +presents to dispose him to obey easily; the simple manner, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page12" id="page12">[12]</a></span> +easy to understand and easy to execute, of making +these obstacles disappear, distinguish this method from +all preceding ones, and render it of the greatest importance +to all riders.</p> + +<p>"The close relations that are established between +rider and horse give the former such a certainty of hand +and legs, and the latter such suppleness and obedience, +that a like result has never previously been obtained.</p> + +<p>"Until now, no horseman has ever had such clear and +sure means for breaking a horse given him, even approximatively, +as are contained in this book. The trial will +give the most convincing proofs of this when we undertake +to apply the principles therein contained; but that +can only be considered a trial when made by following +strictly what is prescribed in the method. There is no +other method that can put the horse so certainly in the +hand and in the legs of the rider; no other method succeeds +in developing so much address and assurance in +horse or rider: the horse feels at his ease, the rider is +absolute master of him, and both are at their ease. +* * * This new method +teaches, further, what is of very great importance, +the most certain means of making the rider +perfectly in harmony with his horse, so that they can +understand and mutually trust one another, in such a +way that the horse obeys as punctually as the rider +guides him skilfully. In place of being obliged to break +every horse after our own particular fashion, we will +only, thanks to this method, have to occupy ourselves +with one horse, for it teaches us that the same means are +applicable to all horses. It is unnecessary to enumerate +the advantages the instruction of the rider gains from it, +for he escapes the martyrdom of the lessons being given +him on awkward, badly-broken horses. Riders will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page13" id="page13">[13]</a></span> +sooner become masters of these managed horses, and will +acquire in six weeks a seat that will come of itself, and +their touch will be developed much more quickly.</p> + +<p>"Finally, men learn very quickly to put in practice +means that are applied on foot, and there is a great +advantage in it; it is that they can see better the +moment that the neck becomes flexible and the jaw without +contraction; besides this, their hand becomes much +more delicate than it would have become in a much +greater space of time, if the application took place in +the saddle.</p> + +<p>"Until now, only men of great talent were able to +break horses; now, by practising this new method, which +demonstrates clearly the means of breaking, every rider, +in a very short time, can acquire the knowledge necessary +to render a horse fit for use. * * * A person +commencing to learn this method, and who is obliged to +work from the book, ought to proceed slowly and cautiously +in the application of principles that are not +familiar to him. He ought first to endeavor to perfect +his seat, his position, his touch, the obedience of his +horse, and his paces; he will thus make great progress in +the breaking, and be enabled to undertake the application +of the new method.</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="smcap">De Willisen</span>,<br /> +"<i>Lieut.-Col. of the Seventh Cuirassiers</i>."</p> + +<p>M. Baucher received from the King of Prussia a magnificent +snuff-box of elegantly carved gold, as a token of +the satisfaction of his majesty with our author's system.</p> + +<p>If anybody has read all this, they will be pleased to +hear that there will be no more proofs of the excellence +of the system brought from across the Atlantic. In consequence +of the opposition mentioned above, Baucher's +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page14" id="page14">[14]</a></span> +system was discontinued in the French army, in spite of +the almost unanimous wish of the officers. But he has +gained a name as the first horseman of this or any other +age—the first who could not only manage horses himself, +but teach others to do so equally well. This has +been proved under the translator's own eyes.</p> + +<p>A gentleman of Philadelphia purchased a horse, four +years old, long, <i>gangling</i>, ewe-necked; such a brute as no +one but a confident disciple of Baucher would have had +anything to do with. Had he hunted the country for a +horse with but one merit, that of soundness, and possessing +that only because nothing had ever been done to +injure it, he could not have been better suited. Mounted +upon this animal, it was painful to see a good rider in +such a quandary; but a quiet, confident smile showed +what was intended to come of it.</p> + +<p>In six weeks from that time, without the horse ever +having crossed the threshold of the stable-yard, the +writer saw him splendid, with his neck arched like the +steed in Holy Writ, his haunches well under him, obedient +to the lightest touch of hand or heel, ready to do +anything that was demanded of him, because he had been +put in a position that enabled him to do it.</p> + +<p>Since that, the same person has broken two other +horses of greater natural capabilities, and the success +was proportionately greater.</p> + +<p>Every one who takes any interest in horses recollects +the horse May-fly, when first introduced to an American +audience, by Sands, of Welsh's circus. This horse, a +thoroughbred, belonging to the racing stud of Baron +Rothschild, was so vicious that he had to be brought +upon the race-course in a van, so that he could see +nothing till the moment to start arrived. With even +this and similar precautions, he was considered dangerous +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page15" id="page15">[15]</a></span> +and unmanageable. The master hand was required, +and, under its influence, all such things as vice and being +unmanageable disappeared. Instead of violent force on +the part of man, which would only have produced more +violent force on the part of the brute, Baucher sought +out the sources of these resistances, and conquered them +in detail.</p> + +<p>Is it not worth a few weeks' pleasant labor with your +horse to be able to make him move with the grace, elegance +and majesty of this one, or of those we have since seen +ridden by Derious, and that French Amazon, Caroline +Loyo? It is within the power of every one to do this +to a certain extent; and as the education of the man as +a rider advances progressively with that of the horse, +there are, as Baucher himself says, no limits to the progress +of horsemanship, and no performance, <i>equestrianly</i> +possible, that a horseman, who will properly apply his +principles, cannot make his horse execute.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page17" id="page17">[17]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="chap1" id="chap1"></a>BAUCHER'S</h3> + +<h2>NEW METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP.</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h4>NEW MEANS OF OBTAINING A GOOD SEAT</h4> + + +<p>It may undoubtedly be thought astonishing that, in +the first editions of this work, having for its object the +horse's education, I should not have commenced by speaking +of the rider's seat. In fact, this, so important a part +of horsemanship, has always been the basis of classical +works on this subject. Nevertheless, it is not without +a motive that I have deferred treating of this question +until now. Had I had nothing new to say on this subject, I +might very easily have managed, by consulting old +authors, by transposing a sentence here and changing a +word there, to have sent forth into the equestrian world +another inutility. But I had other ideas; I wished to +make a thorough reform. My system for giving a good +seat to the rider, being also an innovation, I feared lest +so many new things at one time should alarm even the +best intentioned amateurs, and give a hold to my adversaries. +They would not have failed to say that my +means of managing a horse were impracticable, or +that they could not be applied without recourse +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page18" id="page18">[18]</a></span> +to a seat still more impracticable. But now I have +proved the contrary—that, upon my plan, horses have +been broken by troops without regard to the men's +seat. To give more force to my method, and render it +more easily comprehensible, I have divested it of all +accessories, and said nothing about those new principles +that concern the rider's seat. I reserved these last until +after the indisputable success of the official trials. By +means of these principles, added to those I have published +upon the art of horse-breaking, I both shorten the +man's work, and establish a system not only precise, but +complete in these two important parts of horsemanship, +hitherto so confused.</p> + +<p>By following my new instructions relating to the man's +seat on horseback, we will promptly arrive at a certain +result; they are as easy to understand as to demonstrate. +Two sentences are sufficient to explain all to the rider, +and he will get a good seat by the simple advice of the +instructor.</p> + +<p><i>The seat of the rider.</i>—The rider will expand his chest +as much as possible, so that each part of his body rests +upon that next below it, for the purpose of increasing +the adhesion of his buttocks to the saddle; the arms will +fall easily by the sides. The thighs and legs must, by +their own strength, find as many points of contact as +possible with the saddle and the horse's sides; the feet +will naturally follow the motion of the legs.</p> + +<p>You see by these few lines how simple the rider's +seat is.</p> + +<p>The means which I point out for quickly obtaining a +good seat, remove all the difficulties which the plan pursued +by our predecessors presented. The pupil used to +understand nothing of the long catechism, recited in a +loud voice by the instructor, from the first word to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page19" id="page19">[19]</a></span> +last, consequently he could not execute it. Here one +word replaces all those sentences; but we previously go +through a course of supplings. This course will make +the rider expert, and consequently intelligent. One +month will not elapse without the most stupid and awkward +recruit being able to seat himself properly without +the aid of the word of command.</p> + +<p><i>Preparatory lesson (the lesson to last an hour, two +lessons a day for a month).</i>—The horse is led upon the +ground, saddled and bridled. The instructor must take +two pupils; one will hold the horse by the bridle, all the +while watching what the other does, that he may be able +to perform in his turn. The pupil will approach the +horse's shoulder and prepare to mount; for this purpose +he will lay hold of and separate, with the right hand, a +handful of mane, and pass it into the left hand, taking +hold as near the roots as possible, without twisting +them; he will seize the pommel of the saddle with the +right hand, the four fingers in, and the thumb outside; +then springing lightly, will raise himself upon his wrists. +As soon as his middle is the height of the horse's withers, +he will pass the right leg over the croup, without +touching it, and place himself lightly in the saddle. This +vaulting being very useful in making the man active, he +should be made to repeat it eight or ten times, before +letting him finally seat himself. The repetition of this +will soon teach him what he is able to do, using the +powers of his arms and loins.</p> + +<p><i>Exercise in the saddle.</i>—(This is a stationary exercise +on horseback; an old, quiet horse to be chosen in preference; +the reins are knotted, and hang on his neck.) +The pupil being on horseback, the instructor will examine +his natural position, in order to exercise more frequently +those parts which have a tendency to give way +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page20" id="page20">[20]</a></span> +or stiffen. The lesson will commence with the chest. +The instructor will make use of the flexions +of the loins, which expand the chest, to straighten the +upper part of the pupil's body; he whose loins are slack +will be made to hold himself in this position for some +time, without regard to the stiffness which this will +bring along with it the first few times. It is by the exertion +of force that the pupil will become supple, and not +by the <i>abandon</i> so much and so uselessly recommended. +A movement at first obtained by great effort, will, after +a while, not require so much, for he will then have gained +skill, and skill, in this case, is but the result of exertions +combined and employed properly. What is first done +with twenty pounds of force, reduces itself afterwards to +fourteen, to ten, to four. Skill will be the exertion +reduced to four pounds. If we commenced by a less, we +would not attain this result. The flexions of the loins +will be often renewed, allowing the pupil often to let +himself down into his natural relaxed position, in order +to make him properly employ the force that quickly +gives a good position to the chest. The body being well +placed, the instructor will pass: 1st. To the lesson of +the arm, which consists in moving it in every direction, +first bent, and afterwards extended; 2d. To that of the +head; this must be turned right and left without its +motions reacting on the shoulders.</p> + +<p>When the lessons of the chest, arms, and head give a +satisfactory result, which ought to be at the end of four +days (eight lessons), they will pass to that of the legs.</p> + +<p>The pupil will remove one of his thighs as far as possible +from the quarters of the saddle; and afterwards +replace it with a rotatory movement from without +inwards, in order to make it adhere to the saddle by as +many points of contact as possible. The instructor will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page21" id="page21">[21]</a></span> +watch that the thigh does not fall back heavily; it +should resume its position by a slowly progressive +motion, and without a jerk. He ought, moreover, during +the first lesson, to take hold of the pupil's leg and +direct it, in order to make him understand the proper +way of performing this displacement. He will thus save +him fatigue, and obtain the result more quickly.</p> + +<p>This kind of exercise, very fatiguing at first, requires +frequent rests; it would be wrong to prolong the exercise +beyond the powers of the pupil. The motions of +drawing in (<i>adduction</i>, which makes the thigh adhere to +the saddle), and putting out (<i>abduction</i>, which separates +it from the saddle), becoming more easy, the thighs will +have acquired a suppleness which will admit of their adherence +to the saddle in a good position. Then comes +the flexion of the legs.</p> + +<p><i>Flexion of the legs.</i>—The instructor will watch that +the knees always preserve their perfect adherence to the +saddle. The legs will be swung backward and forward +like the pendulum of a clock; that is, the pupil will raise +them so as to touch the cantle of the saddle with his +heels. The repetition of these flexions will soon render +the legs supple, pliable and independent of the thighs. +The flexions of the legs and thighs will be continued for +four days (eight lessons). To make each of these movements +more correct and easier, eight days (or sixteen lessons), +will be devoted to it. The fifteen days (thirty lessons), +which remain to complete the month, will continue +to be occupied by the exercise of stationary supplings; +but, in order that the pupil may learn to combine the +strength of his arms, and that of his loins, he will be made +to hold at arm's length, progressively, weights of from ten +to forty pounds. This exercise will be commenced in the +least fatiguing position, the arm being bent, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page22" id="page22">[22]</a></span> +hand near the shoulder, and this flexion will be continued +to the full extent of the arm. The chest should not +be affected by this exercise, but be kept steady in the +same position.</p> + +<p><i>Of the knees.</i>—The strength of pressure of the knees +will be judged of, and even obtained, by the aid of the +following method: this, which at first sight will perhaps +appear of slight importance, will, nevertheless, bring +about great results. The instructor will take a narrow +piece of leather about twenty inches long; he will place +one end of this strap between the pupil's knee and the +side of the saddle. The pupil will make use of the force +of his knees to prevent its slipping, while the instructor +will draw it towards him slowly and progressively. +This process will serve as a dynamometer to judge of the +increase of power.</p> + +<p>The strictest watch must be kept that each force +which acts separately does not put other forces in action; +that is to say, that the movement of the arms does not +influence the shoulders; it should be the same with the +thighs, with respect to the body; the legs, with respect +to the thighs, etc., etc. The displacement and suppling +of each part separately, being obtained, the chest and +seat will be temporarily displaced, in order to teach the +rider to recover his proper position without assistance. +This will be done as follows: the instructor being placed +on one side, will push the pupil's hip, so that his seat will +be moved out of the seat of the saddle. The instructor +will then allow him to get back into the saddle, being +careful to watch that, in regaining his seat, he makes +use of his hips and knees only, in order to make him use +only those parts nearest to his seat. In fact, the aid of +the shoulders would soon affect the hand, and this the +horse; the assistance of the legs would have still worse +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page23" id="page23">[23]</a></span> +results. In a word, in all the displacements, the pupil +must be taught not to have recourse in order to direct +the horse, to the means which keep him in his seat, and, +<i>vice versâ</i>, not to employ, in order to keep his seat, those +which direct the horse.</p> + +<p>Here, but a month has elapsed, and these equestrian +gymnastics have made a rider of a person, who at first +may have appeared the most unfit for it. Having mastered +the preliminary trials, he will impatiently await +the first movements of the horse, to give himself up to +them with the ease of an experienced rider.</p> + +<p>Fifteen days (thirty lessons) will be devoted to the +walk, trot and gallop. Here the pupil should solely +endeavor to follow the movements of the horse; therefore, +the instructor will oblige him to occupy himself +only with his seat, and not attempt to guide the horse. +He will only exact that the pupil ride, at first, straight +before him, then in every direction, one rein of the +snaffle in each hand. At the end of four days (eight +lessons), he may be made to take the curb-rein in his +left hand.</p> + +<p>The right hand, which is now free, must be held alongside +of the left, that he may early get the habit of sitting +square (with his shoulders on a level); the horse will +trot equally to the right and to the left. When the +seat is firmly settled at all the paces, the instructor will +explain simply, the connection between the wrist and the +legs, as well as their separate effects.</p> + +<p><i>Education of the horse.</i>—Here the rider will commence +the horse's education, by following the progression I +have pointed out, and which will be found farther on. +The pupil will be made to understand all that there is +rational in it, and what an intimate connection exists +between the education of the man and that of the horse. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page24" id="page24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Recapitulation and progression.</i>—</p> + +<table style="margin-left:10%; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 9pt;" summary="Recapitulation"> + +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">Days</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">Lessons</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1. Flexion of the loins to expand the chest</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">4</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">8</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>2. Extending and replacing of the thighs,<br /> + and flexion of the legs</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">4</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">8</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>3. General exercise of all the parts in succession</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">8</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">16</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>4. Displacement of the man's body, exercise of<br /> + the knees and arms with weights in the hands</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">15</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">30</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>5. Position of the rider, the horse being at a<br /> + walk, trot and gallop, in order to fashion and<br /> + settle the seat at these different paces</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">15</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">30</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>6. Education of the horse by the rider</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">75</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">150</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">----</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">----</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Total</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">121</td> +<td style="padding-left: 15pt; text-align: right;">242</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page25" id="page25">[25]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="chap2" id="chap2"></a>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h4>OF THE FORCES OF THE HORSE.</h4> + + +<p><i>Of their causes and effects.</i>—The horse, like all organized +beings, is possessed of a weight and a force peculiar +to himself. The weight inherent to the material of which +the animal is composed, renders the mass inert, and tends +to fix it to the ground. The force, on the contrary, by +the faculty it gives him of moving this weight, of dividing +it, of transferring it from one of his parts to another, +communicates movement to his whole being, determines +his equilibrium, speed and direction. To make this +truth more evident, let us suppose a horse in repose. His +body will be in perfect equilibrium, if each of its members +supports exactly that part of the weight which devolves +upon it in this position. If he wishes to move +forward at a walk, he must first transfer that part of the +weight resting on the leg he moves first to those that +will remain fixed to the ground. It will be the same +thing in other paces, the transfer acting from one diagonal +to the other in the trot, from the front to the rear, +and reciprocally in the gallop. We must not then confound +the weight with the force; the latter determines, +the former is subordinate to it. It is by carrying the +weight from one extremity to the other that the force +puts them in motion, or makes them stationary. The +slowness or quickness of the transfers fixes the different +paces, which are correct or false, even or uneven, according +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page26" id="page26">[26]</a></span> +as these transfers are executed with correctness or +irregularity.</p> + +<p>It is understood that this motive power is subdivided +<i>ad infinitum</i>, since it is spread over all the muscles of the +animal. When the latter himself determines the use of +them, the forces are instinctive; I call them transmitted +when they emanate from the rider. In the first case, +the man governed by his horse remains the plaything of +his caprices; in the second, on the contrary, he makes +him a docile instrument, submissive to all the impulses +of his will. The horse, then, from the moment he is +mounted, should only act by transmitted forces. The +invariable application of this principle constitutes the +true talent of the horseman.</p> + +<p>But such a result cannot be attained instantaneously. +The young horse, in freedom, having been accustomed +to regulate his own movements, will, at first, submit +with difficulty to the strange influence which comes to +take the entire control of them. A struggle necessarily +ensues between the horse and his rider, who will be +overcome unless he is possessed of energy, patience, and, +above all, the knowledge necessary to gain his point. +The forces of the animal being the element upon which +the rider must principally work, first to conquer, and +finally to direct them, it is necessary he should fix his +attention upon these before anything else. He will +study what they are, whence they spring, the parts +where they contract the most for resistance, the physical +causes which occasion these contractions. When this is +discovered, he will proceed with his pupil by means in +accordance with his nature, and his progress will then be +rapid.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, we search in vain in ancient or modern +authors, on horsemanship, I will not say for rational +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page27" id="page27">[27]</a></span> +principles, but even for any data in connection with the +forces of the horse. All speak very prettily about +resistances, oppositions, lightness and equilibrium; but +none of them have known how to tell us what causes +these resistances, how we can combat them, destroy +them, and obtain this lightness and equilibrium they so +earnestly recommend. It is this gap that has caused the +great doubts and obscurity about the principles of horsemanship; +it is this that has made the art stationary so +long a time; it is this gap that, I think, I am able to +fill up.</p> + +<p>And first, I lay down the principle that all the resistances +of young horses spring, in the first place, from a +physical cause, and that this cause only becomes a moral +one by the awkwardness, ignorance and brutality of the +rider. In fact, besides the natural stiffness peculiar to +all these animals, each of them has a peculiar conformation, +the more or less of perfection in which constitutes +the degree of harmony that exists between the forces +and the weight. The want of this harmony occasions +the ungracefulness of their paces, the difficulty of their +movements; in a word, all the obstacles to a good education. +In a state of freedom, whatever may be the bad +structure of the horse, instinct is sufficient to enable him +to make such a use of his forces as to maintain his equilibrium; +but there are movements it is impossible for +him to make until a preparatory exercise shall have put +him in the way of supplying the defects of his organization +by a better combined use of his motive power. A +horse puts himself in motion only in consequence of a +given position; if his forces are such as to oppose themselves +to this position, they must first be annulled, in +order to replace them by the only ones which can lead +to it. