CHAPTER VII. 



OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE FORCES OP THE HORSE BY THE 

 RIDER. 



( Continuation.) 



Of the gallop. — I have said that, until now, the 

 greater part of the resources of horsemanship have not 

 been understood, and had I need of another proof to sup- 

 port my opinion, I would draw it from the error, the 

 suppositions, the innumerable contradictions that have 

 been heaped together in order to explain so simple a 

 movement as the gallop. What contrary opinions upon 

 the means to employ to make the horse go off with his 

 right foot ? It is the support of the rider's right leg 

 which determines the movement, one pretends ; it is that 

 of the left leg, says another ; it is the equal touch of the 

 two legs, affirms a third ; no, some others remark, very 

 seriously, you must let the horse act naturally. 



How can the truth be made out in the midst of this 

 conflict of such contrary principles ? Besides, they come 

 from such respectable sources ; the most of their authors 

 were possessed of titles and dignities which are generally 

 only granted to merit. Have they all been deceived for 

 a hundred and fifty years ? This is not possible ; for 

 many of them joined to long practice a perfect know- 

 ledge of physics, anatomy, mathematics, etc., etc. To 

 doubt such authorities would be as presumptuous as im- 

 prudent ; it would have been considered a crime of high 



