124 ORDINARY RIDING. 



the walk, I have two things to do, namely, first, to create 

 impulsion by the legs ; and, second, to make the horse do 

 direct or lateral flexion. At the end of a turn at the trot and 

 canter I am, on the contrary, full of impulsion, and to get the 

 horse in hand I need only a fingering of the reins (in direct 

 or lateral flexion), while keeping the legs close to the sides. 

 Under these conditions there is no risk of the horse getting 

 behind his bit, and he then comes most easily to hand.* 



We now come to the ramener, collection, and rassembler. 



If the ramener and collection belong to ordinary riding, the 

 rassembler pertains only to scientific equitation. I therefore 

 crave the forbearance of my readers for discussing at present 

 the rassembler, which is the last stage of the general effects, of 

 which the ramener at first, and subsequently the collection, 

 are only the beginning. 



The word ramener, which is borrowed from Baucher, means 

 nothing else than direct flexion. 



The ramener is only the first part of getting the horse in 

 hand, and signifies that the horse's head is high, his head 

 perpendicular, and that he champs and plays with his bit, 

 when the rider feels it by means of the reins ; but owing to 

 deficient impulsion he is not light in hand. The effect 

 obtained is localised in the jaw and in the upper part of the 

 neck. It is therefore only partial and leaves the general 

 equilibrium incomplete. It is the first step towards perfect 

 distribution of weight ; collecting the horse is the second, as I 

 have just said ; and the rassembler is the last. I mention the 

 ramener only out of respect for the authority of Baucher, 

 who, working on the horse while standing still, brought him 



* When the horse will not obey the diagonal effects, it is an excellent lesson 

 for him to finish the trot or canter by a well-marked lateral flexion, with the 

 opposite leg very close and with great impulsion. The direct flexion is made 

 naturally, if the time of halting is correct ; because we ought to stop the horse 

 between the legs and hands (with both legs close) when he is full of forward 

 movement. 