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page28" id="page28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now, I ask, if before overcoming these first obstacles, +the rider adds to them the weight of his own body, and +his unreasonable demands, will not the animal experience +still greater difficulty in executing certain movements? +The efforts we make to compel him to submission, being +contrary to his nature, will they not find in it an insurmountable +obstacle? He will naturally resist, and with +so much the more advantage, that the bad distribution +of his forces will of itself be sufficient to paralyze those +of the rider. The resistance then emanates, in this case, +from a physical cause: which becomes a moral one from +the moment when, the struggle going on with the same +processes, the horse begins of his own accord to combine +means of resisting the torture imposed on him, when +we undertake to force into operation parts which have +not previously been supplied.</p> + +<p>When things get into this state, they can only grow +worse. The rider, soon disgusted with the impotence of +his efforts, will cast back upon the horse the responsibility +of his own ignorance; he will brand as a jade an +animal possessing the most brilliant resources, and of +whom, with more discernment and tact, he could have +made a hackney as docile in character, as graceful and +agreeable in his paces. I have often remarked that +horses considered indomitable are those which develop +the most energy and vigor, when we know how to remedy +those physical defects which prevent their making +use of them. As to those which, in spite of their bad +formation, are by a similar system made to show a semblance +of obedience, we need thank nothing but the softness +of their nature; if they can be made to submit to +the simplest exercises, it is only on condition that we do +not demand anything more of them, for they would soon +find their energy again to resist any further attempts. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page29" id="page29">[29]</a></span> +The rider can then make them go along at different paces +to be sure; but how disconnected, how stiff, how +ungraceful in their movements, and how ridiculous such +steeds make their unfortunate riders look, as they toss +them about at will, instead of being guided by them! +This state of things is all perfectly natural, unless we +destroy the first cause of it: <i>the bad distribution of their +forces, and the stiffness caused by a bad conformation</i>.</p> + +<p>But, it is objected, since, you allow that these difficulties +are caused by the formation of the horse, how is it +possible to remedy them? You do not possibly pretend +to change the structure of the animal and reform the +work of nature? Undoubtedly not; but while I confess +that it is impossible to give more breadth to a narrow +chest, to lengthen too short a neck, to lower too high a +croup, to shorten and fill out long, weak, narrow loins, I +do not the less insist that if I prevent the different contractions +occasioned by these physical defects, if I supply +the muscles, if I make myself master of the forces so as +to use them at will, it will be easy for me to prevent +these resistances, to give more action to the weak parts, +and to moderate those that are too vigorous, and thus +make up for the deficiencies of nature.</p> + +<p>Such results, I do not hesitate to say, were and still +are forever denied to the old methods. But if the +science of those who follow the old beaten track finds so +constant an obstacle in the great number of horses of +defective formation, there are, unfortunately, some horses +who, by the perfection of their organization, and the +consequent facility of their education, contribute greatly +to perpetuate the impotent routines that have been so +unfavorable to the progress of horsemanship. A well +constituted horse is one, all of whose parts being regularly +harmonized, induce the perfect equilibrium of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page30" id="page30">[30]</a></span> +whole. It would be as difficult for such a subject to +leave this natural equilibrium, and take up an improper +position for the purpose of resistance, as it is at first +painful for the badly formed horse to come into that just +distribution of forces, without which no regularity of +movement can be hoped for.</p> + +<p>It is then only in the education of these last that the +real difficulties of horsemanship consist. With the +others the breaking ought to be, so to say, instantaneous, +since all the springs being in their places, there is +nothing to be done but to put them in motion; this result +is always obtained by my method. Yet the old principles +demand two or three years to reach this point, and +when by feeling your way without any certainty of +success, the horseman gifted with some tact and experience, +ends by accustoming the horse to obey the +impressions communicated to him, he imagines that he +has surmounted great difficulties, and attributes to his +skill a state so near that of nature that correct principles +would have obtained it in a few days. Then as the +animal continues to display in all his movements the +grace and lightness natural to his beautiful formation, +the rider does not scruple to take all the merit to himself, +thus showing himself as presumptuous in this case +as he was unjust when he would make the badly formed +horse responsible for the failure of his attempts.</p> + +<p>If we once admit these truths:</p> + +<p>That the education of the horse consists in the complete +subjection of his powers;</p> + +<p>That we can only make use of his powers at will by +annulling all resistances;</p> + +<p>And that these resistances have their source in the +contractions occasioned by physical defects;</p> + +<p>The only thing will be to seek out the parts where +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page31" id="page31">[31]</a></span> +these contractions operate, in order to endeavor to +oppose and destroy them.</p> + +<p>Long and conscientious observations have shown me +that, whatever be the fault of formation that in the +horse prevents a just distribution of his forces, it is +always in the neck that the most immediate effect is felt. +There is no improper movement, no resistance that is +not preceded by the contraction of this part of the animal; +and as the jaw is intimately connected with the +neck, the stiffness of the one is instantly communicated +to the other. These two points are the prop upon +which the horse rests, in order to annul all the rider's +efforts. We can easily conceive the immense obstacle +they must present to the impulsions of the latter, since +the neck and head, being the two principal levers by +which we direct the animal, it is impossible to obtain +anything from him until we are master of these first and +indispensable means of action. Behind, the parts where +the forces contract the most for resistance, are the loins +and the croup (the haunches).</p> + +<p>The contractions of these two opposite extremities are, +mutually the one to the other, causes and effects, that is +to say, the stiffness of the neck induces that of the +haunches, and reciprocally. We can combat the one by +the other; and as soon as we have succeeded in annulling +them, as soon as we have re-established the equilibrium +and harmony that they prevented between the fore and +hind-parts, the education of the horse will be half finished. +I will now point out the means of infallibly arriving at +this result.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page32" id="page32">[32]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="chap3" id="chap3"></a>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>THE SUPPLINGS.</h4> + + +<p>This work being an exposition of a method which upsets +most of the old principles of horsemanship, it is +understood that I only address men already conversant +with the art, and who join to an assured seat a sufficiently +great familiarity with the horse, to understand all that +concerns his mechanism. I will not, then, revert to the +elementary processes; it is for the instructor to judge if +his pupil possesses a proper degree of solidity of seat, +and is sufficiently a part of the horse; for at the same +time that a good seat produces this identification, it +favors the easy and regular play of the rider's extremities.</p> + +<p>My present object is to treat principally of the education +of the horse; but this education is too intimately +bound up in that of the rider, for him to make much +progress in one without the other. In explaining the +processes which should produce perfection in the animal, +I will necessarily teach the horseman to apply them himself; +he will only have to practise tomorrow what I +teach him today. Nevertheless, there is one thing that +no precept can give; that is, a fineness of touch, a delicacy +of equestrian feeling that belongs only to certain +privileged organizations, and without which, we seek in +vain to pass certain limits. Having said this, we will +return to our subject.</p> + +<p>We now know which are the parts of the horse that +contract the most in resistances, and we feel the necessity +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page33" id="page33">[33]</a></span> +of suppling them. Shall we then seek to attack, +exercise and conquer them all at once? No; this would +be to fall back into the old error, of the inefficiency of +which we are convinced. The animal's muscular power +is infinitely superior to ours; his instinctive forces, moreover, +being able to sustain themselves the one by the +others, we will inevitably be conquered if we set them in +motion all at once. Since the contractions have their +seat in separate parts, let us profit by this division to +combat them separately, as a skillful general destroys, in +detail, forces which, when together, he would be unable +to resist.</p> + +<p>For the rest, whatever the age, the disposition, and +the structure of my pupil, my course of proceeding at +the start will be always the same. The results will only +be more or less prompt and easy, according to the degree +of perfection in his nature, and the influence of the +hand to which he has been previously subjected. The +suppling, which will have no other object in the case of +a well-made horse than that of preparing his forces to +yield to our impulsions, will re-establish calm and confidence +in a horse that has been badly handled, and in a +defective formation will make those contractions disappear, +which are the causes of resistances, and the only +obstacles to a perfect equilibrium. The difficulties to +be surmounted will be in proportion to this complication +of obstacles, and will quickly disappear with a little perseverance +on our part. In the progression we are about +to pursue in order to subject the different parts of the +animal to suppling, we will naturally commence with the +most important parts, that is to say, with the jaw and +neck.</p> + +<p>The head and neck of the horse are at once the rudder +and compass of the rider. By them he directs the animal; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page34" id="page34">[34]</a></span> +by them, also, he can judge of the regularity and +precision of his movements. The equilibrium of the +whole body is perfect, its lightness complete, when the +head and neck remain of themselves easy, pliable and +graceful. On the contrary, there can be no elegance, no +ease of the whole, when these two parts are stiff. Preceding +the body of the horse in all its impulsions, they +ought to give warning, and show by their attitude the +positions to be taken, and the movements to be executed. +The rider has no power so long as they remain contracted +and rebellious; he disposes of the animal at will, +when once they are flexible and easily handled. If the +head and neck do not first commence the changes of +direction, if in circular movements they are not inclined +in a curved line, if in backing they do not bend back +upon themselves, and if their lightness is not always in +harmony with the different paces at which we wish to go, +the horse will be free to execute these movements or not, +since he will remain master of the employment of his +own forces.</p> + +<p>From the time I first noticed the powerful influence +that the stiffness of the neck exercises on the whole +mechanism of the horse, I attentively sought the means +to remedy it. The resistances to the hand are always +either sideways, upward or downward. I at first considered +the neck alone as the source of these resistances, +and exercised myself in suppling the animal by flexions, +repeated in every direction. The result was immense; +but, although, at the end of a certain time, the supplings +of the neck rendered me perfectly master of the forces +of the fore-parts of the horse, I still felt a slight resistance +which I could not at first account for. At last I +discovered that it proceeded from the jaw. The flexibility +I had communicated to the neck even aided this stiffness +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page35" id="page35">[35]</a></span> +of the muscles of the lower jaw, by permitting the +horse in certain cases to escape the action of the bit. I +then bethought me of the means of combating these +resistances in this, their last stronghold; and, from that +time, it is there I always commence my work of +suppling.</p> + +<p><i>First exercise on foot.</i>—Means of making the horse +come to the man, of making him steady to mount, +etc., etc.</p> + +<p>Before commencing the exercises of flexions, it is essential +to give the horse a first lesson of subjection, and +teach him to recognize the power of man. This first act +of submission, which might appear unimportant, will +have the effect of quickly rendering him calm, of giving +him confidence, and of repressing all those movements +which might distract his attention, and mar the success +of the commencement of his education.</p> + +<p>Two lessons, of a half hour each, will suffice to obtain +the preparatory obedience of every horse. The pleasure +we experience in thus playing with him will naturally +lead the rider to continue this exercise for a few moments +each day, and make it both instructive to the horse and +useful to himself. The mode of proceeding is as follows: +the rider will approach the horse, his whip under his arm, +without roughness or timidity; he will speak to him +without raising the voice too much, and will pat him on +the face and neck; then with the left hand will lay hold +of the curb-reins, about six or seven inches from the +branches of the bit, keeping his wrist stiff, so as to present +as much force as possible when the horse resists. +The whip will be held firmly in the right hand, the point +towards the ground, then slowly raised as high as his +chest, in order to tap it at intervals of a second. The +first natural movement of the horse will be to withdraw +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page36" id="page36">[36]</a></span> +from the direction in which the pain comes; it is by backing +that he will endeavor to do this. The rider will follow +this backward movement without discontinuing the +firm tension of the reins, nor the little taps with the whip +on the breast, applying them all the time with the same +degree of intensity. The rider should be perfectly self-possessed, +that there may be no indication of anger or +weakness in his motions or looks. Becoming tired of this +constraint, the horse will soon seek by another movement +to avoid the infliction, and it is by coming forward that +he will arrive at it; the rider will seize this second instinctive +movement to stop and caress the animal with +his hand and voice. The repetition of this exercise will +give the most surprising results, even in the first lesson. +The horse having discovered and understood the means +by which he can avoid the pain, will not wait till the +whip touches him, he will anticipate it by rushing forward +at the least gesture. The rider will take advantage +of this to effect, by a downward force of the bridle hand, +the depression of the neck, and the getting him in hand; +he will thus early dispose the horse for the exercises that +are to follow.</p> + +<p>This training, besides being a great recreation, will +serve to make the horse steady to mount, will greatly +abridge his education and accelerate the development of +his intelligence. Should the horse, by reason of his +restless or wild nature, become very unruly, we should +have recourse to the cavesson, as a means of repressing +his disorderly movements, and use it with little jerks. I +would add that it requires great prudence and discernment +to use it with tact and moderation.</p> + +<p><i>Flexion of the jaw.</i>—The flexions of the jaw, as well +as the two flexions of the neck which follow, are executed +standing still, the man on foot. The horse will be led +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page37" id="page37">[37]</a></span> +on the ground saddled and bridled, the reins on his +neck. The man will first see that the bit is properly +placed in the horse's mouth, and that the curb-chain is +fastened so that he can introduce his finger between the +links and the horse's chin. Then looking the animal +good-naturedly in the eyes, he will place himself before +him near his head, holding his body straight and firm, +his feet a little apart to steady himself, and dispose +himself to struggle with advantage against all resistances.<a href="#footB">[B]</a><a name="footnoteB"></a></p> + +<p>1st. In order to execute the flexion to the right, the +man will take hold of the right curb-rein with the right +hand, at about six inches from the branch of the bit, and +the left rein with the left hand, at only three inches from +the left branch. He will then draw his right hand +towards his body, pushing out his left hand so as to turn +the bit in the horse's mouth. The force employed ought +to be entirely determined by and proportioned to the +resistance of the jaw and neck only, in order not to affect +the <i>aplomb</i>, which keeps his body still. If the horse +backs to avoid the flexion, the opposition of the hands +should still be continued. If the preceding exercise has +been completely and carefully practised, it will be easy +by the aid of the whip to prevent this retrograde movement, +which is a great obstacle to all kinds of flexions of +the jaw and neck. (Plate I.)</p> + +<p>2d. As soon as the flexion is obtained, the left hand +will let the left rein slip to the same length as the right, +then drawing the two reins equally will bring the head +near to the breast, in order to hold it there oblique and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page38" id="page38">[38]</a></span> +perpendicular, until it sustains itself without assistance +in this position. The horse by champing the bit will +show his being in hand as well as his perfect submission. +The man, to reward him, will cease drawing on +the reins immediately, and after some seconds will allow +him to resume his natural position. (Plate II.)</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus41.jpg" alt="Plates I. and II." title=" " /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page39" id="page39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p class="caption">Plates I. and II.</p> + +<p>The flexion of the jaw to the left is executed upon the +same principles and by inverse means to the flexion to the +right, the man being careful to pass alternately from one +to the other.</p> + +<p>The importance of these flexions of the jaw is easily +understood. The result of them is to prepare the horse +to yield instantly to the lightest pressure of the bit, and +to supple directly the muscles that join the head to the +neck. As the head ought to precede and determine the +different attitudes of the neck, it is indispensable that the +latter part be always in subjection to the other, and respond +to its impulsions. That would be only partially +the case with the flexibility of the neck alone, which +would then make the head obey it, by drawing it along +in its movements. You see, then, why at first I experienced +resistances, in spite of the pliability of the neck, of +which I could not imagine the cause. The followers of +my method to whom I have not yet had an opportunity +of making known the new means just explained, will +learn with pleasure that this process not only brings the +flexibility of the neck to a greater degree of perfection, +but saves much time in finishing the suppling. The exercise +of the jaw, while fashioning the mouth and head, +brings along with it the flexion of the neck, and accelerates +the getting the horse in hand.</p> + +<p>This exercise is the first of our attempts to accustom +the forces of the horse to yield to ours. It is necessary, +then, to manage it very nicely, so as not to discourage +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page40" id="page40">[40]</a></span> +him at first. To enter on the flexion roughly would be +to shock the animal's intelligence, who would not have +had time to comprehend what was required of him. The +opposition of the hands will be commenced gently +but firmly, not to cease until perfect obedience +is obtained, except, indeed, the horse backs against a +wall, or into a corner; but it will diminish or increase +its effect in proportion to the resistance, in a way always +to govern it, but not with too great violence. The horse +that at first will, perhaps, submit with difficulty, will end +by regarding the man's hand as an irresistible regulator, +and will become so used to obeying it, that he will soon +obtain, by a simple pressure of the rein, what at first +required the whole strength of our arms.</p> + +<p>At each renewal of the lateral flexions some progress +will be made in the obedience of the horse. As soon as +his first resistances are a little diminished, we will pass +to the perpendicular flexions or depression of the neck.</p> + +<p><i>Depression of the neck by the direct flexion of the +jaw.</i>—</p> + +<p>1. The man will place himself as for the lateral +flexions of the jaw; he will take hold of the reins of the +snaffle with the left hand, at six inches from the rings, +and the curb-reins at about two inches from the bit. He +will oppose the two hands by effecting the depression +with the left and the proper position with the right. +(Plate III.)</p> + +<p>2. As soon as the horse's head shall fall of its own +accord and by its own weight, the man will instantly +cease all kind of force, and allow the animal to resume +his natural position. (Plate IV.)</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus43.jpg" alt="Plates III. and IV." title=" " /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page41" id="page41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p class="caption">Plates III. and IV.</p> + +<p>This exercise being often repeated, will soon bring +about the suppling of the elevating muscles of the neck, +which play a prominent part in the resistances of the +horse, and will besides facilitate the direct flexions and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page42" id="page42">[42]</a></span> +the getting the head in position, which should follow the +lateral flexions. The man can execute this, as well as +the preceding exercise, by himself; yet it would be well +to put a second person in the saddle, in order to accustom +the horse to the exercise of the supplings with a +rider. This rider should just hold the snaffle-reins, without +drawing on them, in his right hand, the nails downward.</p> + +<p>The flexions of the jaw have already communicated +suppleness to the upper part of the neck, but we have +obtained it by means of a powerful and direct motive +power, and we must accustom the horse to yield to a less +direct regulating force. Besides, it is important that +the pliability and flexibility, especially necessary in the +upper part of the neck, should be transmitted throughout +its whole extent, so as to destroy its stiffness entirely.</p> + +<p>The force from above downward, practised with the +snaffle, acting only by the headstall on the top of the +head, often takes too long to make the horse lower his +head. In this case, we must cross the two snaffle-reins +by taking the left rein in the right, and the right rein in +the left hand, about six or seven inches from the horse's +mouth, in such a way as to cause a pretty strong pressure +upon the chin. This force, like all the others, must +be continued until the horse yields. The flexions being +repeated with this more powerful agent, will put him in +a condition to respond to the means previously indicated. +If the horse responded to the first flexions represented +by Plate IV., it would be unnecessary to make use of +this one. (Plate V.)</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page43" id="page43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus45.jpg" alt="Plate V." /></p> + +<p class="caption">Plate V.</p> + +<p>We can act directly on the jaw so as to render it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page44" id="page44">[44]</a></span> +prompt in moving. To do this, we take the left curb-rein +about six inches from the horse's mouth and draw it +straight towards the left shoulder; at the same time +draw the left rein of the snaffle forward, in such a way +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page45" id="page45">[45]</a></span> +that the wrists of the person holding the two reins shall +be opposite and on a level with each other. The two opposed +forces will soon cause a separation of the jaws and +end all resistance. The force ought to be always proportioned +to that of the horse, whether in his resistance, +or in his lightness. Thus, by means of this direct force +a few lessons will be sufficient to give a pliability to the +part in question that could not have been obtained by +any other means. (Plate VI.)</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus46.jpg" alt="Plate VI." /></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page46" id="page46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p class="caption">Plate VI.</p> + +<p><i>Lateral flexions of the neck.</i>—</p> + +<p>1. The man will place +himself near the horse's shoulder as for the flexions of +the jaw; he will take hold of the right snaffle-rein, which +he will draw upon across the neck, in order to establish an +intermediate point between the impulsion that comes from +him and the resistance the horse presents; he will hold up +the left rein with the left hand about a foot from the bit. +As soon as the horse endeavors to avoid the constant +tension of the right rein by inclining his head to the +right, he will let the left rein slip so as to offer no +opposition to the flexion of the neck. Whenever the +horse endeavors to escape the constraint of the right rein +by bringing his croup around, he will be brought into +place again by slight pulls of the left rein. (Plate VII.)</p> + +<p>2. When the head and neck have entirely yielded to +the right, the man will draw equally on both reins to +place the head perpendicularly. Suppleness and lightness +will soon follow this position, and as soon as the horse +evinces, by champing the bit, entire freedom from stiffness, +the man will cease the tension of the reins, being +careful that the head does not take advantage of this +moment of freedom to displace itself suddenly. In this +case, it will be sufficient to restrain it by a slight support +of the right rein. After having kept the horse in this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page47" id="page47">[47]</a></span> +position for some seconds, he will make him resume his +former position by drawing on the left rein. It is most +important that the animal in all his movements should do +nothing of his own accord. (Plate VIII.)