TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 



The author's introduction to iiis " Method of Horse- 

 manship " is omitted in this edition, because containing 

 much that would be uninteresting to the American 

 reader. It mentions the great difficulties he had in 

 attracting the attention of the public to his system, and 

 the complete success with which it was crowned when 

 once this attention was attracted. One paragraph from 

 it, which contains the principle upon which his whole 

 method is founded, is here given : 



** However favored by nature the horse may be, he 

 requires a preparatory exercise to enable his forces to 

 afford each other mutual assistance ; without this every- 

 thing becomes mechanical and hazardous, as well on his 

 part as on that of the rider. 



" What musician could draw melodious sounds from 

 an instrument without having exercised his fingers in 

 handling it ? He would certainly, if he attempted such 

 a thing, produce only false discordant sounds; and the 

 same thing occurs in horsemanship when we undertake 

 to make a horse execute movements for which he has 

 not been prepared." 



M. Baucher presents the official documents upon the 

 subject of the introduction of his method into the French 

 army with the following introductory remarks : 



