FREKCH METHOD OF TRAINING. 87 



ever position will best assist in maintaining the balance 

 of the body. If we take an unbroken horse, whose 

 movements in the pasture are all perfect, and put a rider 

 on his back and a bit in his mouth, he will either per- 

 form such antics as will make him anything but a pleas- 

 ant saddle-horse, or, which is most likely, he will become 

 perfectly rigid and awkward, poking out his nose, bear- 

 ing on the bit with the full force of his neck, carrying 

 too much of the weight on the fore-quarters, and strad- 

 dling along with his hind-legs in a very ungainly and 

 uncomfortable way. Especially in the cantor will he 

 seem to plunge with his whole weight on to his fore-feet, 

 making his gait both uncomfortable and unsafe. Bau- 

 cher's method overcomes these difficulties, empowers the 

 rider to carry the weight of both horse and rider on the 

 fore-feet, or on the hind-feet, or on all, at pleasure, and 

 to soften the rigidity of the neck, and cause the head to 

 be carried in an easy position. 



The first step, after having broken the horse to saddle 

 and bridle, is with the neck and mouth. Stand at his 

 left side, facing his neck, holding the left rein of the 

 snaffle in your left hand. Take both curb-reins in your 

 right hand, a few inches back of the bit, and draw them 

 gently toward the horse's chest, holding him in place, 

 and keeping his head quiet with the left hand. The 

 horse will at first resist the pressure of the curb, and try 

 to throw up his head, but if you are patient and firm, he 

 will presently bend his neck, draw in his chin, and 

 champ the bit ; then drop the curb-reiiis, pat his neck, 

 and make much of him. Eepeat the lesson at short in- 

 tervals, until at the slightest touch of the curb he will 