</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus48.jpg" alt="Plates VII and VIII." /></p> + +<p class="caption">Plates VII and VIII.</p> + +<p>The flexion of the neck to the left is executed after +the same principles, but by inverse means. The man can +repeat with the curb what he has previously done with +the snaffle-reins; but the snaffle should always be +employed first, its effect being less powerful and more +direct.</p> + +<p>When the horse submits without resistance to the preceding +exercises, it will prove that the suppling of the +neck has already made a great step. The rider can, +henceforward, continue his work by operating with a less +direct motive power, and without the animal's being +impressed by the sight of him. He will place himself in +the saddle, and commence by repeating with the full +length of the reins, the lateral flexions, in which he has +already exercised his horse.</p> + +<p><i>Lateral flexions of the neck, the man on horseback.</i>—</p> + +<p>1. To execute the flexion to the right, the rider will +take one snaffle-rein in each hand, the left scarcely feeling +the bit; the right, on the contrary, giving a moderate +impression at first, but which will increase in proportion +to the resistance of the horse, and in a way always +to govern him. The animal, soon tired of a struggle +which, being prolonged, only makes the pain proceeding +from the bit more acute, will understand that the only +way to avoid it is to incline the head in the direction the +pressure is felt. (Plate IX.)</p> + +<p>2. As soon as the horse's head is brought round to the +right, the left rein will form opposition, to prevent the +nose from passing beyond the perpendicular. Great +stress should be laid on the head's remaining always in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page48" id="page48">[48]</a></span> +this position, without which the flexion would be imperfect +and the suppleness incomplete. The movement being +regularly accomplished, the horse will be made to +resume his natural position by a slight tension of the left +rein. (Plate X.)</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus51.jpg" alt="Plates IX and X." /></p> + +<p class="caption">Plates IX and X.</p> + +<p>The flexion to the left is executed in the same way, the +rider employing alternately the snaffle and curb-reins.</p> + +<p>I have already mentioned that it is of great importance +to supple the upper part of the neck. After mounting, +and having obtained the lateral flexions without resistance, +the rider will often content himself with executing +them half-way, the head and upper part of the neck +pivoting upon the lower part, which will serve as a base +or axis. This exercise must be frequently repeated, even +after the horse's education is completed, in order to keep +up the pliability, and facilitate the getting him in hand.</p> + +<p>It now remains for us, in order to complete the suppling +of the head and neck, to combat the contractions +which occasion the direct resistances, and prevent your +getting the horse's head in a perpendicular position.</p> + +<p><i>Direct flexions of the head and neck, or ramener.</i><a href="#footC">[C]</a><a name="footnoteC"></a>—</p> + +<p>1. The rider will first use the snaffle-reins, which he will +hold together in the left hand as he would the curb-reins. +He will rest the outer edge of the right hand (see Plate +XI.) on the reins in front of the left hand in order to increase +the power of the right hand; after which he will +gradually bear on the snaffle-bit. As soon as the horse +yields, it would suffice to raise the right hand to diminish +the tension of the reins and reward the animal. As the +hand must only present a force proportioned to the resistance +of the neck, it will only be necessary to hold the +legs rather close to prevent backing. When the horse +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page49" id="page49">[49]</a></span> +obeys the action of the snaffle, he will yield much more +quickly to that of the curb, the effect of which is so +much more powerful. The curb, of course, needs more +care in the use of it than the snaffle. (Plate XI.)</p> + +<p>2. The horse will have completely yielded to the +action of the hand, when his head is carried in a position +perfectly perpendicular to the ground; from that time +the contraction will cease, which the animal will show, +as in every other case, by champing his bit. The rider +must be careful not to be deceived by the feints of the +horse—feints which consist in yielding one-fourth or one-third +of the way, and then hesitating. If, for example, +the nose of the horse having to pass over a curve of ten +degrees to attain the perpendicular position (Plate XI.), +should stop at the fourth or sixth and again resist, the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page50" id="page50">[50]</a></span> +hand should follow the movement and then remain firm +and immovable, for a concession on its part would +encourage resistance and increase the difficulties. When +the nose shall descend to No. 10, the perpendicular position +will be complete and the lightness perfect. The +rider can then cease the tension of the reins, but so as +to keep the head in this position, if it should offer to +leave it. If he lets it return at all to its natural situation, +it should be to draw it in over again, and to make +the animal understand that the perpendicular position +of the head is the only one allowed when under the +rider's hand. He should, at the outset, accustom the +horse to cease backing at the pressure of the legs, as all +backward movements would enable him to avoid the +effects of the hand or create new means of resistance. +(Plate XII.) +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page51" id="page51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus53.jpg" alt="Plates XI and XII." /></p> + +<p class="caption">Plates XI and XII.</p> + +<p>This is the most important flexion of all; the others +tended principally to pave the way for it. As soon as it +is executed with ease and promptness, as soon as a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page52" id="page52">[52]</a></span> +slight touch is sufficient to place and keep the head in +a perpendicular position, it will prove that the suppling +is complete, contraction destroyed, lightness and equilibrium +established in the fore-hand. The direction of this +part of the animal will, henceforward, be as easy as it is +natural, since we have put it in a condition to receive all +our impressions, and instantly to yield to them without +effort.</p> + +<p>As to the functions of the legs, they must support the +hind-parts of the horse, in order to obtain the <i>ramener</i>, +in such a way that he may not be able to avoid the effect +of the hand by a retrograde movement of his body. This +complete getting in hand is necessary to drive the hind-legs +under the centre. In the first case, we act upon the fore-hand; +in the second, upon the hind-parts; the first serves +for the <i>ramener</i>, the second for the <i>rassembler</i>, or gathering +the horse.<a href="#footD">[D]</a><a name="footnoteD"></a></p> + +<p><i>Combination of effects.</i>—I published four editions of +my Method, without devoting a special article to the +combination of effects. Although I myself made a very +frequent use of it, I had not attached sufficient importance +to the great necessity of this principle in the case +of teaching; later experiments have taught me to consider +it of more consequence.</p> + +<p>The combination of effects means the continued and +exactly opposed force of the hand and legs. Its object +should be to bring back again into a position of equilibrium +all the parts of the horse which leave it, in order +to prevent him from going ahead, without backing him, +and <i>vice versâ</i>: finally, it serves to stop any movement +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page53" id="page53">[53]</a></span> +from the right to the left, or the left to the right. By +this means, also, we distribute the weight of the mass +equally on the four legs, and produce temporary immobility. +This combination of effects ought to precede and +follow each exercise within the graduated limit assigned +to it. It is essential when we employ the aids (i.e. the +hand and legs), in this, that the action of the legs should +precede the other, in order to prevent the horse from +backing against any place, for he might find, in this +movement, points of support that would enable him to +increase his resistance. Thus, all motion of the +extremities, proceeding from the horse himself, +should be stopped by a combination of effects; +finally, whenever his forces get scattered, and +act inharmoniously, the rider will find in this a powerful +and infallible corrective.</p> + +<p>It is by disposing all the parts of the horse in the +most exact order, that we will easily transmit to him the +impulsion that should cause the regular movements of +his extremities; it is then also that we will address his +comprehension, and that he will appreciate what we +demand of him; then will follow caresses of the hand +and voice as a moral effect; they should not be used, +though, until after he has done what is demanded of him +by the rider's hand and legs.</p> + +<p><i>The horse's resting his chin on his breast.</i>—Although +few horses are disposed by nature to do this, it is not the +less necessary, when it does occur, to practise on them all +the flexions, even the one which bends down the neck. +In this position, the horse's chin comes back near the +breast and rests in contact with the lower part of the +neck; too high a croup, joined to a permanent contraction +of the muscles that lower the neck, is generally the +cause of it. These muscles must then be suppled in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page54" id="page54">[54]</a></span> +order to destroy their intensity, and thereby give to the +muscles that raise the neck, their antagonists, the predominance +which will make the neck rest in a graceful +and useful position. This first accomplished, the horse +will be accustomed to go forward freely at the pressure +of the legs, and to respond, without abruptness or +excitement, to the touch of the spurs (<i>attaques</i>); the +object of these last is to bring the hind legs near the +centre, and to lower the croup. The rider will then +endeavor to raise the horse's head by the aid of the curb-reins; +in this case, the hand will be held some distance +above the saddle, and far from the body<a href="#footE">[E]</a><a name="footnoteE"></a>; the force it +transmits to the horse ought to be continued until he +yields by elevating his head. As these sorts of horses +have generally little action, we must take care to avoid +letting the hand produce an effect from the front to the +rear, in which case it would take away from the impulse +necessary for movement. The pace commencing with +the walk, must be kept up at the same rate, while the +hand is producing an elevating effect upon the neck. +This precept is applicable to all the changes of position +that the hand makes in the head and neck; but is particularly +essential in the case of a horse disposed to depress +his neck.</p> + +<p>It should be remembered that the horse has two ways +of responding to the pressure of the bit; by one, he +yields but withdraws himself at the same time by +shrinking and coming back to his former position; this +kind of yielding is only injurious to his education, for if +the hand is held too forcibly, if he does not wait till the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page55" id="page55">[55]</a></span> +horse changes of his own accord the position of his +head, the backward movement of his body would precede +and be accompanied by a shifting of the weight +backwards. In this case, the contraction of his neck +remains all the while the same. The second kind of +yielding, which contributes so greatly to the rapid and +certain education of the horse, consists in giving a half or +three-quarter tension to the reins, then to sustain the +hand as forcibly as possible without bringing it near +the body. In a short time the force of the hand, seconded +by the continued pressure of the legs, will make +the horse avoid this slight but constant pressure of the +bit, but by means of his head and neck only. Then the +rider will only make use of the force necessary to displace +the head. It is by this means that he will be able +to place the horse's body on a level, and will obtain that +equilibrium,<a href="#footF">[F]</a><a name="footnoteF"></a> the perfect balance of which has not +hitherto been appreciated.</p> + +<p>Resuming what we have just explained in the case of +a horse who rests his chin on his breast, we repeat that +it is by producing one force from the rear to the front +with the legs, and another from below upwards with the +hand, that we will soon be enabled to improve the position +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page56" id="page56">[56]</a></span> +and movements of the horse. So that whatever may +be his disposition at first, it is by first causing the depression +of the neck that we will quickly gain a masterly and +perfect elevation of it.</p> + +<p>I will close this chapter by some reflections on the +supposed difference of sensibility in horses' mouths, and +the kind of bit which ought to be used.</p> + +<p><i>Of the horse's mouth and the bit.</i>—I have already +treated this subject at length in my Comprehensive Dictionary +of Equitation; but as in this work I make a complete +exposition of my method, I think it necessary to +repeat it in a few words.</p> + +<p>I cannot imagine how people have been able so long to +attribute to the mere difference of formation of the bars,<a href="#footG">[G]</a><a name="footnoteG"></a> +those contrary dispositions of horses which render them +so light or so hard to the hand. How can we believe +that, according as a horse has one or two lines of flesh, +more or less, between the bit and the bone of the lower +jaw, he should yield to the lightest impulse of the hand, +or become unmanageable in spite of all the efforts of two +vigorous arms? Nevertheless, it is from remaining in this +inconceiveable error, that people have forged bits of so +strange and various forms, real instruments of torture, +the effect of which is to increase the difficulties they +sought to remove.</p> + +<p>Had they gone back a little further to the source of +the resistances, they would have discovered that this one, +like all the rest, does not proceed from the difference of +formation of a feeble organ, like the bars, but from a +contraction communicated to the different parts of the +body, and, above all, to the neck, by some serious fault +of constitution. It is, then, in vain that we attach to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page57" id="page57">[57]</a></span> +reins, and place in the horse's mouth a more or less murderous +instrument; he will remain insensible to our +efforts as long as we do not communicate suppleness to +him, which alone can enable him to yield.</p> + +<p>In the first place, then, I lay down as a fact, that there +is no difference of sensibility in the mouths of horses; +that all present the same lightness when in the position +called <i>ramener</i>, and the same resistances in proportion as +they recede from this position. There are horses hard +to the hand; but this hardness proceeds from the length +or weakness of their loins, from a narrow croup, from +short haunches, thin thighs, straight hocks, or (a most +important point) from a croup too high or too low in +proportion to the withers; such are the true causes of +resistances; the contractions of the neck, the closing of +the jaws are only the effects; as to the bars, they are +only there to show the ignorance of self-styled equestrian +theoricians. By suppling the neck and the jaw, +this hardness completely disappears. Experiments a +hundred times repeated give me the right to advance this +principle boldly; perhaps it may, at first, appear too +arbitrary, but it is none the less true.</p> + +<p>Consequently, I only allow one kind of bit, and this +is the form and the dimensions I give it, to make it as +simple as it is easy.</p> + +<p>The branches straight and six inches long, measuring +from the eye of the bit to the extremity of the branch; +circumference of the canon,<a href="#footH">[H]</a><a name="footnoteH"></a> two inches and a half; port, +about two inches wide at the bottom, and one inch at the +top. The only variation to be in the width of the bit, +according to the horse's mouth.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page58" id="page58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>I insist that such a bit is sufficient to render passively +obedient all horses that have been prepared by supplings; +and I need not add that, as I deny the utility of severe +bits, I reject all means not coming directly from the +rider, such as martingales, piliers, etc.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="chap4" id="chap4"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h4>CONTINUATION OF SUPPLINGS.</h4> + + +<p><i>The hind-parts.</i>—In order to guide the horse, the rider +acts directly on two of his parts: the fore-parts and the +hind-parts. To effect this, he employs two motive powers: +the legs, which give the impulse by the croup; and +the hand, which directs and modifies this impulse by the +head and neck. A perfect harmony of forces ought then +to exist always between these two motive powers; but +the same harmony is equally necessary between the parts +of the animal they are intended particularly to impress. +In vain would be our labor to render the head and neck +flexible, light, obedient to the touch of the hand; incomplete +would be the results, the equilibrium of the whole +imperfect, as long as the croup remained dull, contracted +and rebellious to the direct governing agent.</p> + +<p>I have just explained the simple and easy means of +giving to the fore-parts the qualities indispensable to a +good management thereof: it remains to tell how we +will fashion, in the same way, the hind-parts, in order to +complete the suppling of the horse, and bring about a +uniform harmony in the development of all his moving +parts. The resistances of the neck and croup mutually +aiding one another, our labor will be more easy, as we +have already destroyed the former. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page59" id="page59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>The flexions of the croup, and making it movable.</i>—</p> + +<p>1. The rider will hold the curb-reins in the left hand, and +those of the snaffle, crossed, in the right, the nails of the +right hand held downward; he will first bring the horse's +head into a perpendicular position, by drawing lightly +on the bit; after that, if he wishes to execute the movement +to the right, he will carry the left leg back behind +the girths and fix it near the flanks of the animal, until +the croup yields to this pressure. The rider will at the +same time make the left snaffle-rein felt, proportioning +the effect of the rein to the resistance which is opposed +to it. Of these two forces transmitted thus by the left +leg and the rein of the same side, the first is intended to +combat the resistance, and the second, to determine the +movement. The rider should content himself in the beginning +with making the croup execute one or two steps +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page60" id="page60">[60]</a></span> +only sideways. (Plate XIII.)</p> + +<p>2. The croup having acquired more facility in moving, +we can continue the movement so as to complete to the +right and the left reversed pirouettes.<a href="#footI">[I]</a><a name="footnoteI"></a> As soon as the +haunches yield to the pressure of the leg, the rider, to +cause the perfect equilibrium of the horse, will immediately +draw upon the rein opposite to this leg. The +motion of this, slight at first, will be progressively +increased until the head is inclined to the side towards +which the croup is moving, as if to look at it coming. +(Plate XIV.)</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus62.jpg" alt="Plates XIII and XIV." /></p> + +<p class="caption">Plates XIII and XIV.</p> + +<p>To make this movement understood, I will add some +explanations, the more important as they are applicable +to all the exercises of horsemanship.</p> + +<p>The horse, in all his movements, cannot preserve a +perfect and constant equilibrium, without a combination +of opposite forces, skillfully managed by the rider. In +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page61" id="page61">[61]</a></span> +the reversed pirouette, for example, if when the horse +has yielded to the pressure of the leg, we continue to +oppose the rein on the same side as this leg, it is evident +that we will shoot beyond the mark, since we will be +employing a force which has become useless. We must +then establish two motive powers, the effect of which +balances, without interfering; this, the tension of the +rein on the opposite side from the leg will produce in +the pirouette. So, we will commence with the rein and +the leg of the same side, until it is time to pass to the +second part of the work, then with the curb-rein in the +left hand, and finally, with the snaffle-rein opposite to +the leg. The forces will then be kept in a diagonal position, +and in consequence, the equilibrium natural, and +the execution of the movement easy. The horse's head +being turned to the side where the croup is moving, adds +much to the gracefulness of the performance, and aids +the rider in regulating the activity of the haunches, and +keeping the shoulders in place. For the rest, tact alone +will be able to show him how to use the leg and the rein, +in such a way that their motions will mutually sustain, +without at any time counteracting one another.</p> + +<p>I need not remind you that during the whole of this +exercise, as on all occasions, the neck should remain supple +and light; the head in position (perpendicular) and +the jaw movable. While the bridle hand keeps them in +this proper position, the right hand, with the aid of the +snaffle, is combating the lateral resistances, and determining +the different inclinations, until the horse is sufficiently +well broken to obey a simple pressure of the bit. If, +when combating the contraction of the croup, we permitted +the horse to throw its stiffness into the fore-parts, +our efforts would be vain, and the fruit of our first labors +lost. On the contrary, we will facilitate the subjection +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page62" id="page62">[62]</a></span> +of the hind-parts, by preserving the advantages we have +already acquired over the fore-parts, and by keeping +separated those contractions we have yet to combat.</p> + +<p>The leg of the rider opposite to that which determines +the rotation of the croup, must not be kept off during +the movement, but remain close to the horse and keep +him in place, while giving from the rear forward an +impulse which the other leg communicates from right to +left, or from left to right. There will thus be one force +which keeps the horse in position, and another which +determines the rotation. In order that the pressure of +the two legs should not counteract one another, and +in order to be able to use them both together, the leg +intended to move the croup will be placed farther +behind the girths than the other, which will remain held +with a force equal to that of the leg that determines the +movement. Then the action of the legs will be distinct, +the one bearing from right to left, the other from the +rear forwards. It is by the aid of the latter that the +hand places and fixes the fore legs.</p> + +<p>To accelerate these results, at first, a second person +may be employed who will place himself at the height +of the horse's head, holding the curb-reins in the right +hand, and on the side opposite to which we wish the +croup to go. He will lay hold of the reins at six inches +from the branches of the bit, so as to be in a good position +to combat the instinctive resistances of the animal. +The one in the saddle will content himself with holding +lightly the snaffle-reins, acting with his legs as I have +already shown. The second person is only useful when +we have to deal with a horse of an intractable disposition, +or to aid the inexperience of the one in the saddle; +but, as much should be done without assistance as possible, +in order that the practitioner may judge by himself +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page63" id="page63">[63]</a></span> +of the progress of his horse, seeking all the while for +means to increase the effects of his touch.</p> + +<p>Even while this work is in an elementary state, he will +make the horse execute easily all the figures of the <i>manège +de deux pistes</i>.<a href="#footJ">[J]</a><a name="footnoteJ"></a> After eight days of moderate exercise, +he will have accomplished, without effort, a performance +that the old school did not dare to undertake +until after two or three years' studying and working at +the horse.</p> + +<p>When the rider has accustomed the croup of the horse +to yield promptly to the pressure of the legs, he will be +able to put it in motion, or fix it motionless at will, and +can, consequently, execute ordinary pirouettes.<a href="#footK">[K]</a><a name="footnoteK"></a> For +this purpose he will take a snaffle-rein in each hand, one +to direct the neck and shoulders towards the side to +which we wish to wheel, the other to second the opposite +leg, if it is not sufficient to keep the croup still. At the +beginning, this leg should be placed as far back as +possible, and not be used until the haunches bear against +it. By careful and progressive management the results +will soon be attained; at the start, the horse should be +allowed to rest after executing two or three steps well, +which will give five or six halts in the complete rotation +of the shoulders around the croup.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page64" id="page64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>Here the stationary exercises cease. I will now explain +how the suppling of the hind-parts will be completed, by +commencing to combine the play of its springs with those +of the fore-parts.</p> + +<p><i>Backing.</i>—The retrograde movement, otherwise called +backing, is an exercise, the importance of which has +not been sufficiently appreciated, and which yet ought to +have a very great influence upon his education. When +practised after the old erroneous methods, it would have +been without success, since the thread of exercises that +ought to precede it were unknown. Backing properly differs +essentially from that incorrect backward movement which +carries the horse to the rear with his croup contracted +and his neck stiff; that is, backing away from and +avoiding the effect of the reins. Backing correctly supples +the horse, and adds grace and precision to his natural +motions. The first of the conditions upon which it is to +be obtained, is to keep the horse in hand; that is to say, +supple, light in the mouth, steady on his legs, and perfectly +balanced in all his parts. Thus disposed, the +animal will be able with ease to move and elevate equally +his fore and hind legs.