56 SECOND TRIP TO RUSSIA 



a horse's natural cleverness is, other things being equal, 

 the better school horse will he prove. Owing to the 

 mechanical condition of mind into which school horses are 

 brought by their training, they are bad for outdoor work. 

 With hunters on the contrary, we seek to make them self- 

 reliant, and we fare best when we interfere with them as 

 little as possible. Valuable school horses are rarely used 

 outside of the manege, because it is found that hacking, 

 hunting and similar work tend to unfit them for the circus 

 line of business. It is said that Baucher never rode outside 

 a manege or circus. On one occasion, a nobleman of high 

 rank came into the school belonging to Baucher, who at 

 that moment was riding a beautifully trained horse, on which 

 he performed a number of elaborate evolutions for the benefit 

 of his distinguished visitor. While they were talking to- 

 gether, the nobleman suddenly remembered that he had 

 forgotten to post an important letter which he had in his 

 pocket. Drawing it out he handed it to the great tcuyer 

 and asked him to ride down with it to the nearest post-office. 

 "Your Highness," replied Baucher, "I am overwhelmed 

 with regret that I am unable just at present to obey your 

 orders ; but if you will wait three months, so as to give me 

 time to train my horse to go outside, I will then be delighted 

 to take the letter for you." Considering that fully two years 

 as a rule are required to train a horse to do a sufficient 

 number of school airs say, eight or ten to make a good 

 show, and that by the end of the required time the animal 

 is generally rendered unsound from the excessive strain 

 thrown on his joints, tendons and ligaments, we need not 

 be surprised that la haute foole, except for circus work, has 

 fallen into disrepute both in France and Germany. 



M. James Fillis (Fig. 15), was the great attraction at 

 Ciniselli's circus, where he rode his well -trained horses. 

 Fillis was born in London of English parents and went 



