COMMENTARIES ON BAUCHER. 341 



under the control of his rider that, by the combination of the 

 effects of the legs and hands, our slightest movements suffice 

 to direct the energy of this powerful animal, according to our 

 will." Nothing could be truer. But why does he maintain on 

 page 178 of the same edition, that the only true kind of riding 

 should be done by " legs without hands, and hands without 

 legs " ? How did he not see that these two assertions are con- 

 tradictory ? The office of the legs of the rider is to make the 

 horse energetic in his hind quarters, and that of the hands, to 

 make him "amiable in his mouth." Without the simulta- 

 neous co-operation of these two " aids," we may do wonderful 

 tricks, but not good horsemanship. 



The fact that Baucher broke his horses with the two " aids," 

 and afterwards used only one of them, proves that he deceived 

 himself by thinking that he had obtained perfect equilibrium 

 with " legs w^ithout hands and hands without legs." But as 

 the legs are necessary for impulsion and the hands for direc- 

 tion, he hastened to go back to the two " aids." 



Under these conditions, why did he abandon an "aid" which 

 he was obliged to use every moment ? Is the proof required ? 

 When working on " two tracks " without the legs, there will be 

 nothing to indicate to the horse that his haunches should move, 

 especially if we want him to do the "two tracks" at the canter 

 or passage. If we demand the Spanish trot without legs, the 

 horse will raise his fore legs a little without gaining ground, 

 but nothing will give him the impulsion necessary for the trot. 

 Change the " aids," and demand the same work without using 

 the hands. The action of the legs to obtain the elevation and 

 extension of the fore legs will have the result of sending the 

 horse abruptly forvv^ard, because there is nothing to restrain 

 him and to raise the fore hand. It will be the same in all 

 other movements. 



I admit, however, that when the education of the school 

 horse has been carried to its highest degree of perfection, he 