</p> + +<p>It is here that we will be enabled to appreciate the +good effects and the indispensable necessity of suppling +the neck and haunches. Backing, which at first is tolerably +painful to the horse, will always lead him to combat +the motions of our hand, by stiffening his neck, and +those of our legs, by contracting his croup; these are the +instinctive resistances. If we cannot obviate the bad +disposition of them, how will we be able to obtain that +shifting and re-shifting of weight, which alone ought to +make the execution of this movement perfect? If the +impulsion which, to back him, ought to come from the +fore-parts, should pass over its proper limits, the movement +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page65" id="page65">[65]</a></span> +would become painful, impossible in fact, and occasion, +on the part of the animal, sudden, violent movements +which are always injurious to his organization.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the displacements<a href="#footL">[L]</a><a name="footnoteL"></a> of the croup, +by destroying the harmony which should exist between +the relative forces of fore and hind-parts, would also +hinder the proper execution of the backing. The previous +exercise to which we have subjected the croup will +aid us in keeping it in a straight line with the shoulders, +in order to preserve the necessary transferring of the +forces and weight.</p> + +<p>To commence the movement, the rider ought first to +assure himself that the haunches are on a line with the +shoulders, and the horse light in hand; then he will +slowly close his legs, in order that the action they will +communicate to the hind-parts of the horse may make +him lift one of his hind legs, and prevent the body from +yielding before the neck. It is then that the immediate +pressure of the bit, forcing the horse to regain his equilibrium +behind, will produce the first part of the backing. +As soon as the horse obeys, the rider will instantly +give the hand to reward the animal, and not to force the +play of his fore-parts. If his croup is displaced, the +rider will bring it back by means of his leg, and if necessary, +use for this purpose the snaffle-rein on that side.</p> + +<p>After having defined what I call the proper backing +(<i>reculer</i>), I ought to explain what I understand by backing +so as to avoid the bit (<i>l'acculement</i>). This movement +is too painful to the horse, too ungraceful, and too +much opposed to the right development of his mechanism, +not to have struck any one who has occupied himself +at all with horsemanship. We force a horse backwards +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page66" id="page66">[66]</a></span> +in this way, whenever we crowd too much his +forces and weight upon his hind-parts; by so doing we +destroy his equilibrium, and render grace, measure and +correctness impossible. Lightness, always lightness! +this is the basis, the touchstone of all beautiful execution. +With this, all is easy, as much for the horse as the +rider. That being the case, it is understood that the +difficulty of horsemanship does not consist in the direction +to give the horse, but in the position to make him +assume—a position which alone can smooth all obstacles. +Indeed, if the horse executes, it is the rider who makes +him do so; upon him then rests the responsibility of +every false movement.</p> + +<p>It will suffice to exercise the horse for eight days (for five +minutes each lesson), in backing, to make him execute it +with facility. The rider will content himself the first few +times with one or two steps to the rear, followed by the +combined effect of the legs and hand, increasing in proportion +to the progress he makes, until he finds no more +difficulty in a backward than in a forward movement.</p> + +<p>What an immense step we will then have made in the +education of our pupil! At the start, the defective +formation of the animal, his natural contractions, the +resistances we encountered everywhere, seemed as if they +might defy our efforts forever. Without doubt they +would have been vain, had we made use of a bad course +of proceeding, but the wise system of progression that +we have introduced into our work, the destruction of the +instinctive forces of the horse, the suppling, the separate +subjection of all the rebellious parts, have soon +placed in our power the whole of the mechanism to +such a degree as to enable us to govern it completely, +and to restore that pliability, ease, and harmony of the +parts, which their bad arrangement appeared as if it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page67" id="page67">[67]</a></span> +would always prevent. As I shall point out hereafter in +classing the general division of the labor, it will be seen +that eight or ten days will be sufficient to obtain these +important results.</p> + +<p>Was I not right then in saying that if it is not in my +power to change the defective formation of a horse, I +can yet prevent the evil effect of his physical defects, so +as to render him as fit to do everything with grace and +natural ease, as the better formed horse? In suppling +the parts of the animal upon which the rider acts +directly, in order to govern and guide him, in accustoming +them to yield without difficulty or hesitation to the +different impressions which are communicated to them, I +have, by so doing, destroyed their stiffness and restored +the centre of gravity to its true place, namely, to the +middle of the body. I have, besides, settled the greatest +difficulty of horsemanship: that of subjecting, before +everything else, the parts upon which the rider acts +directly, in order to prepare for him infallible means of +acting upon the horse.</p> + +<p>It is only by destroying the instinctive forces, and by +suppling the different parts of the horse, that we will +obtain this. All the springs of the animal's body are +thus yielded up to the discretion of the rider. But this +first advantage will not be enough to make him a complete +horseman. The employment of these forces thus +abandoned to him, demand, in order to execute the different +paces, much study and skill. I will show in the +subsequent chapters the rules to be observed. I will +conclude this one by a rapid recapitulation of the progression +to be followed in the supplings.</p> + +<p><i>Stationary exercise, the rider on foot. Fore-parts.</i>—</p> + +<p>1. Flexions of the jaw to the right and left, using the +curb-bit.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page68" id="page68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>2. Direct flexions of the jaw, and depression of the +neck.</p> + +<p>3. Lateral flexions of the neck with the snaffle-reins +and with the curb.</p> + +<p><i>Stationary exercise, the rider on horseback.</i>—</p> + +<p>1. Lateral flexions of the neck with the snaffle-reins, and with the +curb-reins.</p> + +<p>2. Direct flexions of the head or placing it in a perpendicular +position with the snaffle, and with the curb-reins.</p> + +<p><i>Hind-parts.</i>—</p> + +<p>3. Lateral flexions, and moving the croup +around the shoulders.</p> + +<p>4. Rotation of the shoulders around the haunches.</p> + +<p>5. Combining the play of the fore and hind legs of the +horse, or backing.</p> + +<p>I have placed the rotation of the shoulders around the +haunches in the nomenclatere of stationary exercise. +But the ordinary pivoting, or <i>pirouettes</i>, being a pretty +complicated movement, and one difficult for the horse, +he should not be completely exercised in it until he has +acquired the measured time of the walk, and of the trot, +and will easily execute the changes of direction.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page69" id="page69">[69]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="chap5" id="chap5"></a>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<h4>OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE FORCES OF THE HORSE BY THE +RIDER.</h4> + + +<p>When the supplings have subjected the instinctive +forces of the horse, and given them up completely into +our power, the animal will be nothing more in our hand +than a passive, expectant machine, ready to act upon the +impulsion we choose to communicate to him. It will be +for us, then, as sovereign disposers of all his forces, to +combine the employment of them in correct proportion +to the movements we wish to execute.</p> + +<p>The young horse, at first stiff and awkward in the use +of his members, will need a certain degree of management +in developing them. In this, as in every other case, we +will follow that rational progression which tells us to +commence with the simple, before passing to the complicated. +By the preceding exercise, we have made our +means of acting upon the horse sure. We must now +attend to facilitating his means of execution, by exercising +all his forces together. If the animal responds to +the aids of the rider by the jaw, the neck and the +haunches; if he yields by the general disposition of his +body to the impulses communicated to him, it is by the play +of his extremities that he executes the movement. The +mechanism of these parts ought then to be easy, prompt +and regular; their application, well directed in the different +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page70" id="page70">[70]</a></span> +paces, will alone be able to give them these qualities, +indispensable to a good education.<a href="#footM">[M]</a><a name="footnoteM"></a></p> + +<p><i>The walk.</i>—This pace is the mother of all the other +paces; by it we will obtain the cadence, the regularity, +the extension of the others. But to obtain these brilliant +results, the rider must display as much knowledge as tact. +The preceding exercises have led the horse to bear the +combined effect of hand and legs, which could not have +been done previously to the destruction of the instinctive +resistances; we have now only to act on the inert resistances +which appertain to the animal's weight; upon the +forces which only move when an impulse is communicated +to them.</p> + +<p>Before making the horse go forward, we should first +assure ourselves of his lightness; that is to say, of his +head being perpendicular, his neck flexible, his hind-part +straight and plumb. The legs will then be closed lightly, +to give the body the impulse necessary to move it. But +we should not, in accordance with the precepts of the old +method, give the bridle hand at the same time; for then +the neck, being free from all restraint, would lose its +lightness; would contract, and render the motion of the +hand powerless. The rider will remember that his hand +ought to be to the horse an insurmountable barrier, +whenever he would leave the position of <i>ramener</i>. The +animal will never attempt it, without pain; and only +within this limit will he find ease and comfort. By the +application of my method, the rider will be led to guide +his horse all the time with the reins half tight, except +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page71" id="page71">[71]</a></span> +when he wishes to correct a false movement, or determine +a new one.</p> + +<p>The walk, I have said, ought to precede the other +paces, because the horse having three supports upon the +ground, his action is less, and consequently easier to +regulate than in the trot and gallop. The first exercises +of the supplings will be followed by some turns in the +riding-house at a walk, but only as a relaxation, the rider +attending less to animating his horse than to making +him keep his head, while walking in a perpendicular +position. Little by little he will complicate his work, so +as to join to the lightness of the horse that precision of +movement indispensable to the beauty of all his paces.</p> + +<p>He will commence light oppositions of the hand and +legs to make the forces of the fore and hind-parts work +together in harmony. This exercise, by accustoming the +horse always to yield the use of his forces to the direction +of the rider, will be also useful in forming his +intelligence, as well as in developing his powers. What +delights the expert horseman will experience in the progressive +application of his art! His pupil at first rebellious +will insensibly yield himself to his every wish; will +adopt his character, and end by becoming the living personification +of him. Take care, then, rider! If your +horse is capricious, violent, fantastic, we will have the +right to say that you yourself do not shine by the amenity +of your disposition, and the propriety of your proceedings.</p> + +<p>In order to keep the measure and quickness of the +walk equal and regular, it is indispensable that the impulsive +and governing forces which come from the rider, +should themselves be perfectly in harmony. We will +suppose, for example, that the rider to move his horse +forward, should make use of a force equal to twenty +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page72" id="page72">[72]</a></span> +pounds, fifteen for the impulse forward, and five to bring +his head into position. If the legs increase their motion +without the hands increasing theirs in the same proportion, +it is evident that the surplus of communicated force +will be thrown into the neck, cause it to contract, and +destroy all lightness. If, on the contrary, it is the hand +which acts with too much violence, it will be at the +expense of the impulsive force necessary to move the horse +forward; on this account, his forward movement will be +slackened and counteracted, at the same time that his +position will lose its gracefulness and power.</p> + +<p>This short explanation will suffice to show the harmony +that should exist between the legs and hands. It is +understood that their motion should vary according as the +formation of the horse renders it necessary to support +him more or less before or behind; but the rule is the +same, only the proportions are different.</p> + +<p>As long as the horse will not keep himself supple and +light in his walk, we will continue to exercise him in a +straight line; but as soon as he acquires more ease and +steadiness, we will commence to make him execute +changes of direction to the right and left, while walking.</p> + +<p><i>Changes of direction.</i>—-The use of the wrists, in the +changes of direction, is so simple that it is unnecessary +to speak of it here. I will only call attention to the fact, +that the resistances of the horse ought always to be +anticipated by disposing his forces in such a manner that +they all concur in putting him in the way of moving. +The head will be inclined in the direction we wish to go +by means of the snaffle-rein of that side, the curb will +then complete the movement. General rule: the lateral +resistances of the neck are always to be opposed by the +aid of the snaffle, being very careful not to commence to +wheel until after destroying the obstacle that opposed it. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page73" id="page73">[73]</a></span> +If the use of the wrists remains very nearly the same as +formerly, it is not so with the legs; their motion will be +diametrically opposite to that given them in the old style +of horsemanship. This innovation is so natural a one, that +I cannot conceive why some one never applied it before +me.</p> + +<p>It is by bearing the hand to the right, and making the +right leg felt, people have told me, and I have myself at +first repeated it, that the horse is made to turn to the +right. With me, practice has always taken the precedence +of reasoning; and this is the way I first perceived +the incorrectness of this principle.</p> + +<p>Whatever lightness my horse had in a straight line, I +remarked that this lightness always lost some of its delicacy +when moving in small circles, although my outside +leg came to the assistance of the inside one. As soon as +the hind leg put itself in motion to follow the shoulders +in the circle, I immediately felt a slight resistance. I +then thought of changing the use of my aids, and of +pressing the leg on the side opposite to the direction of +wheeling. At the same time, in place of bearing the +hand immediately to the right, to determine the shoulders +in that direction, I first, by the aid of this hand, +made the opposition necessary to render the haunches +motionless, and to dispose the forces in such a way as to +maintain the equilibrium during the execution of the +movement. This proceeding was completely successful; +and in explaining what ought to be the function of the +different extremities, I recognize this as the only rational +way of using them in wheeling.</p> + +<p>In fact, in wheeling to the right, for example, it is the +right hind leg which serves as pivot and supports the +whole weight of the mass, while the left hind leg and +the fore legs describe a circle more or less extended. In +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page74" id="page74">[74]</a></span> +order that the movement should be correct and free, it is +necessary that this pivot upon which the whole turns be +not interfered with in its action; the simultaneous action +of the right hand and the right leg must necessarily produce +this effect. The equilibrium is thus destroyed, and +the regularity of the wheeling rendered impossible.</p> + +<p>As soon as the horse executes easily the changes of +direction at a walk, and keeps himself perfectly light, +we can commence exercising at a trot.</p> + +<p><i>The trot.</i>—The rider will commence this pace at a very +moderate rate of speed, following exactly the same principles +as for the walk. He will keep his horse perfectly +light, not forgetting that the faster the pace, the more +disposition there will be on the part of the animal to fall +back again into his natural contractions. The hand +should then be used with redoubled nicety, in order to +keep the head and neck always pliable, without affecting +the impulse necessary to the movement. The legs will +lightly second the hands, and the horse between these +two barriers, which are obstacles only to his improper +movements, will soon develop all his best faculties, and +with precision of movement, will acquire grace, extension, +and the steadiness inherent to the lightness of the +whole.</p> + +<p>Although many persons who would not take the +trouble to examine thoroughly my method, have pretended +that it is opposed to great speed in trotting, it is +not the less proved that the well-balanced horse can trot +faster than the one destitute of this advantage. I have +given proofs of this whenever they have been demanded +of me; but it is in vain that I have tried to make people +understand what constitutes the motions of the trot, and +what are the conditions indispensable for regularity in +executing it. So, I was obliged in a race of which I was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page75" id="page75">[75]</a></span> +judge, to make the bets void, and to prove that the pretended +trotters were not trotting really, but were ambling.</p> + +<p>The condition indispensable to a good trotter, is perfect +equilibrium of the body. Equilibrium which keeps +up a regular movement of the diagonal fore and hind +feet, gives them an equal elevation and extension, with +such lightness that the animal can easily execute all +changes of direction, moderate his speed, halt, or increase +his speed without effort. The fore-parts have not, then, +the appearance of towing after them the hind-parts, +which keep as far off as possible; everything becomes +easy and graceful for the horse, because his forces being +in perfect harmony, permit the rider to dispose of them +in such a way that they mutually and constantly assist +each other.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible for me to count up the number +of horses that have been sent me to break, and whose +paces have been so spoiled that it was impossible for them +to trot a single step. A few lessons have always been +sufficient for me to get them back into regular paces, and +these are the means I employed.</p> + +<p>The difficulty which the horse experiences in keeping +himself square in his trot, almost always proceeds from +the hind-parts. Whether these be of a feeble construction, +or be rendered useless by the superior vigor of the +fore-parts, the motions of these parts, which receive the +shock and give the bound, in each case become powerless, +and in consequence, render the movement irregular.<a href="#footN">[N]</a><a name="footnoteN"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page76" id="page76">[76]</a></span> +There is, then, weakness in one extremity, or excess of +force in the other. The remedy in each case will be the +same, viz: the depression of the neck, which by diminishing +the power of the fore-parts, restores the equilibrium +between the two parts. We have practised this +suppling on foot, it will be easy to obtain it on horseback. +We here see the usefulness of this perpendicular +flexion, which allows us to place on a level the forces of +the two opposite extremities of the horse, in order to +make them harmonious, and induce regularity in their +working. The horse being thus placed, can bend and +extend his fore and hind legs, before the weight of the +body forces them to resume their support.</p> + +<p>The practice of this and some other principles that +I explain in this work, will place in the rank of choice +horses, animals whose inferiority caused them to be considered +jades, and that the old method would never +have raised from their degradation. It will suffice to +accustom the horse to trot well, to exercise him at this +pace only five minutes in each lesson. When he acquires +the necessary ease and lightness, he can be made to execute +ordinary <i>pirouettes</i>, as well as the exercise on two lines, at +a walk and a trot. I have said that five minutes of trotting +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page77" id="page77">[77]</a></span> +were enough at first, because it is less the continuance of +an exercise than its being properly done that perfects +the execution of it. Besides, as this pace requires a considerable +displacement of forces, and as the animal will +have been already subjected to a rather painful exercise, +it would be dangerous to prolong it beyond the time I +mention. The horse will lend himself more willingly to +your efforts when nicely managed, and of short duration; +his intelligence, becoming familiar with this efficient progression, +will hasten success. He will submit himself +calmly and without repugnance to work in which there +will be nothing painful to him, and we will be able thus +to push his education to the farthest limits, not only +without injury to his physical organization, but in restoring +to their normal state organs that a forced exercise +might have weakened. This regular development of all +the organs of the horse will not only give him grace, +but also strength and health, and will thus prolong his +existence, while increasing a hundredfold the delights of +the true horseman.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page78" id="page78">[78]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="chap6" id="chap6"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<h4>OF THE CONCENTRATION OF THE FORCES OF THE HORSE BY +THE RIDER.</h4> + + +<p>The rider now understands that the only means of +obtaining precision and regularity of movement in the +walk and trot is to keep the horse perfectly light while +he is exercised at these paces. As soon as we are sure +of this lightness while going in a straight line, in changes +of direction, and in circular movements it will be easy +to preserve it while exercising on two lines.<a href="#footO">[O]</a><a name="footnoteO"></a></p> + +<p>I would here treat immediately of the gallop; but +this pace, more complicated than the two others, demands +an arrangement on the part of the horse, and a power +on the part of the rider, that the preceding exercises have +not yet been able to give. The proper placing of the +horse's head spreads his forces over the whole of his +body; it is necessary, in order to perform correctly the +different exercises at a gallop, and to enable yourself +properly to direct the forces in energetic movements, to +bring them into a common focus—that is, to the centre +of gravity of the animal. I am about to explain how +this is to be done.</p> + +<p><i>The use of the spurs.</i>—Professors of equitation and +authors upon this subject have said that the spurs are to +punish the horse when he does not respond to the legs, +or when he refuses to approach an object that frightens +him. With them, the spur is not an aid, but a means of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page79" id="page79">[79]</a></span> +chastisement. With me it is, on the contrary, a powerful +auxiliary, without which it would be impossible to +break any horse perfectly. How! you exclaim, you +attack with the spur, horses that are sensitive, excitable, +full of fire and action—horses whose powerful make +leads them to become unmanageable, in spite of the +hardest bits and the most vigorous arms! Yes, and it is +with the spur that I will moderate the fury of these too +fiery animals, and stop them short in their most impetuous +bounds. It is with the spur, aided of course by the +hand, that I will make the most stubborn natures kind, +and perfectly educate the most intractable animal.</p> + +<p>Long before publishing my "<i>Comprehensive Dictionary +of Equitation</i>," I was aware of the excellent effects +of the spur; but I abstained from developing my principles, +being prevented by an expression of one of my +friends, whom I had shown how to obtain results, which +to him appeared miraculous. "It is extraordinary! It +is wonderful!" he exclaimed; "but it is a razor in the +hands of a monkey." It is true that the use of the +spurs requires prudence, tact, and gradation; but the +effects of it are precious. Now that I have proved the +efficacy of my method; now that I see my most violent +adversaries become warm partisans of my principles, I +no longer fear to develop a process that I consider one +of the most beautiful results of my long researches in +horsemanship.</p> + +<p>There is no more difference in sensibility of different +horses' flanks than in their sensibility of mouth—that is +to say, that the direct effect of the spur is nearly the +same in them all. I have already shown that the organization +of the bars of the mouth goes for nothing in +the resistances to the hand. It is clear enough that +if the nose being thrown up in the air gives the horse a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page80" id="page80">[80]</a></span> +force of resistance equal to two hundred pounds, this +force will be reduced to one hundred pounds, when we +bring the horse's head half-way towards a perpendicular +position; to fifty pounds when brought still nearer that +position, and to nothing when perfectly placed. The pretended +hardness of mouth proceeds in this case from the +bad position of the head caused by the stiffness of the neck +and the faulty construction of the loins and haunches of the +horse. If we carefully examine the causes that produce +what is called sensibility of the flanks, we will discover +that they have very much the same kind of source.