PIAFFERS AND "PASSAGES." 287 



enough tact to obtain the natural passage. I never teach it 

 nowadays.* 



The piaffer is only a natural passage without gaining 

 ground. There are two kinds of piaffers : one, which is slow, 

 high and difficult, and which some horses will not stand ; the 

 other, which is hurried and close to the ground, and which 

 almost all horses can learn. 



The high and slow piaffer differs from the natural passage, 

 only by its being done entirely without gaining ground. We 

 can obtain it by shortening the passage step by step, until it is 

 done on one spot. The piaffer therefore requires more 

 rassembler, and therefore more use of the legs and more 

 delicacy of the hand, than the passage.-f 



When a horse has not been taught the passage, the piaffer 

 will be a consequence of the walk. A vigorous and impatient 

 horse can easily be taught the hurried piaffer, which will not 

 be regular unless he has been instructed in accordance with 

 the rules of equitation. 



It is not enough for the horse to be lively and vigorous, in 

 order to make him do the piaffer by exciting him with the 

 cutting whip, legs, or clicks of the tongue. By these means 

 we will no doubt succeed in making him impatient, but not in 

 teaching him the manner in which he should put his feet on 

 the ground ; and we may be certain that if he puts them 



* I could make similar observations respecting certain artificial airs which 

 I have long given up with horses which I break for myself ; not because they are 

 opposed to the principles of equitation, but because I do not find them 

 sufficiently scientific ; as for instance, the Spanish walk, reversed pirouettes on 

 three legs, ordinary and reversed pirouettes with the legs crossed, reining back 

 without reins, and rocking the fore and hind quarters. 



t Fig. 60. — Markir at the piaffer : right diagonal in the air. 



Fig. 61. — Markir at the piaffer : left diagonal in the air. 



In these two illustrations, we will note the energy which is displayed and which 

 is marked by the fact that the fetlocks come down to the ground, and by the great 

 elevation of the fore legs, which are raised higher than the hind ones ; contrary 

 to what takes place in the piaffer taught by the cutting whip. 



