FOREWORD 



In the absence of a theory based on simple and logical 

 principles, the mounted instruction given to troops lacks 

 unity and, in consequence, force; with no written method 

 young officers are not sufficiently equipped to well accom- 

 plish their tasks as instructors. 



The Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 

 is intended to fill this gap, so many times observed. 



It contains, however, no innovations, but merely sums 

 up the advice of Pluvinel, de la Gueriniere, the Comte d' 

 Aure, Boucher, Generals L' Hotte, Faverot de Kubrech, 

 de Beauchesne and Jules de Benoist and the application to 

 horse training of the known laws of the association of sen- 

 sations, as well as the traditional principles of the Cavalry 

 School. 



The Manual comprises three principal divisions: 

 1st. The Education of the Rider. 

 2d. The Education of the Horse. 

 3d. The Use of the Trained Horse. 



The first part treats of the instruction of the rider ac- 

 cording to his grade in the military system. The necessity of 

 simplifying the instruction of the recruit to hasten his entry 

 into ranks and the obligation of pushing the training of the 

 horse as far as possible have made it necessary, in order to 

 conciliate these opposite interests, to modify former 

 methods. 



The principles remaining always the same, the in- 

 structor may henceforth grade his instruction according to 

 the ability and requirements of his pupils— young soldiers, 

 reenlisted men, noncommissioned officers who are to take 

 part in horse training, or the officers charged with the in- 

 struction. These divisions are called Elementary^ Secon- 

 dary and Superior equitation, according to whom they are 

 addressed. 



In order to abridge the manual, it has seemed best not 

 to state again in Chapter I, devoted to Elementary Equita- 

 tion, the lessons given to recruits which are set forth in 

 Part II of the Drill Regulations. But the Board has tried 



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