</p> + +<p>The innumerable conjectures to which people have +devoted themselves, in attributing to the horse's flanks a +local sensibility that had no existence, have necessarily +injured the progress of his education, because it was +based upon false data. The greater or less sensibility +of the animal proceeds from his action, from his faulty +formation, and bad position resulting therefrom. To a +horse of natural action, but with long weak loins, and +bad action behind, every motion backward is painful, +and the very disposition that leads him to rush ahead, +serves him to avoid the pain of the spur. He returns to +this movement whenever he feels the rider's legs touch +him; and far from being a spirited horse, he is only +scared and crazy. The more he feels the spur, the more +he plunges out of hand, and baffles the means intended +to make him obedient. There is everything to fear from +such a horse; he will scare at objects from the very ease +he possesses of avoiding them. Now since his fright proceeds, +so to say, from the bad position we allow him to +take, this inconvenience will disappear from the moment +we remedy the first cause of it. We must confine the +forces in order to prevent every displacement. We must +separate the <i>physical</i> from the <i>moral</i> horse, and force +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page81" id="page81">[81]</a></span> +these impressions to concentrate in the brain. He will +then be a furious madman whose limbs we have bound +to prevent him from carrying his frenzied thoughts into +execution.</p> + +<p>The best proof we have that the promptness of a horse +in responding to the effect of the legs and spurs, is not +caused by a sensibility of the flanks, but rather by great +action joined to bad formation, is that the same action +is not so manifest in a well-formed horse, and that the +latter bears the spur much better than one whose equilibrium +and organization are inferior.</p> + +<p>But the spur is not useful only in moderating the too +great energy of horses of much action; its effect being +equally good in combating the dispositions which lead the +animal to throw its centre of gravity too much forward, +or back. I would also use it to stir up those that are +wanting in ardor and vivacity. In horses of action, the +forces of the hind-parts surpass those of the fore-parts. +It is the opposite in dull horses. We can thus account for +the quickness of the former; the slowness and sluggishness +of the latter.</p> + +<p>By the exercise of suppling, we have completely +annulled the instinctive forces of the horse. We must +now reunite these forces in their true centre of gravity, +that is, the middle of the animal's body; it is by the +properly combined opposition of the legs and hands that +we will succeed in this. The advantages we possess +already over the horse, will enable us to combat from +their very birth, all the resistances which tend to make +him leave the proper position, the only one in which we +can successfully practice these oppositions. It is also of the +first importance to put into our proceedings tact and +gradation, so that, for example, the legs never give an +impulse that the hand is not able to take hold of and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page82" id="page82">[82]</a></span> +govern at the same moment. I will make this principle +more clear by a short explanation.</p> + +<p>We will suppose a horse at a walk, employing a force +of forty pounds, necessary to keep the pace regular till +the moment of the opposition of the hands and legs +which follow. By and by comes a slow and gradual +pressure of the legs, which adds ten pounds to the +impulse of the pace. As the horse is supposed to be +perfectly in hand, the hand will immediately feel this +passage of forces, and must then make itself master of +them to transfer them to the centre. Meanwhile the +legs will continue their pressure, to the end that these +forces thus driven back may not return to the focus they +had left, which would be but a useless ebbing and flowing +of forces. This succession of oppositions well combined +will bring together a great quantity of forces in +the centre of the horse's body, and the more these are +increased, the more the animal will lose its instinctive +energy. When the pressure of the legs becomes insufficient +to entirely collect the forces, more energetic means +must be employed, viz.: the touches of the spur.</p> + +<p>The spurring ought to be done, not violently, and +with much movement of the legs, but with delicacy and +management. The rider ought to close his legs so gradually, +that before coming in actual contact with the +horse's flanks, the spur will not be more than a +hair's breadth off, if possible. The hand should ever be +the echo to the light touches with which we commence; +it should then be firmly held, so as to present an opposition +equal to the force communicated by the spur. If by +the time being badly chosen, the hand does not exactly +intercept the impulse given, and the general commotion +resulting therefrom, we should, before recommencing, +gather the horse together, and re-establish calm in his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page83" id="page83">[83]</a></span> +motions. The force of the spurring will be progressively +increased until the horse bears it, when as vigorously +applied as possible, without presenting the least resistance +to the hand, without increasing the speed of his +pace, or without displacing himself as long as we operate +with a firm foot.</p> + +<p>A horse brought thus to bear spurring, is three-fourths +broken, since we have the free disposition of all his +forces. Besides, his centre of gravity being where +his forces are all united, we have brought it to its +proper place, viz.: the middle of the body. All the oscillations +of the animal will then be subordinate to us, and +we will be able to transfer the weight with ease, when +necessary.</p> + +<p>It is easy now to understand where the resistances +have their origin; whether the horse kicks up behind, +rears, or runs away, the cause is always the centre of +gravity being in the wrong place. This very cause +belongs to a defective formation that we cannot change, +it is true, but the effects of which we can always modify. +If the horse kicks up, the centre of gravity is in the +shoulders; in his croup when the animal rears, and too +far forward when he runs away. The principal thought +of the rider, then, ought to be to keep the centre of +gravity in the middle of the horse's body, since he will +thereby prevent him defending himself, and bring back +the forces of the badly formed horse to their true place, +which they occupy in the finest organizations. It is this +that makes me assert that a well-formed horse will not +make resistance nor move irregularly, for to do so +requires supernatural efforts on his part to destroy the +harmony of his moving parts, and so greatly displace +his centre of gravity. So, when I speak of the necessity +of giving the horse a new equilibrium, in order to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page84" id="page84">[84]</a></span> +prevent his defending himself, and also to remedy the +ungracefulness of his form, I allude to the combination +of forces of which I have been treating, or, rather, of +the removal of the centre of gravity from one place to +another. This result obtained, the education of the +horse is complete. When the horseman succeeds in +obtaining it, his talent becomes a truth, since it transforms +ugliness into grace, and gives elegance and lightness +to movements which were before heavy and confused.<a href="#footP">[P]</a><a name="footnoteP"></a></p> + +<p>The rider's employment of force, when properly +applied, has a moral effect also on the horse, that accelerates +the results. If the impulse given by the legs finds +in the hand the energy and <i>àpropos</i> necessary to regulate +its effects, the pain the animal sustains will be always +proportioned to his resistances, and his instinct will soon +make him understand how he can diminish, and even +avoid altogether this constraint, by promptly yielding +to what we demand of him. He will hasten then +to submit, and will even anticipate our desires. But, I +repeat, it is only by means of tact and delicate management +that we will gain this important point. If the legs +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page85" id="page85">[85]</a></span> +give too vigorous an impulse, the horse will quickly +overcome the motion of the hands, and resume with his +natural position all the advantages it gives him to foil +the efforts of the rider. If, on the contrary, the hand +presents too great a resistance, the horse will soon overcome +the legs, and find a means of defending himself by +backing. Yet these difficulties must not be allowed to +frighten us; they were only serious ones when no +rational principle gave the means of surmounting them. +The application of my method will enable ordinary +horsemen to obtain results that otherwise could be +obtained only by the most favored equestrian organizations.</p> + +<p>When the animal becomes accustomed by means of +the spur to such oppositions, it will become easy enough +to combat with the spur all the resistances that may +afterwards manifest themselves. Since the resistances +are always caused by moving the croup sideways, or getting +it too far back, the spur, by immediately bringing +the hind legs towards the centre of the body, prevents +the support of the hocks, which were able to oppose the +proper harmony of forces, and prevent the right distribution +of the weight.</p> + +<p>This is the means I always employ to make the horse +pass from a swift gallop to a halt, without straining his +hocks, or injuring any of the joints of his hind-parts. +In fact, since it is the hocks which propel the mass forward, +it suffices to destroy their motion to stop the +bound. The spur, by instantly bringing the hind legs +under the horse's belly, destroys their power from the +moment the hand comes in the nick of time to fix them +in that position. Then the haunches bend, the croup is +lowered; the weight and forces arrange themselves in +the order most favorable to the free and combined play +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page86" id="page86">[86]</a></span> +of each part, and the violence of the shock, infinitely +decomposed, is scarce perceptible to either horse or +rider.</p> + +<p>If, on the contrary, we stop the horse by making the +hand move first, the hocks remain far in the rear of the +plumb-line; the shock is violent, painful for the animal, +and especially injurious to his physical organization. +Horses that are thus stopped, set themselves against the +bit, extending their neck, and require an arm of iron and +a most violent opposing force. Such is the custom of +the Arabs, for example, in halting suddenly their horses, +by making use of murderous bits that break the bars of +their horses' mouths. Thus, notwithstanding the wonderful +powers with which nature has gifted them, are +these excellent animals injured. The use of the spur +must not be commenced till by gathering him we get the +horse well in hand; then the first touch of the spur +should be made felt. We will continue to make use of +it, at long intervals, until the horse, after his bound forward, +presents no resistance to the hand, and avoids the +pressure of the bit, by bringing in his chin towards his +chest, of his own accord. This submission once obtained, +we can undertake the use of the spurs with oppositions, +but we must be careful to discontinue them when the +horse is in hand. This means has the double advantage +of acting morally and physically. The first attacks will +be made with a single spur, and by bearing on the opposite +rein; these transverse oppositions will have a better +effect and give more prompt results. When the horse +begins to contain himself, the two spurs being used separately, +we can make them felt together and with an +equal gradation.<a href="#footQ">[Q]</a><a name="footnoteQ"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page87" id="page87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>To the work, then, cavaliers! If you will follow my +principles, I can promise you that your purse will be less +often emptied into the hands of horse-dealers, and that +you will render the meanest of your hacks agreeable. +You will charm our breeders of horses, who will attribute +to their efforts of regeneration that elegance and +grace that your art alone could have given to your +chargers.</p> + +<p><i>Lowering the hand.</i>—The lowering the hand consists +in confirming the horse in all his lightness—that is, in +making him preserve his equilibrium without the aid of +the reins. The suppleness given to all parts of the +horse, the just oppositions of hands and legs, lead +him to keep himself in the best possible position. To +find out exactly whether we are obtaining this result, +we must have recourse to frequent lowering of the hand. +It is done in this way: After having slipped the right +hand to the buckle, and having assured yourself that the +reins are even, you will let go of them with the left +hand, and lower the right slowly to the pommel of the +saddle. To do this regularly, the horse must neither +increase nor diminish the speed of his pace, and his head +and neck continue to preserve their proper position. +The first few times that the horse is thus given up to +himself, he will perhaps only take a few steps while keeping +in position, and at the same rate of speed; the rider +ought then to make his legs felt first, and the hand afterwards, +to bring him into his previous position. The frequent +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page88" id="page88">[88]</a></span> +repetition of this lowering of the hand, after a complete +placing of the horse's head in a perpendicular position, +will give him a most exquisite mouth, and the rider +a still greater delicacy of touch. The means of guiding +employed by the latter will immediately be answered by +the horse, if his forces have been previously disposed in +a perfectly harmonious state.</p> + +<p>The lowerings of the hand ought to be practised first +at a walk, then at a trot, afterwards at a gallop. This +semblance of liberty gives such confidence to the horse +that he gives up without knowing it; he becomes our +submissive slave, while supposing that he is preserving +an entire independence.</p> + +<p><i>Of gathering the horse, or rassembler.</i>—The preceding +exercise will render easy to the rider that important part +of horsemanship called <i>rassembler</i>. This has been a great +deal talked about by people, as they have talked about +Providence, and all the mysteries that are impenetrable +to human perception. If it were allowable for us to compare +small things to great, we might say that the more +or less absurd theories that have been put forward upon +the subject of divine power have not, fortunately, hindered +in any way the unchangeable march of nature; +but with regard to the progress of horsemanship, the +case is not the same as to what has been said and written +on the subject of the <i>rassembler</i>. The false principles +propagated on this subject have made the horse the plaything +and the victim of the rider's ignorance.</p> + +<p>I proclaim it, the gathering a horse has never been +understood or defined before me, for it cannot be perfectly +executed without the regular application of the +principles that I have developed for the first time. +You will be convinced of this truth when you know that +the <i>rassembler</i> demands: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page89" id="page89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>1. The suppling, partial and general, of the neck and +haunches.</p> + +<p>2. The perfect position that results from this suppling.</p> + +<p>3. The entire absorption of the forces of the horse by +the rider.</p> + +<p>Now, as the means of obtaining these different results +have never been pointed out in any treatise on +horsemanship, am I not justified in saying that the true +<i>rassembler</i> has never been practised until now? It is, +nevertheless, one of the indispensable conditions of the +horse's education; consequently I think I am right +in saying that before my method, horses of defective +formation have never been properly broken.</p> + +<p>How is the <i>rassembler</i> defined in the schools of horsemanship? +<i>You gather your horse by raising the hand +and closing the legs.</i> I ask, what good can this movement +of the rider do upon an animal badly formed, contracted, +and that remains under the influence of all the +evil propensities of its nature? This mechanical support +of the hands and legs, far from preparing the horse for +obedience, will only make him redouble his means of +resistance, since, while giving him notice that we are +about to demand a movement on his part, we remain +unable to dispose his forces in such a way as to force him +to it.</p> + +<p>The real <i>rassembler</i> consists in collecting the forces of +the horse in his centre in order to ease his extremities, +and give them up completely to the disposition of the +rider. The animal thus finds himself transformed into a +kind of balance, of which the rider is the centre-piece. +The least touch upon one or other of the extremities, +which represent the scales, will immediately send them +in the direction we wish. The rider will know that his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page90" id="page90">[90]</a></span> +horse is completely gathered when he feels him ready, as +it were, to rise from all four of his legs. The proper +position first, and then the use of the spurs, will make +this beautiful execution of the gathering easy to both +horse and rider; and what splendor, grace and majesty it +gives the animal! If we have been obliged at first to +use the spurs in pushing this concentration of forces +to its farthest limits, the legs will afterwards be sufficient +to obtain the gathering necessary for the precision +and elevation required in all complicated movements.</p> + +<p>Need I recommend discretion in your demands? I +think not. If the rider, having reached this stage of +his horse's education, cannot comprehend and seize +that fineness of touch, that delicacy of process indispensable +to the right application of my principles, it +will prove him devoid of every feeling of a horseman; +nothing I can say can remedy this imperfection of his +nature.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page91" id="page91">[91]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="chap7" id="chap7"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<h4>OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE FORCES OF THE HORSE BY THE +RIDER.<br /> +(<i>Continuation.</i>)</h4> + + +<p><i>Of the gallop.</i>—I have said that, until now, the +greater part of the resources of horsemanship have not +been understood, and had I need of another proof to support +my opinion, I would draw it from the error, the +suppositions, the innumerable contradictions that have +been heaped together in order to explain so simple a +movement as the gallop. What contrary opinions upon +the means to employ to make the horse go off with his +right foot? It is the support of the rider's right leg +which determines the movement, one pretends; it is that +of the left leg, says another; it is the equal touch of the +two legs, affirms a third; no, some others remark, very +seriously, you must let the horse act naturally.</p> + +<p>How can the truth be made out in the midst of this +conflict of such contrary principles? Besides, they come +from such respectable sources; the most of their authors +were possessed of titles and dignities which are generally +only granted to merit. Have they all been deceived for +a hundred and fifty years? This is not possible; for +many of them joined to long practice a perfect knowledge +of physics, anatomy, mathematics, etc., etc. To +doubt such authorities would be as presumptuous as imprudent; +it would have been considered a crime of high +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page92" id="page92">[92]</a></span> +treason against horsemanship. So the riders kept their +ignorance and the horses their bad equilibrium; and if +any one succeeded, after two or three years of routine +labor, in making certain horses of a privileged organization +start with the desired foot, and in making them +change feet finally, at a fixed point, the difficulty then +was to prevent them from always repeating this movement +at the same place.</p> + +<p>Thus it is that the most palpable errors gain credit, +and often are perpetuated, until there comes a practical +mind, gifted with some amount of common sense, who +contradicts by practice all the learned theories of its predecessors. +They try hard at first to deny the knowledge +of the innovator; but the masses who instinctively know +the true, and judge from what they see, soon range themselves +on his side, turn their backs upon his detractors, +and leave them to their solitude and vain pretensions.</p> + +<p>To the mass of horsemen I address myself, when I +say, either the horse is under the influence of your forces, +and entirely submissive to your power, or you are struggling +with him. If he gallops off with you, without +your being able to modify or direct with certainty his +course, it proves that, although subject to a certain +extent to your power in thus consenting to carry you +about, he, nevertheless, uses his instinctive forces. In +this case, there is a perpetual fight going on between +you and him, the chances of which depend on the temperament +and caprice of the animal, upon the good or +bad state of his digestion. Changes of foot, in such a +state, can only be obtained by inclining the horse very +much to one side, which makes the movement both difficult +and ungraceful.</p> + +<p>If, on the contrary, the animal is made submissive to a +degree that he cannot contract any one of his parts +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page93" id="page93">[93]</a></span> +without the intervention and aid of the rider, the latter +can direct at his pleasure the whole of his moving parts, +and, consequently, can easily and promptly execute +changes of feet.</p> + +<p>We know the contraction of any one part of the horse +reacts on the neck, and that the stiffness of this part prevents +the proper execution of every movement. If, +then, at the moment of setting off on a gallop, the +horse stiffens one of his extremities, and consequently +his neck, of what use in determining him in starting +with the right foot can be the support of one or the +other leg of the rider, or even of that of both at once? +These means will evidently be ineffectual until we go +back to the source of the resistance, for the purpose of +combating and destroying it. Here, as in every other +case, we see that suppleness and lightness alone can +make the execution of the work easy.</p> + +<p>If, when we wish to make the horse start with the +right foot, a slight contraction of one part of the animal +disposes him to start with the left foot, and we persist in +inducing the pace, we must employ two forces on the +same side, viz.: the left leg and the left hand; the first +to determine the movement, the second to combat the +contrary disposition of the horse.</p> + +<p>But when the horse, perfectly supple and gathered, +only brings his parts into play after the impression given +them by the rider, the latter, in order to start with the +right foot, ought to combine an opposition of forces +proper for keeping the horse in equilibrium, while placing +him in the position required for the movement. He +will then bear the hand to the left, and press his right +leg. Here we see that the means mentioned above, +necessary when the horse is not properly placed, would +be wrong when the animal is properly placed, since it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page94" id="page94">[94]</a></span> +would destroy the harmony then existing between his +forces.</p> + +<p>This short explanation will, I hope, suffice to make it +understood that things should be studied thoroughly +before laying down any principles of action. Let us +have no more systems, then, upon the exclusive +use of such or such leg to determine the gallop; but a +settled conviction that the first condition of this or any +other performance is to keep the horse supple and light—that +is <i>rassemblé</i>; then, after this, to make use of one or +the other motive power, according as the animal, at the +start, preserves a proper position, or seeks to leave it. +It must also be understood that, while it is the force +that gives the position to the horse, it is position alone +upon which the regularity of movement depends.</p> + +<p>Passing frequently from the gallop with the right foot +to that with the left, in a straight line, and with halts, +will soon bring the horse to make these changes of feet +by the touch without halting. Violent effects of force +should be avoided, which would bewilder the horse and +destroy his lightness. We must remember that this +lightness which should precede all changes of pace and +direction, and make every movement easy, graceful and +inevitable, is the important condition we should seek +before everything else.</p> + +<p>It is because they have not understood this principle, +and have not felt that the first condition to dispose a +horse for the gallop is to destroy all the instinctive forces +of the animal (forces that oppose the position the movement +demands), that horsemen have laid down so many +erroneous principles, and have all remained unable to +show us the proper means to be employed.</p> + +<p><i>Of leaping the ditch and the bar.</i>—Although the combinations +of equestrian science alone cannot give to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page95" id="page95">[95]</a></span> +every horse the energy and vigor necessary to clear a +ditch or a bar, there are, nevertheless, principles by the +aid of which we will succeed in partly supplying the +deficiencies in the natural formation of the animal. By +giving a good direction to the forces, we will facilitate +the rise and freedom of the bound. I do not pretend by +this, to say, that a horse of ordinary capabilities will +attain the same height and elegance in this movement +as one that is well constituted, but he will, at least, be +able to display in it all the resources of his organization +to more purpose.</p> + +<p>The great thing is to bring the horse to attempt this +performance with good will. If all the processes prescribed +by me for mastering the instinctive forces of the +animal, and putting him under the influence of ours, have +been punctually followed, the utility of this progression +will be recognized by the facility we have of making the +horse clear all the objects that are encountered in his +way. For the rest, recourse must never be had, in case +of a contest, to violent means, such as a whip in the +hands of a second person; nor should we seek to excite +the animal by cries; this could only produce a moral +effect calculated to frighten him. It is by physical +means that we should before all bring him to obedience, +since they alone will enable him to understand and execute. +We should then carry on the contest calmly, and +seek to surmount the forces that lead him to refuse, by +acting directly on them. To make the horse leap, we +will wait till he responds freely to the legs and spur, in +order to have always a sure means of government.</p> + +<p>The bar will remain on the ground until the horse goes +over it without hesitation; it will then be raised some +inches, progressively increasing the height until the animal +will be just able to clear it without too violent an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page96" id="page96">[96]</a></span> +effort. To exceed this proper limit would be to risk causing +a disgust on the part of the horse that should be +most carefully avoided. The bar having been thus gradually +raised, ought to be made fast, in order that the +horse, disposed to be indolent, should not make sport of +an obstacle which would be no longer serious, when the +touch of his feet sufficed to overturn it. The bar ought +not to be wrapped in any covering that would lessen its +hardness; we should be severe when we demand possibilities, +and avoid the abuses that always result from an +ill-devised complaisance.