76 NEW METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



There is, then, weakness in one extremity, or excess of 

 force in the other. The remedy in each case will be the 

 same, viz : the depression of the neck, which by dimin- 

 ishing the power of the fore-parts, restores the equili- 

 brium between the two parts. We have practised this 

 suppling on foot, it will be easy to obtain it on horse- 

 back. We here see the usefulness of this perpendicular 

 flexion, which allows us to place on a level the forces of 

 the two opposite extremities of the horse, in order to 

 make them harmonious, and induce regularity in their 

 working. The horse being thus placed, can bend and 

 extend his fore and hind legs, before the weight of the 

 body forces them to resume their support. 



The practice of this and some other principles that 

 I explain in this work, will place in the rank of choice 

 horses, animals whose inferiority caused them to be con- 

 sidered jades, and that the old method would never 

 have raised from their degradation. It will suffice to 

 accustom the horse to trot well, to exercise him at this 

 pace only five minutes in each lesson. When he acquires 

 the necessary ease and lightness, he can be made to execute 

 ordinary pirouettes^ as well as the exercise on two lines, at 

 a walk and a trot. I have said that five minutes of trotting 



fashion ; they strike out with their fore legs, and drag their hind-parts after 

 them. Horses with a low croup, or withers very high in proportion to their 

 croup, were preferred by horsemen of the old school, and are still in favor 

 now-a-days among amateur horsemen. The German horsemen have an 

 equally marked predilection for this sort of formation, although it is contrary 

 to strength of the croup, to the equilibi'ium of the horse, and to the regular 

 play of his feet and legs. This fault of construction (for it is one) has been 

 scarcely noticed till now ; nevertheless, it is a great one, and really retards 

 the horse's education. In fact, we are obliged, in order to render his move- 

 ments uniform, to iower his neck, so that the kind of lever it represents, may 

 serve to lighten his hind-parts of the weight with which they are overbur- 

 dened. I ought also to say, that this change of position, or of equilibrium, i3 

 only obtained by the aid of my principles. I explain the cause and effect, 

 and I point out the remedies. Is this not the proper way for an author to 

 proceed? 



