344 COMMENTARIES ON BAUCHER. 



Personally, I share neither the opinion of the German 

 officers nor that of Baucher. The horse ought to be in front of 

 the legs and lightly on the hand. It is always a question of 

 nuances ; at least, when army horses have not been con- 

 sidered, because with them there is something quite different 

 from a nuance, and in this case I differ entirely from Baucher. 

 I even dare to say that the single fact of his stating that 

 horses should be behind the hand, ought to be sufficient to 

 exclude his method from the army. Such an opinion put into 

 practice would only make the horse hesitating ; because the 

 hand directs him. The horse always hesitates when he does 

 not feel the hand. But if he is behind the hand he does not 

 feel the reins. The army horse ought always to go freely up 

 to his bridle {on the hand). 



These are the principal points of Baucher's method with 

 which I disagree. Nevertheless, I have a sincere admiration 

 for him. 



Baucher was a creator, and every one who rides ought to 

 respect him as a master. He had the great merit of not 

 describing anything which he could not do. Many who have 

 come after him have written at great length on riding, and 

 often with the object of describing magnificent movements 

 which they have never done. Baucher proved the superiority 

 of his theory by putting it into practice. 