</p> + +<p>Before preparing to take the leap, the rider should hold +himself sufficiently firm to prevent his body preceding +the motion of the horse. His loins should be supple, his +buttocks well fixed to the saddle, so that he may experience +no shock nor violent reaction. His thighs and legs +exactly enveloping the body and sides of the horse will +give him a power always opportune and infallible. The +hand in its natural position will feel the horse's mouth +in order to judge of the effects of impulsion. It is in this +position that the rider should conduct the horse towards +the obstacle; if he comes up to it with the same freedom +of pace, a light opposition of the legs and hand will +facilitate the elevation of the fore-hand, and the bound +of the posterior extremity. As soon as the horse is +raised, the hand ceases its effect, to be again sustained +when the fore legs touch the ground, and to prevent +them giving way under the weight of the body.</p> + +<p>We should content ourselves with executing a few +leaps in accordance with the horse's powers, and, above +all, avoid pushing bravado to the point of wishing to +force the animal to clear obstacles that are beyond his +powers. I have known very good leapers that people +have succeeded in thus disgusting forever, so that no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page97" id="page97">[97]</a></span> +efforts could induce them to clear things only half the +height of those that at first they leaped with ease.</p> + +<p><i>Of the piaffer.</i><a href="#footR">[R]</a><a name="footnoteR"></a>—Until now, horsemen have maintained +that the nature of each horse permits of only a +limited number of movements, and that if there are +some that can be brought to execute a <i>piaffer</i> high and +elegant, or low and precipitate, there are a great number +of them to whom this exercise is for ever interdicted. +Their construction, they say, is opposed to it; it is then +nature that has so willed it; ought we not to bow before +this supreme arbiter, and respect its decrees?</p> + +<p>This opinion is undoubtedly convenient for justifying +its own ignorance, but it is none the less false. <i>We can +bring all horses to piaffer</i>, and I will prove that in this +particularly, without reforming the work of nature, +without deranging the formation of the bones, or that of +the muscles of the animal, we can remedy the consequences +of its physical imperfections, and change the +vicious disposition occasioned by faulty construction. +There is no doubt that the horse whose forces and weight +are collected in one of his extremities will be unfit to execute +the elegant cadence of the <i>piaffer</i>. But a graduated +exercise, the completion of which is the <i>rassembler</i>, soon +allows us to remedy such an inconvenience. We can now +reunite all these forces in their true centre of gravity, +and the horse that bears the <i>rassembler</i> perfectly has all +the necessary qualifications for the <i>piaffer</i>.</p> + +<p>For the <i>piaffer</i> to be regular and graceful, it is necessary +that the horse's legs, moved diagonally, rise +together and fall in the same way upon the ground at as +long intervals as possible. The animal ought not to bear +more upon the hand than upon the legs of the rider, that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page98" id="page98">[98]</a></span> +his equilibrium may present the perfection of that balance +of which I have spoken in another place. When +the centre of the forces is thus disposed in the middle of +the body, and when the <i>rassembler</i> is perfect, it is sufficient, +in order to induce a commencement of <i>piaffer</i>, to +communicate to the horse with the legs a vibration at +first slight, but often repeated. By vibration I mean an +invigoration of forces, of which the rider ought always +to be the agent.</p> + +<p>After this first result, the horse will be put at a walk, +and the rider's legs gradually brought close, will give the +animal a slight increase of action. Then, but only then, +the hand will sustain itself in time with the legs, and at +the same intervals, in order that these two motive powers, +acting conjointly, may keep up a succession of +imperceptible movements, and produce a slight contraction +which will spread itself over the whole body of the +horse. This reiterated activity will give the extremities +a first mobility, which at the beginning will be far from +regular, since the increase of action that this new exercise +makes necessary will for the moment break the harmonious +uniformity of the forces. But this general +action is necessary in order to obtain even an irregular +mobility, for without it the movement would be disorderly, +and there would be a want of harmony among the +different springs. We will content ourselves, for the +first few days, with a commencement of mobility of the +extremities, being careful to stop each time that the +horse raises or puts down his feet, without advancing +them too much, in order to caress him, and speak to him, +and thus calm the invigoration that a demand, the object +of which he does not understand, must cause in him. +Nevertheless, these caresses should be employed with +discernment, and when the horse has done well, for if +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page99" id="page99">[99]</a></span> +badly applied they would be rather injurious than useful. +The fit time for ceasing with the hands and legs is more +important still; it demands all the rider's attention.</p> + +<p>The mobility of the legs once obtained, we can commence +to regulate it, and fix the intervals of the +cadence. Here again, I seek in vain to indicate with the +pen the degree of delicacy necessary in the rider's proceedings, +since his motions ought to be answered by the +horse with an exactness and <i>à propos</i> that is unequaled. +It is by the alternated support of the two legs that he will +succeed in prolonging the lateral balancings of the +horse's body, in such way as to keep him longer on one +side or the other. He will seize the moment when the +horse prepares to rest his fore leg on the ground, to make +the pressure of his own leg felt on the same side, and +add to the inclination of the animal in the same direction. +If this time is well seized, the horse will balance +himself slowly, and the cadence will acquire that elevation +so fit to bring out all its elegance and all its majesty. +These times of the legs are difficult, and require great +practice; but their results are too splendid for the rider +not to strive to seize the light variations of them.</p> + +<p>The precipitate movement of the rider's legs accelerates +also the <i>piaffer</i>. It is he, then, who regulates at will +the greater or less degree of quickness of the cadence. +The performance of the <i>piaffer</i> is not elegant and perfect +until the horse performs it without repugnance, which +will always be the case when the forces are kept together, +and the position is suitable to the demands of +the movement. It is urgent, then, to be well acquainted +with the amount of force necessary for the performance +of the <i>piaffer</i>, so as not to overdo it. We should, above +all, be careful to keep the horse <i>rassemblé</i>, which, of itself, +will induce the movement without effort.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page100" id="page100">[100]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="chap8" id="chap8"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<h4>DIVISION OF THE WORK.</h4> + + +<p>I have developed all the means to be employed in completing +the horse's education; it remains for me to say +how the horseman ought to divide his work, in order to +connect the different exercises and pass by degrees from +the simple to the complicated.</p> + +<p>Two months of work, consisting of two lessons a day +of a half hour each—that is to say, one hundred and +twenty lessons—will be amply sufficient to bring the +greenest horse to perform regularly all the preceding exercises. +I hold to two short lessons a day, one in the +morning, the other in the afternoon; they are necessary +to obtain good results.</p> + +<p>We disgust a young horse by keeping him too long +at exercises that fatigue him, the more so as his intelligence +is less prepared to understand what we wish to demand +of him. On the other hand, an interval of twenty-four +hours is too long, in my opinion, for the animal to +remember the next day what he had comprehended the +day before.</p> + +<p>The general work will be divided into five series or +lessons, distributed in the following order:</p> + +<p><i>First lesson. Eight days of work.</i>—The first twenty +minutes of this lesson will be devoted to the stationary +exercise for the flexions of the jaw and neck; the rider +first on foot, and then on horseback, will follow the progression +I have previously indicated. During the last +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page101" id="page101">[101]</a></span> +ten minutes, he will make the horse go forward at a walk +without trying to animate him, but applying himself all +the while to keeping his head in the position of <i>ramener</i>. +He will content himself with executing a single change +of hand, in order to go as well to the right hand as to +the left. The fourth or fifth day, the rider, before putting +his horse in motion, will make him commence some +slight flexions of the croup.</p> + +<p><i>Second lesson. Ten days of work.</i>—The first fifteen +minutes will be occupied in the stationary supplings, +comprising the flexions of the croup performed more +completely than in the preceding lesson; then will begin +the backing. We will devote the other half of the lesson +to the moving straight ahead, once or twice taking the +trot at a very moderate pace. The rider during this +second part of the work, without ceasing to pay attention +to the <i>ramener</i>, will yet commence light oppositions +of hands and legs, in order to prepare the horse to bear +the combined effects, and to give regularity to his paces. +We will also commence the changes of direction at a +walk, while preserving the <i>ramener</i>, and being careful +to make the head and neck always go first.</p> + +<p><i>Third lesson. Twelve days of work.</i>—Six or eight +minutes only will at first be occupied in the stationary +flexions; those of the hind-parts should be pushed to the +completion of the reversed <i>pirouettes</i>. We will continue +by the backing; then all the rest of the lesson will be +devoted to perfecting the walk and the trot, commencing +at this latter pace the changes of direction. The +rider will often stop the horse, and continue to watch +attentively the <i>ramener</i> during the changes of pace or +direction. He will also commence the exercise <i>de deux +pistes</i> at a walk, as well as the rotation of the shoulders +around the haunches. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page102" id="page102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Fourth lesson. Fifteen days of work.</i>—After five +minutes being devoted to the stationary supplings, the +rider will first repeat all the work of the preceding lessons; +he will commence, with a steady foot, the +<i>attaques</i>,<a href="#footS">[S]</a><a name="footnoteS"></a> in order to confirm the <i>ramener</i> and prepare +the <i>rassembler</i>. He will renew the <i>attaques</i> while in +motion, and when the horse bears them patiently, he +will commence the gallop. He will content himself in +the commencement with executing four or five lopes +only before resuming the walk, and then start again +with a different foot, unless the horse requires being +exercised more often on one foot than the other. In +passing from the gallop to the walk, we should watch +with care that the horse resumes this latter pace as +quickly as possible without taking short steps on a trot, +all the while keeping the head and neck light. He will +only be exercised at the gallop at the end of each lesson.</p> + +<p><i>Fifth lesson. Fifteen days of work.</i>—These last +fifteen days will be occupied in assuring the perfect execution +of all the preceding work, and in perfecting the +pace of the gallop until we can execute easily changes of +direction, changes of feet at every step, and passaging. +We can then exercise the horse at leaping the bar and +at the <i>piaffer</i>. Thus in two months, and upon any +horse, we will have accomplished a work that formerly +required years, and then often gave incomplete results. +And I repeat, however insufficient so short a space of +time may appear, it will produce the effect I promise, if +you follow exactly all my directions. I have demonstrated +this upon a hundred different occasions, and +many of my pupils are able to prove it as well as +myself.</p> + +<p>In establishing the above order of work, be it well +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page103" id="page103">[103]</a></span> +understood that I found myself on the dispositions of +horses in general. A horseman of any tact will soon +understand the modifications that he ought to make in +their application, according to the particular nature of +his pupil. Such a horse, for example, will require more +or less persistence in the flexions; another one in the +backing; this one, dull and apathetic, will require the +use of the spurs before the time I have indicated. All +this is an affair of intelligence; it would be to insult my +readers not to suppose them capable of supplying to the +details what it is elsewhere impossible to particularize. +You can readily understand that there are irritable, +ill-disposed horses, whose defective dispositions have +been made worse by previous bad management. With +such subjects it is necessary to put more persistence into +the supplings and the walk. In every case, whatever +the slight modifications that the difference in the dispositions +of the subjects render necessary, I persist in saying +that there are no horses whose education ought not +to be completed by my method in the space I designate. +I mean here, that this time is sufficient to give the forces +of the horse the fitness necessary for executing all the +movements; the finish of education depends finally on +the nicety of touch of the rider. In fact, my method +has the advantages of recognizing no limits to the progress +of equitation, and there is no performance <i>equestrianly</i> +possible that a horseman who understands +properly applying my principles cannot make his horse +execute. I am about to give a convincing proof in support +of this assertion, by explaining the sixteen new +figures of the <i>manège</i> that I have added to the collection +of the old masters.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page104" id="page104">[104]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="chap9" id="chap9"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<h4>APPLICATION OF THE PRECEDING PRINCIPLES TO THE PERFORMANCE +OF THE HORSES, PARTISAN, CAPITAINE, NEPTUNE, +AND BURIDAN.</h4> + + +<p>The persons who systematically denied the efficacy of +my method ought, necessarily, also to deny the results +shown to them. They were forced to acknowledge that +my performance at the <i>Cirque-Olympique</i> was new and +extraordinary, but attributed it to causes, some more +strange than others; all the while insisting that the +equestrian talent of the rider did not go for nothing in +the expertness of the horse. According to some, I was +a second Carter, accustoming my horses to obedience +by depriving them of sleep and food; according to +others, I bound their legs with cords, and thus held +them suspended to prepare them for a kind of puppet-show; +some were not far from believing that I fascinated +them by the power of my looks. Finally, a certain +portion of the public, seeing these animals perform in +time to the sound of the charming music of one of my +friends, M. Paul Cuzent, insisted seriously that they +undoubtedly possessed, in a very great degree, the +instinct of melody, and that they would stop short with +the clarionets and trombones. So, the sound of the +music was more powerful over my horse than I was +myself! The animal obeyed a <i>do</i> or a <i>sol</i> nicely touched; +but my legs and hands went for nothing in their effects. +Would it be believed that such nonsense was uttered by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page105" id="page105">[105]</a></span> +people that passed for riders? I can comprehend their +not having understood my means at first, since my +method was new; but before judging it in so strange a +manner, they ought, at least, it seems to me, to have +sought to understand it.</p> + +<p>I had found the round of ordinary feats of horsemanship +too limited, since it was sufficient to execute one +movement well to immediately practise the others with +the same facility. So, it was proved to me that the rider +who passed with precision along a straight line sideways +(<i>de deux pistes</i>) at a walk, trot and gallop, could go in the +same way with the head or the croup to the wall, with the +shoulder in, perform the ordinary or reversed volts, the +changes and counterchanges of hands, etc., etc. As to +the <i>piaffer</i>, it was, as I have said, nature alone that +settled this. This long and fastidious performance had +no other variations than the different titles of the movements, +since it was sufficient to vanquish one difficulty +to be able to surmount all the others. I then created +new figures of the <i>manège</i>, the execution of which rendered +necessary more suppleness, more <i>ensemble</i>, more +finish in the education of the horse. This was easy to +me with my system; and to convince my adversaries +that there was neither magic nor mystery in my performance +at the <i>Cirque</i>, I am going to explain by what +processes purely equestrian, and even without having +recourse to <i>piliers</i>, cavessons or horse-whips, I have +brought my horses to execute the sixteen figures of the +<i>manège</i> that appear so extraordinary.</p> + +<p>1. Instantaneous flexion and support in the air of +either one of the fore legs, while the other three legs +remain fixed to the ground.</p> + +<p>The means of making the horse raise one of his fore +legs is very simple, as soon as the animal is perfectly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page106" id="page106">[106]</a></span> +supple and <i>rassemblé</i>. To make him raise, for example, +the right leg, it is sufficient to incline his head slightly +to the right, while making the weight of his body fall +upon the left side. The rider's legs will be sustained +firmly (the left a little more than the right), that the +effect of the hand which brings the head to the right +should not react upon the weight, and that the forces +which serve to fasten to the ground the over-weighted +part may give the horse's right leg enough action to +make it rise from the ground. By a repetition of this +exercise a few times, you will succeed in keeping this +leg in the air as long a time as you wish.</p> + +<p>2. Mobility of the haunches, the horse resting on his +fore legs, while his hind legs balance themselves alternately +the one over the other; when the hind leg which +is raised from left to right is moved, and is placed on +the ground to become pivot in its turn, the other to be +instantly raised and to execute the same movement.</p> + +<p>The simple mobility of the haunches is one of the exercises +that I have pointed out for the elementary education +of the horse. We can complicate this performance +by multiplying the alternate contact of the legs, until we +succeed in easily carrying the horse's croup, one leg +over the other, in such a way that the movement from +left to right and from right to left cannot exceed one +step. This exercise is good to give great nicety of touch +to the rider, and to prepare the horse to respond to the +lightest effects.</p> + +<p>3. Passing instantly from the slow <i>piaffer</i> to the precipitate +<i>piaffer</i>, and <i>vice versâ</i>.</p> + +<p>After having brought the horse to display great mobility +of the legs, we ought to regulate the movement of +them. It is by the slow and alternated pressure of his +legs that the rider will obtain the slow <i>piaffer</i>. He will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page107" id="page107">[107]</a></span> +make it precipitate by multiplying the contact. Both +these <i>piaffers</i> can be obtained from all horses; but as +this is among the great difficulties, perfect tact is indispensable.</p> + +<p>4. To back with an equal elevation of the transverse +legs, which leave the ground and are placed again on it +at the same time, the horse executing the movement +with as much freedom and facility as if he were going +forward, and without apparent aid from the rider.</p> + +<p>Backing is not new, but it certainly is new upon the +conditions that I lay down. It is only by the aid of a +complete suppling and <i>ramener</i> that we succeed in so +suspending the horse's body that the distribution of the +weight is perfectly regular and the extremities acquire +energy and activity alike. This movement then becomes +as easy and graceful as it is painful and devoid of elegance +when it is changed into <i>acculement</i>.<a href="#footT">[T]</a><a name="footnoteT"></a></p> + +<p>5. Simultaneous mobility of the two diagonal legs, the +horse stationary. After having raised the two opposite +legs, he carries them to the rear to bring them back again +to the place they first occupied, and recommences the +same movement with the other diagonal.</p> + +<p>The suppling, and having got the horse in hand, +make this movement easy. When he no longer presents +any resistance, he appreciates the lightest effects of +the rider, intended in this case to displace only the least +possible quantity of forces and weight necessary to set +in motion the opposite extremities. By repeating this +exercise, it will in a little while be rendered familiar to +the horse. The finish of the mechanism will soon give +the finish of intelligence. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page108" id="page108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>6. Trot with a sustained extension; the horse, after +having raised his legs, carries them forward, sustaining +them an instant in the air before replacing them on the +ground.</p> + +<p>The processes that form the basis of my method reproduce +themselves in each simple movement, and with still +more reason in the complicated ones. If equilibrium is +only obtained by lightness, in return there is no lightness +without equilibrium; it is by the union of these two +conditions that the horse will acquire the facility of +extending his trot to the farthest possible limits, and +will completely change his original gait.</p> + +<p>7. Serpentine trot, the horse turning to the right and +to the left, to return nearly to his starting point, after +having made five or six steps in each direction.</p> + +<p>This movement will present no difficulty if we keep +the horse in hand while executing the flexions of the neck +at the walk and trot; you can readily see that such a +performance is impossible without this condition. The +leg opposite to the side towards which the neck turns +ought always to be pressed.</p> + +<p>8. Instant halt by the aid of the spurs, the horse +being at a gallop.</p> + +<p>When the horse, being perfectly suppled, will properly +bear the <i>attaques</i> and the <i>rassembler</i>, he will be fit +to execute the halt upon the above conditions. In the +application of this we will start with a slow gallop, in +order to go on successively to the greatest speed. The +legs preceding the hand, will bring the horse's hind legs +under the middle of his body, then a prompt effect of the +hand, by fixing them in this position, will immediately +stop the bound. By this means we spare the horse's +organization, which can thus be always kept free from +blemish.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page109" id="page109">[109]</a></span></p> + +<p>9. Continued mobility or pawing, while stationary, of +one of the horse's fore legs; the horse, at the rider's +will, executing the movement by which he, of his own +accord, often manifests his impatience.</p> + +<p>This movement will be obtained by the same process +that serves to keep the horse's leg in the air. In the +latter case, the rider's legs must impress a continued +support, in order that the force which holds the horse's +leg raised keep up its effect; while, for the movement +now in question, we must renew the action by a quantity +of slight pressures, in order to cause the motion of the +leg held up in the air. This extremity of the horse will +soon acquire a movement subordinate to that of the +rider's legs, and if the time is well seized, it will seem, +so to say, that we make the animal move by the aid of +mechanical means.</p> + +<p>10. To trot backwards, the horse preserving the same +cadence and the same step as in the trot forwards.</p> + +<p>The first condition, in order to obtain the trot backwards, +is to keep the horse in a perfect cadence and as +<i>rassemblé</i> as possible. The second is all in the proceedings +of the rider. He ought to seek insensibly by the +combined effects to make the forces of the fore-hand +exceed those of the hind-parts, without affecting the +harmony of the movement. Thus we see that by the +<i>rassembler</i> we will successively obtain the <i>piaffer</i> stationary, +and the <i>piaffer</i> backwards, even without the aid +of the reins.</p> + +<p>11. To gallop backwards, the time being the same as +in the ordinary gallop; but the fore legs once raised, in +place of coming to the ground, are carried backwards, +that the hind-parts may execute the same backward +movement as soon as the fore-feet are placed on the +ground.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page110" id="page110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>The principle is the same as for the preceding performance; +with a perfect <i>rassembler</i>, the hind legs will find +themselves so brought under the centre, that by raising +the fore-hand, the movement of the hocks can only be an +upward one. This performance, though easily executed +with a powerful horse, ought not to be attempted with +one not possessing this quality.</p> + +<p>12. Changing feet every step, each time of the gallop +being done on a different leg.</p> + +<p>In order to practise this difficult performance, the +horse ought to be accustomed to execute perfectly, and +as frequently as possible, changing feet at the touch. +Before attempting these changes of feet every step, we +ought to have brought him to execute this movement at +every other step. Everything depends upon his aptness, +and above all, on the intelligence of the rider; with this +latter quality, there is no obstacle that is not to be surmounted. +To execute this performance with the desirable +degree of precision, the horse should remain light, +and preserve the same degree of action; the rider, on +his part, should also avoid roughly inclining the horse's +fore-hand to one side or the other.</p> + +<p>13. Ordinary <i>pirouettes</i> on three legs, the fore leg on +the side towards which we are turning: remaining in the +air during the whole time of the movement.