14 TRANSLATORS PREFACE. 



system was discontinued in the French army, in spite of 

 the almost unanimous wish of the officers. But he has 

 gained a name as the first horseman of this or any other 

 age — the first who could not only manage horses him- 

 self, but teach others to do so equally well. This has 

 been proved under the translator's own eyes. 



A gentleman of Philadelphia purchased a horse, four 

 years old, long, gangling^ ewe-necked ; such a brute as no 

 Que but a confident disciple of Baucher would have had 

 anything to do with. Had he hunted the country for a 

 horse with but one merit, that of soundness, and pos- 

 sessing that only because nothing had ever been done to 

 injure it, he could not have been better suited. Mounted 

 upon this animal, it was painful to see a good rider in 

 such a quandary ; but a quiet, confident smile showed 

 what was intended to come of it. 



In six weeks from that time, without the horse ever 

 having crossed the threshold of the stable-yard, the 

 writer saw him splendid, with his neck arched like the 

 steed in Holy Writ, his haunches well under him, obedi- 

 ent to the lightest touch of hand or heel, ready to do 

 anything that was demanded of him, because he had been 

 put in a position that enabled him to do it. 



Since that, the same person has broken two other 

 horses of greater natural capabilities, and the success 

 was proportionately greater. 



Every one who takes any interest in horses recollects 

 the horse May-fly, when first introduced to an American 

 audience, by Sands, of Welsh's circus. This horse, a 

 thoroughbred, belonging to the racing stud of Baron 

 Rothschild, was so vicious that he had to be brought 

 upon the race-course in a van, so that he could see 

 nothing till the moment to start arrived. With even 

 this and similar precautions, he was considered danger- 