</p> + +<p>Ordinary <i>pirouettes</i> should be familiar to a horse +broken after my method, and I have above shown the +means to make him hold up one of his fore feet. If these +two movements are well executed separately, it will be +easy to connect them in a single performance. After +having disposed the horse for the <i>pirouette</i>, we will prepare +the mass in such a way as to raise the fore leg; this +once in the air, we will throw the weight on the part +opposite to the side towards which we wish to turn, by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page111" id="page111">[111]</a></span> +bearing upon this part with the hand and leg. The leg +of the rider placed on the converging side, will only act +daring this time so as to carry the forces forward, in +order to prevent the hand producing a retrograde effect.</p> + +<p>14. To back with a halt at each step, the right leg of +the horse remaining in front motionless and held out at +the full distance that the left leg has passed over, and +<i>vice versâ</i>.</p> + +<p>This movement depends upon the nicety of touch of +the rider, as it results from an effect of forces impossible +to specify. Though this performance is not very +graceful, the experienced rider will do well to often +practise it, in order to learn to modify the effects of +forces, and acquire all the niceties of his art in perfection.</p> + +<p>15. Regular <i>piaffer</i> with an instant halt on three legs, +the fourth remaining in the air.</p> + +<p>Here, also, as for the ordinary <i>pirouettes</i> upon three +legs, it is by exercising the <i>piaffer</i> and the flexion of one +leg separately, that we will succeed in uniting the two +movements in one. We will interrupt the <i>piaffer</i> by +arresting the contraction of three of the legs so as to +leave it in one only. It is sufficient, then, in order to +accustom the horse to this performance, to stop him +while he is <i>piaffing</i>, by forcing him to contract one of +his legs.</p> + +<p>16. Change of feet every time at equal intervals, the +horse remaining in the same place.</p> + +<p>This movement is obtained by the same proceedings +as are employed for changing feet every time while +advancing; only it is much more complicated, since we +must give an exact impulsion sufficiently strong to determine +the movement of the legs without the body +advancing. This movement consequently demands a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page112" id="page112">[112]</a></span> +great deal of tact on the rider's part, and cannot be practised +except on a perfectly broken horse, but broken as +I understand it.</p> + +<p>Such is the vocabulary of the new figures of the <i>manège</i> +that I have created, and so often executed before the +public. As you see, this performance, which appeared +so extraordinary that people would not believe it +belonged to equestrianism, becomes very simple and +comprehensible as soon as you have studied the principles +of my method. There is not one of these movements +in which is not discovered the application of the +precepts I have developed in this book.</p> + +<p>But, I repeat, if I have enriched equitation with a new +and interesting work, I do not pretend to have attained +the farthest limits of the art; and one may come after +me, who, if he will study my system and practise it with +intelligence, will be able to pass me on the course, and +add something yet to the results I have obtained.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page113" id="page113">[113]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="chap10" id="chap10"></a>CHAPTER X.</h3> + +<h4>SUCCINCT EXPOSITION OF THE METHOD BY QUESTIONS AND +ANSWERS.</h4> + + +<p><i>Question.</i> What do you understand by force?</p> + +<p><i>Answer.</i> The motive power which results from muscular +contraction.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What do you understand by <i>instinctive</i> forces?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Those which come from the horse—that is to say, +of which he himself determines the employment.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What do you understand by <i>transmitted</i> forces?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Those which emanate from the rider, and are +immediately appreciated by the horse.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What do you understand by resistances?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The force which the horse presents, and with +which he seeks to establish a struggle to his advantage.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Ought we first to set to work to annul the forces +the horse presents for resistance, before demanding any +other movements of him?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Without doubt, as then the force of the rider, +which should displace the weight of the mass, finding +itself absorbed by an equivalent resistance, every movement +becomes impossible.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> By what means can we combat the resistances?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> By the methodical and separate suppling of the +jaw, the neck, the haunches, and the loins.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What is the use of the flexions of the jaw?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> As it is upon the lower jaw that the effects of the +rider's hand are first felt, these will be null or incomplete +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page114" id="page114">[114]</a></span> +if the jaw is contracted or closed against the upper one. +Besides, as in this case the displacing of the horse's body +is only obtained with difficulty, the movements resulting +therefrom will also be painful.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Is it enough that the horse <i>champ his bit</i> for the +flexion of his jaw to leave nothing more to wish for?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No, it is also necessary that the horse <i>let go of the +bit</i>—that is to say, that he should separate (at our will) +his jaws as much as possible.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Can all horses have this mobility of jaw?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> All without exception, if we follow the gradation +pointed out, and if the rider does not allow himself to be +deceived by the flexion of the neck. Useful as this is, it +would be insufficient without the play of the jaw.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> In the direct flexion of the jaw, ought we to give +a tension to the curb-reins and those of the snaffle at the +same time?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No, we must make the snaffle precede (the hand +being placed as indicated in Plate No. III.), until the head +and neck are lowered; afterwards the pressure of the bit, +in time with the snaffle, will promptly make the jaws +open.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Ought we often to repeat this exercise?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> It should be continued until the jaws separate by +a light pressure of the bit or snaffle.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Why is the stiffness of the neck so powerful an +obstacle to the education of the horse?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Because it absorbs to its profit the force which +the rider seeks in vain to transmit throughout the whole +mass.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Can the haunches be suppled separately?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Certainly they can; and this exercise is comprised +in what is called stationary exercise.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What is its useful object? +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page115" id="page115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> To prevent the bad effects resulting from the instinctive +forces of the horse, and to make him appreciate +the forces transmitted by the rider without opposing +them.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Can the horse execute a movement without a shifting +of weight?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> It is impossible. We must first seek to make the +horse take a position which causes such a variation in +his equilibrium that the movement may be a natural consequence +of it.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What do you understand by position?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> An arrangement of the head, neck and body, previously +disposed according to the movements of the +horse.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> In what consists the <i>ramener</i>?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> In the perpendicular position of the head, and the +lightness that accompanies it.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What is the distribution of the forces and weight +in the <i>ramener</i>?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The forces and weight are equally distributed +through all the mass.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How do we address the intelligence of the horse?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> By the position, because it is that which makes the +horse know the rider's intentions.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Why is it necessary that in the backward movements +of the horse, the legs of the rider precede the +hand?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Because we must displace the points of support +before placing upon them the mass that they must sustain.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Is it the rider that determines his horse?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No. The rider gives action and position, which +are the language; the horse answers this demand by the +change of pace or direction that the rider had intended. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page116" id="page116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Is it to the rider or to the horse that we ought to +impute the fault of bad execution?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> To the rider, and always to the rider. As it +depends upon him to supple and place the horse in the +way of the movement, and as with these two conditions +faithfully fulfilled, everything becomes regular, it is then +to the rider that the merit or blame ought to belong.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What kind of bit is suitable for a horse?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> An easy bit.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Why is an easy bit necessary for all horses, whatever +may be their resistance?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Because the effect of a severe bit is to constrain +and surprise a horse, while it ought to prevent him from +doing wrong and enable him to do well. Now, we cannot +obtain these results except by the aid of an easy bit, +and above all, of a skillful hand; for the bit is the hand, +and a good hand is the whole of the rider.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Are there any other inconveniences connected with +the instruments of torture called severe bits?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Certainly there are, for the horse soon learns to +avoid the painful infliction of them by forcing the rider's +legs, the power of which can never be equal to that of +this barbarous bit. He succeeds in this by yielding +with his body, and resisting with his neck and jaw, +which misses altogether the aim proposed.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How is it that nearly all the horsemen of renown +have invented a particular kind of bit?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Because being wanting in personal science, they +sought to replace their own insufficiency by aids or +strange machines.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Can the horse, perfectly in hand, defend himself?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No; for the just distribution of weight that this +position gives supposes a great regularity of movement, +and it would be necessary to overturn this order that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page117" id="page117">[117]</a></span> +any act of rebellion on the part of the horse should take +place.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What is the use of the snaffle?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The snaffle serves to combat the opposing forces +(lateral) of the neck, to make the head precede in all the +changes of direction, while the horse is not yet familiarized +with the effects of the bit; it serves also to +arrange the head and neck in a perfectly straight line.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> In order to obtain the <i>ramener</i>, should we make +the legs precede the hand or the hand the legs?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The hands ought to precede until they have produced +the effect of giving great suppleness to the neck +(this ought to be practised in the stationary exercises); +then come the legs in their turn to combine the hind and +fore-parts in the movement. The continual lightness of +the horse at all paces will be the result of it.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Ought the legs and the hands to aid one another +or act separately?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> One of these extremities ought always to have the +other for auxiliary.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Ought we to leave the horse a long time at the +same pace in order to develop his powers?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> It is useless, since the regularity of movements +results from the regularity of the positions; the horse +that makes fifty steps at a trot regularly is much further +advanced in his education than if he made a thousand +in a bad position. We must then attend to his position, +that is to say, his lightness.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> In what proportions ought we to use the force of +the horse?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> This cannot be defined, since these forces vary in +different subjects; but we should be sparing of them, +and not expend them without circumspection, particularly +during the course of his education. It is on this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page118" id="page118">[118]</a></span> +account that we must, so to say, create for them a reservoir +that the horse may not absorb them uselessly, and +that the rider may make a profitable and more lasting +use of them.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What good will there result to the horse from this +judicious employment of his forces?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> As we will only make use of forces useful for certain +movements, fatigue or exhaustion can only result +from the length of time during which the animal will +remain at an accelerated pace, and will not be the effect +of an excessive muscular contraction which would preserve +its intensity, even at a moderate pace.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> When should we first undertake to make the horse +back?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> After the suppling of the neck and haunches.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Why should the suppling of the haunches precede +that of the loins (the <i>reculer</i>)?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> To keep the horse more easily in a straight line +and to render the flowing back and forward of the weight +more easy.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Ought these first retrograde movements of the +horse to be prolonged during the first lessons?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No. As their only object is to annul the instinctive +forces of the horse, we must wait till he is perfectly +in hand to obtain a backward movement, a true <i>reculer</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What constitutes a true <i>reculer</i>?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The lightness of the horse (head perpendicular), +the exact balance of his body, and the elevation to the +same height of the legs diagonally.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> At what distance ought the spur to be placed from +the horse's flanks before the <i>attaque</i> commences?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The rowel should not be farther than two inches +from the horse's flanks.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How ought the <i>attaques</i> to be practised? +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page119" id="page119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> They ought to reach the flanks by a movement +like the stroke of a lancet, and be taken away as +quickly.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Are there circumstances where the <i>attaque</i> ought +to be practised without the aid of the hand?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Never; since its only object should be to give the +impulsion which serves for the hand to contain (<i>renfermer</i>) +the horse.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Is it the <i>attaques</i> themselves that chastise the horse?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No. The chastisement is in the contained position +that the <i>attaques</i> and the hand make the horse assume. +As the latter then finds himself in a position where it is +impossible to make use of any of his forces, the chastisement +has all its efficiency.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> In what consists the difference between the <i>attaques</i> +practised after the old principles, and those which the new +method prescribed?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Our predecessors (that we should venerate) practised +spurring in order to throw the horse out of himself; +the new method makes use of it to contain him; +that is, to give him that first position which is the +mother of all the others.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What are the functions of the legs during the +<i>attaques</i>?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The legs ought to remain adherent to the horse's +flanks and in no respect to partake of the movements of +the feet.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> At what moment ought we to commence the <i>attaques</i>?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> When the horse supports peaceably a strong pressure +of the legs without getting out of hand.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Why does a horse, perfectly in hand, bear the spur +without becoming excited, and even without sudden +movement?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page120" id="page120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Because the skillful hand of the rider, having prevented +all displacings of the head, never lets the forces +escape outwards; it concentrates them by fixing them. +The equal struggle of the forces, or if you prefer it, their +<i>ensemble</i>, sufficiently explains the apparent dullness of +the horse in this case.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Is it not to be feared that the horse may become +insensible to the legs and lose all that activity necessary +for accelerated movements?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Although this is the opinion of nearly all the people +who talk of this method without understanding it, +there is nothing in it. Since all these means serve only +to keep the horse in the most perfect equilibrium, +promptness of movement ought necessarily to be the +result of it, and, consequently, the horse will be disposed +to respond to the progressive contact of the legs, when +the hand does not oppose it.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How can we judge whether an <i>attaque</i> is regular?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> When, far from making the horse get out of hand, +it makes him come into it.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How ought the hand to be supported at the moments +of resistance on the part of the horse?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The hand ought to stop, fix itself, and only be +drawn sufficiently towards the body to give the reins a +three-quarter tension. In the contrary case, we must +wait till the horse bears upon the hand to present this +insurmountable barrier to him.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What would be the inconvenience of increasing +the pressure of the bit by drawing the hand towards +the body in order to slacken the horse in his paces by +getting him in hand?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> It would not produce an effect upon a particular +part, but would act generally upon all the forces, in displacing +the weight instead of annulling the force of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page121" id="page121">[121]</a></span> +impulsion. We should not wish to incline to one side +what we cannot stop.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> In what case ought we to make use of the cavesson, +and what is its use?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> We should make use of it when the faulty construction +of the horse leads him to defend himself, when +only simple movements are demanded of him. It is also +useful to use the cavesson with restive horses, as its +object is to act upon the moral, while the rider acts upon +the physical.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How ought we to make use of the cavesson?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> At first, the longe of the cavesson should be held +at from fifteen or twenty inches from the horse's head, +held out and supported with a stiff wrist. We must +watch the proper times to diminish or increase the bearing +of the cavesson upon the horse's nose, so as to use +it as an aid. All viciousness that leads him to act badly +is to be repressed by little jerks, which should be given +at the very moment of defense. As soon as the rider's +movements begin to be appreciated by the horse, the +longe of the cavesson ought no longer to act; at the +end of a few days the horse will only need the bit, to +which he will respond without hesitation.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> In what case is the rider less intelligent than the horse?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> When the latter subjects him to his caprices, and +does what he wishes with him.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Are the defenses of the horse physical or moral?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> At first they are physical, but afterwards become +moral; the rider ought then to seek out the causes that +produce them, and endeavor, by a preparatory exercise, +to re-establish the correct equilibrium that a bad natural +formation prevented.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Can the naturally well-balanced horse defend himself? +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page122" id="page122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> It would be as difficult for a subject uniting all +that constitutes a good horse to give himself up to disorderly +movements, as it is impossible for the one that +has not received the like gifts from nature, to have regular +movements, if art did not lend him its aid.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What do you mean by <i>rassembler</i>?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The reunion of forces at the centre of gravity.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Can we <i>rassembler</i> the horse that does not contain +himself under the <i>attaques</i>?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> This is altogether impossible; the legs would be +insufficient to counterbalance the effects of the hand.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> At what time ought we to <i>rassembler</i> the horse?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> When the <i>ramener</i> is complete.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Of what service is the <i>rassembler?</i></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> To obtain without difficulty everything of a complicated +nature in horsemanship.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> In what does the <i>piaffer</i> consist?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> In the graceful position of the body and the harmonized +precision of movement of the legs and feet.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Is there more than one kind of <i>piaffer?</i></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Two; the slow and the precipitate.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Which is to be preferred of these two?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The slow <i>piaffer</i>, since it is only when this is +obtained that the equilibrium is perfect.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Ought we to make a horse <i>piaffe</i> who will not bear +the <i>rassembler?</i></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No; for that would be to step out of the logical +gradation that alone can give certain results. Besides, +the horse that has not been brought forward by this +chain of principles would only execute with trouble and +ungracefully what he ought to accomplish with pleasure +and nobly.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Are all riders alike suited to conquer all the difficulties +and seize all the effects of touch? +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page123" id="page123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> As in horsemanship, intelligence is the starting +point for obtaining every result, everything is subordinate +to this innate disposition; but every rider will have +the power to break his horse to an extent commensurate +with his own abilities to instruct.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page124" id="page124">[124]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="conclusion" id="conclusion"></a>CONCLUSION.</h3> + + +<p>Everybody complains now-a-days of the degeneration +of our breeds of horses. Apprehensive too late of a +state of things which threatens even the national independence,<a href="#footU">[U]</a><a name="footnoteU"></a> +patriotic spirits are seeking to go back to the +source of the evil, and are arranging divers systems for +remedying it as soon as possible. Among the causes +which have contributed the most to the loss of our old +breeds, they forget, it seems to me, to mention the +decline of horsemanship, nor do they consider that the +revival of this art is indispensable in bringing about the +regeneration of the horse.</p> + +<p>The difficulties of horsemanship have long been the +same, but formerly constant practice, if not taste, kept +it up; these stimulants exist no longer. Fifty years +ago, every man of rank was expected to be able to handle +a horse with skill, and break one if necessary. This +study was an indispensable part of the education of +young people of family; and as it obliged them to +devote two or three years to the rough exercises of the +<i>manège</i>, in the end they all became horsemen, some by +taste, the rest by habit. These habits once acquired +were preserved throughout life; they then felt the +necessity of possessing good horses, and men of fortune +spared nothing in getting them. The sale of fine horses +thus became easy; all gained by it, the breeder as well +as the horse. It is not so now; the aristocracy of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page125" id="page125">[125]</a></span> +fortune, succeeding to that of birth, is very willing to +possess the advantages of the latter, but would dispense +with the onerous obligations which appertained to an +elevated rank. The desire of showing off in public places, +or motives still more frivolous, sometimes lead gentlemen +of our times to commence the study of horsemanship, +but, soon wearied of a work without satisfactory results, +they find only a monotonous fatigue where they sought +a pleasure, and are satisfied they know enough as soon as +they can stick passably well in the saddle. So insufficient +a knowledge of horsemanship, as dangerous as it is +thoughtless, must necessarily occasion sad accidents. +They then become disgusted with horsemanship and +horses, and as nothing obliges them to continue the +exercise, they give it up nearly altogether, and so much +the more easily as they naturally care very little about +the breeds of horses and their perfection. We must +then, as a preliminary measure in the improvement of +horses, raise up horsemanship from the low state into +which it has fallen. The government can undoubtedly do +much here; but it is for the masters of the art to supply, +if necessary, what it leaves undone. Let them render +attractive and to the purpose studies which have hitherto +been too monotonous and often barren; let rational and +true principles make the scholar see a real progress, that +each of his efforts brings a success with it; and we will +soon see young persons of fortune become passionately +fond of an exercise which has been rendered as interesting +to them as it is noble, and discover, with their love for +horses, a lively solicitude for all that concerns their +qualities and education.</p> + +<p>But horsemen can aim at still more brilliant results. +If they succeed in rendering easy the education of common +horses, they will make the study of horsemanship +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page126" id="page126">[126]</a></span> +popular among the masses; they will put within reach of +moderate fortunes, so numerous in our land of equality, +the practice of an art that has hitherto been confined to +the rich. Such has been the aim of the labors of my +whole life. It is in the hope of attaining this end that I +give to the public the fruit of my long researches.</p> + +<p>But I should say, however, that if I was upheld by +the hope of being one day useful to my country, it was +the army above all that occupied my thoughts. Though +counting many skillful horsemen in its ranks, the system +they are made to follow, impotent in my eyes, is the true +cause of the equestrian inferiority of so many, as well as +of their horses being so awkward and badly broken. I +might add that to the same motive is to be attributed +the little taste for horsemanship felt by the officers and +soldiers. How can it be otherwise? The low price +allowed by government for horses of remount, causes +few horses of good shape to be met with in the army, +and it is only of these that the education is easy. The officers +themselves, mounted upon a very common sort of +horses, strive in vain to render them docile and agreeable. +After two or three years of fatiguing exercise, +they end by gaining a mechanical obedience, but the +same resistances and the same faults of construction are +perpetually recurring. Disgusted by difficulties that +appear insurmountable, they trouble themselves no more +about horses and horsemanship than the demands of the +service actually require.</p> + +<p>Yet it is indispensable that a cavalry officer be +always master of his horse, so much so as to be able, so +to say, to communicate his own thoughts to him; the uniformity +of man[oe]uvres, the necessities of command, the +perils of the battle-field, all demand it imperatively. The +life of the rider, every one knows, often depends upon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page127" id="page127">[127]</a></span> +the good or bad disposition of his steed; in the same +way the loss or the gain of a battle often hangs on the +degree of precision in man[oe]uvring a squadron. My +method will give military men a taste for horsemanship, +a taste which is indispensable in the profession they +practise. The nature of officers' horses, considered as so +defective, is exactly the one upon which the most satisfactory +results may be obtained. These animals generally +possess a certain degree of energy, and as soon as +we know how rightly to use their powers by remedying +the physical faults that paralyze them, we will be astonished +at the resources they will exhibit. The rider fashioning +the steed by degrees will regard him as the work +of his hand, will become sincerely attached to him, and +will find as much charm in horsemanship as he previously +felt <i>ennui</i> and disgust. My principles are simple, easy +in their application, and within the reach of every mind. +They can everywhere make (what is now so rare) skillful +horsemen. I am sure that if my method is adopted and +well understood in the army, where the daily exercise of +the horse is a necessary duty, we will see equestrian +capacities spring up among the officers and sub-officers +by thousands. There is not one among them who, with +an hour a day of study would not soon be able to give +any horse in less than three months the following qualities +and education:</p> + +<p>1. General suppling.</p> + +<p>2. Perfect lightness.</p> + +<p>3. Graceful position.</p> + +<p>4. A steady walk.</p> + +<p>5. Trot steady, measured, extended.</p> + +<p>6. Backing as easily and freely as going forward.</p> + +<p>7. Gallop easy with either foot, and change of foot by +the touch.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page128" id="page128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>8. Easy and regular movement of the haunches, comprising +ordinary and reversed <i>pirouettes</i>.</p> + +<p>9. Leaping the ditch and the bar.</p> + +<p>10. <i>Piaffer.</i></p> + +<p>11. Halt from the gallop, by the aid of first, the pressure +of the legs, and then a light support of the hand. +I ask all conscientious men: have they seen many horsemen +of renown obtain similar results in so short a time?</p> + +<p>The education of the men's horses, being less complicated +than that of those intended for officers, would on +that account be more rapid. The principal things +will be the supplings and the backing, followed +by the walk, the trot and the gallop, while +keeping the horse perfectly in hand. The colonels +will soon appreciate the excellent results of this +exercise, in consequence of the precision with which all +the movements are made. The important flexions of +the fore-hand can be executed without leaving the stables, +each rider turning his horse around in the stall. +It is not for me to point out to the colonels of regiments +the exact way of putting my method in practice; +it is enough for me to lay down my principles +and to explain them. The instructors will themselves +supply the details of application too long to enumerate +here.</p> + +<p>I must again repeat, this book is the fruit of twenty +years of observation constantly verified by practice. A +long and painful work without doubt, but what compensation +I have found in the results I have been +happy enough to obtain. In order to let the public +judge of the importance of my discoveries, it is sufficient +here to give their nomenclature, and I present +these processes as new ones, because I can conscientiously +say that they never were practised before me. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page129" id="page129">[129]</a></span> +I have added then successively to the manual of the +horseman the following principles and innovations:</p> + +<p>1. New means of obtaining a good seat.</p> + +<p>2. Means of making the horse come to the man, and +rendering him steady to mount.</p> + +<p>3. Distinction between the instinctive forces of the +horse and the communicated forces.</p> + +<p>4. Explanation of the influence of a bad formation upon +the horse's resistances.</p> + +<p>5. Effect of bad formations on the neck and croup, +the principal focuses of resistance.</p> + +<p>6. Means of remedying the faults, or supplings of the +two extremities, and the whole of the horse's body.</p> + +<p>7. Annihilation of the instinctive forces of the horse, +in order to substitute for them forces transmitted by the +rider, and to give ease and beauty of motion to the +ungraceful animal.</p> + +<p>8. Equality of sensibility of mouth in all horses; +adoption of a uniform bit.</p> + +<p>9. Equality of sensibility of flanks in all horses; means +of accustoming them all to bear the spur alike.</p> + +<p>10. All horses can place their heads in the position of +<i>ramener</i> and acquire the same lightness.</p> + +<p>11. Means of bringing the centre of gravity in a badly-formed +horse to the place it occupies in a well-formed one.</p> + +<p>12. The rider disposes his horse for a moment, but he +does not determine the movement.</p> + +<p>13. Why sound horses often are faulty in their paces. +Means of remedying this in a few lessons.</p> + +<p>14. For changes of direction, use of the leg opposite +to the side towards which we turn, so that it may precede +the other one.</p> + +<p>15. In all backward movements of the horse the rider's +legs ought to precede the hands. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page130" id="page130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>16. Distinction between the <i>reculer</i> and the <i>acculement</i>; +the good effect of the former in the horse's education; +the bad effect of the latter.</p> + +<p>17. The use of the spurs as a means of education.</p> + +<p>18. All horses can <i>piaffer</i>; means of rendering this +movement slow or precipitate.</p> + +<p>19. Definition of the true <i>rassembler</i>; means of obtaining +it; of its usefulness to produce grace and regularity +in complicated movements.</p> + +<p>20. Means of bringing all horses to step out freely at +a trot.</p> + +<p>21. Rational means of putting a horse at a gallop.</p> + +<p>22. Halt at a gallop, the legs or the spur preceding the +hand.</p> + +<p>23. Force continued in proportion to the forces of the +horse; the rider should never yield until after having +<i>annulled</i> the horse's resistances.</p> + +<p>24. Education of the horse in parts, or means of exercising +his forces separately.</p> + +<p>25. Complete education of horses of ordinary formation +in less than three months.</p> + +<p>26. Sixteen new figures of the <i>manège</i> proper for giving +the finishing touch to the horse's education, and for +perfecting the rider's touch.</p> + +<p>It is understood that all the details of application +appertaining to these innovations are new also, and likewise +belong to me.</p> + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page131" id="page131">[131]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="index" id="index"></a>INDEX.</h3> + + +<table style="margin-left: 13%; font-size: 10pt;" summary="Index"> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Backing</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page64">64-107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Back to, with a halt</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page111">111</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Bit, false and true, yielding to the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page55">55</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" form of</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page57">57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" pressure, of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page54">54</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Breaking, succinct exposition of the method of</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page113">113</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Croup, flexions of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page59">59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Horse, concentration by the rider of the forces of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page78">78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" education of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page23">23</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" " first lesson</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page100">100</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" " second lesson</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page101">101</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" " third lesson</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page101">101</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" " fourth lesson</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page102">102</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" " fifth lesson</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page102">102</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" employment of the forces of the, by the rider</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page69">69</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" gathering the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page88">88</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" how to make him come to you</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page35">35</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" of the forces of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page25">25</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" resting his chin on his breast</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page53">53</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" education of Partisan, Capitaine Neptune, and<br /> Buridan</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page104">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Jaw, flexion of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page36">36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Knees, flexions of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page22">22</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Leaping</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page94">94</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Leg, flexions of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page21">21</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Neck, depression of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page40">40</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" direct flexions of the head and</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page48">48</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" lateral " " on foot</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page45">45</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" " " " horseback</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page47">47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Piaffer, the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page94">94</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Riding, preparatory lessons for</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page19">19</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Saddles, exercises in the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page19">19</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Seat, new means for obtaining a good</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page17">17</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" of the rider</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page18">18</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Spurs, the use of the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page78">78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Supplings, the head and neck</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page32">32-58</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;"> " Recapitulations</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page67">67</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Trot, the</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page74">74</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt;">" " backward</td> +<td style="padding-left: 10pt; text-align: right;"><a href="#page109">109</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center"><b>FOOTNOTES</b></p> + +<p><a name="footA">[A]</a> "The commission was composed of Lieutenant-General Oudinot, Col. +Carrelet, Commander of the Municipal Guard, the Chef d'Escadrons De Novital, +commanding the Cavalry Riding-School, and the Captain-instructors deGues, +of the 5th Cuirassiers, and De Mesanges, of the 3d Lancers." <a href="#footnoteA">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footB">[B]</a> I have divided all the flexions into two parts, and, in order to facilitate +the understanding of the text, I have added to it plates representing the +position of the horse at the moment the flexion is about to commence, and at +the moment it is terminated. <a href="#footnoteB">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footC">[C]</a> <i>Ramener</i> means to place the horse's head in a perpendicular position.— +<span class="smcap">Translator.</span> <a href="#footnoteC">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footD">[D]</a> The full meaning of the word <i>rassembler</i> will be understood after reading +the chapter, further on in this work, under that head. With regard to the +other word, <i>ramener</i>, to avoid the constant circumlocution of saying, "placing +the horse's head in a perpendicular position," it will be used in future +wherever it occurs.—<span class="smcap">Translator.</span> <a href="#footnoteD">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footE">[E]</a> This position of the hand at a distance from the saddle and the body will +be criticised; but let the rider be reassured, eight or ten lessons will suffice +to make the horse change the position of his head, and allow the hand to +resume its normal position. <a href="#footnoteE">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footF">[F]</a> The word equilibrium, so often repeated in the course of this work, +must be categorically explained. People have never rightly understood what +it means, this true equilibrium of a horse, which serves as the basis of his +education, and by which he takes instantly, at the rider's will, such a pace, +or such a change or direction.</p> + +<p>It is not here a question of the equilibrium which prevents the horse from +falling down, but of that upon which depends his performance, when it is +prompt, graceful and regular, and by means of which his paces are either +measured or extended at will.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 9em;"><i>Equilibrium of Baucher.</i></span><br /> +<i>Croup</i>————————————————————————<i>Head.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>Here the weight and the forces are equally distributed. By means of this +just distribution the different positions, the different paces, and the equilibriums +that belong to them, are obtained without effort on the part of +man or horse. <a href="#footnoteF">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footG">[G]</a> The bars are the continuations of the two bones of the lower jaw +between the masticating and the front teeth. It is on these that the bit rests. <a href="#footnoteG">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footH">[H]</a> The mouth-piece of the bit consists of three parts: the port, to give freedom +to the tongue, and the two canons, which are the parts that come in +contact with the bars.—<span class="smcap">Translator.</span> <a href="#footnoteH">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footI">[I]</a> See note, page 63. <a href="#footnoteI">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footJ">[J]</a> "<i>La piste</i> is an imaginary line upon which the horse is made to walk. +When the hind legs follow the same line as the fore ones, the horse is said to +go <i>d'une piste</i>, or on one line. He goes <i>de deux pistes</i>, or on two lines, when +his hind legs pass along a line parallel to that traced by the fore legs."—<i>Baucher's +Dictionnaire d'Equitation.</i> <a href="#footnoteJ">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footK">[K]</a> "The <i>pirouette</i> is executed on the fore or hind legs, by making the horse +turn round upon himself, in such a way, that the leg on the side he is going, +acts as a pivot, and is the principal support around which the other three +legs move."—<i>Baucher's Dictionnaire d'Equitation.</i> <a href="#footnoteK">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footL">[L]</a> These displacements of the croup mean sideway displacements, or the +horse's croup not being in a line with the shoulders.—<span class="smcap">Translator.</span> <a href="#footnoteL">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footM">[M]</a> It must not be forgotten that the hand and legs have their vocabulary +also; and a very concise one. This mute, laconic language consists of these +few words. <i>You are doing badly; this is what you should do; you do well now.</i> +It is sufficient for the rider to be able to translate, by his mechanism, the +meaning of these three remarks, to possess all the equestrian erudition, and +share his intelligence with his horse. <a href="#footnoteM">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footN">[N]</a> I am not of the opinion of those connoisseurs who imagine that the qualities +of the horse, as well as his speed in trotting, depend principally on the +height of his withers. I think, that for the horse to be stylish and regular +in his movements, the croup should be on a level with the withers; such was +the construction of the old English horses. A certain kind of horses, very +much <i>à la mode</i>, called steppers, are constructed after an entirely different +fashion; they strike out with their fore legs, and drag their hind-parts after +them. Horses with a low croup, or withers very high in proportion to their +croup, were preferred by horsemen of the old school, and are still in favor +now-a-days among amateur horsemen. The German horsemen have an +equally marked predilection for this sort of formation, although it is contrary +to strength of the croup, to the equilibrium of the horse, and to the regular +play of his feet and legs. This fault of construction (for it is one) has been +scarcely noticed till now; nevertheless, it is a great one, and really retards +the horse's education. In fact, we are obliged, in order to render his movements +uniform, to lower his neck, so that the kind of lever it represents, may +serve to lighten his hind-parts of the weight with which they are overburdened. +I ought also to say, that this change of position, or of equilibrium, is +only obtained by the aid of my principles. I explain the cause and effect, +and I point out the remedies. Is this not the proper way for an author to +proceed? <a href="#footnoteN">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footO">[O]</a> Previously explained. <a href="#footnoteO">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footP">[P]</a> I have often proved that horses that were considered dull, or unable +to move their shoulders freely, have not the defect that is supposed; in +other words, that it is very rare that they are paralyzed in their shoulders so +as to injure the regularity and speed of their paces, principally as regards +trotting. The shoulders of the horse, if I may use the comparison, resemble +the wings of a wind-mill; the impulse given by the hocks replaces the +motive force. There undoubtedly exist some local complaints that affect the +shoulders; but this is very rare; the defect, if there is one, has its origin in +the hind-parts. For my part, I have been able to make all such horses very +free in their movements, and that after fifteen days of exercise, half an +hour a day. The means, like all I employ, are very simple. They consist in +suppling the neck to get the horse in hand, and then, by the aid of the legs, +and afterwards slight use of the spurs, in bringing his haunches nearer the +centre. Then the hocks will obtain a leverage, by which they can propel +the mass forward, and give the shoulders a freedom that people would not +expect. <a href="#footnoteP">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footQ">[Q]</a> I would never have thought that this means, which serves as a corrective +to the processes used by all horsemen, would have aroused the sensibility +of some amateurs. These latter have preferred to be affected by exaggerated +or erroneous reports, rather than satisfy themselves by observation, +that this pretended cruelty is in fact the most innocent thing in the world. +Must we not teach the horse to respond to the spur as well as to the legs and +the hand? Is it not by this spurring, judiciously applied, that we bring in at +will the hind legs more or less near the centre of gravity? Is not this the +only way of increasing or diminishing the leverage of the hocks, whether +for extending or raising them in motion, or for the purpose of halting? <a href="#footnoteQ">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footR">[R]</a> "The <i>piaffer</i> is the horse's raising his legs diagonally, as in the trot, but +without advancing or receding."—<i>Baucher's</i> "<i>Dictionnaire d'Equitation.</i>" <a href="#footnoteR">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footS">[S]</a> The use of the spurs. <a href="#footnoteS">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footT">[T]</a> <i>Acculement</i> and <i>reculer</i> have been previously explained; one is the horse +backing falsely, the other backing correctly.—<span class="smcap">Translator.</span> <a href="#footnoteT">(Return)</a></p> + +<p><a name="footU">[U]</a> Much in this chapter, though written for France, applies with great +appropriateness to our own country. <a href="#footnoteU">(Return)</a></p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr style="width: 100%" /> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus134.jpg" alt="Publisher's Advertisement" title=" " /></p> + +<hr style="65%" /> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus135.jpg" alt="Publisher's Advertisement" title=" " /></p> + +<hr style="65%" /> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus136.jpg" alt="Publisher's Advertisement" title=" " /></p> + +<hr style="65%" /> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus137.jpg" alt="Publisher's Advertisement" title=" " /></p> + +<hr style="65%" /> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus138.jpg" alt="Publisher's Advertisement" title=" " /></p> + +<hr style="65%" /> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus139.jpg" alt="Publisher's Advertisement" title=" " /></p> + +<hr style="65%" /> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus140.jpg" alt="Publisher's Advertisement" title=" " /></p> + +<hr style="65%" /> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus141.jpg" alt="Publisher's Advertisement" title=" " /></p> + +<hr style="65%" /> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus142.jpg" alt="Hunting the Buffalo." title=" " /></p> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/illus143.jpg" alt="Publisher's Advertisement" title=" " /></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's New Method of Horsemanship, by F. 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